Door Ironmongery Schedules for Refurbishment Projects

A commercial refurbishment can look finished while a missing closer, wrong latch or unsuitable hinge leaves the door unsafe and difficult to use.

Clear door ironmongery schedules prevent those mistakes. They connect each opening with the correct hardware, performance requirements, finish and installation detail. That matters even more when a project reuses existing frames, changes access control or upgrades fire protection.

A reliable schedule gives contractors one agreed reference. It also helps the design team spot clashes before ordering and gives facilities staff useful information after handover.

What door ironmongery schedules need to achieve

An ironmongery schedule records the hardware required for each doorset. It should identify the door location, function, handing, leaf and frame construction, hardware set, finish and any special performance requirement.

The schedule must describe how the door needs to work, rather than listing attractive products in isolation. A lever handle, closer or lock may be suitable on one opening but wrong for a fire exit, accessible entrance or busy loading route.

A schedule is more than a product list

A good schedule answers practical questions before work begins:

• Which way does the door open, and which side receives the hinges?
• Does the opening need controlled access, free escape or both?
• Is the door fire-resisting, security-rated, acoustic or weather-exposed?
• Does the existing frame accept the proposed hinges, lock case and closer?
• Will the selected finish match adjacent doors and other metalwork?
• Does the hardware need monitoring, alarm release or connection to access control?

Each answer affects the specification. For example, a door leading into a plant room may need a robust lock and controlled entry. A door on an escape route may need panic hardware, external access control and a fire-rated self-closing arrangement.

Record the whole doorset

Hardware cannot be separated from the door leaf and frame. The schedule should identify seals, glazing beads, thresholds, kick plates, coordinators, signage and fixing requirements where they affect performance.

Refurbishment projects also need a clear status for each opening. Mark items as retain, refurbish, replace or inspect. That approach prevents a contractor from assuming that every existing component can remain.

Start with a door-by-door site survey

Existing information is often incomplete on older commercial properties. Drawings may show a door location but omit the frame depth, previous alterations or the condition of the hardware.

A site survey gives the schedule a reliable starting point. It should cover every opening affected by the refurbishment, including doors that appear serviceable.

Verify existing conditions

Measure the leaf, frame, clear opening, threshold and reveal. Record the material, thickness and condition of the door, then check whether the frame is square and sound enough for new hardware.

The survey should also identify:

• Existing lock cases, cylinders and key systems.
• Hinge type, size, condition and fixing pattern.
• Closer position and fixing strength.
• Floor level changes that affect thresholds or door clearance.
• Existing access control, automatic operators and release devices.
• Damage, distortion, loose fixings or signs of repeated impact.

Fire doors need extra care. A new lock or closer may require cutting into the leaf or frame, which can affect the tested doorset. Alterations should follow the door manufacturer’s instructions and be completed by a competent installer.

Give every opening a clear identity

Use a consistent reference such as D-101 or FD-204. The same reference should appear on the drawings, schedule, door tags, quotation, installation records and handover documents.

Describe the location in plain language as well. “Ground floor corridor door to stair enclosure” is more useful than a number alone. Include the door’s purpose, such as staff access, public entrance, escape route, service access or loading-bay connection.

Where the project includes fire exits, the schedule should align with the fire strategy and approved drawings. A specialist survey may also confirm whether the opening needs fire exit door installation rather than a hardware-only replacement.

Include every hardware category

Schedules often fail because they cover handles and locks but omit the components that make the door operate safely. List each item required for a complete installation, even when the same item appears on several doors.

Cover the core ironmongery

A standard commercial doorset may require hinges, a lock or latch, lever handles, a cylinder, escutcheons, a closer, door stops and signage. Double doors may need a coordinator, rebated meeting stile hardware or an astragal.

The schedule should state the product type, size, grade, material, finish and fixing method. It should also state whether the item is supplied with the door, by the ironmongery contractor or by the access-control installer.

For locks and latches on fire-resisting doors, check the relevant performance evidence. BS 8214:2026 references BS EN 12209 and other applicable locking-device standards, depending on the intended function.

The same care applies to hinges. Single-axis hinges on fire doors should conform to BS EN 1935 and support the door’s weight, closer force and required fire performance.

Add controls and specialist interfaces

Powered doors and high-cycle openings need more than conventional door furniture. Include operators, sensors, safety devices, manual release points, emergency break-out arrangements and power requirements.

Hold-open devices need coordination with the fire alarm system. The schedule should identify the release method, wiring responsibility, testing requirements and action when the alarm activates.

Access control also needs clear ownership. Record readers, keypads, electric locks, request-to-exit devices, door contacts, emergency overrides and any required monitoring. A hardware schedule cannot replace an access-control schematic, but both documents must agree.

Roller shutters and rapid doors usually need their own equipment schedule. Still, their controls, safety edges, interlocks and emergency operation should appear on the overall door register so the refurbishment team can coordinate the complete opening.

Check fire safety and accessibility requirements

Hardware selection affects escape, fire containment and everyday use. A visually consistent finish does not make an unsuitable item acceptable.

Match the hardware to fire performance

For a public escape route, panic exit hardware to BS EN 1125 is commonly appropriate because users may need to operate the door without prior instruction. BS EN 1125 panic exit devices use a horizontal bar arrangement designed for rapid escape.

BS EN 179 covers emergency exit devices where occupants are expected to understand how the exit works. The choice depends on the building, occupants, fire strategy and management arrangements.

