Top Lock Help

ma9gm

Hi,

I run a youth group for little kids. I want to install top locks on the doors for safety purposes. What I mean is an additional lock at the top of the door that the kids can't reach. Some kids are flight risks and this will add security for them running away.

The maintenance people have told me I could, but it has to meet certain requirements. Would any know of a locking system I could install which meant these.

Has a handle on the inside and outside
Has a locking system that can be locked open at any time so the rest of the week people don't need 2 hands to open the doors
Is very hard/impossible for just anyone to lock it from the inside/outside

I know lots of primary schools and nurseries have these. Would any of you be able to point me in the right direction or advice me on what would be a good option that would be great.

Thank you

custardy

Wouldnt a high turn handle do the job?
up at adult only height but negating dangers of people being unable to open doors from either sides in an emergency.

southcoastrgi

How about something like this ?

[Deleted User]

custardy wrote: »

Wouldnt a high turn handle do the job?
up at adult only height but negating dangers of people being unable to open doors from either sides in an emergency.

This is what my sons school has, specialist school for kids with autism. Kids can't reach the handle but the door is never locked.

ma9gm

southcoastrgi wrote: »

How about something like this ?

This looks fairly easy to install also. Really helpful.

ma9gm

_shel wrote: »

This is what my sons school has, specialist school for kids with autism. Kids can't reach the handle but the door is never locked.

Doesn't this lock only have lock and unlock? What's the point in having it in a specialist school is it's never locked?

DigForVictory

My concern is that in preventing possible flight risks from escaping, you may also make it harder for escape in the case of fire.

A handle out of reach unless you get a chair is obvious, but a full-size grown-up should be able to operate it with a handkerchief clamped over nose & mouth.

Do you really want to have to find that key & get it into the keyhole in a tearing hurry?

[Deleted User]

ma9gm wrote: »

Doesn't this lock only have lock and unlock? What's the point in having it in a specialist school is it's never locked?

There are separate locks which are only locked when the building needs to be secured such as at night. To stop escape risks from kids that flee the high handle is all that's needed. Without the door being locked while they are in there so not a fire risk.

Owain_Moneysaver

southcoastrgi wrote: »

How about something like this ?

No way, that's a horrendous risk in the event of a fire. Someone could even be locked inside a room without a key.

ma9gm

DigForVictory wrote: »

My concern is that in preventing possible flight risks from escaping, you may also make it harder for escape in the case of fire.

A handle out of reach unless you get a chair is obvious, but a full-size grown-up should be able to operate it with a handkerchief clamped over nose & mouth.

Do you really want to have to find that key & get it into the keyhole in a tearing hurry?

So just a normal door handle? The push back from the maintenance people is that they don't want to have to use 2 hands to get in and out during the rest of the week. Is there a handle that you can lock open, but not lock closed?

Owain_Moneysaver

You need a mortice bolt with thumbturn both sides

This might be suitable but I'm not sure if it can be left unlocked when not needed.

https://www.randrsecurity.com/Euro-Cylinder-with-Thumbturn-Both-Sides

A competent locksmith would advise.