Solutions / Multifamily
Apartment Door Locks & Multifamily Security Hardware
PDQ manufactures the apartment door locks, exit devices, and door closers multifamily properties are built on: ANSI/BHMA cylindrical, mortise, and interconnected locks for unit entry, common-area, and back-of-house doors, plus mobile-key (BLE/NFC) and smartphone-based visitor management through PDQ's OEM/ODM technology partners. Specified on completed projects spanning senior living and continuing care, luxury multifamily, and mixed-use development.
Where PDQ hardware secures a multifamily property
An apartment community isn't one door type. It's unit entries, common areas, amenities, and back-of-house all under different security requirements. PDQ manufactures purpose-built hardware for each:
Unit entry doors
Grade 1 or Grade 2 cylindrical or interconnected locks, combining a passage latch and deadbolt in one chassis, sized to standard apartment door prep.
Common area & lobby entries
High-cycle cylindrical and mortise hardware plus electronic access for the building and lobby doors residents use every day.
Amenity & clubhouse access
Fitness centers, clubhouses, pools, and package rooms secured with electronic locks that give staff schedule-based control without rekeying.
Back-of-house & maintenance
Keyed-alike and master-keyed mechanical hardware for maintenance shops, storage, laundry, and staff-only areas, all on one PDQ key system.
Parking, garage & perimeter gates
Electrified strikes and exit devices built to tie into gate and access-control systems for vehicle and pedestrian perimeter openings.
Egress & stairwell doors
UL/cUL fire-rated exit devices and closers keep multi-story corridor and stairwell egress paths code-compliant, with electrified options tying into fire-alarm and access-control panels.
Unit entry doors
Grade 1 or Grade 2 cylindrical or interconnected locks, combining a passage latch and deadbolt in one chassis, sized to standard apartment door prep.
Common area & lobby entries
High-cycle cylindrical and mortise hardware plus electronic access for the building and lobby doors residents use every day.
Amenity & clubhouse access
Fitness centers, clubhouses, pools, and package rooms secured with electronic locks that give staff schedule-based control without rekeying.
Back-of-house & maintenance
Keyed-alike and master-keyed mechanical hardware for maintenance shops, storage, laundry, and staff-only areas, all on one PDQ key system.
Parking, garage & perimeter gates
Electrified strikes and exit devices built to tie into gate and access-control systems for vehicle and pedestrian perimeter openings.
Egress & stairwell doors
UL/cUL fire-rated exit devices and closers keep multi-story corridor and stairwell egress paths code-compliant, with electrified options tying into fire-alarm and access-control panels.
PDQ hardware is also specified across senior living and continuing care communities, where unit-door, corridor, and life-safety requirements often overlap with standard multifamily construction. See the case studies below.
Smartphone access, visitor management & mobile credentials through PDQ's OEM/ODM partners
Beyond its own mechanical and Spirit electronic lines, PDQ works with a network of OEM/ODM technology partners to bring wireless, mobile-credential locking, resident and visitor smartphone access, and video intercom to multifamily doors and gates. Because PDQ continues to add technology partners, the current lineup is maintained on one page rather than duplicated here.
Resident & staff smartphone access
Partner platforms run on battery power over BLE/NFC and don't depend on a building network, so they install on the same door prep as a mechanical lock swap, no wiring back to a head-end panel.
Visitor, delivery & contractor management
App-based temporary and scheduled access codes let staff manage visitors, deliveries, and contractors without issuing a physical key or fob for every entry.
Video intercom & gate entry
Video intercom hardware upgrades any door, gate, or package room to a visitor-facing entry system, integrated with the same partner platform residents already use.
Resident & staff smartphone access
Partner platforms run on battery power over BLE/NFC and don't depend on a building network, so they install on the same door prep as a mechanical lock swap, no wiring back to a head-end panel.
Visitor, delivery & contractor management
App-based temporary and scheduled access codes let staff manage visitors, deliveries, and contractors without issuing a physical key or fob for every entry.
Video intercom & gate entry
Video intercom hardware upgrades any door, gate, or package room to a visitor-facing entry system, integrated with the same partner platform residents already use.
Every partner platform installs on PDQ's standard door prep rather than bolting a separate app onto an existing lock. Talk to a PDQ sales rep to see the current lineup of technology partners and match the right one to your property's size, gate count, and credential requirements.
