Also Known As: Multipoint Locking Device
DESCRIPTION
Two- and three-point locksets provide multiple points of contact for bolts of a lockset in lieu of the conventional exit device. Conventional devices have a single point, such as a rim exit device, or two points, such as a concealed vertical rod exit device, which are most commonly used. These devices might more commonly be used in a more high-security area or an area tested for hurricane or tornado activity.
PROPERTIES
Two- or three-point locksets can be manufactured with various configurations, aesthetics, functions, and options.
Actuating Bar
Two- and three-point locksets might act as panic and fire exit hardware and have similar actuating bars, which are depressed to retract the latches of the device, allowing egress.
CROSSBAR
The crossbar actuator is the original panic and fire exit hardware design, which looks like a tubular bar installed horizontally across the face of the door. The crossbar can be depressed fully to retract the latchbolts, allowing the door to be pushed open.
Although aesthetically pleasing, crossbars can present issues, as some building occupants (or even staff) will chain them together for security purposes. This is obviously not allowed by code, especially in the means of egress.
TOUCHPAD
The touchpad actuator is the newer of the designs available and looks like a rectangular pad installed horizontally across the face of the door. At least half of the touchpad depresses (required by code) when pushed to retract the latchbolts, allowing the door to be pushed open. This design is more likely to be available over the crossbar for hurricane and tornado ratings.
Chassis
The chassis is where the latchbolt is housed, and it is operated by the actuator. Depending on how the device is manufactured, the chassis can be engaged by the actuator from its side or face. The chassis is usually protected by a cover, which is typically made with the same architectural finish as the rest of the device and door hardware specified.
FIGURE 2.94 Crossbar Device
(Source: Courtesy of SARGENT® Manufacturing Company)
FIGURE 2.95 Touchpad Device
(Source: Courtesy of SARGENT® Manufacturing Company)
Finishes
Visible parts of an exit device are available in most architectural finishes, depending on the manufacturer and their available selections.
Grade
Two- and three-point locksets are available in different grades known as grade 1, grade 2, and grade 3 with grade 1 being the best and highest grade. Aside from the grades, other ratings such as windstorm for hurricane or no ratings for residential use might be available.
Materials
Two- and three-point lockset parts, including internal working parts, actuating bars, chassis, trim, rods, and strikes, can be manufactured from brass, bronze, stainless steel, or steel, depending on the manufacturer and device.
Strikes
Strikes are the keeper for latches of two- and three-point lockset hardware. Depending on the device and latch type, there are strikes available to suit each, which are typically furnished with the device along with fasteners and other required parts.
TYPES Two Point
CONCEALED VERTICAL TOP AND BOTTOM RODS
Typically manufactured as a panic or fire exit hardware device, two-point locksets are available as con- cealed vertical rods with a push rail on the egress side with two latches, one at the side and one at the top, one at the top and bottom, or one at the side and one at the bottom. Concealed rods are similar to surface ones, except the rods are hidden inside of the door opening. This helps with the aesthetics for those who do not find surface-mounted rods appealing. However, like surface-mounted rods, this hardware can be a maintenance nightmare because adjustment typically cannot be completed while the door is hanging in the opening. The door will have to be taken down from its hanging device; the latches will have to be adjusted regularly, depending on the frequency of use, and the door rehung accordingly.
FIGURE 2.96 Concealed Two-Point Lockset (Source: Courtesy of SARGENT® Manufacturing Company)
Since the latch adjustments cannot be tested while the door is out of the opening, if they are not sufficient, the door will have to be taken down again, and the cycle will continue until the adjustments are correct, which can waste a lot of resources and labor.
Two-point concealed vertical top and bottom rod devices are also available with lever handles on both sides of the door, operated by either a bored or a mortise lockset device installed on the latch side of the door.
RIM
Typically manufactured as a panic or fire exit hardware device, rim two-point locksets are available with a push rail on the egress side with two latches. The rim latch is located at the latch side of the door and frame and the second latch is on either the top or bottom of the door, more likely at the top.
MORTISE
Typically manufactured as a panic or fire exit hardware device, mortise two-point locksets are available with a push rail on the egress side with two latches. One type has the latch at the side of the door and frame on the latch side of the door and at either the top or bottom of the door, and the other type has one at the top and bottom with no latch on the side.
SURFACE TWO POINT
Typically manufactured as a panic or fire exit hardware device, surface vertical rod two-point devices were originally offered as top and bottom, with the rods extending from the cross- or touch bar at the center of the door, extending the entire height of the door opening, and latching into strikes at the head of the frame and floor.
Two-point surface vertical top and bottom rod devices are also available with lever handles on both sides of the door, operated by either a bored or a mortise lockset device installed on the latch side of the door.
