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ALOA ICRL practice questions

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Question 1Institutional Door Hardware and Locking Devices

On a required means of egress, panic hardware must release its latch when a force of no more than how many pounds is applied to the actuating portion?

  1. 50 pounds
  2. 15 pounds Correct answer.
  3. 5 pounds
  4. 30 pounds

Explanation

NFPA 101 caps the force needed to release a panic device latch at 15 lbf (67 N), so a person being pushed by a crowd can still operate the bar. The higher 30-pound figure applies to the force needed to push a door open, not to latch release.

Question 2Institutional Door Hardware and Locking Devices

An electric strike described as fail safe will do which of the following?

  1. Unlock only while power is applied
  2. Stay locked until the alarm sounds
  3. Remain locked when power is removed
  4. Unlock when power is removed Correct answer.

Explanation

Fail safe means the strike is secure only while energized, so losing power unlocks the opening. This arrangement is chosen where life safety requires free egress and where the opening does not need to be secured during an outage.

Question 3Institutional Door Hardware and Locking Devices

What does the backcheck feature of a door closer actually do?

  1. It cushions the door when it is opened rapidly Correct answer.
  2. It pulls the door into the frame against the latch
  3. It slows the door during the final inches of closing
  4. It holds the door open at a selected angle

Explanation

Backcheck builds hydraulic resistance as the door approaches the fully open position, protecting the door, frame, and hardware from slam-through damage. It does not hold the door open, and it is separate from the closing and latching speeds.

Question 4Institutional Door Hardware and Locking Devices

Which BHMA/ANSI finish code designates satin chromium plated (satin chrome) hardware?

  1. US26D Correct answer.
  2. US10
  3. US3
  4. US32D

Explanation

The US26 base code denotes chromium plating, and the 'D' suffix specifies the dull or satin finish. US10 is satin bronze, US32D is satin stainless steel, and US3 is polished brass.

Question 5Institutional Door Hardware and Locking Devices

A door is viewed from the outside, or secure side. The hinges are on the viewer's left and the door swings away from the viewer into the room. How is the door handed?

  1. Right hand reverse
  2. Right hand
  3. Left hand reverse
  4. Left hand Correct answer.

Explanation

Handing is judged from the outside of the door. With the hinges on your left and the door swinging away from you into the protected space, the door is left hand; adding the reverse qualifier means the door swings out toward the viewer.

Question 6Institutional Door Hardware and Locking Devices

Where do the driver pins sit in a pin tumbler cylinder once the correct key is inserted?

  1. Entirely above the shear line in the bible Correct answer.
  2. Pressing against the bottom of the keyway
  3. Threaded into the plug chambers
  4. Straddling the shear line in the plug

Explanation

Correct cuts raise the bottom pins so that every driver pin is pushed fully into the bible, leaving the plug-to-shell boundary clear. That alignment is the shear line, and the plug can then rotate freely.

Question 7Institutional Door Hardware and Locking Devices

A stairwell door on a fire-rated assembly must remain secure if the fire alarm cuts power to the hardware. Which strike configuration fits this requirement?

  1. Fail secure Correct answer.
  2. Continuous-duty fail safe
  3. Fail safe with request-to-exit
  4. Fail safe

Explanation

Fail secure hardware keeps the door latched when de-energized, which is what a stairwell enclosure must do during a fire to prevent smoke migration and unauthorized entry. Fail safe devices would release every door on the circuit the moment power dropped.

Question 8Institutional Door Hardware and Locking Devices

Which hinge type is specified for a high-cycle institutional door that sees heavy daily traffic?

  1. Loose pin butt hinge
  2. Ball bearing butt hinge Correct answer.
  3. Half-surface hinge
  4. Plain bearing butt hinge

Explanation

Ball bearings in the knuckle replace metal-to-metal rubbing with rolling contact, greatly reducing wear and operating effort on high-frequency doors. Plain bearing hinges are acceptable for lighter duty but wear faster under constant cycling.

Question 9Institutional Door Hardware and Locking Devices

On a pair of doors fitted with vertical rod exit devices, what is the job of a door coordinator?

