The Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association (BHMA) recently elected a new Board of Directors during its annual Fall meeting, signaling a fresh chapter for the organization that sets the benchmark for North American builders hardware standards. Justin Crotzer, senior vice president of global engineering management at dormakaba, now serves as board president alongside an experienced leadership team representing the industry’s major hardware manufacturers. For building professionals who specify ANSI/BHMA hardware standards in their projects, this leadership transition carries meaningful implications for how door hardware performance, testing, and specification requirements will evolve in the coming years.
The Significance of BHMA in Building Construction
BHMA is the recognized authority for builders hardware in North America, serving as the American National Standards Institute (ANSI)-accredited standards developer for the industry. The organization writes and maintains the performance standards that define how locks, hinges, door closers, exit devices, and other builders hardware products are tested, rated, and specified in commercial construction documents.
What BHMA Standards Cover
The BHMA standards portfolio spans the full range of builders hardware products used in commercial, institutional, and multi-family residential construction. These standards establish uniform testing protocols, performance grading systems, and durability classifications that allow architects and specifiers to select hardware with confidence.
- Locks and latches – ANSI/BHMA A156.2 and A156.13 cover bored and mortise locks, defining cycle testing, security grading, and operational force requirements
- Hinges – ANSI/BHMA A156.1 addresses hinge performance, material thickness, and cycle testing for various door weights and frequencies
- Door closers – ANSI/BHMA A156.4 establishes standards for surface, concealed, and floor-applied closers including sizing, closing force, and cycle life
- Exit devices – ANSI/BHMA A156.3 covers panic and fire exit hardware, ensuring life safety compliance under emergency conditions
- Electrified hardware – ANSI/BHMA A156.25 addresses electrified locking systems, access control integration, and power requirements
Why BHMA Standards Matter for Building Professionals
Specifying BHMA-grade hardware is not optional for most commercial projects. Building codes reference ANSI/BHMA standards directly, and projects pursuing LEED certification, green building ratings, or jurisdictional approvals must demonstrate compliance with these performance benchmarks. Understanding the BHMA grading system helps professionals avoid the costly consequences of under-specified hardware, including premature wear, security failures, and life safety violations.
When a specification calls for Grade 1 hardware, it references the BHMA performance grading system. Grade 1 represents the highest durability level, suitable for high-traffic commercial entrances. Grade 2 covers medium-duty commercial applications, and Grade 3 addresses light-duty residential and low-traffic commercial settings. Each grade carries specific cycle testing requirements, finish standards, and operational performance metrics that manufacturers must meet independently through ANSI-accredited testing laboratories.
The New BHMA Board of Directors Leadership Team
The newly elected BHMA board brings together leaders from the four largest builders hardware manufacturers in North America: dormakaba, Hager Companies, ASSA ABLOY, and Allegion. This concentration of industry expertise positions the organization to address emerging challenges in hardware specification, testing, and code compliance.
Board Leadership Structure
| Position | Name | Company |
|---|---|---|
| Board President | Justin Crotzer | dormakaba |
| 1st Vice President | Mark McRae | Hager Companies |
| 2nd Vice President | Stacy Deveraux | ASSA ABLOY |
| Past President | Tim Weller | Allegion |
Justin Crotzer: Background and Vision
Justin Crotzer brings more than 15 years of builders hardware industry experience to the board presidency. As senior vice president of global engineering management at dormakaba, he leads product development teams and serves on the North America senior management team. His career spans progressive engineering roles in operations, new product development, and site leadership.
Crotzer’s engineering background is significant for the industry because BHMA standards are fundamentally technical documents. They define exact testing protocols, pass-fail criteria, and performance classifications that manufacturers must meet. Having a board president with deep engineering experience suggests continued emphasis on rigorous, data-driven standards development rather than compromise toward lower performance thresholds.
What This Leadership Transition Signals
Leadership transitions at standards organizations often foreshadow shifts in strategic priorities. Several developments are worth watching under the new board:
- Electrification and access control standards – The construction industry is moving rapidly toward integrated electronic access control systems. BHMA standards for electrified hardware (A156.25) will likely receive expanded attention, covering wireless locking systems, power-over-ethernet hardware, and cybersecurity requirements for networked door hardware.
- Sustainability and material transparency – Environmental product declarations (EPDs) and material ingredient reporting are increasingly required on large projects. BHMA may develop supporting standards or guidance for hardware manufacturers seeking to provide transparent environmental data.
- Harmonization with international standards – As building projects become more global, pressure increases to harmonize BHMA standards with European (EN) and international (ISO) hardware standards. The new board’s international experience positions the organization to navigate these discussions.
- Digital specification tools – The industry is moving toward machine-readable specifications and BIM-integrated product data. BHMA standards may evolve to support digital delivery formats that integrate directly with specification platforms.
