Commercial Door Levers

When it comes to door locks, Automatic Door and Hardware cannot be matched. Our door lever locks are designed for use on both interior or exterior door applications and include all hardware for fast and easy installation. We offer grade 1 lever door handles which have been tested for over 800,000 door cycles and is the highest lock grade you can purchase in today's market. If you are looking for a more economical door lock, we also offer a grade 2 lever door handle which has been tested for over 800,000 door cycles. What ever your door lock need is, Automatic Door and Hardware has a lever lock solution that will provide you optimum security. Order a lever door handle today and receive FREE shipping!

What Is A Lever Door Handle

A lever door handle is the most popular type of door lock. It is used on the majority of all doors in both residential and commercial buildings. It's basic design is constructed from an interior handle, a lock chassis which is housed in a bored hole inside the door, and an exterior door handle. Lever door handles come in a variety of functions depending on your door application. Some of these functions include the Passage, Storeroom, Entrance, and Privacy lock functions. The lock chassis of the lever door handle differs depending on the lock type.

Are Lever Door Handles Universal

Left Hand or Right Hand

Most lever door handles are universal in the sense that they are non handed and can be used in a left hand or right hand door application. By simply rotating the lever door handle's configuration, the door lock can be used on the opposite door hand. Some lever door handles have unique lever style designs which can cause the door lock to be handed, however this is usually stated and clearly expressed by the manufacturer.

2-3/8" or 2-3/4" Backset

Lever door handles are designed to be installed inside of a cylindrical bored hole in the door. The distance from the leading edge of the door to the center line of the bored hole is known as backset. The majority of hollow metal steel doors and solid core wood doors have a 2-3/4" backset, while residential light grade doors typically use a 2-3/8" backset. Hollow metal steel door and solid core wood door manufacturers refer to this lock prep as "161" which refers to the door being prepped to accept a standard 2-3/4" backset lever lock. It is always best practice to measure your door's backset in order to verify that the lever door handle will be compatible with your door. A 2-3/4" backset lever lock cannot be installed on a 2-3/8" backset door, and vice versa.

Lever Door Handles and ADA Compliance

In 1990, Congress passed a law preventing discrimination against people with disabilities, known as ADA or the Americans With Disabilities Act. This law has resulted in some major changes in door requirements.

1. No Twisting Of The Wrist

In terms of door handles, ADA requirements eliminates the use of door knobs. Per ADA guidelines, all ADA compliant doors should require only one hand operation and not require tight grasping or twisting of the wrist. Since door knobs require twisting, they are not ADA compliant.

2. Mounted 36" to 48" Above The Ground

ADA compliant door lever handles must also be mounted between 36 inches and 48 inches above the floor.

3. Maintain Door System Opening Force Below 5Lb.

ADA compliant interior doors must have an opening force no greater than 5lbs. The door lever handle should maintain this metric and not add any additional opening force to the door system.

4. Easy To Use

ADA compliant door lever handles must be easy to use. They should not require alot of finger dexterity. It is best practice that the door lever handle can by operated loosely by hand or with a closed fist. There should not be simultaneous motion required or fine motor movement.

5. Provide Enough Clearance

The pedestrian should have enough knuckle clearance to grasp the door lever handle. For bars and pulls this is usually at least 1.5 inches.

Lever Door Handle Functions

Door lever handles come in a variety of functions. Luckily, the lock functions are very easy to remember and identify since the majority of them are named after the type of door application they are used in. For example, an storeroom lock function is typically used in a storeroom door application. Whereas an entrance lock function, is typically used in a front entry door application.