Hotel System Design Latch Types
What are locking system latch types? How to identify latch type?
All hotel doors, existing and new construction, utilize one of two 'Latch Types'. Latch types are categorized as either (1) Cylindrical or (2) Mortise. The easiest way to tell the difference is with the cylindrical lock, the latch plate or face plate on the edge of the door is about 2" long. In comparison, the latch plate or face plate of the mortise lock, is approximately 8" long.
- Cylindrical style latch Assembly. A 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 cross-bore hole is bored into the door edge. With a cylindrical lock, the lock cylinder is in the handle. A cylindrical lock is designed to be installed through the door with a knob or lever on either side that retract the latch when turned or depressed. The main advantage of a cylindrical lock is its relatively quick installation. Two holes are drilled in the door, one through the face of the door for the lock chassis and the other through the strike edge of the door for the latchbolt. Cylindrical locksets require less time for installation since a mortise pocket doesn’t need to be drilled and chiseled out. Cylindrical locksets are commonly found in homes, offices, and interior doors.
- Mortise style latch Assembly - A mortise lock is one that requires a pocket 'the mortise' to be cut into the door into which the lock is to be fitted. In the mortise lock, the cylinder is above the handle on the door. A mortise lock is one that requires a pocket—the mortise—to be cut into the door where the lock is to be fitted and is common in commercial construction. The parts included in the typical mortise lock installation are:
- The lock body (the part installed inside the mortise cut-out in the door).
- The lock trim (which may be selected from any number of designs of levers, handlesets and pulls).
- A strike plate, which reinforces the holes placed in the frame for the latch or deadbolt to extend into.
- The keyed cylinder which operates the locking/unlocking function of the lock body.
Mortise Type Locking Assembly
When you are comfortable and can identify the common latch-types, the next step is to identify the door swing (in-swing or out-swing) and the handle direction (left handing or right handing). Together, latch type, door swing and handing will provide the framework to start your search for locks for your hotel, motel, dormitory, etc.
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