The level of security and the durability of your door hardware in commercial settings should be a top priority for all facility managers.
Mortise locks are one of the most secure locks that you can purchase and have installed on your doors. They are most commonly found in and are essential for safety within schools, hospitals, office buildings, and other high-traffic areas where their added strength is needed for security.
Your ability to correctly identify a mortise lock from other types of door locks is important in multiple different situations. Whether you are performing routine maintenance, upgrading your access control, or replacing old door hardware, correct identification of your locks will help to confirm compatibility and reduce downtime and potential costs.
Knowing how to identify locks can also help you maintain and confirm compliance with building codes and safety standards as needed.
What Is a Mortise Lock?
A mortise lock is installed into a recessed pocket in the door, which is known as a mortise. This pocket is found and made within the edge of a door.
Cylindrical or tubular locks require preps to be bored into the face of the door, rather than in the side. This means that a mortise lock is placed inside of the door’s core. Installation like this allows for greater strength and makes mortise locks ideal for demanding commercial environments.
Key Indicators of a Mortise Lock
There are a couple of features that you can use to help verify that you’re working with a mortise lock:
- Lock Body’s Location: A mortise lock is held in a rectangular pocket that is cut out of the edge of a door.
- Levers and Escutcheons: Mortise locks often use levers or knobs with large escutcheons or sectional trim. Other types of locks usually have a single, smaller round rose.
- Lock Size: Mortise locks are usually larger, heavier, and more rectangular in shape. Cylindrical and tubular locks are often smaller and lighter.
- Mortise Faceplate: A visible thin rectangular piece on the edge of the door that is likely secured by two small screws. Mortise faceplates are usually made of metal and could have some etching of logos or text on them.
- Cylinder Position: The cylinder is positioned separately from the latch in most mortise lock circumstances; normally located above or below where the handle sits. On a cylindrical lock, the cylinder will sit within the lever.
How to Confirm the Type of Lock You Have
To determine whether you are working with a mortise lock, you can take the following steps:
- Remove the Faceplate: Unscrew and remove the faceplate from the door’s edge to get access to the internal lock body. A mortise lock will have a rectangular shaped case that is recessed into the door.
- Measure the Depth of the Mortise Case: Mortise lock cases will typically measure between 3" and 5" deep. The size will depend and vary based on the manufacturer.
- Look for Labels and Engravings: Most manufacturers will stamp their brand name or part numbers directly onto the lock case or faceplate. You can use any numbers and names you find to help verify the model and type of lock online.
- Check the Mounting Patterns and Door Preps: Mortise locks have different trim and mounting hole patterns compared to cylindrical and tubular locks. Looking at and for these hole patterns can help to confirm the type of lock you’re working with. You can often find mounting templates online to help you verify hole prep patterns for the lock types.
- Escutcheon or Sectional Trim: Mortise locks either have a rectangular escutcheon or a sectional trim. Other types of locks, such as cylindrical or tubular, will only have a single round rose on both sides of the door.
Differences Between Mortise and Other Types of Locks
Some of the biggest differences between mortise locks and other lock types include durability, hardware application, escutcheon, and the door preparations.
Cylindrical locks can be easier and quicker to install and feature a round chassis that fits through a bored hole in the door. They are not quite as durable as mortise locks and may offer fewer functions.
Tubular locks are frequently found in both residential and low-traffic settings since they can lack the heavy-duty construction and performance required for high-traffic commercial use. This ultimately makes tubular locks less suitable for high-traffic and high-security openings. Their door preps also have the lock to go through the door, rather than into a pocket like a mortise lock does.
Another main difference between mortise locks and other types of locks is the escutcheon or sectional trim. Cylindrical locks and tubular locks will only have a single round rose on either side of the door. This will wrap around where the lever or knob is.
Mortise locks are different in that they have a rectangular escutcheon trim on both sides of the door. They can also have sectional trim, which is basically the escutcheon broken into two separate square or round pieces for the lever/knob and the cylinder.
Times You May Need to Identify a Mortise Lock
There are several circumstances where knowing when you are working with a mortise or another type of door lock is essential:
- Routine Lock Maintenance: Identifying the lock type will help you to ensure that the correct replacement parts or components are ordered the first time around. This can save both time and money for your project.
- Replacing Damaged Locks: Knowing the exact model and brand of your lock will speed up the process and ensure compatibility. It is also important to know the model to ensure that any new lock will fit in the existing door preps.
- Retrofitting for Existing Doors: When retrofitting door hardware, confirming that you are working with a mortise lock is essential. This is important so that you do not purchase the wrong type of lock. Confirming the mortise case dimensions and trim configurations also helps avoid fitment issues during the installation process.
- Meeting Code Compliance: Verifying the lock type can help you determine if you are adhering to all local fire and ADA accessibility code requirements. These codes specify lock functions or force limits that are required for your building. If you don’t follow these codes, you could face fines, penalties, and sometimes even delays in your project.
- Upgrading to Electronic Access Control: Understanding your current lock type is critical to selecting compatible hardware and integrations for a smooth transition to an electronic access control system. If you do not know the type of lock you are working with, there is no way for you to 100% verify that any added electronic systems will pair successfully.
Secure Your Commercial Doors with PDQ Lock Solutions Today
At the end of the day, it is important to know how to accurately identify a mortise lock from other types of locks. Facility managers, locksmiths, and contractors will most commonly need to know this information.
From security to code compliance, your ability to accurately identify locks helps you to streamline your workflow and protect your building.
PDQ is proud to offer high-quality door hardware solutions for commercial doors with SPEED, VALUE, and EASE. PDQ’s MR series locks are built to last, proven its our lifetime limited warranty. It is built tough with high-quality materials and ready to secure your next project.
The MR lock series is ANSI, BHMA, and UL certified, as well as HVHZ certified. Contact a sales rep in your region today to secure your doors with PDQ locks!