Hinge Glossary A

Hinge Glossary: An A–Z

At Cooke Brothers, we make one of the UK’s widest ranges of hinges. This glossary explains the terms you’re most likely to come across when choosing, specifying, or fitting our hinges.

This glossary is a quick reference for anyone working with hinges, whether you’re fitting them on site or specifying them for a project. As a UK manufacturer, Cooke Brothers supplies hinges for everything from standard internal doors to high-security and fire-rated installations, backed by decades of experience and in-house expertise. If you need any more technical information, data sheets, certification, or DoPs, just get in touch.

Adjustable hinge	Built-in adjustment lets you fine-tune door alignment after fitting.
Anti-clockwise / Clockwise	Cooke Brothers define handing by the swing direction of the door. If the door closes by rotating anti-clockwise when facing it, it is termed anti-clockwise handed. If the door closes by rotating clockwise when viewed from above (or when facing the door), it is termed clockwise-handed.
Architectural hinge	A heavy-duty hinge for doors in commercial, public or residential buildings. Made for strength and frequent use.

Barrel	The round centre part of the hinge, formed by the knuckles and housing the pin.
Bearing	A hidden component inside some hinges that reduces friction and wear.
Butt hinge	This is the standard hinge for most doors and extremely versatile. Two leaves are joined by a central pin, one leaf fixed to the door, one to the frame, so that only the knuckle is visible when the door is closed. Butt hinges are used on everything from light internal doors to heavy fire-rated doors and are available in fixed pin, lift-off, security and fire-certified versions to suit different applications.

Cabinet hinge	A smaller hinge for furniture or light-duty enclosures. Available in polymer, steel or stainless steel.
Clearance Gap	The clearance between door and frame. Choosing the right hinge helps keep clearance gaps consistent and compliant, especially on fire doors.
Clockwise / Anti-Clockwise	Cooke Brothers define handing by the swing direction of the door. If the door closes by rotating clockwise when viewed from above (or when facing the door), it is termed clockwise-handed. If the door closes by rotating anti-clockwise when facing it, it is termed anti-clockwise handed.
Concealed bearing hinge	A butt hinge with the bearings hidden inside the knuckle. This design is maintenance-free, reducing wear without needing regular lubrication.
Concealed hinge	Fitted into the door and frame so it’s invisible when the door is shut.
Conductor hinge	See Power transfer hinge.
Continuous hinge	Also called a piano hinge. Runs the full height of the door for even load distribution. Ideal for heavy or high-traffic doors.
Cranked hinge	A hinge with one or both leaves formed with a bend (or “crank”) so the door sits in a different position relative to the frame. Cranked hinges are commonly used for clearance for projecting architraves or to set the door further into or out of the opening.

Decorative finishes	Surface finishes chosen for looks and protection. Includes satin or polished stainless steel, brass, black, or bronze effects.
Dog bolt	A built-in security pin that locks into the frame, stopping the door from being lifted off its hinges.

Equal / unequal leaves

Refers to whether the two hinge leaves are the same width (equal) or different (unequal). Unequal leaves are helpful for certain frame designs.

Falling hinge	A hinge designed so that the door gradually drops as it opens. Sometimes used in specialist applications, but less common than rising butt hinges.
Fire door hinge	Tested and certified for use on fire-rated doors, ensuring the door maintains its performance in a fire.
Fixed pin hinge	A hinge with a pin that can’t be removed, adding security.
Flag hinge	A type of hinge with one leaf shaped like a flag, usually fixed to the frame, and the other to the door.
Floor spring	Although not strictly a hinge, a floor spring is a concealed door closer set into the floor. Works with pivot hinges or pivot sets to provide self-closing action, commonly used on heavier glass or timber doors.
Flush hinge	Designed so that the leaves sit flush within the door and frame.

Glass door hinge	Specially designed to fix to glass panels, often with retainers or gaskets.
Grades	Hinges are graded under the BS EN 1935:2002 standard, which measures durability, load-bearing capacity, and frequency of use.

Handing

The term used to describe the direction a door opens and the way the hinges are fitted. See Clockwise and Anti-Clockwise.

Jamb

The vertical side of a door frame to which the hinge leaf is fixed.

Knuckle

The rounded sections of the hinge leaves that interlock to form the barrel.

Leaf	The flat plate of the hinge that screws to the door or frame.
Lift-off hinge	Lets you remove a door by lifting it off vertically, without undoing screws.
Load-bearing capacity	The maximum weight a hinge can support, usually expressed in kilograms and proven by testing.

Marine-grade hinge	Made from 316 stainless steel to resist corrosion in coastal or wet environments. Marine Locker & Cabinet Hinges, Stainless Steel 316 Hinges
Medium-duty hinge	Suitable for everyday doors in homes and offices. A balance of strength and ease of use.

Parliament hinge	Wide-throw leaves that let the door swing right back and lie flat against a wall.
Pin	The rod that runs through the knuckles, joining the leaves and acting as the pivot.
Piano hinge	See Continuous hinge.
Pivot hinge	Hinge with the pivot point offset or hidden, giving a smooth swing without visible knuckles.
Power transfer hinge	Incorporates concealed electrical conductors to carry power or signals through the hinge for locks or access control.
Projection hinge	A hinge with extended knuckles that allows a door to open clear of the frame or architrave. Useful where full opening is required without obstruction.
Pivot set	A two-part pivot system (usually one in the head, one in the floor) that supports the door’s weight and allows it to swing smoothly. Often used with floor springs

Reduced-ligature hinge	Shaped to reduce ligature risks. Used in mental health or secure facilities.
Rising butt hinge	Gradually raises the door as it opens, helpful in clearing carpets or floor finishes.

Security hinge	Includes features like fixed pins, dog bolts or anti-lift designs to stop tampering or forced entry.
Self-closing hinge	A hinge designed to return the door to the closed position automatically after opening without the need for a door closer.
Special function hinges	Hinges with specific built-in features such as spring action or power transfer.
Spring hinge	Uses a spring to return the door to the closed position.
Stainless steel hinge	Made from stainless steel for durability, strength and corrosion resistance.
Stormproof hinge	A hinge designed for external or exposed doors, offering extra weather protection and durability against the elements.
Swing clear hinge	A hinge that moves the door completely out of the opening when opened to 90°, maximising the clear width. Often used where accessibility is important.

Tamper-resistant hinge	Designed to prevent removal or interference, often with non-removable pins or concealed fixings.
Tested hinge	Hinges independently tested to standards such as BS EN 1935 (performance) or BS EN 1634 (fire testing).

Hinge Glossary A–Z

Hinge Glossary: An A–Z