ALOA CAL flashcards
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32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.
- Shear line
- The boundary between the rotating plug and the stationary shell of a pin tumbler cylinder; the plug turns only when every pin split aligns at this line.
- Driver pin
- The upper pin in a pin tumbler chamber that sits above the shear line in the bible; it is pushed down by the spring and blocks plug rotation until lifted.
- Backset
- The distance from the door edge or face plate to the center of the spindle or cylinder bore; common residential values are 2-3/8 and 2-3/4 inches.
- Deadbolt vs latchbolt
- A deadbolt throws a solid bolt with no spring action; a latchbolt is spring-loaded and beveled so it retracts when it contacts the strike.
- ANSI/BHMA grade
- A rating of lock durability and security; Grade 1 is the highest commercial tier, Grade 3 the lowest residential tier, based on cycle and strength testing.
- Warded lock
- A lock using fixed internal projections called wards that block all but a matching key; it has no pin tumblers and is easily bypassed with skeleton keys.
- Lever tumbler lock
- A lock in which each lever must be lifted to the fence height set by its own cut; the bolt retracts only when all levers align.
- Fail-safe vs fail-secure
- Fail-safe locks unlock on power loss for life-safety egress; fail-secure locks remain locked on power loss for asset protection.
- Request-to-exit (REX)
- A sensor or switch that releases the electric lock when someone approaches the door from inside, allowing free egress without an access credential.
- Electric strike duty rating
- The rated continuous or intermittent load a strike can handle; voltage (12 or 24 VDC) and duty must match the controller or the strike will fail early.
- Graphite vs oil
- Graphite is a dry lubricant suited to pin tumbler cylinders; oil and grease attract dust and gum up springs, so silicone spray is preferred for sliding parts.
- Closer sweep and latch valves
- Separate adjustment valves on a door closer control opening sweep speed and final latch speed; backcheck must be set before tuning sweep and latch.
- Binding order
- The sequence in which pins bind under tension, set by manufacturing tolerance; it reveals which pin is tightest, not the key cut depth.
- Low-battery lockout
- A designed behavior in battery-powered electronic locks where the lock refuses to operate at low voltage; it should be tested on a schedule, not treated as a fault.
- Cylinder pinning math
- For every shear combination, bottom pin plus master wafer plus driver pin must equal the chamber depth so each key reaches the shear line.
- Key bitting depth
- The depth of each cut measured from the blade shoulder or tip per manufacturer spec; it must clear the bottom pin and lift the driver above the shear line.
- MACs
- Maximum adjacent cut specification: the limit on depth difference between neighboring cuts so the key does not hang up on the pin stack.
- First key / last key
- The highest and lowest legal cut depths in a keying system; any bitting outside this envelope is invalid and must not be cut.
- Key spacing
- The distance between cut centers along the key blade, set by the manufacturer; it determines where each pin stack contacts the key.
- Duplication by code
- Cutting a new key from the original bitting record rather than tracing an unknown key, preserving the code and ensuring an in-spec copy.
- Blank thickness and profile
- The blank must match the keyway profile and blade thickness; too thick binds in the keyway, too thin causes wobble and accelerated wear.
- Deburring a cut key
- Removing sharp metal burrs from the blade after cutting so the key slides smoothly and does not wear the cylinder or keyway.
- Master wafer
- The middle pin in a master-keyed chamber that lets both the change key and the master key reach the shear line at different heights.
- Cross-keying
- A defect in which one change key opens another change's lock; it must be eliminated during pinning because it defeats the system's security.
- Master key levels
- The hierarchy of change keys, sub-masters, masters, and grand masters; each level opens its own set and all levels below it.
- Total stack height
- The sum of bottom pin, master wafer, and driver pin; it must equal the chamber depth for every shear combination or the cylinder will not key.
- Progression chart
- A documented list assigning each change key a unique bitting so the master system can be extended without collisions or cross-keying.
- Two-level pinning
- A master-keying method using bottom pin, master wafer, and driver pin so a change key and a master key each align at the shear line.
- Authority verification
- Confirming a customer's right to access by checking photo ID plus proof of occupancy or a work order for the address before any lock work.
- Free egress rule
- Fire and life-safety codes require that occupants can always exit from inside; no lock or strike may prevent exit, even at customer request.
- Service record
- A written log of date, address, customer, work performed, parts used, and signature that protects the locksmith against liability and disputes.
- Customer code confidentiality
- Key codes, access codes, and alarm codes are confidential customer data; they must be stored securely and never shared without authorization.