  1. It makes the inactive leaf close before the active leaf Correct answer.
  2. It shields the astragal on the active leaf
  3. It keeps both leaves locked until the panel is reset
  4. It synchronizes the top and bottom rods on one leaf

Explanation

Each leaf carries its own latching mechanism, so the inactive leaf must be fully seated before the active leaf's latch can engage. The coordinator is an arm assembly that sequences the closing order automatically.

Question 10Institutional Door Hardware and Locking Devices

Per ANSI/BHMA A156.4, a door closer size is selected primarily on the basis of what?

  1. The finish and color of the closer cover
  2. The thickness of the door and the frame gauge
  3. The type of key cylinder installed in the door
  4. The width of the door and its wind or draft exposure Correct answer.

Explanation

Closer sizing is driven by door leaf width, since leverage increases with width, and then adjusted upward for conditions such as exterior wind, negative pressure, or heavy traffic. Thickness, cylinder type, and cosmetic finish do not affect the required spring power.

Question 11Institutional Door Hardware and Locking Devices

A delayed egress lock must release the door within how many seconds after a person begins an exit attempt?

  1. 30 seconds
  2. 10 seconds
  3. 15 seconds Correct answer.
  4. 5 seconds

Explanation

NFPA 101 allows a 15-second delay after actuation, accompanied by an audible alarm and typically a short nuisance delay that cancels a false activation. Thirty seconds applies only to the automatic relock period after the door has been opened.

Question 12Institutional Door Hardware and Locking Devices

A typical single-leaf electromagnetic lock sold for institutional doors is rated at approximately what holding force?

  1. 1500 pounds Correct answer.
  2. 300 pounds
  3. 1200 pounds
  4. 600 pounds

Explanation

Standard single maglocks are marketed at roughly 1500 pounds of holding force, a figure derived from laboratory testing under controlled conditions. Actual field performance depends heavily on mounting rigidity and armature contact.

Question 13Institutional Door Hardware and Locking Devices

What does an anti-friction, or deadlocking, latchbolt do on an institutional mortise lock?

  1. It holds the door open at ninety degrees
  2. It locks the cylinder so the key cannot turn
  3. It keeps the bolt from being slipped back with a shim or card Correct answer.
  4. It blocks the door until the deadbolt is thrown

Explanation

When the door is closed, a small plunger trips the latchbolt so the nose cannot be depressed from the outside, defeating shimming. The feature works automatically and does not affect normal key or trim operation.

Question 14Institutional Door Hardware and Locking Devices

In a small format interchangeable core system, what is the function of the control key?

  1. To change the bitting without removing the core
  2. To remove and install the core in its housing Correct answer.
  3. To override the master key during an emergency
  4. To master key every core in the building

Explanation

The control key acts on a separate control shear line and lugs that release the core from the lock body, allowing rapid rekeying by core exchange. Normal operation, including master keying, is unaffected by the control shear line.

Question 15Institutional Door Hardware and Locking Devices

Why is dogging, which latches an exit device in the retracted position, prohibited on fire-rated doors?

  1. It prevents the device from being dogged again
  2. It voids the manufacturer's finish warranty
  3. It raises opening force above accessibility limits
  4. It defeats the positive latching the fire label requires Correct answer.

Explanation

A fire door must be latched to resist the spread of fire and smoke, and NFPA 80 requires positive latching at all times. Dogging leaves the latch retracted, so the assembly no longer performs as a rated door.

Question 16Institutional Door Hardware and Locking Devices

How does a rim exit device secure a door?

  1. It throws a deadbolt into the frame
  2. It latches into a mortised frame pocket
  3. It grips a rim strike on the frame face Correct answer.
  4. It engages rods at the head and the sill

Explanation

A rim device mounts on the face of the door and its latchbolt engages a strike fastened to the face of the frame, so no mortising of the frame is needed. Mortised pockets and deadbolts belong to other lock families.

Question 17Institutional Door Hardware and Locking Devices

Under the ADA Standards, what is the maximum force permitted to push or pull open an interior hinged door?

  1. 8.5 pounds
  2. 15 pounds
  3. 10 pounds
  4. 5 pounds Correct answer.

Explanation

The ADA sets a five-pound maximum opening force for interior hinged doors, measured with the door at rest and the closer adjusted accordingly. Exceptions exist for fire doors and for exterior doors, which have different criteria.

