New BHMA Standard for Determining Builders Hardware Energy Consumption

WASHINGTON, D.C. – With the industry experiencing a spike in electrified access control (EAC) solutions in commercial and institutional buildings, the Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association (BHMA) has published ANSI/BHMA A156.45 for Determination of Builders Hardware Energy Consumption, introducing a consistent method for measuring the operational energy usage of wired architectural door hardware, including locks, strikes, and input devices.  

ANSI/BHMA A156.45 establishes a framework for evaluating energy consumption, with certification values expressed in kilowatt hours per day (kWh/day) across multiple levels of use. These results allow for meaningful comparisons between products and can support broader building energy evaluation programs such as the LEED rating system. 

The new standard measures energy consumption over a 24-hour period using three operational models that reflect real-world door activity: 

• Secure – when passage is not possible 
• Non-Secure – when free passage is possible 
• Triggered – when a credential is required for passage 

“A156.45 is a great example of BHMA recognizing and responding to a changing market,” said Anthony Gambrall, Director of Standards at BHMA. “As building owners pursue energy-efficiency and net-zero goals, there is a growing need to quantify the energy impact of these systems. This standard provides a standardized tool to compare the energy performance of electrified architectural hardware and support more informed building design decisions.” 

In addition to establishing a repeatable test method, A156.45 also includes actual measured energy values in Certified Products Directory (CPD), allowing specifiers, facility managers, and building owners to more accurately estimate electricity usage. 

The new standard complements existing BHMA product standards by allowing large facilities such as universities, hospitals and government buildings the ability to quantify usage where thousands of electrified openings may be installed. To access the full ANSI/BHMA A156.45 standard, visit here. 

Each ANSI/BHMA standard can be purchased on the BHMA website (www.buildershardware.com), and summaries of each standard can be accessed on the Hardware Highlights page. For more information on ANSI/BHMA standards, contact [email protected].