Frequently Asked Questions

General

Where can I find my nearest FSB trade stockist?

You will find a suitable FSB trade-stockist partner in next to no time in our source-of-supply search-list.

Where can I find specification texts?

You will find specification texts in our product configurator, which is programmed into our digital catalogue for each product. Please note that it is first necessary to completely configure the product desired. Once this has been done, the specification texts will be available to you for downloading.

Where will I find drawings in a DWG or DXF format?

You will find CAD data in our product configurator, which is programmed into our digital catalogue for each product. Please note that it is first necessary to completely configure the product desired. Once this has been done, the CAD data will be available to you for downloading.

Should the data desired be unavailable, please send an email to info@fsb.de

Where will I find further information material?

You will find the FSB Manual and all brochures on our download page. If you prefer hard copy, the material desired can be requested in printed form by completing our order form.

Consulting our website and digital catalogue

Why should I register?

Why should I register?

Registered users of our “My FSB” information portal enjoy several cost-free benefits:

Made to measure and to the point:
You only receive information that really interests you.

Digital Catalogue Plus:

Create and permanently save wishlists.

Recommend products to, for instance, colleagues.
Submit requests for price quotations directly to the stockist of your choice.
Download CAD datasets and specification texts.

Remain as anonymous as you like when registering: tell us your name, sector and email address. Any other information is voluntary and helps us collate information tailored to your own requirements. It goes without saying that your data are not passed on to anyone else.

Are my data safe?

It goes without saying that your data are not passed on to anyone else; they are, moreover, safeguarded to the fullest extent currently technically possible.

What is a wishlist and how does it work?

A wishlist allows you to archive configured and unconfigured products in order to then either download the information on all products investigated as a single package, make a price inquiry or recommend products to others.

You may also send the wishlist to your own email address so as to have access to your selection at some later point in time. Registered users enjoy the option of permanently saving information. It is possible to create one or more wishlists.

I would like to recommend an FSB product to others. How do I go about it?

First locate the product desired in the digital catalogue and click on the envelope symbol. If you would like to recommend several products, these can first be entered together on a wishlist (click on star symbol) and then sent as a recommendation. You do, however, need to log in or register beforehand as a precaution against spam mail.

Why do I need to provide details of the market and target group?

Providing details of the market and target group helps us display information exclusively available and of relevance to them. This primarily concerns products selected from our digital catalogue.

Standards

What is the Construction Products Regulation?

The Construction Products Regulation (CPR) stipulates that, when marketing certain products, a Declaration of Performance be made in respect of them. The CPR is binding and has been enshrined in law since 1 July 2013.

The CPR applies to standards classified as having been harmonised by the European Standards Committee. Only the DIN EN 179 and DIN EN 1125 standards are of relevance to FSB products. DIN EN 1906 is a non-harmonised standard.

Of crucial importance is a mutual declaration of compliance by the lock and handle-fitting manufacturers stating that the two components have been tested together and meet the requirements of both standards.

You can view or download the CPR by clicking on the following link and then on “Certificates”.

What do I need to know about DIN EN 179 and DIN EN 1125?

An emergency exit device as defined in DIN EN 179/DIN EN 1125 comprises a handle fitting, lock, striking plate and lock cylinder. Only if all of these components are harmonised with one another can the “device” do what it is meant to, i.e. save lives!

It must be possible for a door fitted out in this way to be opened within 1 second by a person exerting a defined amount of force and carrying a load. What this means in our own case at least is that the lock and handle fitting need to be tested together. The cylinder does not lie within our sphere of responsibility.

Neither of these two standards is cited in the lists of building rules compiled by the German Structural Engineering Institute (DIBt). We can only provide recommendations as to which handle should be fitted, the final decision resting with the architect/planner. There may also be regional building regulations to be observed.

What does DIN EN 179 entail?

DIN EN 179 governs the use of fittings on doors in buildings not frequented by the public, the escape routes in which are known to their users and in which, rather than mass panic breaking out in the event of an emergency, people are likely to leave in an orderly fashion via a number of escape routes.

DIN EN 179 states that the grips on lever handles are required to feature a return end to the face of the door and to be fitted with a two-part spindle. Such fittings with two-part spindles are not suitable for continuous use.

It must be possible to open the emergency exit device within 1 second exerting a defined force <= 70 N. This is only possible by harmonising the lock and handle fitting. Operation must be effected in a downward direction.

What does DIN EN 1125 entail?

DIN EN 1125 deals with emergency-exit doors. The main way in which it differs from DIN EN 179 is that the form of hardware involved is a crossbar rather than a lever handle.

DIN EN 1125 governs the use of fittings on doors in buildings frequented by the public, i.e. by people largely unfamiliar with the surroundings who would all tend to rush out through the same exit or door in an emergency.

