What are entry pull handles?
A door entry pull handle is pretty much what it sounds like – a bar or handle that has been attached to the door to allow it to be pulled open. These are quite common in commercial applications like shops, malls and other public facilities but less so around residential areas and homes.
The are variously referred to as 'entry pulls', 'pull handles' and 'door pulls', among other things.
How do entry pulls work?
The handle is pulled to open the door; this is about as simple as opening a door gets. Because the door is not likely to have any sort of traditional latch, it is common for doors with entry pulls to have self-closing mechanisms attached to stop the door from swinging wide from the closed position whenever there’s a breeze around.
Alternatively, a spring loaded nib may slightly protrude from the edge of the door to keep it in a closed state. The nib retracts when the door is pushed or pulled open, and pushes the door back into place as soon as the pressure has been released from it.
Where are entry pull handles used?
These are not commonly found in households, but are sometimes used as special door handles for home theatre rooms (to give that authentic 'cinema' feel), heavy front doors and wardrobes. They may also be attached to sliding doors, though care must be taken not to slam the handle into the wall the door is sliding past or into. A stop will normally prevent this though.
How should door entry pull handles be installed?
Pull handles are typically installed in the same area that a door knob or lever might be placed; on the opposite edge to the hinges, on the side of the door that swings outwards. Pull handles need to be put on the right side of the door – there’s little point to a pull handle on one side if the door needs to be pushed from that side to open it! The 'push' side of the door is more likely to feature a push plate than another entry pull handle.
The entry pull should ideally be installed at a height between 900mm and 1100mm, as per the recommendations given in the Australian Standard AS 1428.1 (Design for access and mobility, Part 1: General requirements for access).
Are there any variations?
There are many different entry pull handle styles and designs available to suit a variety of decors and room furnishings. Some follow the traditional bar look, while other more modern interpretations tend to play more with curves and loops to achieve highly aesthetic results.
