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Home » Resources » Glossary

A

Active leaf

Single door of a pair on which the active or locking hardware is mounted.

Astragal

A moulding or strip attached to the active leaf of a pair of doors and overlapping the inactive leaf.

Automatic flush bolt

Flush bolts designed to extend themselves when both leaves of a pair of doors are in the closed position (normally supplied in pairs).

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B

Backcheck

The resistance provided by a door closer as the door is opened.

Backset

Distance between the centre of the keyway (or latch follower) and the bolt edge of door.

Bathroom lock

A lock that has a latch bolt operated by lever handles or knobs from both sides, and a deadbolt operated by thumbturn on the inside only, with an emergency release on the outside (with or without indicator). The follower may be 5 or 8mm square.

Bi-Fold System

A support system for 2 panels folding to one side of an opening, also used as a generic term for any folding door gear.

Bi-Parting Doors

A term to describe a pair of sliding doors that meet in the centre of an opening and then open to opposite sides.

Bolt

Movable part of a lock or latch that usually engages a component fixed to the frame (i.e. box strike) that is capable of being withdrawn into the case.

Bottom Rolling

Either a sliding or folding system where the weight of the doors is supported on bottom rollers.

Box strike

Strike plate equipped to line the bolt cavity for both aesthetic and protective purposes.

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C

Case

Part of the lock or latch in which the mechanism is housed.

Centres

Distance between the centre of the follower and the centre of the key way, whether cylinder or standard.

Clawbolt

A bolt with one or more fingers, which extend out of the bolt/lock, behind the strike plate, as the bolt reaches the locked position. Used mainly on sliding and sliding folding doors.

Clawbolt Lock

A deadlock with a spreading bolt designed specifically for sliding doors.

Clear opening

A portal providing clearance through which passage is unhampered.

Clear Threshold Guiding

A floor or wall mounted system for top hung sliding doors that does not intrude into the walkthrough area. Only suitable for doors up to 1500mm wide.

Closer opening

A numerical value related to the applied closing force of the door closer. The larger the number the greater the force.

Continuous Guiding

System used for large or frequently operated sliding doors to guide it at the bottom. A floor mounted channel is used with a pair of guides on the bottom of the door.

Coordinator

Used in conjunction with a pair of self closing rebated doors, a device designed to cause the inactive leaf to close first.

Cylinder

A device, usually separate from, but engaging with its associated lock or latch, that contains the differs.

Cylinder latch

A latch in which the latch action is operated by one or more cylinders.

Cylinder lock

A lock in which the lock mechanism is operated by one or more cylinders.

Cylinder nightlatch

A nightlatch that is operated by the rotation of a key in a cylinder.

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D

Deadbolt

A bolt which requires a deliberate action to extend, usually by by key or turn, and which resists end pressure when extended.

Deadlock

A lock that contains only a deadbolt.

Delayed action

Normally applied to a door closer, whereby a time lapse can be preset before closing takes place.

Differ

Variations between mechanism combinations in locks, or cylinders, of similar design which allows each lock, or cylinder, to be operated by its own key and, in certain circumstances by a master key.

Dogging device

In an exit device, a mechanism used temporarily to disable the device from relocking.

Door control

Any device which controls the opening, closing and position of a door.

Duplicate key

Any key reproduced from a pattern key.

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E

Escutcheon

A surface trim which enhances the appearance and/or security of the lock installation.

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F

Faceplate

The finished, often removable plate, which covers the front of a lock case.

Follower

Part of the latch action that withdraws the latch bolt, operated by levers or knobs via the spindle.

Forend

Part of the lock case through which the bolt(s) protrude. May be fixed or separate (see also 'Faceplate').

Freeswing

This term applies to an electrically operated door closer, that allows the door to operate without pressure, but automatically close in the event of the activation of the fire/smoke alarm.

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G

Glass Clamp

A system normally used on top hung frameless glass doors to attach the sliding mechanism to the panel.

Glass Preparation

A term to describe any holes or notches that must be made on a glass panel before toughening to allow profiles, patches or other hardware to be fitted.

Glass Profile

Normally an aluminium length of metal fitted to the top and bottom of a glass panel to allow sliding systems to be attached.

