Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/1385297
Copper alloy push pads with antimicrobial CuVerro Shield. Flush panel garage door. J U N E 2 0 2 1 | 49 Doors & Hardware P H OTO G R A P H Y CO U RT E SY C R E AT I V E D O O R S ERV I C E S; A L L EG I O N C A N A DA I N C . Health and safety, not design trends, are guiding the latest door and hardware innovations by STACEY MCLACHLAN I t's not news to say COVID affected us all. But what we may not have expected, through a strange year of lockdowns, supply chain hiccups, health concerns, social isolation, and new routines, was that the pandemic's impact would ripple out all the way to the door and hardware industry. While the construction and renovation market boomed as people clamoured to revamp their suddenly stifling spaces, door manufacturers turned their focus beyond home-makeover style options to serious product development: What will keep us safe and healthy? What will offer calm and reas- surance? The result is a flood of ultra-hygienic handles, visually clean designs, and hyper-adaptable security solutions coming into the market for 2021. HANDS-OFF In the wake of a global pandemic and new concern for health and hygiene, the demand for touch-free solutions will likely only increase – for example, in commercial buildings, the construction industry is already seeing fewer instal- lations of large, accessible door press buttons. "Instead, we're seeing a movement toward touchless wave actuators – a much healthier option, especially in high- risk areas such as food service and restrooms," notes Erin C. Wilson, manager of specifications and building codes at Dormakaba. Of course, this trend isn't just about keeping germ-free. There's been a move towards modern, minimalist finishes for years. "Architects and interior design- ers do not like to 'see' door hardware, if possible," says Wilson. The components one can't avoid seeing, should be elegant, clean, and sleek. It's not dissimilar from the rise of handleless cabinets in the kitchen: as Frank Sansalone, product specialist with Blum, notes, "No handles are more popular. People want a clean look." "Anything that has the option to open in a touch-free way is popular right now," adds David Carka, director of business development for Assa Abloy. This goes hand-in- hand with the rise of more hygienic finishes, whether that's antiviral coatings, or naturally self-sanitizing materials, like copper. Research has shown that copper can be effective in potentially fighting the spread of viruses, so the industry is introducing many new solutions for the door hardware range, from permanent copper alloy antimicrobial coat- ings to sprays and adhesive wraps. "It's all about getting back to the day-to-day normal and giving people peace of mind when they have to touch doors in high-traffic areas," says Brandon Carino, commercial marketing manager at Allegion Canada. "Anti-microbial is big – what once had relevance mostly in the health-care sector has a broader value to all sectors including seniors care, commercial real estate, you name it," agrees Elise Mayberry, national marketing manager for Allmar. That demand has translated into door hardware with anti-microbial finishes, wood doors with anti-microbial finishes, and hands-free solutions including foot pulls, arm pulls, and wave-to-open switches for automatic door openers. For commercial and multi-family properties, Mayberry has also seen increasing interest in "all kinds of security products," from package reception systems and access control, to optical turnstiles and automatic operators – essen- tially, systems to control the access and flow of traffic in facilities, while giving control and reporting functionality to building owners and convenience and safety to people in these buildings. ANOTHER LOCK DOWN As for locks, the deadbolt continues its high-tech trajectory as more designers and homeowners embrace keyless entry systems. Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) devices that can be operated by cell phone are gaining popularity for residen- tial projects, while smart devices and connected mobile access systems that offer secure credentialing and touch-free entry are a priority for many businesses. Yale's residential products, for example, include smart locks operated with voice commands, or integrated with other systems like Nest. Allegion's Schlage Encode Smart WiFi Deadbolt Lock provides property owners with a convenient keyless solution for access management, where they can remotely access the lock from their phones using the Schlage Home App – or programmed with 100 unique codes, including codes for recurring, temporary, or permanent access. It can also be unlocked or locked using voice activation with Google Assistant or Amazon's Alexa. The commercial space in particular is migrating to electronic locks, access control systems, and security solutions that can help mitigate the spread of germs by reducing some common physical touchpoints. "There are vari- ous solutions at play, whether it's the ability to not touch the door for entry or the use of antimicrobial materials on high touchpoints to keep the door safer," says Carino. OPEN & SHUT 2:28 PM