BHMA Revises Standards for Cabinet Locks, Self-Closing Hinges & Pivots

November 1, 2004

NEW YORK—The Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association has published two key standards revisions:

• ANSI/BHMA A156.11-2004 American National Standard for Cabinet Locks, and
• ANSI/BHMA A156.17-2004 American National Standard for Self-Closing Hinges & Pivots.

The ANSI/BHMA A156.11 standard provides descriptions, test procedures and performance requirements for many lock types, including locks for chests, cabinet doors, cabinet drawers, file cabinets, lever handles, tee handles, locker, sliding doors, show cases and sliding-glass doors.

The ANSI/BHMA A156.17 standard covers requirements for various types of spring hinges, spring pivot hinges and gravity pivot hinges. The standard document includes more than 25 illustrations as well as cycle tests, operational tests, finish tests, and material and dimensional requirements.

Both of these standards describes the six-character, industry-standard identifiers for respective products - the ANSI/BHMA A156.11 standard for cabinet locks; ANSI/BHMA A156.17 for self-closing hinges and pivots. (These identifier systems are useful to architects who would like to specify products generically while ensuring their performance meets the standard.)

Manufacturers may submit spring hinges and pivots covered by ANSI/BHMA A156.17 to an independent laboratory to carry out the prescribed tests. Products that pass testing by an approved laboratory can claim BHMA certification.