ALOA ICRL key terms

A lock whose body is installed in a rectangular pocket cut into the door edge, so the lock case, latch, and deadbolt sit inside the door rather than on its face.

A lock installed through holes bored in the door face and edge, with a cylindrical body that houses the latch and, often, a deadlocking plunger.

A panic hardware device mounted on the door face whose push bar retracts a latch that engages a strike on the frame; commonly used on single outswinging doors.

An exit device with rods extending up and down from the bar to latch the door at the head and sill or head and frame, often used on pairs of doors.

A hydraulic or spring device that pulls a door shut and controls its closing speed, helping the door latch and, on fire doors, self-close as required.

A metal plate on the frame or floor that receives the latch or bolt, protecting the frame and helping hold the door closed or locked.

A latch with a plunger that blocks the latchbolt from being pushed back when the door is closed, resisting card or shim attacks at the door gap.

An uncut key of a particular keyway and profile from which working keys are cut; blanks are controlled items because unauthorized blanks allow duplicate keys.

The shaped slot in a lock cylinder, and the matching cross-section of the key, that determines which key profile can enter and turn the lock.

A key that operates one lock or one small group of locks and cannot open other locks in the same master key system.

A key that operates two or more locks whose individual change keys differ, using a cylinder pinned to accept several key cuts.

In a multi-level key system, the top-level key that opens every lock under two or more master keys as well as all their change keys.

The pattern of depths cut into a key, and the matching pin lengths in the cylinder; bitting determines which keys the cylinder accepts.

The policies and records that limit who may hold, cut, or issue keys, and track keys by number, so unauthorized duplicates can be detected and prevented.

Changing a cylinder's pins, or replacing the cylinder or core, so old keys no longer work and new keys are issued.

A removable cylinder core that can be swapped out with a control key without disassembling the lock, allowing fast rekeying of many doors.

A frame-mounted strike that releases the latch electrically when access is granted, while the door remains latched mechanically on the secure side.

A lock holding the door shut by magnetic force between a magnet in the frame header and an armature plate on the door; it releases instantly when power is cut.

A motion or push-button device on the secure side that signals the access system to unlock or shunt an alarm so occupants can leave without setting off an alarm.

A locking arrangement that unlocks when power is lost; required where releasing the door on power failure or fire alarm is the safe condition.

A locking arrangement that stays locked when power is lost, so the door remains secure but requires another means of egress release.

A special egress lock that holds a door for a preset delay, sounds a local alarm, and then releases, permitted only under strict code conditions.

A sensor that reports whether a door is open or closed, used to monitor held-open doors, alert on propped doors, and confirm secure status.

A hinge with wiring or a concealed conductor that carries power and signal from the frame to the door, avoiding a looping cable at the hinge side.

A physical or electronic item, such as a key card, fob, token, or biometric trait, presented to a reader to prove identity and request access.

The Life Safety Code, which sets requirements for means of egress, door operation, locking arrangements, and fire protection features in occupied buildings.

The standard for fire doors and other opening protectives, covering installation, labeling, clearance, glazing, and the hardware allowed on rated door assemblies.

The series of American hardware standards that grade locks, closers, exit devices, and hinges by cycle tests, such as Grade 1 for the highest durability.

The accessibility standard referenced by building codes, giving dimensional and operating-force criteria for doors, hardware, thresholds, and maneuvering clearances used by people with disabilities.

A rated door, frame, hinges, closer, and latching hardware tested and labeled together to resist fire for a stated period and self-close and latch.

The ability to leave a space without a key, tool, or special knowledge, using a single operation that releases the latch; required on most occupied egress doors.

Equipment tested and certified by a recognized laboratory, such as UL, and marked to show it meets the standard for its intended use on rated openings.

A structured review of threats, vulnerabilities, and consequences at a facility, used to decide which security measures and hardware upgrades are justified.

A time-stamped record of access events, door activity, and key or credential transactions that supports investigations and shows whether policy is being followed.

A control requiring two authorized people to act together, such as both presenting credentials, before access to a high-risk area is granted.

Following an authorized person through a door without presenting separate credentials, a common bypass that vestibules, turnstiles, and sensors are used to detect or prevent.