Mila Hardware has received an independent endorsement of the quality and durability of its Evolution high security door handle with a maximum Grade 4 rating in a recent BS EN1906 test carried out at Exova Warrington.

BS EN1906 is the standard handle lever test and rates products from 1 to 4 depending on their strength, durability and corrosion resistance.

Richard Gyde, Mila’s Managing Director, said:  “We believe we are the first manufacturer to achieve a Grade 4 rating on a high security door handle.   We have been promoting our Evolution handle with standard or D-shaped lever option as the ultimate choice for the retail and public sectors, and now we have the independent evidence to support that.”

Handles rated Grade 4 are typically aimed at the public and commercial sectors and are described as being suitable even for use even on doors which are subject to ‘frequent violent usage’ such as at football stadiums or on oil rigs .

In order to achieve its Grade 4 rating, the Evolution handle was cycle tested 200,000 times, placed in a salt spray chamber for 240 hours and had to withstand a 1,000N force applied to try to detach the handle from a door for 60 seconds.

Richard Gyde adds:  “Our standard Evolution handle is making a big impact in the retail market while our Evolution handle with D-shaped lever is ideal for use by fabricators targeting the public sector.  It ticks all the boxes required by specifiers and end users, namely it meets Part M of the Building Regulations for use by the elderly or disabled, it is Secured by Design and PAS24 approved and now it is also rated Grade 4 at EN1906.  

“Combined with our Evolution high security cylinder, it opens up new sales opportunities for customers and gives them the opportunity to exploit a real competitive edge in the marketplace.”