Publish Time: 2026-08-13 Origin: D&D HARDWARE
A mortise lock described as "UL Listed" is not automatically ANSI/BHMA Grade 1. A Grade 1 mortise lock is not automatically approved for use on a fire-rated door.
These two designations answer different questions:
UL listing identifies whether a specific lock model or defined model family has been certified for a particular safety application. For mechanical mortise locks used on fire doors, this commonly involves evaluation under UL 10B or UL 10C.
ANSI/BHMA Grade 1 identifies the highest performance grade under ANSI/BHMA A156.13 for mortise locks and latches. It addresses operation, cycle endurance, strength, security, finish performance, and dimensional requirements.
A commercial opening may require one, the other, or both. The correct combination depends on the door rating, traffic level, security objectives, hardware schedule, and applicable project requirements.
| Comparison point | UL Listed mortise lock | ANSI/BHMA Grade 1 mortise lock |
|---|---|---|
| Primary question answered | Is this exact product certified for the stated safety application? | Does this lock meet the highest mechanical performance grade in A156.13? |
| Common reference for a mechanical fire-door mortise lock | UL 10B or UL 10C under the applicable lock-and-latch product category | ANSI/BHMA A156.13 |
| Main focus | Fire-door application, latching performance during fire exposure, certified construction, marking, and use limitations | Operation, durability, strength, security, cycle performance, finish, and dimensions |
| Typical evidence | UL mark, file number or traceable identifier, Product iQ record, model scope, rating, and installation conditions | Test report or certification identifying the model, grade, standard edition, and test basis |
| Ongoing control | UL Follow-Up Services applies to authorized production bearing the UL mark | BHMA Certified products are independently tested and periodically recertified |
| Does it prove fire-door suitability? | Yes, when the exact model and listing scope cover the required fire-door application | No |
| Does it prove Grade 1 durability? | No | Yes, when the claim is supported for the exact product under the applicable A156.13 edition |
| Does it approve the complete installed opening? | No; the lock remains one component of the door assembly | No |
| Does it define the lock function? | Not by itself | A156.13 includes standardized function designations, but the grade alone does not identify the function |
| Does it establish accessibility compliance? | No | It addresses operational forces, but the grade alone does not establish compliance of the complete opening |
| Can one replace the other? | No | No |
The most useful way to read the two designations is:
UL listing addresses the lock's certified safety application. ANSI/BHMA Grade 1 addresses its mechanical performance level during normal use and resistance to abuse.
Commercial fire doors have to perform in two very different conditions.
During normal building operation, the lock may be used hundreds of times each day. Its levers, latchbolt, deadbolt, springs, hubs, cylinder interfaces, and internal mechanisms must continue operating under repeated loads and occasional abuse.
During a fire, the lock has another responsibility: it must help keep the door in its required closed and latched position within the conditions of the certified assembly.
These requirements overlap in practical importance, but they are not verified by the same test program.
A mortise lock can be mechanically durable without having a fire-door listing. It can also be listed for a fire-door application without carrying an ANSI/BHMA Grade 1 performance claim.
This is why many commercial specifications require both:
A UL-listed configuration suitable for the required fire-door application
ANSI/BHMA A156.13 Grade 1 mechanical performance
The combination does not create a new "UL Grade 1" standard. It means the lock has two separate compliance claims that must each be supported.
"UL Listed" is a certification status, not a generic synonym for durable, commercial, or fire rated.
The meaning of the mark depends on:
Product category
Standard used for evaluation
Exact model or model family
Rated application
Product construction
Marking
Installation conditions
Limitations stated in the certification record
For mechanical single-point mortise locks and latches intended for fire-door applications, the relevant UL category may be GYJT — Single-point Locks and Latches. Products in this category can be evaluated under UL 10B or UL 10C.
Electrically controlled mortise locks may fall under a different category and require additional evaluation. Therefore, a mechanical lock listing should not be assumed to cover an electrified version of the same commercial model.
UL 10B and UL 10C address the fire performance of door assemblies under different furnace-pressure conditions.
UL 10C is the positive-pressure fire test commonly referenced for North American fire-door applications. During the test, the door assembly and its installed hardware are exposed to the specified fire conditions. The hardware must continue supporting the required performance of the assembly, including its ability to remain closed and latched.
