Commercial Lock Function Guide

COMMERCIAL LOCK FUNCTIONS

What the ANSI function codes mean, and how to pick the right one for your opening.

Two locks can look identical on the shelf and behave completely differently on the door. The difference is the function — what happens when you turn the lever, press the button, or use the key. Ordering the wrong function is the single most common mistake we see on commercial hardware orders, and it usually is not discovered until the lock is already installed.

Every commercial lock function has a standard number assigned by ANSI/BHMA, so a lock specified as F86 behaves the same whether it comes from Design Hardware, Best, Yale, PDQ, or anyone else. Bored (cylindrical) locks use codes in the F75–F110 range under ANSI/BHMA A156.2, and mortise locks use F01–F35 under A156.13. Most manufacturers also print their own model number — a Design Hardware Z-86 and a Yale 8805FL are both the storeroom function, F86 and F07 respectively, and so are a PDQ GP115 and an Accentra (formerly Yale) 4705LN.

One rule that never changes: on every function listed here except the institutional lock, the inside lever is always free. Free egress is a life-safety requirement — you should never need a key to get out of a room.

The six functions that cover most jobs

F75 — Passage mortise F01

Passage / Closet Latch

Use it for: Doors that never need to lock — closets, conference rooms, corridors, interior pass-throughs.

How it works: Both levers always retract the latch. No cylinder, no key, no locking of any kind.

F76 — Privacy mortise F02 / F19

Privacy (Bath / Bedroom)

Use it for: Restrooms, changing rooms, lactation rooms, patient rooms.

How it works: A push button or thumbturn inside locks the outside lever. Rotating the inside lever or closing the door releases it. An emergency release outside gets you in without a key.

F81 — Office mortise F04

Office (turn-button locking)

Use it for: Private offices and work rooms where the occupant decides when the door is locked.

How it works: A turn button inside locks the outside lever and stays locked until a key or the inside lever releases it. Inside lever always free.

Shop: PDQ GP Series | Accentra 4700LN Series

F82 — Entry mortise F04 / F20

Entry / Entrance Office

Use it for: Tenant suite doors, shop doors, and offices that get locked at the end of the day.

How it works: A push button inside locks the outside lever. A key outside, or turning the inside lever, unlocks it. Inside lever always free.

Shop: Design Hardware Z-82 | Accentra AU4607LN | Accentra CA4607 knob | Best 9K37AB | Arrow RK11

F84 — Classroom mortise F05

Classroom

Use it for: Classrooms, utility rooms, and any room a staff member unlocks in the morning and locks at night.

How it works: A key in the outside lever locks and unlocks that lever. There is no button. Inside lever always free.

F86 — Storeroom mortise F07

Storeroom / Closet

Use it for: Stock rooms, electrical and mechanical rooms, IT closets, roof access — anything that must stay locked.

How it works: The outside lever is always rigid; a key retracts the latch for entry only. The door relocks itself every time it closes. Inside lever always free.

Specialty and residential functions

F110 — Classroom Security

Classroom Security / Intruder

Use it for: Schools and any room where staff must lock the door from inside during a lockdown.

How it works: A key from either side locks or unlocks the outside lever, so a teacher never has to step into the corridor. Inside lever always free for egress.

Shop: Design Hardware Z-110 | PDQ XGT Series | PDQ MR157 mortise | Accentra 8818-2FL mortise

F88 — Entry / Restroom mortise F09

Apartment Exit / Entry-Restroom

Use it for: Apartment and office suite doors, public lavatory doors.

How it works: A key inside locks the outside lever; after that, entry is by key outside only.

Shop: Accentra 8847FL mortise | PDQ MR154 mortise

F90 — Dormitory mortise F13

Dormitory

Use it for: Dorm rooms and similar residential openings.

How it works: A push button or thumbturn inside locks the outside lever. A key outside unlocks the lever and releases the button. Closing the door releases the button.

F93 — Hotel / Motel mortise F15

Hotel / Motel

Use it for: Guest rooms.

How it works: The outside lever is always rigid — entry by key only. A button or thumbturn inside shuts out all keys except the emergency master and shows an occupancy indicator.

Shop: Accentra D292 occupancy indicator | indicator locks

F87 — Institutional

Utility / Asylum / Institutional

Use it for: Detention, secure storage, and vaults where nobody should walk out or in without a key.

How it works: Both levers are always rigid. A key is required from either side. Not for egress doors.

F16 / F17 / F18

Deadbolts

Use it for: Added security on entrance doors, or a standalone lock on a door with separate levers.

How it works: F16 is key both sides, F17 is key outside with a thumbturn inside, and F18 is key outside only. Check local code before using a double-cylinder deadbolt on an exit door.

Shop: Design Hardware D1-Series | PDQ KV Series | Accentra D212 | all deadbolts

Brand cross-reference

Same function, four different model numbers. Use this to match a hardware schedule or an existing building standard.

