Glossary of Terms
A
Anti-Friction Latch bolt
The latch bolt of a lock equipped with a device for reducing friction between bolt and strike. Usually a small trigger attached to the bolt contacts the strike and exerts a lever action to depress the bolt.
Auxiliary Bolt
An additional bolt which is activated by the strike when the door is closed, automatically dead latching the latch bolt against end pressure.
Awning Window
A window with an outward opening sash, hung about a horizontal axis at the top or on friction stays at the sides.
B
Backcheck
An inbuilt hydraulic buffer that cushions and checks the opening movement of the door from 75° of opening. Designed to prevent the door from being thrown open and possibly causing damage to the door and frame, and door hardware.
Backset
The distance from the edge of the door to the centre line of the keyhole or central axis of the knob or lever, or whichever is closest to the edge of the door.
Barrel
A cylindrical portion of the cylinder that rotates when the correct key is used.
Bi-fold
A sliding door or window with sections that fold onto one another as the door opens.
Box Strike
A strike in which the latch bolt recess is enclosed or boxed, thus covering the opening in the jamb.
C
Cam
A lever attached to the end of a barrel to activate the lock mechanism.
Casement Window
A window with a sash hung about a vertical axis by hinges at the side.
Construction Cylinder
Temporary keyed cylinders installed during construction, removed and replaced with final keyed cylinders after construction is complete. This system ensures that keys used during construction cannot operate after final cylinders are installed.
Construction Key
A key supplied with construction keyed locks. During construction, a builder gains entry using the construction key. On completion of the building, action is taken to render the construction key inoperative, preventing further entry by the builder.
Construction Keying
Alternative method to a construction cylinder where the keyed cylinders are supplied with a construction key system when is removed prior to building completion by the insertion of the owner key or by the removal of a split key plug.
Cylinder
The assembly incorporating the key operated mechanism.
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D
DUALSELECT™
Is a two step locking feature where turning the external key to the first step snib locks the internal handle to Safety Mode. Turning the external key to the second step deadlocks the handles on both sides.
Deadbolt
A bolt which is not activated by a spring. When locked the bolt cannot be returned by end pressure.
Dead latch
A lock containing a dead latch bolt.
Dead latch Bolt
A spring actuated bevelled latch bolt which operates in conjunction with an auxiliary bolt which automatically locks the latch bolt against return by end pressure.
Deadlock
A lock incorporating a deadbolt.
Deadlocking Latchbolt
A latchbolt that, when the door is closed, can be locked against return by end pressure by the operation of a key or Turn Snib.
Delayed Action
An inbuilt function that allows the door closing action to be delayed for an adjustable period of time before resuming controlled closing.
Disc Tumblers
Flat discs or wafers which are spring loaded to prevent the cylinder plug from rotating until the correct key is inserted.
Double Hung Sash Window
A window with two sashes which slides vertically in a window frame.
Dummy Trim
A non-operating door trim which is installed for appearance or as a pull handle only.
E
Electric Strikes
An electrical device that replaces a regular lock strike to enable a door to be released by remote control.
F
Finish
Final cover treatment of the product for appearance and protection, in both plated finishes or powder coat colour.
Furniture
Fittings complimentary to the lock systems, such as handles and escutcheon plates.
G
Grand Master Key
A key, within a system, that operates all locks in a number of separate groups that have their own master keys.
H
Handing
The direction of door travel (swinging or sliding) and the locking/secure side of a door, eg. Right hand (opening out), left hand (opening out).
Handed Products
A product designed or assembled for use only on right hand doors or only left hand doors, but not both.
Hold-back
A catch or other device on a lock which can hold the latch bolt in the retracted position.
Hold-open
The feature of a door closer unit which enables a door to be held in the opened position until released.
I
IDC
Individual Discount Code.
Indicator Bolt
A slide-action bolt installed in areas where privacy is desired (such as toilets and bathrooms) which provides visual indication that the room is occupied or vacant.