For a mortise lock, the certification scope may address factors such as:
Lock type and construction
Latchbolt or deadbolt configuration
Latch projection
Applicable door construction
Maximum fire-rating duration
Permitted functions or model variations
Mechanical or electrically controlled configuration
Installation method
Required strikes or accessories
Limitations on field modification
The listing does not mean that the lock itself creates a fire rating. The door leaf, frame, hinges, closer, lock, strike, gasketing, glazing, fasteners, and other components must work together as an acceptable assembly.
Readers who need more background on this system-level relationship can review what a UL listed mortise lock means for fire door compliance.
A UL-listed fire-door mortise lock does not automatically prove:
ANSI/BHMA Grade 1 performance
One million operational cycles
Resistance to all forced-entry methods
Compliance with the latest edition of ANSI/BHMA A156.13
Suitability for every lock function
Approval of every lever, cylinder, deadbolt, or trim option
Accessibility compliance of the opening
Correct means-of-egress operation
Compatibility with every wood or hollow metal door
Smoke leakage performance
Windstorm resistance
Suitability for an electrified access-control system
Compliance of the complete installed fire-door assembly
These requirements must be reviewed separately.
A "three-hour" listing also should not be converted into the statement that the lock is acceptable on every three-hour opening. The exact model, door construction, bolt arrangement, preparation, installation, and assembly conditions must still match the certification scope.
UL certification is not based only on a test completed at one point in time.
Products authorized to bear the UL mark are also subject to UL Follow-Up Services. This program uses factory inspections and audits to confirm that certified products continue to be manufactured in accordance with the evaluated construction and applicable certification requirements.
That ongoing control distinguishes an authorized UL mark from a supplier statement such as:
"Designed to UL 10C"
"Similar to a UL-listed lock"
"Made according to UL requirements"
"Fire tested"
"UL-compliant materials"
"Same construction as our listed model"
None of these expressions necessarily establishes that the quoted product is covered by a current UL certification.
The physical mark, certification holder, file record, exact model scope, and delivered construction should agree.
ANSI/BHMA A156.13 is the American National Standard for mortise locks and latches.
The current public BHMA standard summary identifies ANSI/BHMA A156.13-2022 as covering:
Operational tests
Strength tests
Security tests
Cycle tests
Finish tests
Dimensional criteria
Standardized lock-function designations
Within applicable ANSI/BHMA standards, Grade 1 is the highest of the Grade 1, Grade 2, and Grade 3 performance levels. It should be understood as the highest defined performance grade within that standard—not as proof that the product satisfies every possible requirement for a door opening.
A lock has to operate within prescribed force or torque limits.
For example, the BHMA summary for A156.13 states that lever-operated locks must open with a maximum torque of 28 in-lbf. Tests also evaluate factors such as the force needed to retract the latch and the force required for the door to close and latch properly.
These measurements are relevant to smooth operation and ease of use. However, they do not independently establish accessibility compliance for the entire opening.
Accessibility review can also involve:
Clear opening width
Door-opening force
Closing speed
Thresholds
Hardware mounting height
Operable-part design
Approach and maneuvering clearance
Local accessibility requirements
A Grade 1 lock can support an accessible opening, but the grade alone does not approve the complete doorway.
Grade 1 mortise locks must complete one million operating cycles with a 10-pound load applied under the A156.13 test conditions.
This is a laboratory performance threshold. It provides a standardized way to compare lock endurance, but it should not be converted into an exact service-life prediction.
A million-cycle result does not guarantee a specific number of years because field life is also affected by:
Door alignment
Frame movement
Strike position
Door closer adjustment
User behavior
Lever abuse
Dust or contamination
Lubrication
Corrosion exposure
Installation quality
Maintenance
Frequency and severity of use
The test establishes that the lock has passed a defined endurance requirement. It does not remove the need for correct installation and maintenance.
ANSI/BHMA A156.13 includes strength and security evaluations intended to determine how the lock responds to mechanical loading and attempted abuse.
The BHMA summary states that the standard includes fifteen aggressive tests. One example is a 1,200 in-lbf locked-lever torque test, together with impact testing in different directions.
Depending on the applicable construction and function, the broader test program may assess components such as:
Outside and inside trim
Lever or knob attachment
Lock case
Latchbolt
Deadbolt
Cylinder area
Strike engagement
Internal locking mechanism
Resistance to impact or applied torque
Grade 1 therefore provides more information about mechanical robustness than a fire-door listing alone.
