When a door doesn't need latching hardware, push and pull plates are commonly used. These can be referred to by various names, including door trim, protective plates, or push/pull hardware. They make it easy to open and close the door by simply pushing or pulling. 

Pulls and plates are used in a variety of applications where a typical lever or exit device trim are not found.  Pulls can be used on doors without a locking mechanism or on doors that only have a cylinder on the outside of the door.  Plates can be used in a variety of places on the door to protect the door from wear over extended periods of use.

Architectural Pulls:

- Quality, aesthetically pleasing door pulls often used in commercial building entrances

- Various designs, materials, and finishes to match the architectural style of the building

- Frequently found in high-traffic applications

Push Bars:

- Horizontal bars mounted across the door, allowing users to push the door open

- Simple design, often made of metal, and can be used as a safety feature

- Common in commercial buildings, emergency exits, and high-traffic areas

Decorative Pulls:

Description: Door pulls designed with an emphasis on aesthetics and style

Features: Available in various artistic designs, materials, and finishes to complement interior decor

Usage: Used in residential and commercial spaces to enhance the visual appeal of doors

Long Door Pulls:

- Extended length pulls that run vertically along the door

- Provide a modern and sleek look, making them easy to grasp from different heights

- Popular in contemporary commercial and residential buildings, especially on large doors

Hands-Free Door Pulls:

-  Designed to allow users to open doors without using their hands, typically using their forearm or foot

- Promotes hygiene and reduces the spread of germs

-  Ideal for health care facilities, public restrooms, and any high-traffic area where hygiene is a concern

Push and Pull Plates:

- Flat plates installed on doors to facilitate opening and closing by pushing or pulling

- Common in high-traffic areas such as restrooms, secondary doors, and public buildings

Vandal Resistant Trim: 

- Door hardware designed to withstand tampering and vandalism

- Robust construction, often with reinforced materials and tamper-proof fasteners

- Suitable for public buildings, schools, and other areas prone to vandalism

Flush Pulls: 

- Recessed pulls that sit flush with the surface of the door

- Minimalist design, providing a sleek and unobtrusive look

-  Commonly used on sliding doors, pocket doors, and cabinets

Sliding Door Pulls: 

- Handles specifically designed for sliding doors

-  Often recessed or surface-mounted, allowing for smooth operation of the sliding mechanism

- Used on closet doors, patio doors, and room dividers

Each type of door pull serves a specific function and aesthetic, catering to different needs and environments. Choosing the right type depends on the door's purpose, the desired look, and the level of durability required.

Through-bolt mounting: The pull handle is secured to the door with bolts that pass completely through the door, connecting to the handle on the opposite side.

Back to back mounting: Two pull handles are mounted on opposite sides of the door, connected through the door with a shared set of bolts.

Surface concealed mounting: The pull handle is mounted using screws or bolts that are hidden from view, typically secured from the inside of the door or with a hidden plate.

Push/pull combo mounting: Combines a push plate and pull handle in a single mounting configuration, often used for doors that require both pushing and pulling actions.

Mounting sizes:

Standard Hardware: Designed for standard 1-3/4" doors

Glass Door Thickness: Standard glass door thickness is 1/2"

Optional Hardware: Available for 2" and 2-1/4" doors for many pulls (check pull detail for availability)

Special Sizes: Other mounting hardware sizes available as engineering special

Ives Mounting options include:

Standard mount (STD) thru-bolt with a decorative washer

Concealed mounts:

For aluminum doors (A)

With pull plates (G)

Wood doors (I)

Hollow metal doors (L)

Back-to-back mounts:

For 8102 pulls only (J)

For 8121 pulls only (K)

Hollow metal and wood door applications (N)

Glass doors (P)

Specify PR: When ordering a set of pulls for back-to-back mounting.

Single Back-to-Back Pull: Specify JSGL for one back-to-back machined pull.

Plate to Pull Clearance: 1-1/2"

Push/pull combo mounts:

Decorative (NO)

Standard (NS)

Decorative for glass doors (PQ)

Security thru-bolt with standard washer (X)

This hardware is particularly popular in high-traffic areas like secondary vestibule doors or large restrooms. Additionally, push and pull plates can serve a decorative purpose, contributing to the overall design of the building.