Question 18Institutional Door Hardware and Locking Devices

What is the effect of adding a master pin, or spacer pin, to a chamber in a pin tumbler master key system?

  1. It lets either the change key or the master key shear the cylinder Correct answer.
  2. It reduces the cylinder to single-key operation
  3. It increases the number of usable cuts in that chamber
  4. It blocks the control key from releasing the core

Explanation

The master pin occupies part of the chamber so that two different key heights can each align a shear line, one for the change key and one for the master key. Each added master pin is a compromise that reduces the security of that chamber.

Question 19Institutional Door Hardware and Locking Devices

What is the purpose of an astragal on a pair of doors?

  1. It seals the gap between door and floor
  2. It reinforces the hinge edge of the inactive leaf
  3. It provides a mounting surface for the closer arm
  4. It closes the meeting stile gap against smoke and tampering Correct answer.

Explanation

Astragals cover the vertical gap where the leaves meet, blocking smoke and light and making it harder to slip a tool between the doors. Overlapping types also establish which leaf must close first.

Question 20Institutional Door Hardware and Locking Devices

NFPA 80 requires that a fire-rated door assembly do which of the following?

  1. Be held open by a fusible link only
  2. Be equipped with a fail safe electric strike
  3. Be self-closing and positively latching Correct answer.
  4. Have an opening force of five pounds or less

Explanation

A rated door must close and latch on its own so the opening maintains its fire barrier without human intervention. Fusible links and fail safe strikes are options on some openings, but they are not blanket requirements.

Question 21Institutional Door Hardware and Locking Devices

A less bottom rod (LBR) vertical rod exit device arrangement is permitted under what condition?

  1. Only on non-fire-rated openings Correct answer.
  2. Only on single doors
  3. Only on fire-rated openings
  4. Only with an electric strike

Explanation

Omitting the bottom rod removes the bottom latch that a rated assembly relies on for positive latching, so listed fire door hardware requires both rods. LBR configurations are therefore limited to non-rated pairs where the convenience benefit outweighs the latching loss.

Question 22Institutional Door Hardware and Locking Devices

In an access-controlled opening secured by an electromagnetic lock, what does a request-to-exit device do?

  1. It reports door position to the control panel
  2. It re-secures the door after a set delay
  3. It supplies standby power during an outage
  4. It releases the lock for egress without a credential Correct answer.

Explanation

A request-to-exit sensor or switch shunts the lock so a person leaving does not need a card or code. It is a convenience and traffic-control function, and it does not replace the code-required mechanical release of the lock.

Question 23Institutional Door Hardware and Locking Devices

A technician reduces a closer's spring power to the minimum to meet an opening-force limit on a fire-rated door. What is the primary risk?

  1. The door may not latch, leaving the opening unprotected Correct answer.
  2. The fire label on the frame will be voided
  3. The closer will leak hydraulic fluid
  4. The door will exceed the opening-force limit

Explanation

A closer must have enough power to overcome latch friction, air pressure, and the door check and seat the latchbolt every time. Under-powering a rated door can leave it ajar and defeat the assembly's purpose, which is why NFPA 80 requires the closer to be adjusted to close and latch reliably.

Question 24Institutional Door Hardware and Locking Devices

Why must the cylinder length and tailpiece be matched to a rim exit device when it is installed?

  1. The tailpiece must properly engage the device actuator Correct answer.
  2. The tailpiece drives the pin tumblers in the cylinder
  3. The cylinder must match the depth of the strike
  4. The cylinder must sit flush with the door face

Explanation

The rim cylinder is mounted through the door and its tailpiece reaches into the exit device to drive the latch retraction mechanism. If the tailpiece is too short, too long, or of the wrong cross section, the key will not operate the device even though the cylinder itself turns.

Question 25Institutional Door Hardware and Locking Devices

Under NFPA 101, an electromagnetic lock serving as the latch on a required means of egress must release in response to which of the following?

