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A beginner's guide to door security

May 29, 2018
A beginner's guide to door security

Choosing adequate locks and accessories for your doors is one of the most important security decisions a home or business owner can face. But the widespread use of industry jargon can make it difficult to make an informed decision.

In today’s blog, we’ll define one of the most widely used terms in relation to door security; door furniture.

What is door furniture?

You may have noticed that on the Secure Your World platform, door locks are located under the door furniture & security category. So, what is door furniture?

In Australia and the UK, the term 'door furniture' refers to handles and knobs. Practically speaking, door furniture can be thought of as any product that can be used to operate a latch.
In other parts of the world, such as the USA, the term is used more broadly to describe any item that is attached to a door to improve either its function or appearance. In Australia, the term ‘door lock’ would be used for products that can be used to either operate a deadbolt. Other auxiliary products such as door knockers, hinges and door closers all fall under an extra term, ‘door hardware’.

Here at Secure Your World, we’ve decided to go with the yanks’ approach and simply bundle all these products together as door furniture. Now that we’ve cleared that up, let’s take a look at a few things you should keep in mind when shopping for door furniture.

Things to think about when shopping for door furniture

It may sound silly, but taking the time to think about why you’re buying a door lock could save you time (and money!).

Some key considerations include:
• What material is the door made from?
• Is the door internal or external?
• Who uses the door?

What material is the door made from?

Although solid and hollow core timber is the most prevalent door construction in Australia to date, a number of other materials have grown in popularity over recent years. These materials include aluminium, steel, glass and uPVC. The material your door is constructed from will impact what locks and accessories are available for you to use.
If you’re unsure if a lock can be used on your door, why not contact the seller? All Secure Your World sellers are security experts and are more than happy to ensure you choose the right product for your application.

close-up-of-door-lock-jpg

Is the door internal or external?

By their nature, internal and external doors have very different requirements in terms of security. Naturally, you’ll want a higher level of security on external doors. Internal doors, on the other hand, may require no additional security beyond a simple latch. That said, internal doors play an important role in the passive fire protection of your home or workplace. Designated fire doors should be fitted with fire rated door closers, locks and handles.

Who uses the door?

In both residential and commercial settings, it’s important to think about who will use the door. For example, in a residential setting where there are young or elderly occupants, it may be wise to install lever handles over doorknobs, as these are generally considered to be easier to use by those who may struggle with grip and strength. We hope you’ve enjoyed this beginner’s guide to door security – it’s such a huge topic that we’ve only scratched the surface. That’s why we’ll be delving into door security further over the coming weeks, with more application and product specific advice as we go. Make sure you check in with the blog regularly to keep up to date.

Catch the entire series on door furniture here!

  • Part 1: External doors
  • Part 2: Internal door security
  • Part 3: Fire doors and exit furniture
  • Part 4: DDA Furniture