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Let The Experts

Guide You Through A World of

LOCKS

When selecting Locks for your home or business, the amount of options can certainly be overwhelming. There are many different types of locks and several different security factors to consider.

A Bored Cylindrical Lock is one in which two holes are bored, perpendicular to one another, into the door. A large hole is bored into the door face and a smaller crossbore hole is bored into the door edge, as opposed to a mortise lock prep cut into the edge of the door.

Bored Locks

  • Knobset Locks are the most common type of lock. Commonly used on the exterior doors of homes in combination with a deadbolt lock, they are a simple form of spring lock and not very secure because the cylinder is in the knob and not in the door. In terms of security, the knob can be knocked off the door with a hammer, pliers, or the application of enough force, making the fact that these locks are relatively easy to pick almost irrelevant. A knob lock should never be used as the only lock on an exterior door, and though they were once popular in a variety of applications, knob locks are best used as interior locks in a residential setting.

  • Auxiliary Locks has a latch bolt or a dead bolt operated by a key or a thumbturn or both. This lock is often used in addition to another lock, which may or may not be key operated but which has a latch bolt operated by knobs or levers thumbturn.

    • Single Cylinder Deadbolts are found on most American homes. They use a key cylinder on the outside and a thumbturn (rosary) on the inside to open or close the lock. This kind of lock is not recommended for glass doors where access to the inside is possible (via a door glass panel or a nearby window), the door can be opened using the thumbturn.

    • Double Cylinder Deadbolts use a key cylinder on the inside and the outside of the door to solve this issue. These have the clear disadvantage of always requiring a key to open the door from the inside if it is locked. This can pose a significant problem in a fire or other emergency situation. If used in a residential situation, it is strongly recommended that a key is left on the inside when people are present to ensure a safe exit in an emergency.

    • In a Lockable Thumbturn type of deadbolt, a thumbturn on the inside works like a normal single cylinder deadbolt, except the thumbturn can be locked using a key so it cannot lock or unlock the door. When everyone is leaving, especially for extended periods of time, the thumbturn can be easily locked so that even if someone has access to the door from the inside, the deadbolt cannot be unlocked. This type of deadbolt provides maximum flexibility and security in most situations.

  • Leverset Locks are most commonly seen in a commercial setting due to their compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and are generally used on interior doors. They have a lever that serves as the rotatable turn knob on one side and a key cylinder on the other, much like a knob lock, but are even less secure than knob locks because they can often be opened by brute force.

Depending on the handle and function, there are four basic types of bored locks:

  • Handleset Locks encompasses a grip or handle along with a deadbolt function to lock the door.

Lockset Functions

  • Entry Lockset. An entry function lockset will have a small button on the inside of the knob/lever, allowing you to manually lock the door, when you choose. Most types will allow you to push the button in or push it in and turn the button, causing the lock to remain locked, even after a key is inserted and used. You will most commonly find them on residential homes, on front and back doors.

  • Storeroom Lockset. This particular lock, is always locked and requires a key to be used each time you want to enter. There is no button on the inside and does not come with an option to leave the door open. It’s perfect for commercial uses, on a supply closet, because it will ensure that the door is locked, as long as it’s closed.

  • Classroom Lockset. Much like to the storeroom function lockset, this lock does not have a button on the inside. However, it does have the ability to be left unlock, but only with a key. A full turn will lock or unlock the knob/lever, allowing only the person with the correct key to leave the door open. It’s a great lock for anyone who doesn’t want to leave a door open, unless they authorize it to be.

  • Privacy Lockset. This lockset is used primarily in bathrooms and/or bedrooms, intended for the purpose it’s name suggests; privacy. They will most often have a small hole on the outside, and a push button on the inside. The small hole on the outside can be opened with any kind of pin or paperclip, simply by pushing it in. They are not designed to be used as a main locking device, but just a means to keep someone from walking in when you are using the bathroom or getting dressed in a bedroom.

  • Passage Lockset. This knob/lever doesn’t actually lock, it just keeps the door latched to the frame, so they don’t blow around in the wind. You will commonly find them on closets in a home or doors that just don’t need to be locked in general. Some people will also use them on bedrooms, so you can close the door, but not lock it.

