What Is A Rim Lock?
What is a Rim Lock?
When looking at different options to secure your property’s entrance and exit points you may find yourself asking: what is a rim lock? The first thing we will say at Wonkee Donkee when it comes to rim locks is that they should not be used for the external access points of the building. Rim locks do provide added security and can still serve a purpose for locking internal doors, although saying this, they are becoming a less popular choice for modern-day security mechanisms.
History of a Rim Lock?
The rim lock is one of the most traditional types of lock and probably one that you will be familiar with from the majority of locked doors in your childhood. Rim locks were the first widely used lock for doors using a key in order to open and close to gain access. They are simple in their design only consisting of a box that is mounted on a door containing a lock mechanism and a latch.
Rim locks are so simply designed they can be mounted upon almost any door with only the need for a small alteration of creating a space for the lock mechanism to sit within. This is where rim locks differ from mortice locks as they are mounted upon doors rather than sitting within the door. A negative repercussion to this is that rim locks can easily be compromised by intruders who can demount the lock and gain access. This makes it a much less secure option than mortice locks that sit within the doors and are much more difficult to penetrate.
How do Rim Locks work?
As the name rim lock only refers to the installation process and not the locking mechanism of the device you may be unaware of how rim locks actually work. When looking at how a rim lock works you must first consider the type of rim lock you are looking at. In this next section, we will talk you through a range of different rim locks and how they work.
The first rim lock we will look at is the sliding latch rim lock. This mechanism uses pressure to operate with the sliding latch being spring-loaded. To retract the latch you must apply pressure, the latch then extends when the pressure is released. Most commonly these types of rim locks will be used in conjunction with door handles or knobs and you will have to simultaneously open both to gain access to the property.
The alternative to sliding latch rim locks is deadbolt locks. These are not spring-loaded so once the bolt has been retracted by turning the key it will remain in place until the key is turned in the opposite direction to extend it again. Another key identifier of a deadlock rim lock is that the key can extend and retract the bolt from either side of the door. These types of locks tend to be used more commonly for internal doors that need unlocking and to remain unlocked for a period of time before they are locked again.
When it comes to using keys in rim locks, they are somewhat unique in their design. Alternative locks on the market such as mortice locks will allow other similar keys to enter the lock but be unable to turn. However, rim locks usually contain wards around their lock mechanism which prevents the input of incorrect keys into the lock. This means that only the key that is specifically manufactured to fit your lock will work as the wards will guide its access.
When to choose a Rim Lock?
Sometimes rim locks are the most appropriate choice to use due to the design, specifically the thickness of the door it is going to secure. Newer locks such as mortice locks are much more effective security-wise; however, they require a thick door in order for the lock mechanism to sit within. This is where a rim lock has an advantage over the mortice lock, as the fact it is mounted on a door and only the barrel passes through, allows it to be used on any door regardless of thickness.
Another reason why some people still opt for rim locks is the aesthetic it provides or when replacing existing rim locks. As rim locks were the first mass-produced locking system for doors, many people wish to preserve their older doors’ authenticity and do not want to make structural alterations to accommodate a newer lock.
Important Note of Rim Locks
At Wonkee Donkee the safety and security of our readers are of utmost importance to us. So for that reason, we must remind you again that rim locks are not suitable for use on external doors that will provide access to your property. This is because of the way that rim locks are mounted on to doors and are easy for intruders to dismantle. This means that you must always inform your insurance company of the rim lock and follow their advice on what other security measures will be required in order for you to have a valid policy. You should also be prepared to either pay a higher amount or maybe not be offered a policy at all by some insurance providers.
