Security Doors Key Terms

Understanding terminology related to security doors

By Kim Finn

Possessing knowledge of security doors can help you make more informed decisions about buying the right types of security doors for your business or for adding hardware to increase the level of security in the doors you already have. Understanding the terminology associated with security doors will help you focus in on what you need and find it quicker.

This guide includes six terms commonly associated with security doors: lock bumping, anti-passback, classroom function, electric strike, ANSI/BHMA grading system and ALOA.

Lock bumping

Lock bumping refers to the practice by criminals of using a specially tooled key called a bump key to force open a door lock and gain entrance to a building. Bump keys are used on lower-grade locks, so either keyless or high security locks of good quality that can't be bumped should be used on any security door.
Try: Get more facts about lock bumping at Lock Bumping.org.

Anti-passback

Anti-passback is a feature available for security doors that prevents someone from using an access card or code to enter a room or building and then passing the card back to another to permit access. An anti-passback code or card allows a person to use the card to gain entrance, but then the code or card can't be used for entrance to the same room or building again until it's first used to exit the same room or building. Security doors that incorporate anti-passback require separate hardware devices for entry and exit.
Try: Learn more about anti-passback features that come with the Security Management System from AMAG Technology.

Classroom function

With regard to doors, classroom function is a door handle or knob that can only be locked or unlocked from the outside using a key; a classroom function door can't be locked from the inside. Classroom function locksets got their name from the original concept - protecting children in classrooms by not permitting them to be in a room from which they couldn't escape in the event of fire or some other emergency.
Try: Learn more about the features and specifications of school locking hardware at Goliath.

Electric strike or striker

An electric strike is a door locking device typically operated by solenoid power, that unlocks a door whenever electrical power is applied.
Try: Nokey has information on electric strikes. Learn how to select electric strikes for your company's doors at the Pro Security Warehouse website.

ANSI/BHMA grading system

The Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association/American National Standards Institute grading system is a method for rating the level of security provided by door hardware based on voluntary performance standards developed and maintained by BHMA, an ANSI-accredited organization. The ANSI/BHMA standards establish door hardware product grades that demonstrate progressive performance benchmark levels. The purpose of each grade is to help identify lockset quality and durability through several security and operational tests. There are three basic lock grades: 1-3. 1 represents the highest level of security and 3 represents basic residential security.
Try: For more information on the ANSI/BHMA grading system and examples of each grade's performance standards, read the article "The role of BHMA door standards" at FacilitiesNet.

ALOA

ALOA is the acronym for the Associated Locksmiths of America. ALOA is an international trade association for those employed in the locksmith/access control industry.
Try: Go to the ALOA website and click on any of the links to learn about the benefits of joining this trade association. Click on the "locksmith search" link at the top of the page to find a locksmith in your area.