Subscriber Discussion

Suggestions For Access Control For In-Swinging Glass Door

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Richard Lavin
May 01, 2018
Salas O'Brien • IPVMU Certified

I need to put access control on a glass door in a glass wall system.  This door has only top and bottom rails and a horizontal mullion running along the top of the door.  There are no side rails on the door nor vertical mullions.  The door swings into the room:

Any suggestions on options for access control?  The client is very sensitive to aesthetics.  My first thought was a concealed shear mag lock in the top mullion (even though I typically hate mag locks and try to avoid them).  Can anyone suggest any other options?  Any suggestions are appreciated.

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Brian Rhodes
May 01, 2018
IPVMU Certified

Hello Richard. Check this out, from: Glass Doors and Access Control Tutorial

When neither strikes nor maglocks can be used, a specialty lock is often the only option. Rutherford Controls International offers the 3360 and 3371 glass-door retrofit devices. They are neither a maglock nor strike, but are still abled to be locked/unlocked by standard door controllers:

Both products feature a 'swinging strikebox' that when locked is stationary and not not permit door swing. When unlocked, the motion of the door moves the strike box, and when door is closed the 'bolt' returns back into the box which returns to 'locked' position.

While the actions of the hardware are the same, the mounting surfaces differ. The 3360 is glued directly onto glass slabs, while the 3371 must be mounted into a door rail or accompanying frame.

This video demo shows the RCI 3371 in action:

Both products are 'Fail Safe' devices, include Latch Monitoring switches, and are available in 12V or 24V DC types.

Pricing

Internet pricing for the 3371 is less expensive than the 3360, but requires additional labor and supplies to install:

RCI 3360: ~$625 online, and includes materials and adhesive to prep doors for install.

RCI 3371: ~$400 online, but may require additional rail prep or mounting hardware.

Both devices are 'non-handed' and can be reversed in the field according to door swing. A potentially important constraint is the matter of exposed power wiring that must be run inside of conduit or otherwise concealed to prevent tamper. This conduit could disrupt the 'clean' installed appearance of the 3360 or require additional clearance inside the mounting rail of the 3371.

The manufacturer recommends either options be powered with independently fused power supplies, and does not recommend powering them from door controllers. This potentially adds an additional $25 - $50 in cost per device.

(2)
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Richard Lavin
May 01, 2018
Salas O'Brien • IPVMU Certified

I don't think the owner would sign off on the look of the 3360.  

I though about the 3371 but, since there is a top rail on the door, I don't think that would work.  If I understand the 3371 correctly, we would need to have bare glass edge against the top horizontal mullion if the 3371 was mounted at the top.  The top rail would be too thick for the 3371 to grab it.  Lacking a vertical side mullion, it's not an option to put it on the side.

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Will Doherty
May 01, 2018
Liberty Consulting, Inc • IPVMU Certified

Richard,

 

Have you called C R Lawrence?  They have solutions for most glass door and storefront applications.  

C.R. Lawrence

 

Good luck.  Got to love in-swinging glass doors and security.  

(1)
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Richard Lavin
May 01, 2018
Salas O'Brien • IPVMU Certified

I've used their Blumcraft panic hardware for out-swinging glass doors.  I'll take a look through the C. R. Laurence website again and see if they have anything that would work for an in-swinging door.

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Richard Lavin
May 02, 2018
Salas O'Brien • IPVMU Certified

Hi Will.

After some digging, I did find some Blumcraft hardware from CRL that will work with an in-swinging glass door.

There is the DB100 Series top-securing deadbolt handles.  Here is one example.

DBR100A

Here is another style

DBR160J

With the spring-loaded roller latch bolt, an electric strike can be used in the top mullion to electrify the door.  There are other handle styles available for either doors with a top rail or without.

(1)
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Will Doherty
May 03, 2018
Liberty Consulting, Inc • IPVMU Certified

Richard,

Nice.  I am glad they had a solution for it.  I have used C R Lawrence in the past and everything worked out well.  We did not have any call back or warranty issues.  

If you remember do you mind posting after the project closes and let me know how it all worked out and if you had to make any last minute "field" modifications or decisions? 

Good luck with the project.  

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Richard Lavin
May 03, 2018
Salas O'Brien • IPVMU Certified

Also, for anyone who might be following this post and is familiar with the Blumcraft exit devices for frameless glass doors, I've found that Assa Abloy now has an equivalent product.

PDU-8000

Here is the cut sheet.

I have not used it on any projects yet, so I can't speak to the quality.  I can just report its existence.  Options are always good.

Note that this is a panic device that is similar to the Blumcraft PA100 series panic devices.  As such, it would only be appropriate on an out-swinging glass door.

(2)
U
Undisclosed #1
May 04, 2018

Great stuff, Richard. I have been wondering when someone would launch an alternative to the CRL products. While good, they are insanely expensive and difficult to obtain information on. I don't expect that Assa is going to improve the former, but the latter is already substantially improved since they actually have a functioning website with product information visible.

Also, it's interesting to note that the strikes being used here are the same ones spec'd by CRL (Folger Adams), so it's not like there isn't some familiarity there with how they operate...

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Richard Lavin
May 17, 2018
Salas O'Brien • IPVMU Certified

I've found that dormakaba also has an equivalent to the Blumcraft panic hardware

DG1000

here is the cut sheet

Like the Assa Abloy PDU-8000, this is an equivalent to the Blumcraft PA100 series panic hardware.

 

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