Accurate Lock & Security

License: CC ACCURLS036KH • Memberships: We are members of NWLA and ALOA.

Keep Your Business Secure: Choose From Exit Devices, Door Closers & More

Exit Devices

Exit devices are usually required by building and fire codes to meet commercial or government facilities' safety and security requirements. Frequently referred to as "crash bars," exit devices have a push pad or crossbar on the inside with a latch at the edge of the door or latch at the top and bottom of the door; there may or may not be trim (levers, pull handle, key cylinder) on the outside of the door. When the door closes, the exit device latches the door (unless dogged down for free passage), and pushing the inside pad or bar always unlatches the door. 

Exit devices generally come in 2 basic ratings, "Life Safety" or "Fire Rated." Fire-rated devices are listed by UL and designed so the door will latch every time the door closes (there is no dogging option for them) so that fire cannot pass through the door. Doors that do not require fire-rated devices but still require an exit device are required to have "Life Safety" devices listed by UL to ensure free exit through the door. Life safety-rated devices can have a "dogging" option (by Allen wrench or key) that locks the pad or bar down, allowing free entry of the door.

Exit devices, besides being listed for different uses, come in a variety of configurations, Rim (surface mount), Mortise (exit device and mortise lock cassette), Surface Vertical Rod (rods on the surface of the door locking top & bottom), Concealed Vertical Rod (rods inside the door locking top & bottom). 

We offer sales, installation, and service/repair of exit devices.

Door Closures

 A door closer is a mechanical device that closes a door after being opened. They may be required by fire code to keep fire doors closed. Any entry with an exit device should have one to keep the door flying open uncontrolled. Exterior doors should also have door closers to control the door from slamming or opening uncontrolled due to wind and HVAC.

Door Closures Adjustments

As with most hardware, door closers come in a variety of “duty” sizes, light, medium, and heavy-duty. The heavier the traffic or wind/weather conditions, the closer should be. We have found that here in the NW, there should be no compromise in exterior door closers; they should be the heaviest.

Unless the door closer controls the door, there is little point to having one. We have frequently found that door closers aren’t correctly adjusted. There are some basic adjustments (the heavier the closer, the more adjustments it has).

  • Spring Size

    This adjustment determines how much “power” the closer has. Due to the ADA (American with Disabilities Act), a closer can have power is limited and low. The more power the closer has, the more strength it has to close against the wind, HVAC, etc. Frequently we can size a close to latch the door without slamming.

  • Sweep Speed

    This is the speed which the door closes from fully open to just about 10-15o from the fully closed position. We like to adjust this speed slower for applications where the elderly, many people, or people with full arms carrying loads, will be using this door.

  • Latch Speed

    This is the last 10-15 of closing. Usually, this adjustment is set at a faster speed to assist with latching the door or overcoming the weatherstrip. This speed should never slam the door, though. Slamming a door can cause damage to the door, locks (a frequent cause of failures), door frame, and even the wall or adjacent windows. Not to mention that slamming doors are annoying.

  • Back Check

    Some closers have a back check adjustment to protect the wall, hinges, door frames, etc. During the opening of a door, the door closer provides resistance after a certain point. The amount of resistance is adjustable, and sometimes the location where it starts.


    Our locksmiths try to always inform the customer of any door closer problem (or door problem for that matter) observed while on the job site, even if that was not the reason for the service call. We can adjust any door closer for you or let you know if it’s not possible due to a limitation or failure of the door closer. Some crucial signs to look for are, slamming, non-closing, making grinding sounds, or leaking fluid.


    We offer sales, installation, and service/repair of door closers.

Mortise Locks

Mortise locks are probably the best design for a door lock. They have a cassette body that inserts into the edge of the door with about an 8” tall face on the edge of the door. The key cylinder would be above the handle. Both latch and deadbolt functions can be in the same unit. They come in all sorts of functions (Storeroom, Classroom, Entry, Office, Privacy, Passage, Communicating, etc.) and are very versatile.

