It‘s easy to overlook the cubicle door furniture when designing your new commercial washroom, not least the actual Cubicle Door Locks. With so many options, it can be difficult to choose the right lock. Here we take an overview of the various options you can choose from.
Quick-Release Locks
The standard quick-release cubicle door lock will be familiar to you all. A horizontal bar slides across the edge of the cubicle door and into a ‘keep’, which is fastened to the cubicle door frame. The indicator on the exterior of the cubicle door turns red to let other users know the cubicle is engaged. This is perhaps the most common type of toilet cubicle lock, and for good reason; it is simple and effective. These locks come in various finishes, including multicoloured versions, which suit nursery and school toilets very well.
Other Indicator Locks
From here, we move on to variations of this lock, including a very simple plastic rotating indicator bolt and a rather sleek loop handle indicator bolt. These cubicle locks often have a larger handle and are easier to use.
Cubicle locks are frequently referred to as indicator bolts. The reason is that the red, green, or white indicator visible from outside the cubicle indicates whether the cubicle is vacant or in use.
Mortice Toilet Door Locks
However, depending on your washroom environment and design style, you may be looking for something a little smarter. A little more discreet. For these instances, mortice indicator bolts work perfectly, with the locking mechanism hidden from view and located internally within the door. This leaves just a smooth stainless steel lever on display internally and a matching indicator externally.
These locks are usually installed in a standard internal door rather than a thin cubicle door. They are often more robust because the fixings are made into a thicker door.
Outward Opening Door Locks
When choosing your toilet locks, keep in mind that for outward-opening cubicle doors, you may need a slightly different lock or at least a different keep. However, most locks are available in both inward- and outward-opening options.
A key washroom rule is that one in four cubicles in a same-sex toilet room should include an ambulant toilet cubicle. This is a larger cubicle (at least 850mm wide) that has more space for an ambulant disabled person (walking wounded, pregnant ladies, etc.). The door should open outwards to further increase manoeuvring space, and the cubicle lock will need to accommodate this. It's wise to choose a lever-operated lock in this instance to further aid the people using it.
Locks for Disabled Toilet Doors
Locks for disabled toilets need to be much easier to use, and a great option here is the Union Disabled Toilet Door Lock. A surface-mounted door lock with a large handle and a clean, simple locking mechanism. This lock-and-handle combo makes it easier for disabled users to use and can be unlocked from the outside in emergencies with a screwdriver or coin. This emergency feature is also featured on most other toilet locks.
The Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation have approved a disabled door lockset – RADAR for short – which allows only RADAR key holders to access the toilet cubicle. This is a key that many registered blind or disabled users carry, and having this functionality means your disabled toilets cannot be misused and, in public spaces, help reduce the risk of vandalism. The cubicle door is therefore always locked.
However, when the door is locked, but the indicator is white – meaning vacant – users can unlock the door using their RADAR key. Once inside, the door is locked by simply lifting up the interior handle. This changes the indicator to red and stops the external RADAR keyhole from being accessed.
Whatever lock you decide to install for your disabled or ambulant disabled toilet cubicle, be sure to fit it to the recommended height. If you need information on this or any of the above points, please get in touch with us. We would love to help!
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