NEW YORK, NY (February 25, 2015) – The Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association (BHMA) in January received approval from the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) to publish the organization’s first set of residential standards. ANSI/BHMA A156.39-2015 Residential Locksets & Latches and ANSI/BHMA A156.40-2015 Residential Deadbolts are now published and available for purchase.
Both standards establish performance requirements for products used in single and multifamily dwellings and include tests for durability, strength, and finish. ANSI/BHMA 156.39-2015 requires locksets to test through at least 400,000 cycles of opening and closing with a 5-pound load, as well as pass 11 aggressive tests to ensure locks provide the required level of security. ANSI/BHMA 156.40-2015 requires deadbolts to test through the same number of cycles, but products tested to this standard must pass seventeen security tests, one of which involves 1,350 pounds of force to be loaded against the deadbolt.
“For the first time, BHMA is bringing the same rigorous standards to residential products as we have to commercial,” said Ralph Vasami, BHMA Executive Director. “We are currently planning a consumer education program designed to better inform the general public about the benefits of installing certified hardware in their homes.”
The residential standards program will include a new, exclusively residential label to be affixed onto ANSI/BHMA-approved products or packaging, an educational consumer website, and direct outreach to major retailers. The program will focus on raising consumer awareness about the benefits of purchasing certified hardware and advise them to look for the new BHMA Residential label. It is due to launch later this year.
Full scopes for all ANSI/BHMA standards can be found on the BHMA website at http://buildershardware.com/bhma-standards. For more information on ANSI/BHMA standards, please contact Tim Bennett at [email protected].
