When it comes to ensuring safety and compliance in commercial buildings, selecting the right door hardware is not just a matter of functionality but a critical legal requirement. CE marked door hardware represents the gold standard in European safety compliance, guaranteeing that your building meets stringent safety regulations while protecting occupants in emergency situations.
Whether you are a building contractor, architect, or facility manager, understanding CE door hardware is essential for making informed decisions about your commercial projects. This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know about CE certified door hardware, from basic definitions to specific product applications, helping you choose the right solutions for your building needs.
Table of contents
Understanding CE Door Hardware
1. What Is CE Door Hardware?
CE door hardware refers to door components and accessories that carry the CE marking, indicating conformity with European health, safety, and environmental protection standards. This designation covers a wide range of products including CE door locks, exit devices, door hinges, door handles, and other essential door fittings used in commercial and residential applications.
Unlike generic hardware, CE certified door hardware undergoes independent assessments to verify material quality, installation ease, and longevity. For instance, a CE door lock isn't merely functional; it's tested for resistance to corrosion, tampering, and extreme conditions. This definition extends to specialized items like fire-rated CE door hardware, which maintains integrity during blazes, making it indispensable for high-risk environments.
2. Why Is CE Marking Important For Door Hardware?
CE marking serves as a passport for door hardware products to be legally sold throughout the European Economic Area. For commercial building owners and contractors, using CE compliant door hardware is not optional but mandatory in many jurisdictions. The marking ensures that products have been evaluated and meet high safety standards for fire resistance, durability, corrosion resistance, and operational performance. Beyond legal compliance, CE marking provides peace of mind that your door hardware will perform reliably during critical moments, particularly in fire emergencies or evacuation scenarios.
Key CE Standards For Door Hardware You Should Know
When we talk about CE door hardware, understanding the relevant EN standards is crucial. These standards define performance, durability, safety and fire-resistance levels for different hardware types. These standards helps you select appropriate EN standard door hardware for your specific application requirements.
1. EN 1125: Panic Exit Devices for Emergency Exits
This standard applies to panic exit devices activated by a horizontal bar, designed for use on escape routes in buildings where panic situations may occur. The standard ensures these devices can be easily operated by people unfamiliar with the mechanism, even under stress or in darkness. EN 1125 compliant devices must open doors with a single movement in the direction of escape.
2. EN 179: Emergency Exit Devices for Non-Panic Situations
While similar to EN 1125, the standard EN 179 covers emergency exit hardware for areas where panic situations are less likely but quick egress is still necessary. These devices are suitable for escape routes in workplaces, schools, and smaller commercial buildings. The operation may require slightly more familiarity than panic hardware, but still ensures rapid evacuation capability.
3. EN 12209: Mechanically Operated Locks and Latch Mechanisms
This comprehensive standard, EN 12209, establishes requirements for mechanically operated locks, latch bolts, and locking mechanisms. It classifies products based on durability, door mass, fire resistance, security, corrosion resistance, and operational categories. CE door locks meeting this standard ensure reliable long-term performance in demanding commercial environments.
4. EN 1906: Lever Handles and Knob Furniture Performance
EN 1906 specifies requirements for door handles and knobs, classifying them into different grades based on durability and usage intensity. Class 3 handles are suitable for medium-duty commercial applications, while Class 4 represents heavy-duty performance for high-traffic areas. This standard ensures that CE door handle products can withstand the mechanical stresses of daily operation.
5. EN 1634: Fire Resistance Testing for Door Assemblies
This critical standard, EN1634, governs fire resistance testing methods for door and shutter assemblies, including all associated hardware. Products certified to EN 1634 have been tested to maintain their integrity and insulation properties for specified periods during fire exposure. Fire-rated CE door hardware meeting this standard is essential for fire doors throughout commercial buildings.
By specifying hardware tested to these standards, you ensure that the CE door hardware you choose meets recognised benchmarks for safety, performance and durability.
Which CE Door Hardware Is Suitable For Commercial Buildings?
Commercial buildings have unique requirements that demand carefully selected hardware solutions. The right choice of CE marking door hardware depends on factors including building type, occupancy levels, fire safety requirements, and expected traffic patterns.