However, Grade 1 should not be described as burglar-proof, attack-proof, or suitable for every high-security application. Specialized applications may require additional standards for high-security cylinders, forced-entry resistance, detention hardware, ballistic resistance, or other hazards.
ANSI/BHMA testing also considers the ability of architectural finishes to resist conditions such as:
Corrosion
Chemicals
Abrasion
Sunlight exposure
Finish performance should still be specified carefully. The lock's mechanical Grade 1 status does not mean every available finish has identical environmental resistance.
A project may need to define:
BHMA finish designation
Base material
Coating or plating system
Interior or exterior exposure
Coastal or high-humidity conditions
Cleaning chemicals
Required finish certification
Compatibility with adjacent hardware
Stainless steel construction may offer useful corrosion resistance, but material descriptions such as "SS304" do not replace a standardized finish-performance requirement.
A156.13 also establishes dimensional criteria and standardized function descriptions for mortise locks.
The function designation explains how the lock operates. The grade explains the level of tested performance.
For example:
F01 identifies a passage function.
F04 identifies an entry or office function.
F05 identifies a classroom function.
F07 identifies a storeroom function.
None of these function numbers proves that the lock is Grade 1 or UL Listed. Conversely, the phrase "Grade 1 mortise lock" does not tell the buyer whether the proposed lock is passage, entry, classroom, storeroom, privacy, or another function.
A complete specification therefore needs both the operating function and the performance requirement.
Grade 1 does not automatically prove:
UL listing
A UL 10B or UL 10C fire-door application
A particular fire-rating duration
Compatibility with a specific fire-door assembly
Smoke-control performance
Approval for an electrified opening
Compliance with UL 294 or UL 1034
Panic-hardware or fire-exit-hardware compliance
Correct egress function for the occupancy
Approval of every lock function in the product range
Compliance with every local building code
Correct door preparation
Proper installation
Suitability for every cylinder or keying system
A Grade 1 lock can be an excellent mechanical product and still be unacceptable for a particular fire-rated opening.
This distinction is important during product comparison.
ANSI develops and coordinates the process through which American National Standards are approved. BHMA develops and maintains the A156 standards for builders hardware. Neither the appearance of "ANSI" in a product description nor a general Grade 1 statement automatically identifies the supporting product-certification route.
Suppliers may use several different expressions:
Tested to ANSI/BHMA A156.13 Grade 1
Complies with ANSI/BHMA A156.13 Grade 1
Meets Grade 1 requirements
Grade 1 performance
BHMA Certified
These statements should not be treated as interchangeable without reviewing the evidence.
BHMA Certified products are listed in the BHMA Certified Products Directory. BHMA states that compliance under this program is based on testing verified by independent third-party laboratories and that products undergo periodic recertification.
If a supplier claims Grade 1 performance but does not claim BHMA Certified status, request the underlying test documentation. Confirm:
Complete manufacturer name
Exact tested model or model family
ANSI/BHMA standard number
Standard edition
Grade achieved
Lock function and construction
Test laboratory
Report or certificate number
Test date
Complete test result
Relationship between the tested model and quoted sales model
"ANSI certified" by itself is too vague for a technical submittal.
A submittal should identify the edition of ANSI/BHMA A156.13 used for testing.
Examples include:
ANSI/BHMA A156.13-2005
ANSI/BHMA A156.13-2012
ANSI/BHMA A156.13-2017
ANSI/BHMA A156.13-2022
A report issued to an earlier edition may still provide useful evidence, and a project specification may intentionally reference that edition. However, it should not automatically be presented as proof of compliance with a later edition.
If the hardware schedule requires A156.13-2022, a report stating only "ANSI Grade 1" leaves an unresolved question.
Ask the supplier to identify:
The edition used for testing
Whether the report covers the complete proposed model
Whether any construction has changed since testing
Whether a newer report or technical assessment is available
Whether the project accepts the referenced edition
Readers comparing the three grade levels can consult the separate guide to ANSI Grade 1 vs Grade 2 vs Grade 3 mortise locks. The present article concentrates on the boundary between mechanical grading and UL certification.
