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Interconnected Lock and apartments

Do you know about an interconnected lock?
It is one type of the lock used in a front door.

The interconnected lock is becoming popular in apartment constructions.
I'd like to write about it's features and the reason why it is becoming popular.

  1. Appearance - integration with a handle
  2. Features - single action egress
  3. The reason of becoming popular - with fire codes


1. Appearance - integration with a handle


One of the interconnected lock
Interconnected locks have a single cylinder and a handle.
From the inner side, they are integrated.
From the outside, often they seem apart.

2. Features - single action egress

To unlock the door from outside, you have to use key.
From inside, you need only to push down the handle.

The handle and the deadbolt are connected so that you can open the door with single action.
In our words, that feature is called "single action egress".
This is very different from the normal deadbolt that needs to turn the thumbturn to unlock the door.

3.The reason of becoming popular - with fire codes

This interconnected lock is becoming popular in many apartments.
In Los Angeles or San Francisco, new apartment buildings need to install interconnected locks for the unit front doors.
That is because of fire codes of states or cities.

When a fire breaks out in an apartment,
people wants to escape as quickly as possible.

Normal deadbolts need two actions to get out of units.
  1. Turn the thumbturn
  2. Push down the handle
Interconnected locks need only single action.
  1. Push down the handle
That makes big difference when a fire breaks out.
That is why the fire codes determine that the apartment front door need a interconnected lock.


Today, there are many smart locks in the hardware market.
But how many locks are the interconnected type?
You should check that your apartment need a interconnected lock!

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