The Rise of Smart and Electrified Door Hardware

From offices and hospitals to schools and airports, building owners are increasingly relying on electrified locks, sensors, and automated door systems to improve both convenience and security. As buildings become more connected and security expectations evolve, smart and electrified door hardware is rapidly transforming how facilities manage access, safety, and efficiency. Behind these innovations, industry standards developed by organizations like BHMA play a vital role in ensuring system integration, safety, and performance. 

Electrified door hardware refers to mechanical hardware components that integrate electrical functionality. Examples of these include electrified locks and exit devices, electric strikes, access control integrations, and automated door operators. These systems allow doors to be controlled remotely, monitored in real time, or even integrated into broader building management and security systems.  

As more companies and individuals rely on these systems, it becomes more essential that these products meet consistent performance benchmarks. Several ANSI/BHMA standards address electrified and automated hardware systems. For example: 

• ANSI/BHMA A156.25 establishes performance requirements for electrified locking devices, helping guarantee reliability in applications where electronic access control is used.  

• ANSI/BHMA A156.10 and ANSI/BHMA A156.19 address power-operated pedestrian doors and low-energy door operators, which are commonly used in healthcare facilities, airports, and other high-traffic buildings. 

These standards define critical testing procedures for durability, safety, and operational performance, i.e. automated doors must meet specific requirements for opening speed, obstruction detection, and emergency operation to protect building occupants. Electrified locking systems must demonstrate consistent performance across thousands of cycles to make sure the prodcuts can withstand the demands of commercial environments. 

In addition, the industry is examining the broader impacts of electrified hardware as buildings continue to adopt connected technologies. Newer standards initiatives, such as BHMA’s latest standard ANSI/BHMA A156.45 for Determination of Builders Hardware Energy Comsumption, establish methods for determining the energy consumption of externally powered builders hardware. It outlines testing procedures that measure energy use in defined operational scenarios, allowing for more consistent and comparable data across different types of electrified hardware. 

By creating a standardized approach to measuring energy consumption, ANSI/BHMA A156.45 provides manufacturers with a clear framework for evaluating product performance and identifying opportunities for improved efficiency. It also helps manufacturers, specifiers, and building owners better understand how electrified hardware contributes to a building’s overall energy use.  

For architects, specifiers, and facility managers, the growing use of electrified hardware emphasizes the importance of selecting products that meet recognized industry standards. BHMA standards provide a trusted framework for evaluating performance, safety, and durability so as doors become smarter, they also remain reliable. 

With clear standards guiding development and performance, the industry is well positioned to support the next generation of connected, secure, and efficient spaces. 

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