When designing ligature-resistant doors for behavioral health environments, every detail matters — especially the hinge. At Kennon, we engineered a specialized hinge system that provides both durability and safety, drawing from decades of experience building rugged protective equipment for military aircraft.

This particular hinge is embedded directly into the foam core of the door, securely holding high-strength Neodymium magnets that allow the door to attach to the frame. It’s a smart, seamless design — free of surface hardware — that maintains the functionality of a door while enhancing patient safety.

To prevent any possibility of tampering, we sealed the hinge pocket using an ultra-strong thread that cannot be cut with common objects. In fact, we challenged four engineers to breach the hinge using items typically available in behavioral health facilities — a plastic knife, a ballpoint pen, a paper clip. After 30 minutes of effort, only one engineer made minimal progress — a testament to the hinge’s integrity. Click the button to see the engineers’ progress.

The core design principles — discretion, durability, and safety — reflect our commitment to protecting and improving life. Inspired by the same standards we apply in aerospace protection, this hinge helps facilities maintain a therapeutic environment without compromising on security.