  • Dummy Lockset. This lock is one sided, kind of a fake knob as it has no working parts. It is usually surface mounted or mounted from behind similar to a cabinet knob. Dummy knobs are often used on sets of double doors, or on the inactive side of a french door.

Mortise Locks and Cylinders

A Mortise Lock is a lock that requires a pocket—the mortise—to be cut into the door or piece of furniture into which the lock is to be fitted. A round hole in the face of the door receives a spindle to which knobs or levers are attached. If key operated, a second round hole above the first receives the cylinder(s) and thumbturn. Mortise cylinders are threaded on the side and actually screw into the mortise hardware installed in the door.

 

In most parts of the world, mortise locks are found on older buildings constructed before the advent of bored-cylindrical locks, but they have recently become more common in commercial and upmarket residential construction in Puerto Rico and the United States.

Storefront Mortise Locks are commonly found on aluminum commercial doors and glass entry doors.

  • Straight Bolt and Hook Bolt Mortise Lock- 360° turn of the key or thumb turn retracts the bolt. The bolt provides maximum security on single leaf doors.

  • Deadlatch - Offers flexibility of traffic control for buildings that require free entrance during specific times and exit only at other times. A reverse turn of the key, while the bolt is retracted, retains the bolt for two-way traffic.

Mortise Cam Cylinders are installed by screw in threads and is used on locking units that that are "mortised" into a door. When the key is rotated, the cam (found on the back of the cylinder) will move the locking bolt or latch. 

 

Mortise cylinder styles include Keyed, Thumb Turn, ADA Thumb Turn and Dummy.

Lever / Paddle Handles

Pair the mortise locks with these levers and paddle style handles for new installation or easily replace existing handles.

Euro Profile Locks

Unlike traditional mortise and rim cylinders, the Euro Profile uses a single piece of metal to connect both sides of the lock and is directly connected to both plugs. The Euro profile is convenient to install, rekey or replace.

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These cylinders are predominantly used in Europe. In the United States, euro profile cylinder locks are generally used on sliding glass doors and on the dividing doors between two rooms.

Rim Latch Locks

A Rim Latch Lock has a standard or custom rim cylinder on one side and a surface mount latch lock on the other. The rim cylinder has a long tailpiece that extends from its backside that goes through the door and into the locking mechanism on the other side when installed. They have a cam where the rim cylinder has its extended tailpiece, which is used to operate the lock.

 

Rim latch locks can auto lock the door behind you while others work with both striker and dead bolts. Rim latch locks are generally not meant to take a large amount of force but can be paired with other locks when used on an external door. Models that can be welded are very popular applied on iron gates. 

Jimmy Proof Deadbolts

Jimmy Proof Deadbolts are a surface mount lock frequently found on apartments and double doors. They are sometimes preferred due to the minimal door modifications required. They Jimmy proof deadbolts only require a hole drilled straight through the door for the rim cylinder. If you have an existing Jimmy proof deadbolt you can generally replace just the rim cylinder to upgrade your security.  are also unique as the deadbolt interlocks with the jamb bracket preventing it from being simply pulled apart or forced easily from the outside.

Keyless Entry Locksets

Say goodbye to lost, stolen and just plain forgotten keys. With a Keypad Entry Lockset coming and going is keyless, effortless – and painless. Keypad leversets are great options for doors in buildings that are closed off to the public and for staff only. A passcode can be easily programmed to the security keypad or keypad leverset.

With a Mechanical Combination Pushbutton Locks there are no keys or cards to manage, no computers to program, no batteries to replace, and combinations can be changed in seconds without removing the lock from the door.

 

Electronic Combination Locks are operated by an electronic keypad or touchscreen, and have a back-up keyway. Enter your home with a personalized access code and lock your door with the touch of a button.

Electronic Locks

An electronic lock (or electric lock) is a locking device which operates by means of electric current. These locks use magnets, solenoids, or motors to actuate the lock by either supplying or removing power. Operating the lock can be as simple as using a switch, like an apartment intercom door release, or as complex as a biometric based access control system. Electronic locks can also be remotely monitored and controlled, both to lock and unlock.

 

Electric locks may be connected to an access control system, the advantages of which include: key control, where keys can be added and removed without re-keying the lock cylinder; fine access control, where time and place are factors; and transaction logging, where activity is recorded.