So as to obviate the danger of the first person reaching the door not being able to operate the handle quickly enough and being crushed by those crowding up behind, it is stipulated that a bar acting on the lock be fitted that extends across at least 60 % of the face of the door. It must be possible to depress this bar at any point along its width and to open the door within 1 second.

FSB supplies panic crossbars 77 7980 and 77 7981, which are harmonised with the locks made by a number of firms.

What is the DGUV?

DGUV stands for “Deutsche Gesetzliche Unfallversicherung”, which translates as German Statutory Accident Insurance. DGUV, lays down a radius >= 2 mm for all items of furniture with projecting corners and edges up to a height of 2 metres. The relevant accident funds should be consulted where there is any doubt. The FSB range includes a large selection of lever handles that meet these requirements.

Does FSB also produce door fittings to the ANSI standard?

FSB does not produce any fittings to the ANSI standard in the normal course of business. Where such fittings are desired, however, our North American branch establishment will be pleased to hear from you. You will find their contact details in our Service and Contact section.

With which makes of lock are FSB panic fittings conforming to EN 1125 tested and certified?

Our panic fittings are tested and certified for use with SSF locks, Winkhaus STV and AP Type locks, and GEZE locks amongst others.
An exhaustive list is to be found in the product datasheet for our panic fittings. All you need to do to be able to consult this is configure the panic bar desired in the Digital Catalogue and select the product datasheet in the Download section.

Door Fittings

What is meant by DIN lefthand and DIN righthand?

Doors are hung on hinges fitted either on the left or right. It is the position of the hinges that determines the door’s handing under the DIN method.

If the hinges are on the left as viewed from the inside, the door is classified by DIN as being left-hand (LH), whilst a door with hinges on the right is DIN right hand (RH). The handing of the lock and, where asymmetrical lever handles are fitted, the direction of the handle are determined in the same way.

The same applies for doors opening outwards such as emergency-exit or gymnasium doors.

DIN handing is also always dependent on whether the door opens inwards or outwards.

What is ASL®?

ASL® stands for the German equivalent of “adaptor standard bearing”. The standard FSB ASL® bearing is suitable for light to medium-duty doors.

FSB’s ASL® bearing is supplied as standard for doors from 39-58 mm thick, i.e. virtually all types, and can additionally be produced to order for door widths of between 29-98 mm. Rounding off the benefits of our heavy-duty bearing are through fixing with M5 screws in stainless steel, a 45° angle of operation and a non-directional positive mechanism spring.

FSB ASL® is always supplied as a set and can be universally deployed as both a "righthand" and a "lefthand" model.

Find out more about the specifics and benefits of FSB ASL® here.

What is AGL®?

AGL® stands for the German equivalent of “compensating bearing”. AGL® by FSB is ideal for fitting in heavily frequented doors that require roses or backplates design-engineered to deliver ruggedness and durability.

AGL® has been a byword for a category of unsurpassed heavy-duty fitting solutions for more than three decades now, boasting product and assembly benefits that have set new benchmarks for doors. Its functional durability has been proven millions of times over.

Unique to the market are its system of joining male and female handles together, a Teflon-coated brass bushing and its scope for compensating tolerances. AGL® hardware sets feature a 0° stop that ensures the handle always comes to rest absolutely horizontally – even if the lock follower is pre-tensioned. With AGL® you can be certain your door handle will never sag or, perish the thought, point upwards.

Find out more about the specifics and benefits of FSB AGL® here.

What is FSB Handmade and what does the customer need to provide for it?

FSB Handmade is the name given to a service whereby we cooperate with customers in manufacturing items to their precise wishes. We are able, for instance, to implement products with special dimensions or design features, in forms ranging from hand-castings to series production.
More detailed information is to be found in our “FSB Handmade” brochure.

Can ASL® sets be used on fire doors?

It is only possible to fit ASL® lever handles to fire doors in the international market, and then only assuming the requirements of DIN EN 1634 are met.

How are ASL® fittings assembled?

Our digital catalogue contains detailed descriptions of how to fit all of our products. You merely need to configure the product desired and select the applicable fixing instructions in the Download section.
Please contact our Sales Department should anything nevertheless not be clear. You will find details of the desk officer assigned to you here once you have entered your postcode.

How are flush roses 1736 / 1734 and flush AGL® bearings fitted?

Our Digital Catalogue contains detailed descriptions of how to fit all of our products. You merely need to configure the product desired and select the applicable fixing instructions in the Download section.
Please contact our Sales Department should anything nevertheless not be clear. You will find details of the desk officer assigned to you here once you have entered your postcode.

What does Dimension A for door pulls refer to?

Dimension A is the distance between any two brackets as measured from the centre of each bracket (c:c distance).

Is it always possible to choose between angular and oval roses for the handles on narrow-frame doors?