Function	Design Hardware	PDQ	Accentra (formerly Yale)	Best 9K
Passage F75 / F01	Z-75	GP126, SD126, MR126 mortise	4701LN, 8801FL mortise	9K30N
Privacy F76 / F02	Z-76	GP176, SD176	4702LN, 8802FL mortise	9K30L
Entry / Office F82 / F04	Z-82	GP Series	AU4607LN, 8847FL mortise	9K37AB
Classroom F84 / F05	Z-84	GP148, SD148	4708LN, 8808FL mortise	9K37R
Storeroom F86 / F07	Z-86	GP115, SD115	4705LN, 8805FL mortise	9K37D
Classroom security F110	Z-110	XGT Series, MR157 mortise	8818-2FL mortise	—

Pick a function by room

Opening	Function	Why
Electrical, mechanical, IT or stock room	Storeroom F86 / F07	Relocks on its own every time the door closes.
Classroom	Classroom F84 / F05, or F110 for lockdown capability	Staff control the door with a key; no button to leave in the wrong position.
Private office	Office F81 or Entry F82 / F04	The occupant can lock up without carrying a key.
Restroom	Privacy F76 / F02	Locks from inside, emergency release outside.
Closet, conference room, corridor door	Passage F75 / F01	No locking needed — and no cylinder to buy.
Exterior entrance with a closer	Storeroom F86 / F07 plus a deadbolt if required	Stays secure at all times; no button that can be left unlocked.
Apartment or tenant suite	Entry F88 / F09 or F20	Occupant locks out the corridor side.
Stairwell or roof access	Storeroom F86 / F07	Locked from the stair side, always free to exit.

Exit device trim uses the same idea

On a panic bar, the outside trim carries the function. Entry trim lets a key unlock the lever so it stays usable; storeroom (night latch) trim keeps the lever rigid and a key retracts the latch for one entry; dummy or exit-only trim is a pull with no lever at all. The bar itself always allows free egress. See our exit devices and trim.

Before you order, have these seven things

Function. From the list above, or the ANSI code off the hardware schedule.
Grade. Grade 1 is heavy duty for schools, hospitals, and high-traffic openings. Grade 2 suits light commercial and low-traffic doors.
Lock type. Cylindrical (bored through the door) or mortise (a pocket machined into the door edge). These are not interchangeable without new door prep.
Backset. Usually 2 3/4″ on commercial doors, sometimes 2 3/8″.
Door thickness. 1 3/4″ is standard commercial; 1 3/8″ and thicker doors need different kits.
Cylinder and keyway. Conventional cylinder in a specific keyway, small format interchangeable core (SFIC), or less-core so your locksmith supplies the cores. Tell us if the lock must key into an existing system. See cylinders and housings.
Finish and handing. US26D satin chrome is the commercial standard. Mortise locks and some lever designs are handed — use our door swings and handing guide.

A few things worth knowing

Storeroom versus classroom. Storeroom can never be left unlocked; classroom can be held unlocked all day. If a room must be secure at all times, do not specify classroom.
Buttons get left in the wrong position. That is why schools and stock rooms generally avoid office and entry functions.
Privacy locks are not security locks. Anyone with a coin or a small tool can release the outside emergency slot.
Fire-rated doors need a latching lock. A rated door must latch on its own — a passage set with no deadlatch will not satisfy an inspection, and hold-back features are not permitted on rated openings.
Double-cylinder locks on exit doors are restricted. If a key is required to get out, check with your local authority before ordering.

Shop by function

Our Design Hardware Z-Series is numbered by ANSI function, so the model number tells you the function at a glance — Z-75 passage, Z-76 privacy, Z-82 entry, Z-84 classroom, Z-86 storeroom, Z-110 classroom security.

We stock the same functions across four commercial lines, so you can match an existing building standard or key into a system you already have: Design Hardware Z-Series (Grade 1 cylindrical), PDQ (GP Series Grade 2 heavy duty, SD Series Grade 2 medium duty, and MR Series mortise), Accentra, formerly Yale (4700LN and 5400LN Grade 1 cylindrical, 4600LN Grade 2, and 8800FL mortise), and Best Access Systems 9K Series for SFIC keyways.

Design Hardware Z-Series PDQ locks Accentra (formerly Yale) Best 9K Series All mortise locks

Not sure which function you need?

Tell us what the room is used for and who needs access, and we will match the function for you. Use our contact page or call 888.634.3667. More technical documents are in the Resource Center, and common ordering questions are answered on our FAQ page.

Function descriptions follow the ANSI/BHMA A156.2 standard for bored (cylindrical) locks and A156.13 for mortise locks. For a deeper look at choosing lock functions — particularly for classrooms — see the Lock Functionality white paper from ASSA ABLOY Door Security Solutions. Always confirm requirements with your local code official and your authority having jurisdiction.

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