Standards & compliance for multifamily door hardware
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|
Requirement |
What it covers |
PDQ compliance |
|---|---|---|
|
ANSI/BHMA A156.2 |
Operational and security grade for cylindrical (bored) locks, the most common apartment unit-entry lock type |
Grade 1 & Grade 2 cylindrical lines (SF Series) |
|
ANSI/BHMA A156.13 |
Operational and security grade for mortise locks & latches |
MR Series certified Grade 1, used on some mid-rise/high-rise unit and common-area doors |
|
ANSI/BHMA A156.5 / A156.36 |
Auxiliary lock and deadbolt performance, frequently required in addition to the primary lockset on dwelling unit entry doors |
CL Series interconnected lock combines a passage latch and deadbolt in one chassis |
|
Fair Housing Act / ADA (lever operation) |
Operable without tight grasping, pinching, or twisting of the wrist; applies to covered multifamily dwelling unit and common-area doors |
Lever hardware across PDQ's multifamily product lines |
|
UL/cUL fire rating |
Fire-door hardware performance for egress, stairwell, and corridor doors in multi-story buildings |
Rated exit devices and closers (rating varies by model) |
Mechanical vs. electrified vs. electronic: which fits which door?
|
Lock type |
Power/wiring |
Typical multifamily use |
Credentials |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Mechanical |
None |
Back-of-house, maintenance, storage, staff-only doors |
Mechanical key |
|
Electrified |
Hardwired |
Egress/stairwell doors and perimeter/garage gates tied to fire-alarm or access-control panels |
Wired to building access-control system |
|
Electronic (PDQ Spirit) |
Battery, no wiring |
Common-area & amenity doors: lobby, clubhouse, fitness center, package room |
RFID, PIN, smartphone (BLE), key override |
|
Mobile-key/smart access (PDQ OEM/ODM partner platforms) |
Battery, no wiring |
Unit entry doors, visitor & delivery management, gates |
Smartphone (BLE/NFC), app-based visitor/temporary codes |
FAQs
What type of door lock is required for an apartment unit entry door?
Apartment unit entry doors typically use a Grade 1 or Grade 2 cylindrical lock certified to ANSI/BHMA A156.2, often paired with a separate auxiliary deadbolt under ANSI/BHMA A156.5/A156.36, since many state and local codes and property insurers require a standalone deadbolt on dwelling unit entry doors in addition to the primary lockset. PDQ's CL Series interconnected lock combines both functions, a passage latch and a deadbolt, in one lock body sized to standard apartment door prep, and PDQ's OEM/ODM technology partners add mobile-key options on the same door.
What's the difference between mechanical, electrified, and electronic locks for multifamily properties?
Mechanical locks operate on a physical key only and require no power or network. Electrified locks add a wired electric strike or trim so the opening can tie into a fire-alarm or access-control panel, typically used on egress, stairwell, and perimeter gate openings rather than individual apartment units. Electronic locks, like PDQ's Spirit line and the mobile-key platforms PDQ builds with its OEM/ODM technology partners, run on battery power and accept RFID, PIN, key, and/or mobile-phone (BLE/NFC) credentials without any wiring, which is why they're the common choice for unit entry doors and amenity spaces today.
Are PDQ's multifamily locks Fair Housing Act and ADA accessible?
Yes. PDQ's lever-handle locks, exit devices, and door closers are designed to meet the operable-force and no-tight-grasping, pinching, or twisting-of-the-wrist requirements set by the Fair Housing Act and ADA, which apply to covered multifamily dwelling unit entry doors and common-area doors built for first occupancy after March 13, 1991.
Can property managers manage or reset apartment door locks remotely across a whole community?
It depends on the lock type. PDQ's mechanical and Spirit electronic locks are managed on-site, rekeyed or reprogrammed lock-by-lock or through a master key system, while the mobile-key and smart-access platforms PDQ builds with its OEM/ODM technology partners add cloud-based, remote credential management so staff can issue, revoke, or reset resident and staff access from a phone or computer without a site visit. Confirm which capability fits your property with your PDQ sales rep.
Does PDQ offer smart lock or mobile-key options for apartment communities?
Yes, through PDQ's OEM/ODM technology partners. Partner platforms bring wireless, mobile-credential (BLE/NFC) locking, resident and visitor app access, and video intercom to unit entry doors, building entries, gates, and package rooms. Because PDQ continues to add technology partners, the current lineup is maintained on PDQ's OEM/ODM partner directory rather than duplicated here.
What's the best way to secure common areas and amenity spaces in an apartment complex?
Common areas like lobbies, fitness centers, clubhouses, and package rooms are usually secured with PDQ's Spirit electronic locks or an OEM/ODM partner smart-access platform, both of which let staff grant schedule-based access, such as 24-hour fitness room access or staffed-hours-only clubhouse access, without rekeying or issuing physical keys. Back-of-house and maintenance areas typically stay on a mechanical, keyed-alike master key system.
Consult with an Expert
PDQ has secured unit entry doors, common areas, and back-of-house doors for multifamily and senior living communities for more than 40 years. Tell us about your next new-build, renovation, or unit-turn rollout, and our team will help you spec the right lock, exit device, or mobile-key option for every door on the property.