  1. Approach detected by a sensor on the egress side Correct answer.
  2. A key inserted into the outside cylinder
  3. A signal from the door position switch
  4. A forty-five second timer following alarm activation

Explanation

The sensor-release allowance requires that a person approaching the door from the egress side be detected and the lock released without any special knowledge or effort. Additional conditions include a manual release, loss-of-power release, and fire alarm release.

Question 26Institutional Door Hardware and Locking Devices

What is the main function of the backcheck feature on a door closer?

  1. It controls the final closing speed as the latch engages.
  2. It holds the door open at a selected angle for traffic.
  3. It increases spring force when the door is opened quickly.
  4. It cushions the opening swing near the door stop. Correct answer.

Explanation

Backcheck provides hydraulic resistance during opening, typically beginning around 70 degrees, so the door does not slam into the frame or wall. It is an opening-cycle control, not a closing-speed or hold-open function.

Question 27Institutional Door Hardware and Locking Devices

In a fail-safe electric strike, what happens to the opening when electrical power is removed?

  1. The strike sounds a local alarm but stays locked.
  2. The strike remains locked and requires a key to release.
  3. The strike releases, so the door can be opened. Correct answer.
  4. The strike locks only after the door is opened and closed.

Explanation

Fail-safe describes the state on loss of power: the strike unlatches, permitting access. This is typically used where life safety requires free egress, not where security must be maintained.

Question 28Institutional Door Hardware and Locking Devices

Which ANSI/BHMA standard series covers exit devices?

  1. A156.4
  2. A156.19
  3. A156.3 Correct answer.
  4. A156.13

Explanation

ANSI/BHMA A156.3 is the standard for exit devices and trim. A156.4 covers door closers, A156.13 covers mortise locks, and A156.19 covers power-operated pedestrian doors.

Question 29Institutional Door Hardware and Locking Devices

How is the hand of a swinging door determined?

  1. By the direction the key turns in the cylinder.
  2. By the hinge side and swing as viewed from the key side. Correct answer.
  3. By the location of the closer and the door stop on the frame.
  4. By the side on which the exit device is mounted.

Explanation

Door hand is established by standing on the secured or key side and noting the hinge side and swing direction. This convention ensures the correct lock, closer, and exit device are ordered for the opening.

Question 30Institutional Door Hardware and Locking Devices

On the inactive leaf of a pair of doors, what hardware is commonly used to secure the top and bottom of the leaf?

  1. Door coordinator
  2. Flush bolts Correct answer.
  3. Rim exit device
  4. Electric strike

Explanation

Flush bolts are mortised into the inactive leaf and project into the head and threshold or floor strikes. They hold the inactive leaf secure while the active leaf operates with the primary lock or exit device.

Question 31Institutional Door Hardware and Locking Devices

What does a door position switch report to an access control system?

  1. Whether the door is open or closed. Correct answer.
  2. The credential type used at the reader.
  3. The holding force of the electromagnetic lock.
  4. The amount of force required to open the door.

Explanation

A door position switch monitors the physical state of the door leaf and sends open or closed status to the controller. This supports held-open alarms, forced-door alarms, and proper lock sequencing.

Question 32Institutional Door Hardware and Locking Devices

Which hinge type allows a door to swing completely clear of the opening so the full width is unobstructed?

  1. Butt hinge with non-removable pin
  2. Continuous gear hinge
  3. Swing-clear hinge Correct answer.
  4. Half-surface hinge

Explanation

A swing-clear hinge offsets the door so its edge clears the frame, producing a full-width opening. It is commonly used where beds, carts, or equipment must pass through without snagging.

Question 33Institutional Door Hardware and Locking Devices

What is a primary purpose of a threshold at an exterior door?

  1. To lock the inactive leaf of a pair of doors.
  2. To provide a mounting surface for the exit device on the frame.
  3. To bridge the floor transition and seal out weather. Correct answer.
  4. To increase the door closer's closing force.

Explanation

A threshold provides a durable transition between floor surfaces and works with weatherstrip or sweeps to limit air and water infiltration. It may also incorporate a stop or seal, but its basic role is the floor transition and weather seal.

Question 34Institutional Door Hardware and Locking Devices

A door closer on a fire-rated door is failing to latch consistently. Which closer adjustment should be checked first?

