CPL Commercial Security Solutions 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A commercial locksmith is asked to install a panic bar on a fire-rated door. Which hardware type is specifically required?
- Standard push-bar exit device
- Fire-rated panic hardware with UL listing (Correct answer)
- Non-latching push plate
- Electric strike with manual release
Correct answer: Fire-rated panic hardware with UL listing
Fire-rated doors require UL-listed fire-rated panic hardware to maintain the door's fire rating and ensure code compliance.
Question 2: What does 'keying alike' mean when applied to a commercial master key system?
- All locks use the same master key only
- Multiple locks can be opened by the same change key (Correct answer)
- Locks are factory-set to a common combination
- Every cylinder uses an identical key blank
Correct answer: Multiple locks can be opened by the same change key
Keying alike means two or more locks are set to the same change key, allowing one key to open all of them without a master key.
Question 3: Which door hardware backset is most common for commercial cylindrical locks in the US?
- 1-3/4 inch
- 2-3/8 inch
- 2-3/4 inch (Correct answer)
- 3-1/2 inch
Correct answer: 2-3/4 inch
The 2-3/4 inch backset is the standard for commercial cylindrical locks in the United States.
Question 4: A business owner wants to rekey multiple locks so a terminated employee's key no longer works. What is the locksmith's most efficient first step?
- Replace all locks immediately
- Identify the key system and affected cylinders (Correct answer)
- Issue new keys to all employees first
- Install new master key system before rekeying
Correct answer: Identify the key system and affected cylinders
Identifying the key system and which cylinders the terminated employee's key operates allows targeted, efficient rekeying.
Question 5: In a commercial access control system, what is the function of a 'request to exit' (REX) sensor?
- Triggers a door alarm when opened from outside
- Allows interior egress without triggering a door alarm (Correct answer)
- Counts the number of people exiting the building
- Sends an alert when a door is held open too long
Correct answer: Allows interior egress without triggering a door alarm
A REX sensor detects motion or door push from the interior and suppresses the door alarm, allowing free exit without credential use.
Question 6: Which standard governs the physical security rating and testing of high-security cylinder locks in the US?
- ANSI/BHMA A156.30
- UL 437 (Correct answer)
- ASTM F883
- NFPA 80
Correct answer: UL 437
UL 437 is the standard for high-security cylinder locks, covering pick, drill, and manipulation resistance testing.
Question 7: A 'door coordinator' is installed on a pair of commercial doors primarily to:
- Synchronize electronic access control signals
- Ensure the inactive door closes before the active door (Correct answer)
- Prevent door swing conflicts in a vestibule
- Hold both doors open during business hours
Correct answer: Ensure the inactive door closes before the active door
A door coordinator controls the closing sequence so the inactive (passive) leaf closes first, preventing latch conflicts on double doors.
CPL Commercial Security Solutions 3
A commercial locksmith is asked to install a panic bar on a fire-rated door.
Which hardware type is specifically required?