FIGURE 2.97 Surface Two-Point Lockset
(Source: Courtesy of SARGENT® Manufacturing Company)
Three Point
CONCEALED VERTICAL TOP AND BOTTOM RODS
Typically manufactured as a panic or fire exit hardware device, three-point locksets are available as concealed vertical rods with a push rail on the egress side with three latches, one at the side, one at the top, and one at the bottom. Concealed rods are similar to surface ones, except the rods are hidden inside of the door opening. This helps with the aesthetics for those who do not find surface-mounted rods appealing. However, like surface-mounted rods, this hardware can be a maintenance nightmare, because the adjustment typically cannot be completed while the door is hanging in the opening. The
door will have to be taken down from its hanging device; the latches will have to be adjusted regularly, depending on the frequency of use, and the door rehung accordingly.
Since the latch adjustments cannot be tested while the door is out of the opening, if they are not sufficient, the door will have to be taken down again, and the cycle will continue until the adjustments are correct, which can waste a lot of resources and labor.
Concealed vertical top and bottom rod devices are also available with lever handles on both sides of the door, operated by either a bored or mortise lockset device installed on the latch side of the door.
RIM
Typically manufactured as a panic or fire exit hardware device, rim three-point locksets are available with a push rail on the egress side with three latches. The rim latch is located at the latch side of the door and frame and the second and third latches at the top and bottom of the door.
MORTISE
Typically manufactured as a panic or fire exit hardware device, mortise three-point locksets are available with a push rail on the egress side with three latches. One type has the latch at the side of the door and frame on the latch side of the door and at either the top or bottom of the door, and the other type has one at the top and bottom in addition to the mortise latch on the side.
SURFACE VERTICAL TOP AND BOTTOM RODS
Typically manufactured as a panic or fire exit hardware device, surface vertical rod three-point locksets were originally offered as top and bottom, with the rods extending from the cross or touch bar at the center of the door, extending the entire height of the door opening, and latching into strikes at the head of the frame and floor in addition to the side.
Surface vertical top and bottom rod devices are also available with lever handles on both sides of the door, either operated by a bored or a mortise lockset device installed on the latch side of the door.
OPTIONS
Anti-Microbial Coating
Two- or three-point locksets are available with an optional anti-microbial coating. The coating is a silver ion–based clear coating that helps stop the spread of bacteria. Although there are silver ions, they are not visible to the eye and a brass or bronze finish shows its true color through the coating. Silver has been used throughout history to help reduce the spread of bacteria and infection: Why not put it on doors and hardware that are touched over and over again by numerous different people in a day?
Auxiliary Control
An auxiliary control is an option to lock and unlock the door from the outside, or pull side of the door, with a key and thumb turn where there are no lever handles or pulls but access might be required or desired. The cylinder unlocks the thumb turn and allows the rotation of the thumb, which retracts the latches of the exit device. This type of device might be questioned for ADA compliance.
Connectors
Electronic hardware has historically been connected by twisting together wires, but now there are plastic connectors that are prewired by the manufacturer so that their hardware will connect easily by plugging the devices together. Such connections are available on hinges that connect to door harnesses that carry power across the door to the locking device.
Cylinders
Cylinders are used to operate the outside trim of the device. Please see Cylinders for Locking Devices in this chapter.
Dogging
Dogging a device means the device is operated to the open or unlocked position, where all of the bolts are retracted and locked in that position.
The locking can be specified to use either a keyed cylinder or hex or Allen wrench key. Obviously, the keyed cylinder is the more controlled type of function so that only those who have access to the key can perform the function; otherwise, anyone with the right size Allen wrench can do the same.
Why would we want to dog open a device? Let’s use a school as an example. When a typical school is opened for the day, if not dogged in the open position, the two- or three-point lockset would cycle over and over each time a student, teacher, or other personnel opened the door and went through the opening, putting excess wear on the device and shortening its life cycle.
If the two- or three-point lockset is dogged in the open position in the morning by those responsible, the device acts as a push/pull device, and the latches, springs, and operation of the device are limited, saving the components from unnecessary wear and tear, extending the life cycle of the two- or three-point lockset.
Consider the electronic dogging we discussed earlier; with the flip of a switch from a central location we would save the time of a person or persons who otherwise have to go around the school perimeter to manually dog and undog these devices at the start and end of each day, not to mention possibly saving lives in an emergency lockdown situation.
Electrical
Depending on the manufacturer, two- or three-point locksets are available with electrical options.
These options can be used for a multitude of purposes, including tying into a fire alarm system so that the lockset opens when there is an emergency and a firefighter can gain access without having to break through the door opening.
Another reason for having an electrical function is to tie into an alarm/security or access control system.
These systems have the ability to monitor the latching and locking of the opening, and can signal the security station if this is not functioning as required. Access control simply means that one gains access through the opening by presenting proper electronic credentials to the opening, which are confirmed by the system.
DOGGING
Electric dogging is an option that allows dogging of the device by the use of an electrical force rather than a mechanical one. Electric dogging can be accomplished by either physically depressing each push pad so that it is held open electrically or by adding the option of electric latch retraction, which allows retraction of the latch remotely to be electrically dogged by computer or a switch.