The Americans with a Disability Act (ADA) has guidelines for door hardware, including pulls, that are intended to make them easy for people with disabilities to use. Contact your local authorical having jurisdiction for your project's code requirements.

Opening width and depth: Pulls should have a minimum opening width of 4 inches and a minimum opening depth of 1 inch to allow for one-handed operation without pinching, grasping tightly, or twisting the wrist.

Shape: Pulls should have an easy-to-grab shape, such as a bar pull, curved edge pull, or knob with a large surface area. Pulls that allow your hand to slide through are also acceptable.

Force: The maximum force required to activate operable parts should be 5 pounds (22.2 N). 

Selecting the appropriate pull, push bar, or plate for your door involves considering several key dimensions and the specific requirements of your door: 

Push and Pull Plates:

Dimensions: Measure the width and height of the plates. Ensure they fit within the door stiles, especially if the door has a full glass lite with narrow stiles (e.g., 6 inches wide).

Consistency: Push and pull plates are often ordered in the same dimensions for uniformity.

Pulls:

Center-to-Center (CTC) Distance: This is the measurement between the mounting locations. For example, a 12" pull handle has 12" between the mounting points, though the overall length will be longer.

Standard Sizes: Refer to pull model detailed pages for specific sizes. Pull handles can range from 6" to 36" or larger.

Push Bars:

CTC Dimension for Horizontal Push Bars: Measure one stile of the door and subtract it from the overall door width to determine the CTC dimension.

Example: For a 36" wide door with 6" stiles on either side of a full glass lite, subtract the width of one stile from the door width (36" - 6" = 30"). The CTC dimension for the horizontal push bar would be 30".

By accurately measuring these dimensions and considering the layout of your door, you can ensure that the selected hardware fits properly and enhances both the functionality and aesthetics of your opening.

All Ives ADA compliant pulls (reference local authority having jurisdiction) come with the EZ designation.

These pulls all have a door to pull clearance of 2 1⁄2" or greater. All stainless steel EZ pulls come standard with 316 Series Stainless which make them highly recommended for all external applications.

All Ives architectural pulls, push bars and long door pulls come standard with heavy duty (HD) machining and mounting hardware to withstand high traffic and abuse applications which exceed industry standards. Many decorative pulls also come standard with heavy duty machining and hardware. Please see the list of pulls that come standard with heavy duty mounting hardware.

In most cases, instructions/templates are not provided for Ives pulls.

The location of the pull on the door is determined by user or architect preference. The hole spacing is determined by the size of pull ordered (there are many sizes available). The mounting holes themselves are dependent on the pull model, screw size, door material, and mounting type. 

View the installation instructions and templates available or contact technical support team for guidance. Other types, such as half mortise, full surface, and half surface hinges, are available for order as engineered specials.

Care and maintenance for stainless steel finishes Stainless steel requires periodic cleaning just as other materials do when in service. Stainless architectural building components, for instance, are subject to road salt spray at ground level and deposits from polluted urban air at higher levels. Finger marks, deposits from tobacco smoke, stains from hard water or food left on to dry all detract from the original attractive appearance of stainless steel applications.

General Information

Cleaning methods and the frequency with which there are employed vary considerably according to application. One of the outstanding features of stainless steel is the ease with which its fine appearance can be maintained. In many instances, only periodic warm water wash is sufficient to restore the original shine. In other cases, cleansing with a strong sterilizing solution may be required more frequently. Between these extremes are a broad range of cleaning requirements and methods.

In all cases, there are some important “do’s and don’ts” that should be followed.

Do

• Wash regularly with warm water and mild soap detergent using a clean cloth or soft brush
• Remove stubborn grime using recommended cleaners and methods
• Always clean in the direction of the original polish lines
• Always rinse after cleaning and wipe dry

Don’t

• Don’t use ordinary steel wool or other metal scrapers to remove stubborn dirt
• Don’t allow dirt to accumulate
• Don’t allow protective coatings to remain on new building components; Remove all traces of adhesive as well as plaster, terrazzo, paint and other construction “splashes”
• Don’t use harsh, untested cleaners

View the Ives Pricebook for detailed how to order information and the latest pricing.

Refer to the Allegion BAA  catalog (Buy American Act) to view the latest compliant continuous hinges.

View our resources page for comprehensive list of training, educational resources, and support. 

View our full Ives pulls offering on our product pages and Ives catalog.