3rd Party Commercial Hardware - manufacturer preferences?

[1mrchristopher]

I was approached today by the maintenance manager, and the director, of our local retirement facility today. They have 36 residential units sporting Schlage S series levers, which are 14 years old, and which require the occupant to twist a button to latch. As you might imagine, those with severe arthritis have great trouble doing so. On top of that, after 14 years, several of the lever sets are just tired. They want to replace the locksets, preferably with a push button only lock function, and when they started looking into the price of Schlage commercial levers, they wanted to know if they had options. I said that they did, and that I knew of a few different manufacturers of varying qualities. I've worked some with Arrow, some with US Lock, and some with Dorma. Haven't had any hands on time with Cal-Royal or Marks. So, I'd like to know what those of you with more years in the field than I, have to say about what manufacturers they like, love, hate and/or despise. Surely this can provide some lively discussion.

[billdeserthills]

The Schlage S series that I'm thinking of are really the only "economy leversets" that schlage makes. Even so they do last very well. If these are the series I'm thinking of the doors they are mounted on are not cross-drilled the way a grade 2 commercial lever lockset will need to be, so if that is true, you need to keep all that installation labor in the back of your mind for your quote later on. As far as a "push button locking" goes, Cal-Royal makes a few very low priced leversets that do not require the cross-drilling, so they mount with 2 screws like the schlage did. They won't hold up the way the schlage locks have, but I highly doubt that anything else will hold up like schlage does. You can check out the Austin "AUS" Series the Mayfair or "MAY" series and Sophia or "SOP" series from Cal-Royal. Keep in mind that the Sophia series are handed, which will present it's own trouble for you.
I have used the grade 3 Arrow levers on my own home for ten years, they aren't as strong as schlage
hardware and the ones I used didn't have a push button either.
I cannot remark about the Marks or Dorma, but Falcon does make a grade 2 lever that goes into the same hole that the schlage was in (no cross drilling) and Falcon can be purchased with a schlage keyway. I don't know about the push button tho...

[alockguru]

On a lot of the standard handle locks they are usually push or push and turn to lock but you can make them push button only style by filling off the little tabs on the button. Then you can still twist it but the tabs are not there to hold it locked so it will pop out like a push button. Cal-Royal works good buts its been many years that I've used em. LSDA is nice and cheap and easy to install. Not sure how well they will last.

[1mrchristopher]

Thanks guys. I'm going to talk to them a bit more, and also to the engineering department for the hospital which oversees the facility. In all reality they should be considering grade 1 hardware, and they can likely afford to do this job right - why it was done with residential lever sets in the first place is beyond me - probably how a contractor managed to win the bid.

[cledry]

Personally I would use General Grade 1 lever locks sold by Clark/Anixter, they may be the same as Cal Royal. The Grade 1 levers hold up very well. I've sold probably over a thousand and only recall needing to replace a couple that took a lot of abuse.

Clutched levers hold up better, but it can confuse people. The General is sold clutched or non-clutched. You can through bolt them (preferred) or remove the legs.

[1mrchristopher]

Honestly I'm in favor of telling them to just go with through bolts. It's a sturdier install, it's going to hold up better, and with a jig, they are a breeze.