The height of the door handle is always a controversial topic. The height varies from door to door or according to the interior design. Most of the door handles are high due to different perspectives. Most historical door handles have a high placement that includes old buildings, museums, and old houses.
The reason behind high door handles is due to architectural preferences of the past, historical perspectives, and safety reasons. You will explore all these perspectives in Frelan Hardware article given below:
Historical Perspectives
Following are all the historical perspectives that led to the high door handles in the past:
Historical Architectural Practices
In the old times, there were no standard rules for the positioning of doors and door handles. Door handles were placed according to cultural trends at that time. In the past, construction was carried out using the available materials. Moreover, the position of door handles depends upon the height of the door.
To keep the door looking symmetrical, the door handles were placed high. If it was put in the middle of the door, it did not look suitable, and the overall look of the door was not attractive.
People in the past were taller than people today. That is why it was suitable for people to have higher door handles.
Security and Safety Concerns
In the past, there were safety concerns. So, people choose to have high door handles. It became difficult for thieves to reach the door handles to enter the house.
Cultural Preferences and Social Status
In old times, people were wealthy and had high status in society. They choose to have fancy and decorative door handles. They kept the door handles high to represent their high status in society.
The high door handles in various cultures are for palaces and private places. These high door handles were a symbol of separation between rich and common people in the past.
Mechanical Considerations in Door Design
In Mediaeval times, the doors were heavy and big. The door handles for these doors should be heavier than recent door handles. If lighter door handles were placed on those heavy doors, it would not help open and close the doors or destroy the balance of the door, so bulky and high door handles would be used for the smooth operation of doors.
The height of the door handle plays an important role in the door's working mechanism. For example, doors with big locking parts need the handle to be higher for proper working. The big parts of these early locking systems needed more space, and putting the handle higher up made it easier to use the lock.
Another reason for handle placement was the kind of doors and hinges used. Big, heavy doors needed more force to open, so putting the handle higher made it easier for people to use their upper body strength. A higher handle made pushing or pulling a heavy door open easier because the arm and shoulder have more power at that height than at waist level.
Evolution And Modernisation Of Door Handles
As architectural standards changed with time, door handles were placed at more uniform heights. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, building codes were issued for door heights and place of handles to create more elegant houses and building interiors.
With the passage of time, new lock systems have been introduced, so the door handles with locking systems are placed at a waist level to easily access the door handles and open the door.
Today’s building codes also consider the needs of people with disabilities, ensuring that door handles are placed at a height accessible to everyone, including those in wheelchairs.
Comparison Between The Height Of Door Handles From Past And Present
The height of the door handle changes from time to time. Here is a brief explanation of the height of door handles:
Past (pre-1950s)
- Before the 1950s, the door handles were placed 36-40 inches (91-102 cm) above the floor.
- This was due to the traditional European style. It has a big and decorative door that requires bulky door handles. These handles were placed high to maintain the balance of the door.
Mid-20th century (1950s-1980s)
- Door handles were placed 38-42 inches (97-107 cm) above the floor in the mid-20th century.
- In the mid-20th century, construction rules were introduced, and the height of door handles started varying after the 1950s.
Present day (1990s-present)
- The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) guidelines suggest placing door handles between 34-48 inches (86-122 cm) above the floor.
- Modern door handles were replaced at a height of around 40-44 inches (102-112 cm) above the floor.
Main Differences
The basic difference between the old doors and modern doors is the height of outdoor handles. The door handles are now placed at a waist level and lighter than old door handles which provides easy grip and handling.
Conclusion
The high position of the door handles looks very odd now., but they had practical, aesthetic, and cultural reasons in the past. There were various factors, such as security, architecture, and social status, that influenced the placement of door handles. In recent years, the height for placing door handles has changed due to new rules and regulations. Now, the door handles are placed at waist level so everyone can easily access them.