ADA lever handles

[raimundo]

Im in a cafe right now, and the mens room has a lever handle ADA type lock, but the problem with it is that the lever has to be horizontal to effect the lock from inside, and the handle drops about an inch out of the horizontal by gravity. I just saw two different people not knowing that they have to lift the handle up to lock the door from the inside. and it occurs to me that this is a typical malfunction of one of these locks after its been around for a year or more.
I also knew of an ADA (americans with disabilites Act) lever handle lock that I believe the little teenage gangsters broke just by putting a pipe cheater on it. the breaking into the place, (from an interior door) these should be designed so that breaking the levers linkage to the boltworks will not open the boltworks, but apparently they are not all that way,

I haven't seen a discussion of broken ADA type locks and their failings and who makes a good one. Im sure you trading locksmiths know all about this. Can some one come up and give the lowdown?

[MacGyver101]

I don't have a lot to contribute to the discussion in terms of how these locks tend to break in service -- but I have seen a few different approaches to the design to get around the problem you describe of simply wrenching the handle open.

Several manufacturers (Medeco being the one which springs most readily to mind) have a freewheeling clutch on the lever handle: it's still supported by the return spring, but is disconnected from the boltworks once the handle is locked. With this design it's still possible to break the lever by applying too much force to it, but it at least won't result in an unlocked door.

A somewhat better (in my opinion) design is the "breakaway" lever. It is also disconnected from the boltworks when the cylinder is locked -- but continues to feel "locked" (i.e., it won't move) until about 30-40lbs of force is applied to it. At this point a cam disengages the handle and it drops down "loose" and hangs towards the floor -- appearing to be broken... which is often enough to convince the vandals/thieves to go elsewhere. The lever can, however, be quickly reset and put back into regular service without any damage.

[David_Parker]

Wow Raimundo, where to start on lever handles.

Look, theres really one way to break it down: Price.

Because if you choose a Grade 1 Schlage D-Line Privacy Function Lever Lock with a 626 finish with an Athens handle, you're looking at $300

Now a Grade 2 Uscan Privacy Lever with a 626 finish has something called a "Vandal Clutch" on it. That means the exterior handle gives way, not affecting the spindle of inner workings of the lock. Only the spring cage is effected. (By the way, your cafe lock needs a new spring cage, most common reason why levers sag).

You want one with a large number of cycles, a good grade rating (Grade 2 or 1, depending on your price) and definatly one with through bolts. Non of this 161 only prep cut out. Since its a restroom, its going to be prone to abuse, so find something a little bit more heavy duty. Those thru-bolts prevents people from being able to twist the cylinderical lock and breaking the tabs on the single point latch. (by preventing breaking of these, you also help ensure no lockouts/ins occur in the restroom itself. I've seen it dozens of times at Starbucks, and firemen are NOT kind to doors.)


So yeah, those are a couple basics.

[ObiWonShinobi]

Yeah, the breakaway handles are good....
when they are MEANT TO BE breakaway.
But some of the crap ADA locks ive seen in gas stations,
look like they fell apart when someone sneezed on them....
(and by there looks... other things as well..)

I dont wanna get flagged for discussing "bypass techniques"
in a open forum...... but you cant call it a bypass when
it breaks and unlocks itself when you point the proper key at it.
or it decides its tired of living....

ADA is a good thing, dont get me wrong.... but...
Makeing something EASY for someone to open with a dissability...
does NOT mean we have to make it easy for EVERYONE to open
just by looking at it......

I know they make more money selling in quantity when something breaks.
But common people........ the homeless pulling this crap out of trashcans
and selling it for scrap are making more money than the stores the
locks are installed in.

This is depressing, I need a drink..........

[chieflittlehorse]

I believe Schlage made a vandal-guard type lever that seems like it breaks when a pipe is used against it but when lever is lifted up the lever functions normal as if no breakage occurred against the lever!

[Jaakko]

I believe Schlage made a vandal-guard type lever that seems like it breaks when a pipe is used against it but when lever is lifted up the lever functions normal as if no breakage occurred against the lever!

You mean like a slip clutch?

[maintenanceguy]

He's right, the handle drops if you pry on it and has to be lifted with some force to snap it back into place to work again.

Similar to a slip clutch except that once it's forced past the breaking point, it just goes limp.

[freakparade3]

The problem with these types of handles is after the ADA was passed they were suddenly requited and companies scrambeled to make them. There was not enough thought put into the designs.

[Brianpojo56]

I think the worst part of the ADA scramble was the companies that made the lever add ons for the knobs. Most of them were made of plastic because the knob couldn't withstand the gravity from an all metal lever so they constantly break. The mechanism inside usually can't handle the constant force from people pulling on those stupid little plastic levers in everyday use, so of course they end up failing and it needs replaced. I work in a college that's littered with them so they are kind of a sore spot for me. Right now I think one of best levers out there are the newest Schlage commercial levers, but very costly.

[mkultra23]

I recently had the opportunity to visit the Sargent factory. In their UL laboratory they demonstrated a new line of heavy duty leversets that were extremely difficult to tear off (@ 800lbs of torque) once they managed to tear it off the clutch was inaccessible to typical bypass techniques. I don't recollect the model name but they told us it was going to be unveiled at ALOA.

[Squelchtone]

Thanks for this post guys, it answers a lot of questions I've had kicking around, but I have another one for you.

We have a new building at work, so every door is ADA compliant, but I noticed something odd on the lever set mounted on a door which leads down a set of stairs to the basement telecomm room. The face of the lever itself has 3 boxes milled out and the surface of these 3 milled areas is very sandpaper like, very textured. Is this a method to tell a blind person that "watch out! stairs leading down behind this door, don't fall!" ? All other lever sets in the building are normal metal finish, no other texturing, milling, or any braille or anything like that. The room number signs next to each door do have Braille dots.

Thanks for your thoughts on this one,

Squelchtone

[mkultra23]

I've heard that a few manufacturers of ADA hardware do use specially textured areas on their levers which would be used on doors leading to hazardous areas (high voltage, etc.) in order to allow a blind person to recognize that caution is required, thats possibly what your dealing with.

[straightpick]

The industry calls these "tactile surfaces". They are generally a knurled surface or an abrasive coating. Their purpose is to warn the visually impaired that this is an area in which they should not venture.

[globallockytoo]

I sell a conversion kit for knobs that are ADA compliant and have the knurled effect too.

Checked with local fire marshall and confirmed their use.

About $8 a pair.

Great Grips