Choosing the correct door lock for your commercial facility may not always be the easiest task to figure out. With so many options on the market, the selection process can be quite cumbersome. What qualifies a lock as commercial-grade? Do you want a keyed or keyless design? How involved is the installation process? etc.
To comb through all of these options, keep reading, and we’ll help you choose the best toilet door lock on the market for your commercial property.
What Are The Best Toilet Door Locks?
There are a few things to consider when choosing toilet door locks. First and foremost, there needs to be some sort of privacy indicator that communicates to waiters what the occupancy status is. Most stall locks come with a green “vacant” and a red “in-use” indicator. These kinds of locks are great for indoor bathrooms that are contained within a bigger space, i.e., airplanes, stalls, etc.
However, if your bathroom is located in a separate room, or if you require something sturdier then you may want to go with a more traditional lock with a solid metal handle.
What Types of Toilet Door Locks Should You Use For Your Commercial Property?
While there is a variety of options on the market to choose from, we generally recommend indicator locks as mentioned above or even access code locks. These kinds of locks are generally the best on the market as they provide a lot of flexibility and require very little maintenance.Indicator Locks
Indicator locks are great for personal stalls and get the job with the most simplicity. Users are notified of the occupancy status in a bathroom at a glance without having to walk up to the door.
While simplicity and efficiency are hallmarks of the indicator lock, our main reason for it being our top pick is simply affordability. Indicator locks are generally on sale for a fraction of the cost of what other locks charge. Yet, indicator locks get the job done just as well, if not better with speed and functionality.
Access Code Locks
Access code locks are also a good option. This is especially true when you need to grant access to a lot of users at once. Set a code for the door lock and share it with whomever you choose.
While access door locks are great, one downside is that you risk the possibility of the access code falling into the hands of unauthorized users. This can cause a wide spread of unwanted guests sharing the code among each other which can create a larger problem. The best way to combat this, is to change the access code every so often, but that can be an inconvenience.
So, What Is The Best Toilet Door Lock Commercial Property?
Indicator locks are definitely our top pick here. They are affordable, versatile, simple, efficient, and very easy to install and use. For a selection of great indicator locks we strongly recommend, click here.
Top Factors to Consider While Choosing The Best Commercial Toilet Locks
Like any business purchase, there are a few main factors to consider when deciding on the best commercial toilet door lock.
While these factors will vary mainly based on your intended use for the door lock, we were able to narrow down the list to six main things you should seriously give more precedence to when shopping for your commercial door lock.
These factors are as follows:
- Functionality
- Commercial Grade
- ADA Compliance
- Design
- Installation
- Door Lock Manufacturer
We believe answering the questions in each of these categories will help you narrow down the lock on the market for your commercial bathroom.
Functionality
When it comes to functionality it is important to think about how you want the door lock to function. Are you able to lock the door from one side only or only when you’re in the room? For most bathrooms, it would be more optimal to only allow the door to be locked when inside. Not only would this provide privacy, but it also prevents people from being locked inside accidentally.
Commercial Grade
How do you know what the difference is between a commercial and a regular residential door lock? Often the product you’re searching for will have it written somewhere on the label or in the description. If not, the main difference is the sturdiness and quality of the lock.
Commercial locks are made with sturdier materials and generally feel higher quality. Most commercial locks will have a lever and never a knob like a regular residential lock.
Also considering that most commercial locks are meant to secure thicker, heavier doors, the locks are made to accommodate. This means commercial locks will also be thicker, heavier, sturdier, more expensive, but also be of higher quality compared to standard residential locks.
When shopping for commercial grade locks, look for the words “commercial grade” on the actual product and be sure to avoid cheapening on the price for a less quality lock.
ADA Compliance
Compliance as laid out by the ADA is an important factor to take into account regardless of what kind of commercial room you’re trying to secure. In fact, it’s not optional, but rather a must to follow.
The main focus the current commercial door lock compliance codes will require you to account for is accessibility. This includes but not limited to:
- All locks and handles attached to your door must be operable with only one hand and should not require any extreme force to open;
- Locks and lock handles must be mounted no more than 48 inches above floors to ensure access to wheelchairs, users, when appropriate.
Most ADA-compliant locks will have push, lever-operated or U-shaped handles and panic bars which will disengage the lock. Traditional round door knobs, for example, are not considered compliant.
For an extensive list of requirements, look up the ADA compliance guide for the current year you’re searching.
Design
Design outside of ADA compliance is more of a personal choice, however with so many options to choose from, why not ensure the design of the lock you pick provides functionality?
There are many kinds of locks, manual keyed entry locks, keyless entry, smart locks, coin locks, or even buzzer locks. As stated earlier, we recommend a deadbolt lock designed with a keypad due to versatility, efficiency, ease of use, and accommodation for high traffic areas.
Installation
If you’re installing the lock on your own, then you might want to look for a lock with very simple installation steps, else the alternative would be to hire a professional which incurs a higher cost. Generally, a deadbolt lock is the easiest and fast kind of lock to install.
Door Lock Manufacturer
Most commercial locks are often manufactured by the same residential lock brands you know and love. However, the best commercial door locks are often produced by specialized manufacturers who only sell commercial door locks. With this in mind, be sure to seek out specialized manufacturers who only produce commercial door locks.