A fire door should close fully and latch without excessive force. BS EN 1154 covers controlled door closers, while BS EN 17372 applies to powered pedestrian swing door operators with a self-closing function. The selected closer must overcome latch resistance and work with the hinges, seals and door weight.

Useful checks include:

• The closer suits the door size, weight and exposure.
• Hinges support the leaf and remain securely fixed.
• The lock or latch is compatible with the fire doorset.
• Intumescent protection is installed where the tested system requires it.
• Hold-open or swing-free devices release correctly on alarm.
• Fire and escape signage matches the door’s function.

The fire door ironmongery requirements guide provides a useful explanation of the distinction between emergency exit and panic exit hardware. For further practical reference, fire door hardware guidance also covers marked hardware and fitting considerations.

Standards support the design, but they are not a substitute for legal compliance. In England, the project must meet the applicable Building Regulations, approved fire strategy and fire safety duties. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own regulatory frameworks.

Make daily operation accessible

Accessible doors need suitable opening forces, furniture and clear space. BS 8300-2 and Approved Document M are common reference points for inclusive door design.

Published UK guidance commonly cites a maximum opening force of 30 N between 0 and 30 degrees, then 22.5 N between 30 and 60 degrees for many single and double swing doors. The project specification should confirm the exact requirement and testing method.

Lever handles are usually easier to operate than knobs. Position the handle, cylinder and access-control reader where users can find and use them without awkward reaching. Avoid hardware that requires tight gripping, twisting or excessive force.

Door closers need particular attention. A closer that protects fire safety but makes an entrance difficult to open may create an accessibility problem. Low-friction hinges, suitable closer settings, backcheck where appropriate and automatic operators can help, but the complete doorset must be tested after installation.

Coordinate the schedule with refurbishment work

Ironmongery arrives late in the programme only when the schedule starts late. Early coordination avoids rework, especially where new finishes, ceilings, access control and fire alarm works meet the door.

Resolve interfaces before ordering

Review the schedule with the architect, door manufacturer, main contractor, fire consultant, security contractor and facilities representative. Confirm who supplies each item and who installs, wires, tests and commissions it.

Check the following before placing an order:

• Door handing and swing direction.
• Frame dimensions and reinforcement.
• Lock backset and cylinder position.
• Closer fixing zones and power requirements.
• Threshold, floor finish and drainage details.
• Access-control wiring and containment.
• Fire alarm connections and release behaviour.
• Door signage, vision panels and protection plates.

This review is particularly important when a refurbishment changes an internal door into a controlled entrance or escape door. The new function may require a different door leaf, frame or fire strategy, not only new handles.

Control substitutions and record the result

A cheaper alternative may have a different backset, fixing pattern, fire test range or operating force. Require written approval for substitutions, with evidence that the replacement matches the original performance requirement.

At handover, issue the final schedule rather than the tender version. Include installed product references, keys and cylinders, access-control details, maintenance instructions, test results, warranties and photographs where they help identify concealed equipment.

The GAI commercial guide is useful background for teams coordinating commercial ironmongery, specifications and installation responsibilities.

Choose hardware around the building’s use

The right set depends on traffic, users, security risk, fire performance and maintenance access. A refurbishment should avoid applying one generic hardware set across every opening.

Commercial area	Typical schedule priorities	Points to confirm
Public entrance	Automatic operation, accessibility and controlled entry	Clear opening, sensors, safety devices and emergency release
Office and staff areas	Lever furniture, access control and durability	User familiarity, keying plan and escape function
Retail or mall unit	Security, public escape and appearance	Panic hardware, external access and finish consistency
Warehouse or factory	High-cycle operation and impact resistance	Closer duty, protection plates, traffic flow and service access
Plant or service room	Restricted access and robust locking	Fire rating, cylinder system and authorised users
Hospital or care setting	Easy operation, hygiene and reliable escape	Opening force, cleanable finishes and alarm interfaces

Busy industrial openings may need high-speed door installation rather than a conventional hinged door. That choice affects sensors, safety edges, control stations and maintenance access.

A secure plant-room entrance may suit fire-rated personnel steel doors, provided the fire rating, hardware and frame are specified as a compatible set. Public-facing entrances with regular foot traffic may need automatic door installation and a separate control schedule.

The finish should also suit the working environment. Stainless steel may be appropriate for heavy-use or hygiene-sensitive areas, while powder-coated finishes can support a coordinated interior scheme. Specify the finish consistently across handles, plates, closers and other visible hardware.

Use the schedule after installation

A schedule remains useful after the refurbishment ends. Facilities teams can use it to identify replacement parts, confirm which doors require routine inspection and record changes to cylinders or access permissions.

Maintenance records should link back to the door reference. If a closer fails, the engineer should be able to see its type, size, fire requirement and installation position without removing unrelated hardware.

Inspect fire doors at suitable intervals and act on defects such as failed closers, loose hinges, damaged seals, faulty latches or doors that no longer close correctly. Never assume that a familiar-looking replacement part has the same performance as the original.

Where existing openings are uncertain, a professional survey can separate repairable hardware from doors that need replacement. UK Doors & Shutters provides commercial door surveys, installation, repairs and maintenance across the North West. You can Contact Us to discuss a refurbishment requirement or arrange a site assessment.

Conclusion

Effective door ironmongery schedules give every opening a defined purpose, compatible hardware and a clear installation record. They reduce ordering errors, protect fire and accessibility performance, and help contractors coordinate doors with security, electrical and building works.

Start with a thorough survey, specify the complete doorset, confirm standards and interfaces, then update the schedule at handover. When each door is treated as part of the building’s wider safety and access system, refurbishment work produces safer, more reliable results.