  1. Sweep speed
  2. Latch speed Correct answer.
  3. Spring power
  4. Backcheck

Explanation

Latch speed controls the final portion of the closing cycle, when the latchbolt must fully engage the strike. If it is too fast, the door may bounce; if too slow, the door may not latch before the closer stops.

Question 35Institutional Door Hardware and Locking Devices

A secure records room requires the electric strike to stay locked if power fails. Which strike type should be specified?

  1. Fail secure Correct answer.
  2. Fail safe
  3. Fire-rated only
  4. Delayed egress

Explanation

Fail secure means the strike remains locked when power is removed, preserving security. Fail-safe is the opposite and is chosen where unlocked egress on power loss is required.

Question 36Institutional Door Hardware and Locking Devices

What is the purpose of a removable mullion on a pair of doors?

  1. It provides a hold-open function for the inactive leaf.
  2. It seals the gap between the leaves against smoke.
  3. It sequences the closing of the active and inactive leaves.
  4. It provides a secure latch point and removable full-width access. Correct answer.

Explanation

A removable mullion gives the pair a fixed strike point so one leaf can latch securely like a single door. When full-width access is needed, the mullion can be taken out and both leaves can swing freely.

Question 37Institutional Door Hardware and Locking Devices

Which power transfer method is generally preferred for a heavily used electrified door where exposed wiring would be vulnerable?

  1. An electrified hinge or power transfer hinge Correct answer.
  2. A loose pigtail at the hinge with exposed conductors
  3. A surface-mounted door loop with exposed flexible wiring
  4. A threshold-mounted raceway with removable cover plates

Explanation

An electrified hinge routes conductors internally through the hinge knuckle, protecting them from traffic and abuse. Surface loops are common in retrofit work but are more exposed and can be damaged.

Question 38Institutional Door Hardware and Locking Devices

Which description matches a classroom-function mortise lock?

  1. The outside lever is always free, and the key only operates a deadbolt.
  2. The key retracts only the deadbolt, and the latch is always free.
  3. The key controls the outside lever; the inside lever stays free. Correct answer.
  4. The inside lever is locked by a thumbturn for privacy.

Explanation

Classroom function lets staff lock or unlock the outside lever with a key while the inside lever always allows free exit. It typically has no privacy thumbturn and is common in schools and training rooms.

Question 39Institutional Door Hardware and Locking Devices

What distinguishes a rim exit device from a mortise exit device?

  1. The rim device is electric, while the mortise device is mechanical.
  2. The rim device has no touchpad, while the mortise device is operated only by a key.
  3. The rim device is always used on pairs of doors, while the mortise device is only for single doors.
  4. The rim device surface-mounts and strikes the frame; the mortise device houses its latch in the door edge. Correct answer.

Explanation

A rim exit device is surface-mounted on the door face and engages a strike mounted on the frame. A mortise exit device houses its latch and mechanism inside a mortised case in the door edge.

Question 40Institutional Door Hardware and Locking Devices

In a master key system, what does a grand master key operate?

  1. Only the individual change-key locks
  2. Only the locks in one master key group
  3. All locks under two or more separate master keys Correct answer.
  4. Only the control cores in an interchangeable core system

Explanation

A grand master sits above multiple master keys and operates every lock in those groups. It is used when a large facility needs one top-level key across several departments or buildings.

Question 41Institutional Door Hardware and Locking Devices

Why is wedging open a fire-rated door with a closer a code violation?

  1. It can damage the closer's hydraulic fluid.
  2. It makes the door much harder to open from the egress side.
  3. It defeats required self-closing and latching of the fire door. Correct answer.
  4. It prevents the door from being locked securely at night.

Explanation

Fire door assemblies must be self-closing and self-latching so they confine fire and smoke when the alarm sounds. A wedge holds the door open and prevents that protective action, regardless of whether the closer itself is damaged.

Question 42Institutional Door Hardware and Locking Devices

What does a forced-door alarm indicate in an access-controlled system?

  1. The reader rejected an invalid credential at the door.
  2. The door opened without a valid credential or exit request. Correct answer.
  3. The door remained open longer than the programmed hold-open time.
  4. The lock's battery backup reached full charge.

Explanation

A forced-door alarm is triggered when the door position switch shows the door opened without a valid access or exit event. A door held open too long produces a held-open alarm instead.

