Security hinges prevent theft and vandalism by making it difficult to remove doors by tampering with the hinges. They can be used on external doors and have fire ratings. Features such as flanges and set screws hold the pins in place. Installing security hinges may require retrofitting. Consider weight and fire resistance ratings when choosing safety hinges.
A security hinge is a protective feature that prevents potential crimes, such as theft or vandalism, by making it difficult to remove a door by tampering with the hinges. They can be used on external doors for security, as well as in protected structures where containment is needed within a building. As well as providing protection from threats such as vandalism, most also have a fire rating indicating how long they should remain intact in high heat conditions. Hardware and home improvement stores sell security hinges and accessories that can be used to convert existing hinges to make them more secure.
One problem with hinges is that if the hinge pins are pointing out, you can dislodge them and thus remove the door. The security hinge can use several features to make it difficult to remove the hinge pins or difficult to remove the door by removing the hinge pins. For example, flanges and set screws can hold the pins in place, or captive screws can hold the two sides of the safety hinge together even after the hinge pin has been removed. Vandals may try to break in by tampering with the hinges, but they should hold out long enough to dissuade them or allow someone to notice and ask for assistance.
Installing security hinges may require removing existing hinges to place new ones or retrofitting hinges to install a feature such as a pin. An important consideration is that fixing the door could also make the job more difficult in the future. The same features that prevent the door from being removed when it’s not wanted can also make it difficult when people need to work on it. For example, the flanges on the pivot will make it necessary to completely remove the safety hinge to remove a door. This could be a problem in the future if a door needs to be repainted or repaired.
When choosing safety hinges, it is important to consider weight and fire resistance ratings. The safety hinge should be heavy enough to support the weight of the door and the intended uses. Armored doors should ideally be heavy to make them difficult to break down and add fire resistance, and hinges can provide insight into how much weight they can comfortably handle. Fire ratings provide an estimate of how long hinges will last in the event of a fire, and firefighters can provide specific recommendations on the best ratings for a given structure.
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