How Building Professionals Should Apply BHMA Standards in Specifications
Translating BHMA standards into usable project specifications requires attention to how hardware is categorized, graded, and documented. Many specification writers rely on MasterFormat Division 08 (Openings) for hardware sections, but the level of detail varies widely between projects.
Specifying Hardware by Grade and Application
The first step in hardware specification is matching BHMA grades to the intended application. The following table provides a quick reference for grade selection based on door usage patterns:
| BHMA Grade | Typical Applications | Minimum Cycle Test Requirement | Example Products |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 1 | High-traffic commercial entrances, schools, hospitals, public buildings | 1,500,000+ cycles (locks), 500,000+ (hinges) | Heavy-duty mortise locks, continuous hinges, rack-and-pinion closers |
| Grade 2 | Medium-traffic commercial offices, hotels, residential common areas | 800,000 cycles (locks), 250,000 (hinges) | Bored locks, standard weight hinges, surface closers |
| Grade 3 | Light-duty residential interiors, low-traffic storage areas | 200,000 cycles (locks), 100,000 (hinges) | Residential tubular locks, light-weight hinges |
Coordination with Door and Frame Specifications
Hardware performance depends not only on the hardware itself but on proper coordination with doors, frames, and door hardware gasketing and thresholds. A Grade 1 lock installed in an improperly reinforced door or a frame with inadequate anchorage will fail prematurely regardless of the hardware quality. Specification writers should require hardware preparation schedules that coordinate hardware locations, reinforcement requirements, and cutout dimensions with door and frame manufacturers before fabrication begins.
Fire-Rated Hardware Compliance
Fire-rated door assemblies require hardware that has been tested and labeled for use in fire doors. BHMA standards for fire exit hardware (A156.3) and fire-rated hinges work in conjunction with NFPA 80 requirements for fire door inspections and maintenance. Hardware for fire-rated openings must carry third-party labeling showing compliance with the applicable standard, and field modifications to fire-rated hardware are generally prohibited unless specifically permitted by the listing.
Emerging Trends in Builders Hardware and the Path Forward
The builders hardware industry is evolving rapidly, driven by technological change, security requirements, and sustainability mandates. The new BHMA leadership team takes office at a time when hardware is no longer viewed as a commodity item but as an integral component of building performance and occupant safety.
Electrification and Smart Hardware Integration
The transition from mechanical to electrified hardware is reshaping how buildings control access. Modern access control hardware for critical infrastructure sites now includes wireless locks, Bluetooth-enabled credentials, and cloud-managed access platforms. BHMA standard A156.25 provides the performance framework for these products, but the pace of technological change means the standards must evolve continuously to stay relevant.
Building professionals specifying electrified hardware should verify that the specified products comply with both the BHMA performance standard and any applicable local building code requirements for means of egress. Emergency exit functions must override electronic locking mechanisms, and fail-safe versus fail-secure configurations must be clearly defined in the specification.
Cybersecurity Considerations for Networked Hardware
As door hardware becomes network-connected, cybersecurity enters the specification conversation. Electrified door hardware solutions must now address data encryption, firmware security, and network integration risks. While BHMA has traditionally focused on mechanical performance, the organization may expand its standards scope to include cybersecurity requirements, similar to approaches taken by other standards bodies in the smart building space.
Material Transparency and Environmental Performance
Sustainability requirements are increasingly reaching into hardware specifications. Projects pursuing LEED v4.1 or v5 credits for material ingredients, environmental product declarations, or sourcing of raw materials require hardware manufacturers to disclose the composition and environmental impact of their products. BHMA can play a facilitating role by developing standardized reporting formats for hardware EPDs and material ingredient disclosures, making it easier for specifiers to compare products on environmental criteria.
Recommendations for Building Professionals
With the new BHMA board in place, building professionals should take several proactive steps to ensure their hardware specifications remain current and performant:
- Review current hardware specifications against the latest published BHMA standards editions to ensure referenced standards have not been superseded or withdrawn
- Engage with BHMA through its technical committees if your projects involve specialized hardware applications that may benefit from new or revised standards
- Update master specification sections for Division 08 hardware to include specific BHMA grade requirements rather than generic performance language
- Coordinate with hardware consultants and manufacturers early in the design phase to confirm that specified hardware grades are available and compatible with door and frame selections
- Monitor BHMA announcements for new standards development, especially in electrified hardware and cybersecurity areas
The appointment of Justin Crotzer and the new BHMA board of directors represents an opportunity for the builders hardware industry to address the technological, environmental, and performance challenges facing modern building construction. Building professionals who understand and apply BHMA standards effectively will be better positioned to deliver durable, code-compliant, and high-performing building projects.