Acces Card - A card that allows entrance to a locked area.

Access Control – Controlling the flow of people going in and out.

ANSI/BHMA Grading system - BHMA (Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association) is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), a private non-profit organization that administers and coordinates the voluntary standardization to develop and maintain performance standards for builder's hardware. ANSI/BHMA standards set forth different product grades for door hardware products. These product grades are defined by progressive levels of performance benchmarks in each applicable standard. The purpose of each is to help identify the quality and durability of locksets through a series of operational and security tests.

Anti-Passback – A feature in which a code or card must be used to both enter and exit the door before it can be used to enter it again, which prevents someone giving out the code after gaining entrance.

Audit Trail – Systems that allow you to view who entered and at what time they entered a location. Usually by laptop or PC.

Back Set – The distance between the edge of the door to the center of the keyhole. Typically 2 3/8” or 2 3/4”. Most residential locations are 2 3/8” and most commercial locations are 2 3/4”.

Butt Hinge – Standard hinge, allows the door to manually open and close.

Cylinder – A part of the locking body that contains 5-6 pins (which determine the key code). This part is removable which allows the code to be changed.

Bumping- Also known “lock bumping” or using a “bump-key”. A technique used by robbers or thief’s to pick locks.

Buzz In or Buzzer Systems – Typically used in apartment complex’s and big company’s, allows someone to open a door from a separate location.

Deadbolt – A manually operated bolt, once locked, a deadbolt can not be forced back.

Digital Lock – A stand alone lock that has a built in keypad, similar to that of a telephone.

Double Sided Lock – A lock that requires a key to be used on both the inside and outside.

Electronic Deadbolt – Keyless entry, requires a key-code or password to be entered before electronically un-locking the deadbolt. Most require Double-A batteries.

Fail-Safe Lock – An electronic lock that automatically un-locks when power is turned off.

Fail-Secure Lock – An electronic lock that automatically locks when power is turned off.

Handing – To determine the “handing” of your door, face the exterior of the door, if the hinges are on the left hand side, you require a left-handed lever. If the hinges are on the right, you require a right-handed lever.

Handleset – A lock/deadbolt that requires a key to lock or unlock from the exterior and either a thumbturn or push button to unlock from the interior.

InterConnected – A lock set that disengages the deadbolt and lower latch by just pressing the lower lever, rather then using a separate action to unlock both.

Keyed Alike – Multiple locks that can be unlocked by one key.

Keyed Different – All locks need separate keys.

Main Hole – The hole that was drilled in your door to allow installation of the lock hardware. Typically main holes are drilled to 2 1/8”

Master Key – All locks can be locked or unlocked with one key, similar to keyed alike, but all locks can be keyed differently and the Master key can still unlock all of them.

Mortise – A type of lock that requires a rectangular hole (mortise) to be cut out of the actual door to fit the hardware for the lock. These types of locks are the most secure.

Non-Handed – A lever that is vertical rather then horizontal. 

Panic Proof – A feature (usually on keyed or privacy style locks) that allows a quick escape with out having to unlock it first. (Required by some local fire codes.)

Passage (function) – Both inside and outside knobs/levers never lock.

Spindle – A piece of metal that engages the lock when the lever or handle is turned.

Spring Hinge – A small spring that allows the door to automatically swing closed.

Tail Piece - the flat style rod that connects the front & back of the lock and turns the latch.

Throw – The distance that the deadbolt or latch projects from the door itself.