Electromagnetic Locks

The most basic type of Electronic Lock is a Magnetic Lock (informally called a "mag lock"). A large electro-magnet is mounted on the door frame and a corresponding armature is mounted on the door. When the magnet is powered and the door is closed, the armature is held fast to the magnet. Mag locks are simple to install and are very attack-resistant.

Electronic Strikes

Electronic Strikes (also called Electric Latch Release) replace a standard strike mounted on the door frame and receive the latch and latch bolt. 

 

Electric strikes can allow mechanical free egress: a departing person operates the lockset in the door, not the electric strike in the door frame.

Electronic Locks

Electric mortise and cylindrical locks are drop-in replacements for door-mounted mechanical locks. An additional hole must be drilled in the door for electric power wires. Also, a power transfer hinge is often used to get the power from the door frame to the door.

 

Electric mortise and cylindrical locks allow mechanical free egress. Electrified exit hardware, sometimes called "panic hardware" or "crash bars", are used in fire exit applications. A person wishing to exit pushes against the bar to open the door, making it the easiest of mechanically-free exit methods.

A feature of electronic locks is that the locks can be deactivated or opened by authentication, without the use of a traditional physical key. There are several technologies used to monitor and control traffic through specific access points and areas of the secure facility:

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  • Numerical codes, passwords, and passphrases

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  • A keycard such as barcode, proximity or magnetic strip cards.

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  • Biometrics, such as fingerprint scanning among others.

Electronic Locks
Exit Devices

An exit device is a type of door opening mechanism which allows users to open a door by pushing a bar. While originally conceived as a way to prevent stampedes in an emergency, exit devices are now used as the primary door opening mechanism in many commercial buildings.

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The device consists of a spring-loaded metal bar which is fixed horizontally to a door that swings in the direction of an exit. When the bar is depressed, it activates a mechanism which unlatches the door, allowing occupants to quickly leave the building.

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Modern fire standards often mandate that doors be fitted with exit devices in commercial and other occupancies where mass evacuation may be slowed by other types of door openers. They are sometimes intended solely for emergency use and may be fitted with alarms.

Interchangeable Core Cylinders

Interchangeable Core Cylinders are frequently used in larger institutions and businesses and are known for their easy ability to re-key the lock by swapping out the core without taking the lock apart. I/C Locks have two types of keys that work in the lock, the standard operator key locks and unlocks the lock like normal, while the control key, when used, pulls the entire core of the lock out without removing any screws. This is very useful when upgrading locks since the door hardware can be left alone. Just the lock cores are replaced with new ones allowing the door to be upgraded in seconds.

 

It is important to note that I/C cylinders can only be installed in housings specially meant for I/C cylinders. They cannot be installed in standard deadbolts or locks not meant to take an I/C cylinder. In almost all cases if your lock can take an IC cylinder you will see the figure eight on the outside of the lock.

High Security Locks

Protect your business by ensuring that no unauthorized key copies exist and your high security locks are the top commercial grade lock. These locks provide the maximum security possible through the strength and quality of material.

We sell, install and service ASSA and Mul-t-Lock High security locks. The following information is from Mul-t-Lock (our preferred high security lock) but applicable to all other brands.

  • The strongest security

  • Bump and drill resistant

  • Have three levels of security built into the key

  • Keys can only be duplicated when a key card is presented, ensuring no unauthorized duplication. When you get the key back, you know no one made a copy

  • Contains a retaining bearing preventing the lock from separating from the door frame. No other high security lock offers this feature. It’s unique to Mul-t-lock and why we use it.

  • Lifetime finish warranty with limited lifetime mechanical warranty.

  • In addition to high security door locks, Mul-t-Lock and ASSA also provide high security padlocks and high security gate locks.

LOCK FEATURES and INSTALLATION TIPS

When shopping for door hardware, there is some basic information you need to know.

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  • Lock Grades and Ratings - Most lock manufactures have their products tested by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association (BHMA) for grading on how their locks perform. They test based on operation, strength, cycle, security, material evaluation and finish. Lock grade is the number of lock/unlock cycles you can expect your lock to complete before wearing out. It’s a reflection of the durability of the lock, not the amount of security it provides.