HARD WIRED
Hard-wired devices have wires running directly into them from an outside power source. The outside power source can be a voltage source, such as 24 VAC, or a power over Ethernet source through your computer cables that connect your network to the Internet.
INTEGRATED WIEGAND
Two- and three-point lockset trim is available with an integrated Wiegand card reader device. This reader is proximity-type, where the card is presented within proximity of the reader and is read by radio frequency rather than having to make the card physically contact the surface of the reader.
LATCHBOLT MONITORING
Latchbolt monitoring is an electrified option that allows the monitoring of the latchbolt position, whether extended or retracted. This allows the signaling of any devices that have not extended and secured into the strike so that it can be followed up with in person to rectify the situation.
LEVER MONITORING
Lever monitoring is an electrified option that allows the monitoring of the lever handle position, whether rotated or in the rest position. This allows the signaling of any lever handle that is in the rotated position, indicating that the latchbolt is likely retracted and not secure in the strike.
LATCH RETRACTION
Electric latch retraction allows the remote electronic retraction and extension of the hardware latchbolt.
The operation can be accomplished by computer, a switch, or electronic credentials such as a card reader. When the signal is initiated, the latch of the device is retracted so that the door can be pulled or pushed open without having to retract the push pad from the inside or rotate a lever from the outside of a device.
REQUEST TO EXIT SWITCH
Request to exit switches are an electrified option available to shunt an alarm during an authorized exit.
If a door has a local or remote alarmed exit hardware device, door and frame signal switch, lever or latchbolt monitoring switch, a request to exit switch sends a signal to the contact, alarm, or computer stating that the doorway is being accessed from the exit side and that no credentials are required. This shunts the alarm, allowing the person to go through without having to present electronic credentials.
TRIM
Electrified trim is available on the outside of an exit device door so that a door can be accessed from the outside with the use of an electronic access control system. Typically rigid, when a switch such as a card reader authorizes the credentials presented to it, the trim unlocks and is able to be rotated to retract the latchbolt, pull the door forward, and gain entry to the space.
Fail Safe
Fail-safe door trim is available to tie into a fire alarm system. This trim only locks when power is applied to the opening and unlocks when power is released. This function uses power all of the time, but is necessary to meet the codes in certain situations if electrification is necessary at the opening.
The devices are manufactured differently, depending on the manufacturer and options, and can be operated by solenoid or a motorized mechanism, which would retract and throw the bolt accordingly, or simply allow the lever or knob to be rotated to retract the latch manually.
Fail Secure
Fail-secure door trim is available for locking and unlocking a device. This trim only unlocks when power is applied to the opening and locks when power is released. This device uses less power than fail safe, as the power is only used when necessary to open the device. The devices are manufactured differently, depending on the manufacturer and options, and can be operated by solenoid or a motorized mechanism, which would retract and throw the bolt accordingly, or simply allow the lever or knob to be rotated to retract the latch manually.
Fire Rating
Fire two- and three-point lockset hardware devices are tested to meet fire standards and codes, allowing them to be installed and operated on fire rated door openings. Panic hardware is not necessarily tested and rated to meet fire standards and codes.
Functions
Depending on the manufacturer and reentry application, there are many functions available to operate two- and three-point lockset hardware. Functions range from simple mechanical passage and keyed locking to more technical options such as electronic locking and monitoring functions.
There are some more commonly used functions such as passage, privacy office, classroom, and storage.
Although these functions are used the majority of the time, depending on what is available from the manufacturer, there are many other specialty functions to choose from such as hotel, dormitory, and automatic deadbolt lock. Figure 2.98 is a chart as listed in ANSI/BHMA A156.13 American National Standard for Mortise Locksets and Latches Series 1000, 2005.
Handing
As described in the Introduction, there are several ways to hand doors, frames, and hardware. Two- and three-point lockset hardware can be any hand if lever handles are used on both sides, including left hand (LH), right hand (RH), left hand reverse (LHR) or right hand reverse (RHR). When the two- or three- point lockset is a panic or fire exit hardware device, the handing will always be a reverse bevel (LHR or RHR). This is true because all handing is done from the secure or keyed side of the door, and with panic and fire exit hardware always on the push side of the door and free for exiting, the secure side is always the pull side of the door. If you are dealing with a passage function and there is no real secure side of the door in the locking sense, hand the door logistically as if there were an outside and inside, where the inside would have any visible mounting hardware such as screw heads.
FIGURE 2.98 Door Handing Chart
(Source: The Graphics Standards Guide to Architectural Finishes, John Wiley & Sons, Inc.)
Hurricane Rating
Some manufacturers offer Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and ICC/NSSA International Code Council/National Storm Shelter Association three-point lockset ratings to meet hurricane and tornado safety standards. These standards require the door, frame, and hardware to be heavy-duty and reinforced assembly tested as is, including the installation of the frame to the surrounding wall.