Locks and access
Lockset functions explained: storeroom, privacy, passage, classroom and office
By the Div08 Consulting team · Updated
A lockset function describes how the outside and inside levers behave and how the lock is locked and unlocked. Passage never locks. Privacy locks with an inside button and has an emergency release. Storeroom is always locked outside and opens with a key. Classroom is locked or unlocked by key from outside. In every common function, the inside lever stays free for egress.
What a lock function is
ANSI/BHMA standards define lock functions so a spec can say exactly how a door should work: A156.2 for bored and preassembled (cylindrical) locks and A156.13 for mortise locks. Each standard assigns function numbers, and manufacturers publish their own catalog codes that map to them. Write the function name in the hardware set and confirm the number against the standard edition and the manufacturer's cross-reference.
The same function name can be available in both a cylindrical and a mortise lock, but mortise locks offer more functions, including ones with a deadbolt. See mortise vs cylindrical locks for that choice.
Common lockset functions at a glance
| Function | Outside lever | Inside lever | How it locks | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passage | Always free | Always free | Never locks | Corridors, closets that do not lock |
| Privacy | Locked by inside button or turn | Always free | Inside push button or thumbturn; emergency release outside | Single-user restrooms, bedrooms |
| Storeroom | Always locked | Always free | Key retracts the latch from outside | Storage, mechanical, electrical, janitor rooms |
| Classroom | Locked or unlocked by key from outside | Always free | Key outside sets the lever | Classrooms, general offices |
| Classroom security | Locked or unlocked by key from either side | Always free | Key inside or outside sets the outside lever | Classrooms, offices that need lockdown |
| Office or entry | Locked by inside button or turn | Always free | Inside button or turn; key outside | Private offices, entries |
Functions that lock the inside lever (institutional or similar) restrict egress and are only allowed in limited occupancies, such as some detention and health care settings, under the adopted code.
Storeroom function: the most specified lock
A storeroom function lock is always locked on the outside. Anyone with a key turns it to retract the latch, and once they let go and the door closes, it is locked again. The inside lever is always free, so nobody can be locked in. That makes it the default for rooms that should never be left unlocked: electrical, IT, mechanical, janitor and storage rooms.
Spec tip
if staff will prop a storeroom door or keep sticking tape over the latch, the function is wrong for how the room is used. Ask the owner how the room really works before the hardware set goes out, not after the punch list.
Privacy vs office function
Both lock with an inside push button or turn. The difference is the outside: a privacy lock has an emergency release (a slot or small hole) rather than a key cylinder, and is used where someone may need to get in quickly, such as a single-user restroom. An office or entry lock has a key cylinder outside so the occupant can lock the door and leave. On many privacy locks, turning the inside lever or closing the door releases the button; check the manufacturer's description.
Getting functions right in the hardware set
- Name the function in words and confirm the standard number for the lock type being specified.
- Check that the function matches the keying intent in the keying schedule. A storeroom on a door with no key assigned is a mistake.
- Match the function to the egress rules for the room. If the inside lever ever locks, it needs a code reason.
- For lockdown needs, compare classroom and classroom security functions in our classroom security locks guide.
Function mistakes are cheap to fix on paper and expensive in the field, because the lock usually has to be replaced, not adjusted. A function review is part of every hardware schedule we build.
Frequently asked questions
What is a storeroom function lock?
A lock that is always locked from the outside and opens with a key, while the inside lever is always free. The door relocks every time it closes.
What is the difference between passage and privacy function?
Passage never locks. Privacy locks from the inside with a push button or turn and has an emergency release on the outside.
Which lock function is used for classrooms?
Classroom function (locked by key from outside) or classroom security function (locked by key from either side). The security function lets a teacher lock the door without stepping into the hallway.
Do lock functions have ANSI numbers?
Yes. ANSI/BHMA A156.2 and A156.13 assign function numbers, and manufacturers cross-reference their catalog codes to them. Confirm the number against the edition and lock type you specify.
General guidance only. Code requirements depend on the edition your jurisdiction has adopted and on the listing of each fire-rated assembly; confirm with the authority having jurisdiction. Published by Div08 Consulting (John Voll, owner).