02/05/2026
Only a few things can kill momentum on construction projects faster than late-stage door hardware surprises. Here are 3 tips to prevent costly door hardware change orders on your projects...
🚨 1. Write Tight Specs Coordinated with Security Reqs & Life Safety Code
Many door hardware related change orders stem from loose or contradictory specifications, especially when life safety requirements and electronic access control functionality aren’t fully coordinated.
Ensuring your designers have a deep understanding of code requirements, system integration dependencies, and the owner’s functional needs reduces AHJ issues and prevents expensive rework.
If you don't want to bring in a specialized consultant for the full design, at least consider requesting a 3rd party specialist to provide QC.
🚨2. Consolidate Door Hardware + Access Control Design Under One Team
Split responsibilities between architects and MEPs during design often result in coordination issues between door hardware specifications, security designs, and life safety code requirements.
The result is mismatched hardware sets, missing electrified components, life safety code violations, and doors that won’t support the intended security functionality.
Leveraging a specialized expert for the security and door hardware design scope improves coordination, accelerates submittal turnaround, and gives project teams one accountable partner throughout the project life cycle.
🚨 3. Free is Never Free
As tempting as it can be, copy pasting old specs or hoping free specs from a manufacturer work for every door type on your project is a recipe for disaster.
Bring in a certified door hardware and security expert for complex projects so the door hardware specifications are tailored to your project and fully coordinated with security designs and life safety code requirements.
This eliminates coordination gaps, reduces submittal and RFI cycle times, and avoids unintended VE consequences.
