HANDS OF DOORS

The New Random House Dictionary lists no less than 91 connotations of the word "hand." This well demonstrates the specialized language of architectural hardware and the need to understand this language. In the architectural hardware industry the position of the hinges on a door-in terms of right or left as viewed from the outside of the building, room or space to which the doorway leads-determines the hand. The hand of a door is a term used to indicate the direction of the swing of the door. The outside is the side from which security is necessary. In a series of connecting rooms (as in a hotel suite) the outside will be the side of each successive door as one comes to it proceeding from the entrance.

For two rooms of equal importance with a passage between, the outside is the passage side. Strictly speaking, the door itself is only right or left hand; the locks and the latches may be reverse bevel. However, it is necessary to include the term "reverse" and to specify in accordance with the conventions shown here. This will prevent any confusion as to which side is the outside, especially important when different finishes are desired on the opposite sides of the door.


Hardware in general may be:

  1. Universal: Used in any position. (Example: a surface bolt.)
  2. Reversible: Hand can be changed by revolving from left to right, or by turning upside down or by reversing some part of the mechanism. (Example: many types of locks and latches.)
  3. Handed: (Not reversible.) Used only on doors of the hand for which designed. (Example: most rabbeted front door locks and latches.)

Although the hardware item specified may be reversible, or even universal, it is good practice to identify the hand completely, in accordance with the convention stated here.

 


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