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Certain places of business can benefit from a hands-free door kit, especially those which handle sensitive materials or cater to people who will have their hands full.

Employees who come into contact with harmful substances or who have their hands occupied may find it difficult to move around a building outfitted with traditional hardware kits. In this post we’ll go over how hands-free doors work and the best uses for them in Boston.

What is a hands-free door?

A hands-free door is exactly what it sounds like. I door which operates without having to physically touch it. Generally, these doors are operated using a ‘wave to open’ sensor, like on automatic doors, to activate doors without coming into physical contact with anything in the process. This goes a long way in preventing the transmission of substances which should be handled with care.

Best places to install

Hands-free mechanisms should be used around any area where you’re going to have people entering or exiting who cannot use their hands. Hands-free mechanisms are also good for helping prevent people from coming into accidental contact with something that may harm them such as healthcare professionals and hospitals or people who work in laboratories. Aside from installing in rooms where employees are handling dangerous elements, nurses caring for elderly patients or babies who keep their hands full can move through doorways with ease.

Are hands-free door kits useful for any type of business?

Yes! Every business could use a hands-free door kit in the one place no one wants to touch anything or if you have a business where people are carrying things. Examples of good businesses for hands-free door kits include shipping locations, hotels, hospitals, laboratories, physician offices and warehouses. Laboratories, medical facilities or any other business in which people are handling potentially dangerous materials should consider installing hands-free door kits. Warehouse workers would also find value in using hands-free door kits. Constantly having full hands and pushing around dollies stacked sky high with boxes can make it incredibly difficult to get through a doorway without third party assistance. A hands-free door would come in handy in this scenario.

What comes in a hands-free door kit?

Hands-free kits are power operated which means your best bet is to hire a professional to install. The kit requires the wave-to-open sensor and the physical mechanism which opens and closes the door. Several variations are available depending on the type of lock installed on the door (mortise, cylindrical, etc) so be sure to procure the version most suitable for the door it’s being installed on.

If you’re interested in a hands-free door kit, contact Kenny’s Lock for a professional opinion and installation assistance!

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During the holiday season, businesses have the opportunity to increase sales like no other time of the year. Professionals are ensuring they’ve got enough in stock to meet increased demand and staff are working longer hours to accommodate holiday shoppers.

While business owners can look forward to this bump in revenue, they must also remember that the increased foot traffic makes it more difficult to spot shop lifters and thieves. Here are some tips to help get you through the holidays without incident.

1. Install Security Cameras

Chances are you have installed a security camera system throughout your building. If you haven’t, now would be a good time to shop around for one. If you’ve already got one installed, take steps to ensure it’s not only working properly but that it’s capturing all areas necessary to prevent theft. For instance, if you regularly move displays or have large holiday décor up for the season, you may have created blind spots from your cameras. Take the time to review each camera’s vantage point and adjust where necessary.

2. Monitor Employee Accountability

No matter the precautions taken when hiring staff there’s still a chance that you’re at risk for employee theft. To err on the side of caution, try a few of these tips:

• Enact a buddy system: Schedule staff so that there’s never only one person working at any given time. The more staff you have roaming your business the less likely it is you’ll be a victim of employee theft.
• Install a safe: There’s more at risk than simply front of store merchandise. Keep important papers and cash in a business safe that only you and other trusted employees have access to.
• Change locks: Disgruntled employees may see the holidays as an opportunity to exact their revenge on their former employer and if they had access to store keys you could be at risk for a break in. Rekeying your locks every so often will help ensure that any unauthorized copies will be all but useless in the future.
• Install a master key system: Master key systems are perhaps one of the best ways to keep employees out of places they’re not authorized to enter year round. A master key system is a hierarchy system where you can plan out which keys will access various parts of your building. This limits access to areas storing sensitive information or high value items only to authorized individuals. 

3. Maintain Entries and Exits

You may have invested in quality doors and locks when first moving into your building, but when was the last time you performed a standard door maintenance check? Take a walk through your building and check for debris in door strikes which could prevent them from closing properly, verify that all batteries are still in good shape, check locking mechanisms and that all door closures are functioning. If any of these items are malfunctioning, you could be leaving your doors literally wide open for intruders.

If you’re looking to lower your chances of theft during the holidays and are in the Boston area, contact Kenny’s Lock for more information.

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Every business, especially those that see a lot of foot traffic, need to have all exit doors outfitted with panic hardware.

If you own a restaurant, bar, theater, or any other venue holding large amounts of people at once, choosing the proper panic hardware to provide optimal exiting functions is incredibly important.

What is Panic Hardware?

Panic hardware, also known as crash bars or panic bars, is meant to quickly and easily unlock doors in emergency situations. The spring-loaded metal bar is placed horizontally across the door from the inside to an out swinging door.

Panic Hardware vs Fire Door Hardware

While the door operating mechanisms look similar, there is a different between a door outfitted with panic hardware and one which has fire exit hardware. Building codes will help you determine which you require. Often times, business owners will use these mechanisms interchangeably, which is why it’s important to address here.

