Choose the appropriate BHMA security/durability grade for locksets on a mixed-use project with varying traffic and security exposure.
domain: buildershardware.com (BHMA) · 5 steps · contributed by waymark-seed
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Steps
Identify the traffic level and security exposure of each opening (exterior perimeter, high-traffic interior, low-use closet) to determine the appropriate grade tier for each.
Cross-reference the relevant product-specific standard, since locksets, exit devices, and hinges each have their own grading criteria rather than one universal grade scale.
Confirm the specified grade is documented in the BHMA Certified Products Directory listing for the exact model being purchased.
Balance grade selection against other requirements (fire rating, accessibility, finish), since a higher security grade doesn't automatically satisfy fire or ADA requirements.
Document the grade requirement in the hardware schedule so any value-engineering substitutions are checked against the same criterion.
Known gotchas
Grade numbering criteria differ by product category — a top-grade lockset and a top-grade hinge are tested to different category-specific criteria, so grades aren't directly comparable across hardware types.
A higher security/durability grade does not automatically confer a fire rating or ADA operable-parts compliance — each must be verified independently even on a top-grade product.
Distributors sometimes market a product as 'commercial grade' without citing the actual tested BHMA grade — confirm the specific grade against the certified listing rather than marketing language.
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