Choosing the Right Door Handles for Your Commercial Business: Design, Structure, and Australian Standards

You know how the first impression is everything, right? Well, that first impression often happens when someone grabs your door handle. Your door handle is one of the first things your customers, clients and staff will touch, so it’s important.

If your handle feels cheap or is hard to use, they might already start to question what your business is all about. With custom door handles, you get quality that lasts. They are designed for high-traffic areas and can handle constant use without looking worn out or falling apart.

You want a door handle that’s functional and tells people something about who you are as a business. Well, let’s review the nitty-gritty of custom door handles so you fully understand the criteria for selecting the perfect one for your business’ building.

Understanding the Structure of Door Handles

The structure of a door handle is where everything starts. If it’s not built right, it won’t work properly and might break down faster than you’d like, so let’s look into the components.

For starters, you have the backplate, the base of the handle, and the piece that attaches to the door. It needs to match the size and shape of your door perfectly, or the handle won’t sit right and could start to feel loose or unstable.

Then there’s the lever or pull handles. For a lot of spaces, especially high-traffic ones, levers are a good choice. They’re easy to grab and use, and they’re great for people of all abilities. But if you’re after a more modern, bold look, a long door handle with a pull feature should be what you go for.

Pull handles can give an entrance a really sophisticated feel, and of course, they are perfect for places like restaurants or shops that want to make a strong first impression.

And you can’t possibly forget about commercial-grade locks. Your handles need to be able to work with solid locking systems to keep your business as well as your customers secure.

The Importance of Door Handle Weight

Now, you might not think about it, but the weight of a door handle says a lot about its quality. And it’s not just about feeling solid and expensive; it has practical reasons behind it too.

If you choose a heavy-duty material like stainless steel or brass, your door handles will last much longer, especially if they’re being used in high-traffic spaces. These materials are tough, resistant to wear, and feel very high-end.

For example, brass door handles, with their timeless look, are perfect for restaurants or shops where quality matters.

Nonetheless, you should know that heavier isn’t always better. You don’t want a handle that’s too heavy, because it can be difficult to use for customers or staff, especially if they need to get through doors quickly.

Also, if it’s too heavy, it can actually wear out the door’s hinges or automatic door systems faster. The trick that usually helps is to find the right balance between weight, sturdiness, and ease of use.

Functionality Tailored to Commercial Needs

Every door handle, whether in a public or private setting, has to be easy to use, last a long time and be compliant with accessibility standards. Otherwise, it can cause problems for both customers and staff.

For one, the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) and AS 1428.1 standards in Australia make it very clear that commercial door handles must be accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities. That means handles should be easy to grip and operate, even for people in wheelchairs or with limited mobility.

If your handles don’t meet these standards, you stand to face two penalties: getting in trouble with the law or losing customers who struggle to use them. Sometimes, it’s both.

Another thing to consider is maintenance. Commercial spaces, like restaurants and offices, need door handles that are easy to clean and keep looking good. With all the people coming in and out, dirt, grease, and fingerprints are inevitable. Your best bet is getting architectural door hardware that is both durable and easy to wipe down without losing its shine.

Also, if your business uses automatic doors, your custom handles need to work seamlessly with those systems. You don’t want a handle that’s difficult to pull or push when the door opens automatically.

Design and Aesthetic Appeal

When people walk into your business, the door handle is often one of the first things they touch. So, your handle should not only work well but also look great.

Also, you do know that with custom-made door handles, you can really reflect your brand, right? Here’s an idea, you can incorporate your business’s logo or colour scheme into the design of the handle to really imprint on the minds of the customers as they walk in or leave.

A door handle with your logo or your café’s colour scheme could give your customers the feeling of “this is where I want to be” the second they touch it. It could also act as a reminder to your customers that you care about the finer things in life.

Also, if you want to grab attention right from the get-go, you could use oversized pull handles to make a big statement. People will surely take notice and remember that unique touch.

On the flip side, if you’re going for a more vintage or classic feel, then an ornate, detailed handle might be just what you need. The beauty of designer door handles is that you get to pick exactly what matches your space. It ties the whole thing together and creates a feeling that remains in the minds of your customers even after they have left your premises.

Trust Push or Pull to Give You a One of a Kind Door Handle

Great looking, built to last, and complies with Australian standards. Those are the three main criteria that make up the perfect bespoke door handle for every business.

Every business wants to stand out, right? Well, your door handles can be a subtle yet powerful way to show off your brand’s personality. We’re pleased to announce that Push or Pull is here to offer you solutions like no one else ever has. We know you need handles that can take the daily wear and tear, keep your customers comfortable, and make a statement about your business.

We’re not your average door handle provider. We know the challenges you face as business owners, architects, and designers. Over the years, we’ve worked with restaurants, offices, retail shops, and more, and we know that every detail matters.

Be it the weight of the handle or how it feels in your hand, every decision impacts the experience of your customers and staff. And we can all agree that when something doesn’t work or looks out of place, it stands out in a bad way.

We also know how important it is to follow the right standards and regulations, especially when it comes to accessibility. You don’t want to spend your time worrying about whether your door handles meet Australian standards like DDA and AS 1428.1, and you don’t have to.

Every business owner in Australia who’s particularly tired of settling for “good enough” or dealing with handles that don’t quite work for your space needs to reach out to us right away.