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30 | FEBRUA RY 2016 Architectural Hardware H A R D WA R E M E E T S S O F T WA R E As digital technologies develop, even the humble door lock is getting a wireless upgrade. "The Internet of Things is opening up all kinds of networked products for the home, including locks, lighting, climate control and alarm systems," says Longhi. "There are also many new products that are designed to integrate into facility man- agement networks to provide access control and remote management." Smart locks with remote access control via smartphone are appearing on the market, alongside Wi-Fi-enabled security management, which can all work together on home management networks. "There's a new convergence towards electronics," agrees Allegion's Kelly. "Many new products are integrating Wi-Fi and Bluetooth technologies as a way to con- trol access control, for both the commercial and residential market." Allegion's new ENGAGE technology connectivity platform helps owners and tenants alike manage their interior building access anywhere in the world via computer or smartphone. In conjunction with the Wi-Fi-enabled Schlage NDE lock systems, administra- tors can add new users (giving access to a friend who's staying for the weekend, or a contractor that needs access to fix the sink), receive alerts for when the door is locked and unlocked, and even perform diagnostics to see if any maintenance for the door is necessary. "It's all about convenience," says Kelly. "You don't have to carry a key. Your phone becomes your credential, and you're able to monitor your home or office when you're not there." M E C H A N I C A L M A G I C Drawers and cabinets may be an old idea, but industry professionals never stop look- ing for ways to improve home storage. Blum's high-tech drawer system, LEGRABOX, is introducing new designs that can hold a higher weight – new, improved runner systems can now hold up to 70 kilograms. That means more options for design- ers when it comes to oversized drawers. The streamlined design has garnered the attention of the international design community, winning several awards for its innovative look and function. With options for customization – add glass fronts and sides, or utilize the Ambia-Line inner divider system that lets homeowners restruc- ture the drawer interiors to fit their needs – the design of a kitchen is more flexible than ever. Hettich Canada's new square-profile, smooth-finishing box track can handle any- thing from 150 to 500 pounds and can accommodate a new soft-close mechanism – an important feature for today's designer. In fact, soft-close technology isn't just relegated to the kitchen anymore. "Soft close features are definitely a trend we are seeing in both pocket doors and barn door applications," says Penner. "The archi- tecture and design community is looking for clean and smooth transitions with a product that is not overly complicated." Richelieu's LINK Drop-Down door mechanism – in stainless steel or satin nickel – offers both a soft door-opening and smooth door-closing; the Designer Flap Stay offers some flexibility, as it works for up-opening or down-opening wooden doors. The company's trend-setting goes beyond logistical innovation; its selection of anti- bacterial hardware reduces the spreading of germs via door or cabinet handles – a small innovation that goes a long way to making life better. And many of Richelieu's products are made with recycled materials, which contribute towards satisfying credit 4.2 and 4.2 for LEED certification. Built-ins are popular for renovations and new builds alike. Häfele's collection of kitchen cabinet hardware and accessories includes in-cupboard options like pull- out recycling systems and Lazy Susans for pots and pans. These simple additions to the home make dinner prep a lot simpler and as technology improves and the importance of esthetics grow for homeowners, it seems that finding the beauty in those architectural details is becoming easier every day. A Wi-Fi-enabled Schlage NDE lock system from Allegion. The views expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Award magazine or Canada Wide Media Limited A r c h i t e c t u r a l D o o r s & H a r d w a r e Opening Doors by JIM McGREGOR, AHC Several years ago, a 30-year-old report on the hardware industry was uncovered. Nothing had changed much. It seemed as if the report had been written a few days earlier. For years, nothing much seemed to change. What can you do to improve a key? Add a side-bar, cut both edges, add magnetic inserts or little dimples. The electronic revolution in the last few years has done to the door and hardware industry what the industrial Revolution did in its time. Today, it's hard to keep pace with the changes of the last few years. What a great invention the Commodore 64 was in the early 80s! Today, we have keys with computer chips and memory larger than the Commodore 64. The last few years have shown rapid development in biometrics security. Doing away with keys and cards, biometrics read individual physical characteristics such as retinas, hand and ngerprints. Today, manufacturers have developed entire product families of computer managed (CM) access control hardware that are limited only by imagination. Control information can be downloaded using a personal digital assistant (PDA) running a program such as Windows CE. New health and safety products are continually being developed. Manufacturers are producing products that are antimicrobial, which are applied to hardware in order to suppress the growth of algae, fungus, mould and mildew, and is effective against a broad spectrum of bacteria. Safety products on the horizon include exit devices featuring revolutionary Fiatlite technology. Three to ve times more visible than other light sources, it can be used on applications such as touch pads of exit devices in unlit or smoky areas to assist people in nding a safe way out. New designs in metal door and frame products include E-door and E-Frame, which incorporate re-exit lights at strategic locations lower on the door, and mini-lights around the frame-again, showing a safe way out. New re glazing materials are opening up a whole new spectrum of design concepts, doing away with unsightly and esthetically unappealing wired glass. Space limitation prevents expending on or even mentioning more of the many new innovations existing now and presently in the process of being developed. It is no longer just a "doorknob" industry. Jim McGregor is CEO of McGregor & Thompson Hardware Ltd., which has been in business since 1964. M&T has nine locations in B.C., Alberta and Seattle. McGregor.indd 1 16-01-28 3:41 PM

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