Hinges

There are six basic types of hinges:

FULL MORTISE: The standard hinge unless something else is called for.
HALF MORTISE: This is usually used on channel iron frames with a hollow metal or wood door.
HALF SURFACE: This is sometimes used when you are installing a new door into an existing frame.
FULL SURFACE: This is usually used on tubular steel doors with channel iron frames.
INVISIBLE: These hinges are concealed inside the door and frame for aesthetics.
CONTINUOUS: This is most often used in extremely heavy duty applications.  These hinges will usually be geared and run from the top to the bottom of the door.

Always use the door as the reference, so a half mortise hinge would be mortised into the door and surface applied to the frame as a half surface hinge would be surface applied to the door and mortised into the frame.

The most common hinge for commercial doors and frames is the 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" 5 Knuckle Square Corner. Although there are many other sizes and styles available, this is the hinge that is used unless something else is specified. Round corner hinges are usually used on wood prehung units. All wood doors that will be installed in a hollow metal frame will have the square corner hinges unless something else is specified. The first number in the size always refers to the height of the hinge while the second number always refers to the width of the hinge in an open position.

On exterior outswing doors it is a good idea to have some kind of means of security so that the hinge pin cannot be removed to gain entry into the building. This is usually done with a non removable pin (NRP) hinge. This hinge has a set screw in the barrel that is only accessible when the door is in the open position. The set screw is tightened down against the hinge pin after installation so that the pin cannot be removed once the door is closed.

On fire rated doors and frames, you have to use steel or stainless steel ball bearing hinges. Brass and bronze hinges will melt under extreme heat causing the door to fall out of the frame.

Spring hinges will close the door automatically like a door closer, but there is no "sweep" and "latch" control. The only adjustment is how fast the door will close.

Double acting hinges will allow the door to open in and out. This is used when people will be exiting and entering often out of the same door. A good example of this application is a kitchen door in a restaurant.

We keep a full line of Hager hinges in stock in all of the applications mentioned above as well as many different finishes. We also have other types of hinges available such as swing clear, pivot, continuous, concealed, electric, and many others.