    • Grade 1

      • This is the highest level of ANSI grades for door locks and is typically reserved for locks intended for commercial security. These are commercial grade locks and deadbolts that can be used in some residential applications. In order to attain this grade, a door knob must withstand 800-thousand cycles, six door strikes and a 360-pound weight test. A deadbolt rated as Grade 1 must be able to withstand 250-thousand cycles and 10 door strikes with a hammer.

      • Rated for applications where the locks will experience heavy usage such as any building in public buildings, schools, hospitals, or any building with heavy traffic flow.

    • Grade 2

      • Described as meeting "light commercial" requirements, Grade 2 locks also exceed most apartment building requirements and typical residential requirements. This means that Grade 2 locks are not quite strong enough to be used on most businesses, but offer more protection than you should need at home.

    • Grade 3

      • You'll find these locks most commonly in apartment buildings as they meet most residential building requirements. They are not as secure as Grade 2 locks and aren't recommended for use on your main entry point, but could be used adequately on secondary entry points. While this is the lowest grade of locks awarded by the ANSI, don't assume that these locks are low quality.

  • Door Measures - Before purchasing a lock, you must measure your door’s backset, cross bore and thickness to ensure you find the right fit.

    • Door Thickness - Exterior doors are typically 1 ¾ inches thick, while interior doors measure 1 3/8 inches thick.

    • Backset - The distance between the edge of the door and the center of the lock hole. The most common backset measures are 2 3/8 inches or 2 ¾ inches, but some hardware can fit multiple backsets.

    • Cross (or edge) bore - The small hole along the edge of the door frame, usually measuring about 1 inch in diameter.

    • Latch or bolt configuration - Round-corner and square-corner configurations have a plate surrounding the latch or bolt on the edge of the door. Hardware with a drive-in configuration has no plate.

  • Door Handing - The "handing" of a door describes which way the door swings on its hinges, and thus whether you’d need a right- or left-handing handle or lock.

    • The simplest way to determine the handing of your door is to stand in front of it and push it open. If the door swings in to you, walk to the other side of the door so you are on the exterior and can push it open to perform this test.

      • If the door hinges are on the left and it swings open to the left, you will need a left-handed handle for the exterior side and a right-handed handle of the interior side.

      • If the door hinges are on the right and it swings open to the right, you will need a right-handed handle on the exterior side and a left-handed handle on the interior side.

      • If you have a difficult time recalling the proper handing of your door, simply opt for a door lock labeled reversible handing, which means the lock can be installed on either side of the door.

-Single dummy trim for one side of door

-Used for door pull as matching inactive trim.

-Deadlocking latch

-Latch by either lever unless outside lever is locked by push/turn button in inside lever

-Push button released by key outside or lever inside

-Deadlocking latchbolt operated by lever from either side except when outside lever is locked by key in outside ever or by push button or other locking device on inside

-Key in outside lever locks or unlocks outside lever

-Closing door releases push button or other inside locking device

-Deadlocking latch

-Latch by either lever unless outside lever is locked by key

-Key in outside lever locks or unlocks outside lever and retracts latch

-Outside lever always operative

-Latch by either lever unless outside lever is locked by push button in inside lever

-Turning inside lever or closing door releases button

-Emergency button in outside lever unlocks with the use of a blade screwdriver in outside lever releasing inside button 

- Both levers always unlocked

-Deadlocking latch 

-Latch by lever inside or key outside

-Outside lever rigid at all times

-Deadlocking latchbolt

-Outside knob/lever always rigid

-Anti-Panic operation inside knob/lever operates deadbolt and latchbolt

-Deadbolt by inside thumb turn indicator on keyed side

Privacy/Bathroom

Dummy Trim

Hotel/Motel

Storeroom or Closet

Classroom

Corridor

Entrance or Office 

Passage

  • Residential Hardware Types

    • Entry hardware provides security for exterior doors.

    • Privacy hardware has a basic lock and is used on doors for bathrooms and bedrooms.

    • Passage hardware works for interior doors that don't require locks — closet or family room doors, for example.

    • Dummy hardware can serve a decorative purpose — matching operational hardware on double doors — or can serve as knob or lever pulls on interior doors that don't require functional hardware.

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