Yes, it is always possible to opt for either one or the other. This involves added input on our part, however, for which reason we adjust the price accordingly. The difference in price can be gleaned from our 2020 Price-List.

Fire Door Fittings

When is a fire door fitting required?

Fire door fittings are subject to technical requirements that, for Germany, are set out in DIN 18273. This standard is cited by the DIBt and is listed under Part A of that body’s building regulations, meaning that complying with it is mandatory. Anyone marketing fire door fittings that do not meet the technical requirements is committing a punishable offence.

Fire door fittings may only be supplied as a complete unit inclusive of the fastenings permitted. Fittings must be clearly labelled. Products of this kind made by FSB bear the marking “FSB FS DIN 18 273” embossed onto the spindle.

Can a fire door set be supplied with a warded keyway?

Unfortunately, no. Any fire occurring must be prevented from passing through the door. Keyholes have to be filled in. Here, too, a melting point of 1,000 °C is laid down for the base structure. In sets with an EPC keyway, the keyhole is filled in by the cylinder.

Warded locks sold as fire-safety variants are required to incorporate a swivel flap concealing the keyhole. FSB does not manufacture the accompanying escutcheons.

Can I order individual parts of a fire door set separately?

No, that is not possible. To accord with statutory provisions, fire door sets must always be supplied complete (either as a lever/lever or lever/knob set or as a half-set for the inactive leaf in double doors).

Window Handles

Are FSB window handles with narrow roses tested to DIN EN 13126-3?

Yes, they are. The actual window handles are of the same size as their companion door handles, hence they are formally identical. They incorporate FSB’s proven 90°-increment ball-catch mechanism, have been tested to DIN EN 13126-3, Class 2, and, having undergone 25,000 turn/tilt cycles, meet the standard’s most exacting test requirements.

How far does the spindle project on FSB window handles?

The spindle projection on FSB window handles varies between 24-38 mm. On recessed-rose models it varies between 14-28 mm.

Are FSB tilt-before-turn window handles RC-approved?

No, they are not. Window handles of this kind can be moved to the 90° position even when locked, meaning that they do not enjoy RC-status.

Lockable window handles with a TBT function can only be fitted together with the window drive gear in this variant. The method of opening this kind of window differs from that for a standard tilt-and-turn window. Operating it through 90° merely tilts the window, the handle having to be rotated through 180° before it can be opened completely. When locked, the window handle can only be operated to the tilt position. The window’s DIN handing needs to be borne in mind here.

How is an FSB plug-in handle for windows fitted?

The mechanism in FSB plug-in handles for windows runs independently of the drive gear. In the case of aluminium windows, they are fitted by means of a clamping device in the profile. On timber windows they slot into a recessed socket milled into the timber. Incidentally: FSB is the first manufacturer to supply plug-in handles for timber windows too.

Does the lockable FSB plug-in handle for windows conform to DIN EN 1627?

Yes, it does. FSB plug-in handles for windows are also obtainable as a lockable variant with push button and key. The minimum requirements laid down in DIN EN 1627, i.e. 100 Nm resistance to twisting and forcing, are adhered to in the case of these window handles too. Only models with an inline grip are suitable, however.

What does the RAL quality seal stand for?

The RAL quality seal is used to indicate that a product has undergone the applicable testing and is awarded by RAL Deutsches Institut für Gütesicherung und Kennzeichnung e.V. It is comparable in status to a DIN standard. A resistance to twisting and forcing of 200 Nm is laid down for lockable window handles. Latching coefficients are defined for standard window handles.

How high is the forcing strength for lockable FSB window handles?

The forcing strength for lockable FSB window handles is 200 Nm.

To what standard are FSB window handles tested?

FSB window handles are tested to DIN EN 13 126-3.

What does TBT mean?

TBT is short for “Tilt Before Turn”.

Standard window drive gear operates on a tilt/turn basis. The window handle points downwards in the closed position; in the 90° position the window is completely opened and in the 180° position it is tilted. Under the TBT system, by contrast, the window is tilted at the 90° position and completely opened at the 180° position.

It only makes sense to employ TBT drive gears/windows in conjunction with lockable window handles – in schools or other public buildings, for instance, in which non-authorised persons are only permitted to set windows at the tilt position.

Is the push-button variant of lockable FSB window handles RC-approved?

Yes, it is.

Are handles permitted on windows along escape routes?

Window handles are out of the question for the primary escape route.

It is necessary to be able to operate handles along an escape route by pushing them downwards and to open the device within 1 second exerting a defined force of at most 70 N. This cannot be achieved with a window handle. See also the requirements for lever handles as laid down in DIN EN 179.

Whether a window can be considered as a second escape route needs to be clarified with the building supervisory authority, fire brigade or other expert body. We are not aware of there being any requirements regarding the window handle itself.

Do window handles with non-standard spindle projections cost more?

No, they do not.