Mortise pocket in door edge
ANSI/BHMA A156.3 · UL 305 · NFPA 101
Maryland, DC & Northern Virginia
A mortise exit device pairs a push bar with a lock body that sits inside a pocket cut into the door edge. When someone pushes the bar, it pulls the latchbolt back, and the door opens. Because the lock case is buried in the door, the latch is hard to pry or tamper with. These devices fit most wood and hollow metal doors that are at least 1-3/4 inches thick. Schools, hospitals, offices, and government buildings use them on main entries, stairwells, and corridor doors.
The latchbolt stays hidden inside the door edge, so thieves cannot pry or slip it open.
One push on the bar opens the door and meets life safety rules for panic exits.
With no surface strike on the frame, the door looks neater and has fewer exposed parts.
King Locksmith and Doors Inc. is a commercial locksmith and door company serving Maryland, Washington DC, and Northern Virginia. We help small businesses, government agencies, hospitals, hotels, and organizations keep their doors safe and up to code. Our technicians install, adjust, and repair mortise exit devices from leading brands. We check door prep, frame fit, and trim before we start, so the device works right the first time. Ask us for a free site visit.
The right mortise exit device depends on your door, your traffic, and your local codes. Use these five checks to narrow the choice before you buy, so the hardware fits the door and passes inspection.
A mortise exit device needs a deep pocket cut into the door edge. Most models fit doors that are 1-3/4 inches thick, in hollow metal or solid wood. Narrow stile glass doors often need a different device.
Check the frame too. The mortise strike must line up with the latchbolt, and the frame must be square. A sagging door will bind the latch over time. We measure backset, door width, and hinge wear before ordering.
ANSI/BHMA A156.3 rates exit devices by grade. Grade 1 is the strongest and is built for high-traffic commercial doors. It must pass far more test cycles than Grade 2.
Schools, hospitals, and transit areas should use Grade 1 on every exit. Lighter-use offices may get by with Grade 2, but a cheaper device often costs more in repairs over time. We help you pick the right grade that fits your daily door count and budget.
The function controls what happens on the outside of the door. Exit-only devices have no outside trim. Night latch function uses a key to retract the latch. Passage trim lets anyone pull the door open from outside.
Classroom function lets staff lock the outside lever with a key. Storeroom keeps the lever locked at all times. Most lever trim on a mortise device uses a mortise cylinder, so match it to your master key system.
Panic hardware is listed to UL 305 for doors that need fast exit, such as assembly spaces. Fire exit hardware is also tested to UL 10C and can be used on fire-rated doors.
Fire exit hardware cannot have mechanical dogging, because the latch must hold the door shut during a fire. NFPA 80 and NFPA 101 set these rules, and local fire marshals enforce them. We confirm your door and frame labels before we install.
Many mortise exit devices come with electric options. Electric latch retraction lets a card reader or button pull the latch back. This keeps doors unlatched during business hours and works with automatic door openers.
Request-to-exit switches tell the security system someone is leaving. Latchbolt monitoring reports when the door is not locked. Delayed egress models hold the door for 15 seconds where codes allow. We wire and test these with your existing access control system.
Rim exit devices cost less and install faster, but they trade away some strength. Here is how a mortise exit device compares on the points that matter for commercial doors.
Consideration
Mortise Exit Device
Rim Exit Device
Latch sits protected inside the door
Latch sits on the door surface
Deadlocking latchbolt resists prying and shimming
Surface strike gives pry bars more leverage
Clean frame with recessed mortise strike
Bulky strike sticks out from frame
Heavy lock case handles constant daily traffic
Strike wears and loosens with heavy use
Fewer exposed parts to kick or bend
Exposed strike is a common vandal target
Most mortise exit device problems start small and get worse with daily use. Watch for these warning signs, and call a trained technician before a stuck door blocks an exit.
We cut the mortise pocket, set the strike, and adjust the device so it latches every time.
We fix sticking latches, sagging levers, and loose rails to restore smooth, reliable egress on your doors.
We convert rim devices to mortise models when doors and frames can take the deeper prep work.
We install UL-listed fire exit hardware and correct issues found during annual NFPA 80 fire door inspections.
We add electric latch retraction, request-to-exit switches, and monitoring that tie into your existing access control system.
We rekey or replace mortise cylinders so your exit devices match your building's current master key system.
Get a free site assessment for your mortise exit devices anywhere in Maryland, Washington DC, or Northern Virginia. Call today.