Mortise locks require special door preparation and work well with wood or hollow metal (commercial grade) doors, but not with residential thin metal doors. It’s always best to have the door manufacture prepare the door for the lock, and then the door will have to be prepared on-site for the specific trim (levers, plates, key cylinder, etc.).

We offer sales, installation, and service/repair of mortise locks.

Lever Sets

Lever sets are a product of the American with Disabilities Act (known as the ADA). Lock manufactures were offering lever sets for those areas where they might be needed by the occupants or users of a building who might be handicapped. Then the ADA was passed, and lever handles were required on nearly all building doors. The industry rushed to fill the need, and early on, there were products that didn’t last.

The biggest weakness in a lever set is the long handle that amplifies the force used on the handle. So with everyday use, locks broke inside, the handles broke off, etc. The design has since improved, and there are a number of reliable models available. However, you should be cautious of in-expensive “import” ones.

Two innovations have really improved lever sets. First is the “spring cage,” in addition to the standard springs in the lock (designed for knob sets), which is an additional heavy spring on each side of the door. The spring cages are designed to take the heavier forces applied by a lever. The second is “clutching” when the lever set is locked, the locked lever will still rotate but is disconnected (or clutch) from the lock mechanism, preventing it from withdrawing the latch. Clutching also protects against forced entry; locks without clutching can fail with enough force and possibly withdraw the latch.

While lever sets help those who are handicapped, they also weaken the security of a facility. The security can be maintained with special weatherstripping or only using lever sets on interior doors or in conjunction with an alarm system.

Weatherstrip

There is a wide range of products available today for various situations. Weatherstrip isn’t just to keep the heat in; it also keeps out –heat, smoke, fire, noise, water, rattlesnakes, bio-hazards, and hurricanes.

Each exterior door could be specified to have threshold, automatic door bottom, perimeter gaskets, drip strips, and other items.

We recommend the brush type; it’s much more durable and efficient than the traditional vinyl “bulb” type that can have large sections pulled out if it gets caught on something.

Thresholds can include a special thermal break for cold environments, cold storage facilities, or labs. Thresholds can also be coated with non-slip surfaces. Thresholds can have unique shapes to prevent water penetration or carpet/flooring dividers.

Flat goods

Flat goods cover a variety of items such as:

  • Kick plates- protects the door bottoms from damage.
  • Push plates- a plate to protect the door from people using their hands to push through the door.
  • Pull plates- push plate with a pull handle for pulling the door open.
  • Push bars- a bar across the door or on the edge of the door to use to push through the door.
  • Pull handles- a pull handle for pulling the door open.
  • Door stops- mounted on the floor or wall to provide positive stop point for the door and protects door closers from excessive force.

Doorstops- mounted on the floor or wall to provide a positive stop point for the door and protect door closers from excessive force.

Flush or surface bolts- flush bolts are on the edge of the door and usually mounted top and bottom to secure a pair of doors' "inactive" door. The surface bolt is mounted on the surface of the door for a similar purpose.

Latch guards- protect the locks from direct attacks on the latch holding the door closed.

And much more!

Learn More About Tice Industries

Door operators

Door operators used to be the big heavy, powerful units that opened doors at grocery stores. Since the Americans with Disability Act (known as the ADA) went into effect, they are in many more facilities than before. The old grocery store units were "high energy" (opened fast, with lots of power, and dangerous) and required safety rails, floor mat sensors, etc.

Today's "low energy" units have come a long way. The Dorma line that we sell has many innovations. They are required to open slower (no faster than 5 seconds), be used un-powered like a standard door closer, and be computer-controlled. The computer senses where the door is in the cycle, and if an obstruction (or person) is encountered, it will either stop opening or stop closing and neutralize the spring in the closer to prevent trapping a person. Additionally, these units can be used with access control systems, telephone intercoms, or remote release to allow the use of the operator after a valid entry is triggered.

Learn More About Dorma

Decorative hardware

Today there are many choices for decorative hardware. Baldwin is one of the premier brands with many choices and is priced on the higher end. For a good product at a moderate price, we use Emtek. Decorative hardware that is done on the cheap isn't worth it, and your money would be better spent on better quality basic hardware.

Learn More About EMTEK
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