Guiding

A term used to describe the system used on all sliding and folding systems that allows the doors to move smoothly and prevents lateral movement.

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H

Handing

The way in which a door or article of ironmongery will be operating. The various methods of describing these are shown in the preface pages of this catalogue on page 12.

Holdback

Function in some self-locking latches to enable the bolt to be held in the retained position. This may be achieved by snib or a reverse turn of a cylinder.

Hold open

A door closer with the capability of maintaining the door in the open position (not to be used on fire/smoke doors).

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I

Infront

A sliding system where the doors and sliding mechanism are installed inside a cabinet.

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K

Keep

A component, usually, of a rim lock or latch, fixed on to the frame to engage a bolt or bolts.

Keyswitch

A switch operated by a keyed lock mechanism, which may be an integral part of the switch assembly.

Knobset

Also called a 'bored lock set' or 'bored latch set'. A fastener that comprises an integral assembly of door furniture with a tubular lock or latch..

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L

Latch

A fastener, self engaging and usually operable from both sides by hand. Mortice and rim versions are available.

Latch action

Arrangement and performance of the constituent parts that operate a latch bolt.

Latching speed

The final closing speed of a door just prior to closing, usually determined by the door closing device.

Lock

A fastener that combines in one case a latch bolt operated by handles and a deadbolt operated by a key or other device, mortise or rim. Also known as a sashlock, upright or horizontal mortise lock.

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M

Mixfront

A sliding system where the panel overlays at the top and is inset at the bottom or vice versa.

Multi-point lock

A lock that has a latch bolt and a number of other bolts positioned remote from, but connected to a lock case.

Mushroom pin

A pin tumbler within a cylinder, usually the top pin, which resembles a mushroom. It is typically used to increase the pick resistance.

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N

Nightlatch

A latch operated with a latch bolt that is operated internally by a handle/turn and by a key externally. Rim or mortise versions are available.

Non-handed

Pertaining to hardware that is manufactured in such a way that it will suit any configuration of the door without or very little adjustment.

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P

Parallel arm

A type of door closer that is mounted in such a way that leaves the arm parallel to the door face. This is normally on the push side of the door.

Parking Area

A term used to describe the space where doors on a slide stack system move into when opened.

Patch Fitting

A small mechanical fixing for glass doors to allow clamps or pivots to be attached.

Pivot Sliding System

A mechanism used for cabinet doors that allows a door to pivot and then slide back into the cabinet.

Planfront Movement

A sliding option for cabinet and full size doors that allows a door to slide from behind a fixed panel and close next to it.

Pocket Door

A sliding door that slides into a pocket or cavity so the doors appears to disappear into the wall.

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R

Rebated door

A door having an edge contoured with an offset, creating two surfaces which form an overlap at their butting edge. When used in pairs any lock fitted must have components to suit this situation.

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S

Sashlock

A lock that has a latch bolt, operated by levers or knobs and a deadbolt operated by key or cylinder.

Side Fixed Track

Top track of a sliding or folding system mounted directly onto a wall.

Sliding Shutters

Window shutters on a top hung straight sliding system used to optimise solar gain and minimise solar overheating.

Slide Stack System

A top hung system for multiple sliding panels which create a flush partition and can then be moved individually to a parking area clear of the opening.

Soffit Fixed Track

Top track of a sliding or folding system which is mounted directly to a support in the ceiling.

Split spindle

A multi-piece spindle, which allows a pair of levers or knobs to be installed on one side of a door, and be operated independently of the other (requires special split follower locks).

Strike plate

A component, usually of a mortise lock or latch, fixed to the frame to engage a bolt or bolts (see also box strike).

Symmetric Sliding System

A mechanism that links a pair of bi-parting panels to allow them to open simultaneously.

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T

Telescopic Sliding Doors

A mechanism that links two or more sliding doors and allows them to slide from the same side simultaneously to rest in a staggered position across the opening.

Throw

The distance that a lock bolt will protrude from the face of the lock when fully extended (usually given as the deadbolt).

Top Hung

A term to describe a sliding or folding system where the weight is supported by trolley hangers at the top of the door.

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V

Vorfront

A sliding system where the panel overlays a cabinet at the top and the bottom.