Panic hardware is to be used on doors which require panic hardware but cannot be used as a fire door. This type of hardware generally has a dogging feature allowing the latches to be retracted creating a push/pull function.

Fire door hardware must be tested for both panic features and suitable for fire conditions. Fire door hardware does not utilize the dogging feature as they require positive-latching at all times. Again, check building codes before installing to save yourself from frustration down the road.

Types of Panic Hardware

There are three primary styles of panic hardware which you can choose based on aesthetic preference, door design and other determining factors.

• Touchpad: The most common type of panic hardware, the touchpad version allows for a certain degree of flexibility if you need an electrified option. You can choose from an electrified lever trim, electric latch retraction or delayed egress.
• Crossbar: This style is most often used when you have a glass door since it visually takes up the least amount of space. This version does, however, limit your electrified options. Since this is a slim style of panic hardware it doesn’t have the internal space to house necessary mechanisms for certain electrified options.
• Recessed: Recessed panic hardware reduces the projection of the hardware from the door itself but requires you to cut into the door which will likely limit the types of doors you’d be able to install.

Additional Options

Personalizing your panic hardware to your aesthetic and functional needs is simple since there are so many options available.

• Trims and controls: Knob and thumbpiece options are available if you don’t want a bar affixed to your doors. These are most appropriate for storerooms, classrooms and for electrified functions. Varying types of commercial doors and locks are compatible with panic hardware but not all will be a great fit. Be sure to consider all door mechanisms to be used before making your purchase.
• Finishes: If looks are important to your business, you’ll be pleasantly surprised to learn that panic hardware comes in a variety of finishes to match your interior décor. You can order in standard or custom colors.
• Dogging: Dogging panic hardware makes for easier exiting and saves on wear and tear on hardware. If you choose to have your hardware dogged, be sure that there are no obstructions that will block the door from closing properly which could now leave you faced with security risks.

If you’re interested in installing panic hardware at your Boston area business, contact Kenny’s Lock today!

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Ever walk up to a door with your hands full and realize that it’s not an automatic door? You then have to decide how you’re going to make this work: use your foot? Balance all items on one arm? Wait for the next person to come by and open it for you? If the business you were visiting were to have just invested in automatic doors, you wouldn’t be faced with this inconvenience. Besides being more convenient, automatic doors provide several other benefits to commercial businesses.

Benefits of Automatic Doors

Convenience

We’ve now mentioned this a few times already, but they truly are much more convenient than a traditional manually operated door. Pulling commercial doors open can be difficult for people even if they’re not carrying anything. For instance, elderly people or individuals in wheelchairs or otherwise impaired may find it very difficult to pull a commercial grade door open. They also eliminate the dreaded push or pull debacle because they do the work for you. 

Customer Satisfaction

The majority of customers place a high level of importance on automatic doors. Recent consumer research studies have shown that 98.9 percent of consumers who expressed a preference between automatic or manual doors preferred automatic. They especially found it important to use automatic doors in places such as hospitals, airports, hotels/motels,  shopping mall entrances and retail stores. Outfitting your commercial building with automatic doors shows customers that you care about their experience while visiting your establishment. Going out of your way to provide amenities which better your customer’s overall experience go a long way and if your clients don’t have to put up with a physical hassle every time they pop in they’ll be more likely to return. Being easy to do business with goes beyond a great return policy and amiable staff. 

Security

Automatic doors provide a means of security that traditional commercial doors cannot. Often times, automatic doors will have electronic locking mechanisms that can be activated from a control switch. Although traditional doors may have heavy duty locking mechanisms, they usually require some sort of manual manipulation of the door itself. With automatic doors, locking can happen instantly giving you a better chance of securing your facility before incident. 

Top Ten Reasons to Install Automatic Doors

According to the American Association of Automatic Doors, here are the top ten reasons you should look into installing them at your place of business:

1. More choices: automatic doors come in a multitude of colors and finishes
2. Customers prefer automatic doors: research has proven that the majority of customers prefer to not use their hands when opening doors
3. Convenience: enable easy access and let your customers know you care about their experience at your establishment
4. Image:  automatic doors are more impressive and modern than traditional models
5. Easy to own, use and maintain: when installed and maintained properly, automatic doors are nearly trouble-free
6. Cost/value: if properly maintained, these doors pay for themselves in relation to energy savings and convenience
7. Energy savings: automatic doors can significantly reduce annual heating/cooling costs
8. Safety: all automatic doors must comply with the American National Standard for Power Operated Pedestrian Doors meaning that consistent and safe operation is guaranteed
9. ADA compliance and elderly access: automatic doors are safe and convenient for all users regardless of physical capabilities
10. Network of professionals: if affiliated with the AAADM, customers will receive the benefit of all the organization has to offer

If you’re looking for a professional locksmith in the Boston area to help you with determining your commercial door and lock needs or if you just require trusted locksmith services,  contact Kenny’s Lock today!