Question 43Institutional Door Hardware and Locking Devices

What does the delayed-action feature on a door closer do?

  1. It holds the door open briefly before closing begins. Correct answer.
  2. It slows the door's opening swing near the frame.
  3. It increases latch speed at the end of the closing cycle.
  4. It locks the door automatically after closing.

Explanation

Delayed action keeps the door momentarily open after release, giving people time to move equipment or carts through. The delay is adjustable and is separate from backcheck, sweep, and latch speed.

Question 44Institutional Door Hardware and Locking Devices

What is a dust-proof strike used for in a floor?

  1. It gives a floor bolt a self-closing opening that keeps debris out. Correct answer.
  2. It provides a strike for a rim exit device mounted on the frame.
  3. It allows an electric strike to operate without power.
  4. It seals the door gap against smoke.

Explanation

A dust-proof strike has a spring-loaded shutter that opens only when the bolt or rod enters, then closes to keep dirt and debris out. This helps the bottom bolt engage reliably in floor-mounted applications.

Question 45Institutional Door Hardware and Locking Devices

In a pin tumbler cylinder, what is the shear line?

  1. The groove that guides the key into the keyway.
  2. The point where the key contacts the bottom of the pin chamber.
  3. The line engraved on the cylinder face for key alignment.
  4. The plug-to-shell gap where pin breaks must align for rotation. Correct answer.

Explanation

The shear line is the boundary between the rotating plug and the stationary shell. When the correct key lifts each pin stack so the breaks align at that boundary, the plug can turn.

Question 46Institutional Door Hardware and Locking Devices

Under ANSI/BHMA A156.4, what does a Grade 1 rating indicate for a door closer?

  1. The highest durability grade, tested to the most cycles. Correct answer.
  2. A closer approved only for interior residential use on light doors.
  3. The minimum closing force permitted on a fire door.
  4. A closer with a built-in delayed egress function.

Explanation

A156.4 grades closers by tested durability and performance, with Grade 1 representing the highest classification. Specifying Grade 1 is appropriate for high-traffic institutional openings where cycle life matters.

Question 47Institutional Door Hardware and Locking Devices

What is the purpose of a bond sensor on an electromagnetic lock?

  1. It provides backup power to the lock during an outage.
  2. It measures the door's opening force at the handle during egress.
  3. It releases the lock when the fire alarm activates.
  4. It monitors whether the lock has achieved full magnetic bond. Correct answer.

Explanation

A bond sensor detects the magnetic bond between the lock and armature and reports a secure or unlocked status. This helps the access control system distinguish a properly sealed door from one that is not fully secured.

Question 48Institutional Door Hardware and Locking Devices

On a pair of doors with automatic flush bolts, what does a carry-open bar do?

  1. It holds the inactive leaf open until the active leaf closes. Correct answer.
  2. It latches the inactive leaf to the floor when the active leaf closes.
  3. It coordinates the closing sequence of both leaves.
  4. It releases both leaves on a fire alarm signal.

Explanation

A carry-open bar keeps the inactive leaf from closing prematurely while the active leaf is still open. This protects the automatic flush bolts and allows the leaves to close in the intended sequence.

Question 49Institutional Door Hardware and Locking Devices

In ANSI/BHMA A156.13, what does a mortise lock function number primarily describe?

  1. The door hand and hinge type used on the frame
  2. The cylinder keyway and key blank
  3. The lock's operational behavior, such as classroom or privacy. Correct answer.
  4. The lock's finish and base material selection

Explanation

A156.13 function numbers classify how the lock operates: which levers are locked, how the key or thumbturn behaves, and what egress is provided. They do not define finish, handing, or keyway.

Question 50Institutional Door Hardware and Locking Devices

What is the main operational advantage of an interchangeable core (IC) system?

  1. The door closer can be eliminated on all fire-rated doors.
  2. All keys in the system become master keys.
  3. Cores can be swapped quickly without removing the lock. Correct answer.
  4. The lock no longer requires a strike.

Explanation

An IC system allows a small control key to remove the core, so a facility can swap cores for rapid rekeying. This reduces labor and downtime compared with disassembling each lock.