In some ways, choosing the
right lockset for a commercial
job is easy, since commercial
building codes specify exactly which
functions a lockset should have for a
given situation. The commercial
specifier then uses published
resources that match code requirements
to a manufacturer's product
(see "Sources of Supply" at end of
article). Because commercial-duty
locksets reference ANSI and UL
standards, the buyer can be reasonably
assured of a product's quality.
However, residential standards are
less exact. Few buyers pay attention
to ANSI standards or UL ratings. As
a result, it's not immediately apparent
what makes the difference between a
good-quality residential lockset and a
poor one. This article describes the
terms you should know to help make
sense of the manufacturers' literature,
and