How To Install or Replace A Storefront Door Pull Handle and Push Bar
Commercial storefront door handle play an important role in a storefront door. Without a pull handle or push bar, customers will not be able to enter or exit your store. Having an ADA compliant pull handle and push bar is essential for any business or commercial building. In this guide, we explain step by step how to install an outside straight pull handle with an inside mounted push bar or an outside offset pull handle with an inside mounted push bar.
Step 1: Remove Existing Pull Handle and Push Bar
The first step is to remove the existing pull handle and push bar. For more information on this, please refer to our guide "How To Remove A Storefront Door Pull Handle."
Step 2: Attach Top Portion Of Pull Handle To Door
Each storefront door push and pull set includes hardware. Whether you have an outside straight pull handle or an outside offset pull handle, the installation will be the same. The common end of the pull handle is the end which is designed to join with the inside mounted push bar. The outside pull handle common end is always the top portion of the pull handle. Insert the thru bolt with the union head through the door stile's original prep hole from the old, existing pull handle. The union head should be facing the push bar side of the door, with the threads of the thru bolt facing the top portion of the pull handle. Thread the thru bolt snugly into the pull handle. If not threaded in snug, the pull handle will be loose on the door and will eventually fall apart.
Step 3: Attach The Push Bar and Bottom Portion Of Pull Handle
This next step really is dependent on the hardware chosen for the pull handle and push bar combination. On a standard push and pull set, the hardware for the common end of the pull handle that joins the push bar can be chosen to be a thru bolt type or concealed type. The most common hardware type is the thru bolt type for the common end. With this hardware type a finish washer and thru bolt fastener head can be seen on the inside of the door where the the non-common end pull handle (bottom portion of the pull handle) attaches to the storefront door.
The concealed hardware type, will not show a thru bolt and finish washer on the inside of the door. This is installation is much more uncommon and rare, but is sometimes used. We will explain how to install both hardware types.
Attaching The Push Bar With Thru Bolts (Most Common)
Next, locate the thru bolt that does not have a union head. Insert it with the finish washer into the bottom hole in the door's lock stile for the attachment of the bottom portion of the pull handle. Thread the thru bolt into the bottom of the pull handle and tighten.
Next locate the cone head union. This looks similar to the union head thru bolt, but does not have the built in thru bolt attached to it. The cone head union will face the push bar side of the door. Locate a single thru bolt and finish washer. Insert the thru bolt fastener and washer at the hinge stile hole prep and thread it into the cone head union. At this point there will be a union head projecting outside of the door on the lock stile and a cone head union projecting out of the hinge stile. Attach the push bar to both union fasteners. On each end of the push bar will be small hex key allen fasteners. Once the push bar is fitted onto the union fasteners, tighten the hex keys. Next, tighten the thru bolt on the hinge stile. At this point, the push bar will be completely secured with all bolts tightened.
Attaching The Push Bar With A Concealed Bolt
Concealed bolt mounting requires the prep holes of the lower portion of the door handle or the non-connecting side of the push bar to be reinforced. This is most commonly done by the manufacturer of the door during construction. If your storefront door uses thru bolt mounting hardware, that should be used again when replacing the handle and push bar. Converting to a concealed bolt installation should not be done. Concealed bolt installation should only be used if your original or existing pull handle and push bar used concealed mounting.
The prep holes of the lower portion of the door handle and non-connecting side of the push bar will also need to be tapped so that the the concealed threaded fasteners can attach to the door. The concealed threaded fastener should be threaded into the door's lock stile side for the lower portion of the pull handle. The union head should be facing towards the pull handle. Attach the pull handle and tighten the hex screw on the pull handle to secure the pull handle to the union head. Next, thread the concealed fastener into the hinge stile so that the union head is projecting out towards the push bar. The concealed fastener should be tightened snug. Fit the push bar to the union head. Tighten the hex screw on the push bar to secure the push bar to the union head.
Conclusion
If you are in need of a storefront door pull handle and push bar combination we recommend the Tahoma brand. The reasons for this is because, unlike other manufacturers Tahoma solely focused on storefront door hardware. Their storefront door handles and push bars are ADA compliant and are of extremely high quality. With Tahoma storefront door pull handles and push bars you can have the confidence knowing the product will last for years to come.
DISCLAIMER:INFORMATION PROVIDED THROUGH THIS SITE IS PROVIDED TO YOU AS IS WITHOUT ANY EXPRESS REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, AND WE MAKE NO REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY THAT THIS SITE (OR ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN RESPONSE TO YOUR INQUIRY), WILL BE ACCURATE, COMPLETE, OR ERROR-FREE.YOU AGREE THAT YOU MUST EVALUATE ALL INFORMATION AND RESPONSES, AND THAT YOU BEAR ALL RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH, THE USE OF THIS SITE, INCLUDING ANY RELIANCE ON THE ACCURACY,COMPLETENESS, OR USEFULNESS OF ANY INFORMATION OR MATERIALS MADE AVAILABLE THROUGH THIS SITE.