1. CE Certified Panic Exit Devices
Panic exit hardware plays a critical role in high-occupancy buildings or where rapid egress is required. Devices certified to EN1125 under the CE marking framework are designed for situations where the operating direction is outward and people may need to exit quickly.
At Camax Hardware, our exit devices are certified to EN1125 and also fire-rated to EN1634. In addition, we offer models compliant with EN179 for applications where lever-operation rather than push-bar operation is acceptable. These CE exit devices give you code-compliant, high-performance solutions for commercial doors.
- • Narrow Stile Crossbar Exit Device
- • Handed
- • Certificate: EN1125, categoery 3; EN1634-1, 2-hour fire rated
- • Material: Stainless steel, Steel, Plastic
- • Finish: Stainless steel satin, Silver painted, Polishing, PVD, Black, Red
- • Concealed panic exit device
- • Non-handed
- • Certificate: EN1125; EN1634-1, fire-rated
- • Material: Stainless steel, Steel, Plastic
- • Finish: Stainless steel satin, Silver painted, Polishing, PVD, Black, Red
2. CE Marked Mortise Locks
Mortise locks are a backbone of door security and functionality. The phrase CE marked mortise locks indicates that these locks have been tested to the relevant EN standard (for example EN12209) and fit within the CE conformity regime.
Camax Hardware manufactures mortise locks with full CE certification, and offers options with up to 4-hour fire rating, which ensures that your building’s fire-exit and secure doors are equipped with fire-rated CE door locks built for durability and safety.
Camax's Mortise Locks
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72-55A/72-60A/72-65A
72-55D/72-60D/72-65D
72-55L/72-60L/72-65L
72-60T/72-65T
3. CE Marked Door Hinges
Even components like hinges are critical. For fire doors and high-traffic doors you should specify CE marked hinges that carry the CE conformity mark indicating they meet the relevant performance and fire standards (e.g., EN1935 or EN1634 elements). Camax supports supply of CE-certified door hinges suitable for commercial environments.
- • Certificate: EN1935; EN1634-1, fire-rated
- • Material: Stainless steel
- • Finish: SSS, PSS, PVD
- • 504030-2BB, 503530-2BB; 503030-2BB; 454530-2BB, 454030-2BB, 404030-2BB, 403530-2BB, 403030-2BB
4. EN1906 Class 4 and EN1906 Class 3 Door Handles
Finally, door handles in commercial applications must be robust and certified. Under EN1906, handles are classified by grade. Class 4 handles represent the highest suitability for heavy use and commercial settings, while Class 3 covers less intense yet still demanding environments.
Camax Hardware produces commercial-grade door handles meeting EN1906 Class 4 and Class 3 specifications, which means you get CE door handle options that combine performance and aesthetics for large-scale projects.
Camax's Door Handles
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Camax Hardware: Your Trusted Manufacturer Of CE Door Hardware
When you choose a partner for your door hardware needs, you want a manufacturer who delivers reliability, compliance and customisation. That’s where Camax Hardware comes in.
CE Certificate Assurance: Camax supplies CE certified door hardware across multiple product categories, including exit devices, mortise locks, hinges, handles—all backed by CE conformity documentation.
OEM/ODM Services Available: Whether you need custom finishes, unique functions or branded hardware for large-scale commercial projects, Camax offers full OEM/ODM support.
Advanced Equipment & Manufacturing Processes: Using high-precision fabrication and rigorous testing, Camax ensures that each piece of CE compliant door hardware meets project requirements and industry benchmarks.
From fire-rated mortise locks to panic exit devices and heavy-duty door handles, Camax’s CE door hardware lines deliver both performance and peace of mind for commercial building projects. Our team stands ready to support your specification, procurement and installation process—just contact us to learn more.
Contact Camax to Make the Right Choice for Building Safety and Compliance
In summary, specifying the right CE door hardware is a smart move for any commercial building owner, architect or contractor. By understanding what CE marking means, familiarising yourself with key EN standards (EN1125, EN179, EN12209, EN1906, EN1634) and selecting hardware that is truly certified, you protect your building’s safety and your project’s reputation.
If you’re ready to upgrade or equip your commercial doors with high-quality, compliant hardware, turn to Camax Hardware. Contact Camax today to discuss our range of CE certified door hardware, get a customised quote, and ensure your project benefits from reliable, tested and robust door hardware solutions.
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