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Wide-span tempered glass panels. J U N E 2 0 2 1 | 51 P H OTO G R A P H Y CO U RT E SY A LU F L A M N O RT H A M ER I C A Doors & Hardware For multi-family units, electronic access control solutions are taking the lead, especially mobile solutions. "A person's phone essentially becomes the gateway to allowing entry into perimeter doors, common areas, and tenant suites," Carino adds. "Key systems are becoming less desirable. Although cheaper to install, when a tenant or condo owner loses a key, the cost to resolve the problem by hiring a locksmith can be much more time consuming and expensive." The shift to integrated access-controlled locks is a move away from a previous generation of electronic access tools. "We're seeing fewer wall-mounted card readers with electric strikes, and more electrified locks and exit trim," explains Rob Grant, VP and director of Central Project Team for CP Distributors. Grant adds that smart homes with locks that can be opened from the other side of the world with a smartphone are becoming more of the normal. "Access control systems are getting more and more advanced every year and having our industry embrace this technology will only help it grow." And when it comes to stylistic choices, the sky is the limit. "The available lever designs and finishes have as wide of a selection as ever from residential hardware to commercial, with complementing designs in pulls and hinges," says Grant. He notes the popularity of black hardware for residential projects, and continued use of brushed chrome and stainless. "A straight lever, either flat or tubular is very popular," he adds. STATEMENT PIECES Not all fixtures can be hidden out of sight, of course. Handles and locks that are on display should make a splash. "Levers aren't exciting to talk about, but you want them to look special," says Carka, who sees designers frequently looking for levers and handles that can set their project apart. Levers throughout a home should be the same style, or part of a collection or suite – and today, that's likely to mean handles that are in the season's hottest finishes. "Black is the hot finish right now. Satin nickel is still popular for inte- rior unit doors," says Wilson. "Black suede, a slightly more matte finish, is really common," agrees Carka. Many homeowners prefer finishes for their door hardware that co-ordinate with other fixtures (plumbing, lighting), so trending colours for these products tend to be found in the door world, too – Allegion's Schlage Satin Brass, for instance. As for the doors themselves: darker colours are gaining popularity over traditional white doors. Ryan McNamee, national marketing manager for Steel- Craft Door Products, reports Steel-Craft's most popular colour selections of the moment are Charcoal and Sable Grey – but those who are sticking with white tend to add decorative hardware to give a minimalist selection some personality. HEALTH AND SAFET Y A pandemic isn't the only threat we have to fear, of course. And door manufactur- ers have a responsibility to keep homeowners safe from a variety of risks. Though codes and safety education improve and change each year, right now the industry is seeing a particular focus on fire safety and temperature-rise rated (TRR) doors. Temperature-rise rated doors are required by code in high-rise construction and contribute to safe exiting in an emergency. But they are often misun- derstood, misidentified or incorrectly assumed to be interchangeable with fire-rated doors. "Fire-rated doors help slow the spread of a fire, but TRR doors are designed to prevent the transfer of heat from one side of a door to the other," explains Chris White, VP of sales and marketing for Trillium. TRR doors are a critical part of a building's fire and life safety plan, used in stairwells to protect people from searing heat as they escape past the fire from a higher floor. As high-rise construction continues to grow in major centres like Toronto, companies like Trillium are working to build awareness and understanding of these specialty doors. "After all, it's much cheaper and more efficient to get them done right the first time," says White. Aluflam.indd 1 2018-11-12 9:36 September 2021 ANNUAL INDUSTRY FEATURE: Curtain Wall & Window Wall Book your ad space now: | Dan Chapman 604.473.0316