J
Jamb
Vertical posts or pieces that together form the sides of a door or window frame.
K
Keyed Alike
Indicates identical key for 2 or more locks.
Keyed to Differ
A different key is needed to activate each lock.
L
Latch
A door or window fastening device having no locking function.
Latch bolt
A spring actuated, bevelled bolt usually operated by door furniture.
LOCKALERT®
Is a small window incorporated into the furniture of the lock where a coloured indicator can display which mode the lock is in. This feature allows easy confirmation of the lock status from a distance. Red indicates that the lock is Deadlocked. Yellow indicates that the lock is in Safety Mode (where applicable) and Green indicates that the lock is in Passage mode.
Lockset
A lock, complete with strike and door furniture, such as knobs, levers, escutcheons, or handles.
M
Maison System
A keying system where a group of different keys will operate a common lock.
Master Key
A key which will operate a group of locks, each built to operate on a different service key.
Mortice
An opening made to receive a lock or other hardware. Also the act of making such an opening.
Mortice Lock
A lock designed to be recessed into the edge of a door, rather than being mounted to its surface.
N
Negative Pressure
A pressure imbalance between the inside and outside of a window/door resulting in a force tending to pull the window/door off a building.
Nightlatch
A lock with a spring-actuated latch bolt.
Non-handed
The ability to reverse the product or key component to suit left or right-hand installation.
O
One-Way Screw
Screws with specially shaped heads to prevent removal by conventional screwdriver.
P
Parallel Arm Door Closer
A type of door closer installation where the arm is mounted parallel to the door, for use where the door closer is installed on the inside of an opening out door.
Passage Set
A term commonly used to describe a latch set with handles on both sides of a door but no locking function.
Patio Lock
A lock designed with a pushbutton or turn button inside to lock the outside handle. When so locked, there is no entrance by key from outside.
Pin Tumblers
Small sliding pins in a lock cylinder which work against coil springs and prevent the cylinder plug from rotating until the correct key is inserted.
Pivoting Sash
Window sash with a sash arm assembly that enables it to be opened outward as in both casement and awning applications.
Powdercoat
Polyester-based coating for products providing a smooth colour finish.
Privacy Set
A term for locks used on bathroom and bedroom doors having an inside button or Turn Snib to lock the outside handle and usually an emergency function which will unlock the set from the outside.
R
Rebated Door
A door where the leading edge is stepped.
Rebated lock/latch A lock which has the faceplate and strike shaped to match the rebated edge of a door, usually the meeting edges of two door leaves.
Reversible Lock
A lock with the components that can be readily adapted to enable the lock to suit door of either hand, opening in or out.
Rim Lock, Rim Latch
A lock or latch which is mounted to the surface of a door, rather than inserted into the edge of the door.
S
Safety Mode
Allows the lock to be opened from inside without using a key, while at the same time requiring a key to be used on the external side to gain access.
SAFETY RELEASE®
Automatically unlocks the internal side of the lock upon use of an outside key or handle, reducing the risk of a lock in.
Sash
A frame in which the panes of a window or door are set.
Service Key
A key which will only operate the lock that has been built to suit that service key.
Single-Action Escape Lock
A lockset installed to a door where exit is obtained by a single action without the use of a key.
Snib
A device used to either lock or unlock the lockset.
Spindle
The drive shaft that connects the knob or lever to the latch or lock mechanism to operate the bolt.
Stay
Friction hinge – top brace and support the window sash for opening. Also known as friction hinge.
Strike
A device fixed in or on a doorjamb into which the lock or latch bolt engages when the door is closed.
Strike Box
A security component used in conjunction with the strike plate to help protect the bolt against end pressure.
Surface Mounted
The lock is mounted on the surface of the door stile.
T
Tubular Bolt
A bolt having a tubular case.
Turn Snib
A device used to lock, unlock or retract the bolt by rotation.
V
Vestibule
A hall or lobby next to the entrance door of a dwelling and from which other doors open to various rooms.
W
Wafer
See Disc Tumblers.