Kamila Kasperowicz, marketing director at UAP, explores why door hardware deserves more recognition in building design, and how smarter marketing can help reposition it from a commodity to a key contributor to building success.

Door hardware is often one of the most overlooked aspects of building design, yet its role in safety, compliance, and performance is critical. As the construction and design sector evolves, there is a growing need to rethink how these products are perceived, specified, and communicated.

As we move into 2026, now is the time to recognise door hardware as a strategic contributor to building success rather than a functional afterthought.

Why door hardware matters

Door hardware has traditionally been treated as a background detail, chosen late in the building design and construction process and valued mainly for basic function. Yet the category has moved on and ongoing innovation in materials, testing and design means hardware now carries far greater influence over how a building performs day-to-day. Recognising that shift is key to understanding why door hardware matters.

Modern hardware does more than simply secure a building. Cylinders, locks and associated components now play a critical role in security, durability and day-to-day performance. High-security products such as Kinetica Freezeguard, certified to PAS24:2022+A1:2024, provide protection against increasingly sophisticated forced-entry methods, including snapping, drilling, bumping, gluing and freezing.

Products that anticipate these threats demonstrate that compliance alone is no longer enough; performance, reliability and resilience must also be clearly evidenced and communicated.

Even seemingly simple components illustrate how thoughtful design can enhance security and usability. The bullet door chain, for example, combines safety, aesthetics and durability through fewer, stronger links, a compact footprint and a magnetic park system that suits modern door frames. Designed to withstand both everyday wear and extreme forces, it meets TS003 testing for abuse and attack modes, proving that small hardware elements can still have a significant impact on security and user experience.

Innovative applications are also extending the role of door hardware beyond traditional notions of function and security. Anti-microbial and anti-viral coatings are a clear example of how hardware can directly influence occupant safety.

Armasmart, launched in 2024, has been independently tested to eliminate over 99% of viruses, including COVID-19, on high-touch surfaces. Initially developed for door hardware, the technology has since expanded into ventilation grilles and ceramics, delivering enhanced hygiene and durability across high-traffic environments. In healthcare, education and social housing, coatings like this are increasingly expected, supporting safer, more resilient spaces.

The case for strategic marketing

Despite these advances, door hardware is often marketed in technical terms that fail to connect with decision-makers or end users. Highlighting measurable benefits such as resilience, compliance, hygiene, and design flexibility can make it easier for specifiers to recognise the value of high-quality hardware.

Tangible examples like Kinetica Freezeguard and Armasmart serve as proof points of how innovation can create both functional and perceptible value in buildings.

Marketing should focus on education and context. By explaining how hardware solves real-world problems, enhancing security, hygiene, and occupant confidence, these products are repositioned from a traditional, functional commodity to carrying strategic significance. The conversation shifts from price and appearance to impact and functionality, providing clarity for everyone involved in the specification and construction process.

Looking ahead

The future of door hardware lies in visibility, integration and intelligent design. Products must combine mechanical reliability with durability, adaptability to evolving standards and, where required, enhanced hygiene. Increasingly, decision-makers expect more than compliance; they want clear, evidence-based assurance that hardware will perform reliably throughout its lifecycle.

At the same time, marketing and communication must evolve. Clear, relatable narratives around performance, design quality and safety outcomes help decision-makers understand why door hardware is essential rather than optional. When communicated effectively, its contribution to building quality, safety and occupant confidence becomes far more visible.

Door hardware is more than a commodity; it is a vital contributor to building safety, resilience and user experience. To be recognised as such, it must be positioned strategically, pairing ongoing innovation with benefits-led communication that clearly demonstrates real-world value. Done well, this shift can elevate door hardware from afterthought to strategic asset, helping deliver buildings that are safer, smarter and better suited to the demands of 2026.