BHMA ISSUES REVISED STANDARDS FOR CABINET LOCKS
AND SELF-CLOSING HINGES & PIVOTS

Builders Hardware Standards Describe Tests and Set Criteria for Product Certification

NEW YORK, NY - The Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association (BHMA) announces the publication of ANSI/BHMA A156.11-2004 American National Standard for Cabinet Locks; and the publication of ANSI/BHMA A156.17-2004 American National Standard for Self Closing Hinges & Pivots. These publications are updates of earlier versions of the standards.

A156.17 covers requirements for various types of spring hinges, spring pivot hinges and gravity pivot hinges. It includes more than 25 illustrations of these and other related devices. Cycle tests, operational tests, finish tests, material and dimensional requirements are included in the standard.

The A156.11 standard provides descriptions of, and establishes performance requirements for, a wide range of lock types, including locks for chests, cabinet doors, cabinet drawers, file cabinets, lever handles, tee handles, locker, sliding doors, show cases and sliding glass doors. It details definitions, lock types, test procedures and performance standards.

Each of these standards describes the six-character, industry-standard identifiers for its respective products. The ANSI/BHMA A156.11 standard provides an identifier system for cabinet locks; and ANSI/BHMA A156.17 provides one for self-closing hinges and pivots. These identifier systems are useful to architects who would like to specify products generically while ensuring their performance meets the standard. Manufacturers can submit spring hinges and pivots covered by A156.17 to an independent laboratory to carry out the prescribed tests. Only those products that pass testing by an approved laboratory can claim BHMA certification. Certified products are listed in BHMA's certified product directory, which is regularly updated, published in book form and available online.

"These two standards apply to scores of different products in hundreds of applications encountered by millions of people every day," said Mike Tierney, Standards Coordinator for the Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association. "Whenever a student opens his locker or an office worker secures sensitive files for the evening, to discourage unauthorized access, chances are that the cabinet lock was designed to meet the cabinet lock standard. Likewise, standards for self-closing hinges and pivots are essential for the smooth, reliable and safe opening and closing of doors in commercial buildings. Broken locks and stuck doors occur when manufacturers ignore these standards and specifiers settle for substitutes instead of using genuine builders hardware."

For more information, or to purchase copies of the ANSI/BHMA A156.11-2004 and A156.17-2004 standards, please visit BHMA's web site at www.buildershardware.com. Purchased standards are available as printed documents or as electronic files (PDF) for immediate download. You can also order standards by phone by calling 800-699-9277.

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