Hardware and parts
Pull handles and push plates
Pull handles and push plates are fixed door furniture used on doors that do not need a lever. Pull handles are usually stainless steel bars or D-shaped grips, bolted through the door or glass. Push plates and kick plates protect the surface where the door takes contact.
Where does it work well?
Shop, restaurant and office doors that take heavy daily use, especially glass and aluminium doors on a closer, where staff and customers push and pull without needing to turn a handle.
Pros
- Hard-wearing
- Simple to use with one hand
- Can carry branding or signage
- Protects the door surface
Cons
- Bolts can work loose
- Finish can wear on busy doors
- Glass doors need holes made before toughening
How long does it last?
Typically long-lasting in stainless steel, with fixings and coated finishes the parts that wear.
What should you check when buying?
Check the handle length, diameter and fixing centres against the door, and that the door is thick enough for the bolt. For public doors, choose a handle that contrasts with the door and works with a closed fist. Toughened glass needs existing holes.
Common questions
Can a new pull handle be added to a glass door?
Only if the glass already has the right holes, as toughened glass cannot be drilled afterwards. Otherwise you need a new panel made with holes in the correct place, or a handle that clamps on without drilling.
Do shop door handles have to meet accessibility rules?
No single fixed rule covers every shop, but BS 8300 and Approved Document M give design guidance on contrast and grip. The Equality Act 2010 expects service providers to make reasonable adjustments, so a hard-to-use handle may need changing.