Whether both requirements are necessary depends on the opening.
| Opening scenario | UL-listed fire-door configuration | ANSI/BHMA Grade 1 | Additional review |
|---|---|---|---|
| High-traffic rated hospital corridor door | Normally required | Commonly required | Egress, accessibility, infection-control cleaning, assembly compatibility |
| Rated stair enclosure door | Normally required | Often specified | Re-entry, latching, closer, exit-hardware requirements |
| Rated hotel guest-room entrance | Normally required | Often specified | Function, privacy, deadbolt operation, accessibility |
| Rated service or storage room | Normally required | Depends on traffic and project specification | Storeroom function, key control, door rating |
| Non-rated private office | Not necessarily required for fire use | May be specified | Function, keying, accessibility |
| Non-rated low-traffic interior room | Usually not required for fire use | Depends on project performance target | Cost, expected use, function |
| Electrified rated mortise lock | Required in the applicable certified construction | Mechanical grade may also be required | Electrical locking standard, access-control system, power, egress |
| Door requiring panic hardware | Fire or panic listing depends on opening | Mortise-lock Grade 1 alone is insufficient | Exit-device and fire-exit-hardware standards |
The fire-door requirement and the mechanical-grade requirement should be selected independently and then combined in the hardware schedule.
Consider a rated corridor door in a hospital or school.
The door must remain closed and latched during the applicable fire exposure. It may also operate hundreds of times a day and be exposed to carts, cleaning equipment, misuse, and repeated lever operation.
In this case:
The UL listing addresses whether the exact lock configuration is certified for the rated opening.
Grade 1 addresses whether the lock has passed the highest A156.13 mechanical performance level.
Both claims are relevant, but neither verifies the other.
A heavily used conference-room or administrative door may not be part of a fire-rated assembly.
Grade 1 can still be appropriate because the project needs operational durability, strength, and security. A fire-door listing may not be necessary unless required by the specification or another application.
Specifying UL listing where no listed application is required may unnecessarily narrow product selection without improving the opening's actual performance.
A fire-rated service-room door may operate only a few times per day.
The listed fire-door configuration remains important because the opening must maintain its fire-protection function. Whether Grade 1 is necessary depends on the hardware specification, required security, expected abuse, and owner standards.
Low traffic does not remove the listing requirement from a rated opening.
Adding a solenoid, motor, request-to-exit switch, monitoring contact, or other electrical component can change the relevant product configuration and certification requirements.
Do not assume that:
A listed mechanical lock case covers the electrified version.
Grade 1 mechanical testing covers electrical performance.
A fire-door listing establishes access-control-system compliance.
UL 294 certification of the control panel covers the lock.
Fail-safe or fail-secure operation is acceptable for every opening.
An electrified mortise lock may require review under ANSI/BHMA A156.25 in addition to its mechanical standard. Applicable UL categories and standards may also depend on whether the device is being evaluated for fire-door, security, or access-control use.
The lock, power supply, controller, releasing method, fire-alarm interface, and egress sequence should be reviewed as a system.
A Grade 1 mortise lock is not a substitute for an exit device where panic hardware or fire exit hardware is required.
Exit devices are evaluated under their own ANSI/BHMA and UL standards. The required releasing bar or push pad, unlatching operation, dogging restrictions, fire listing, and door application cannot be satisfied merely by selecting a strong mortise lock.
Start with the opening's egress requirements before choosing the lock type.
Avoid incomplete wording such as:
Provide UL ANSI Grade 1 mortise locks.
This phrase combines several concepts without identifying the supporting standards, model scope, function, or application.
A clearer requirement is:
Provide mortise locks complying with ANSI/BHMA A156.13-2022, Grade 1, in the scheduled functions. For fire-rated openings, provide lock models listed for use in the applicable door assembly under UL 10B or UL 10C, as required. Furnish certification records, model-scope evidence, product markings, templates, and installation instructions for the proposed configuration.
The project should add opening-specific details, including:
Lock function
Fire-rating requirement
Door and frame construction
Mechanical or electrified operation
Backset
Door thickness
Handing
Latchbolt and deadbolt arrangement
Cylinder and keying
Lever and trim
Strike
Finish
Accessibility requirements
Egress requirements
Required certification evidence
This prevents a supplier from satisfying only one part of a combined requirement.
Use separate evidence columns for the two claims.
| Verification field | UL listing evidence | ANSI/BHMA Grade 1 evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Certification holder shown in UL record | Manufacturer named in report or certification |
| Model | Exact model or documented model-family relationship | Exact tested model or documented family |
| Product identity | UL category and file number | A156.13 product designation and function |
| Applicable standard | UL 10B, UL 10C, or other stated standard | ANSI/BHMA A156.13 with edition |
| Performance scope | Rating, application, construction, and limitations | Grade, operation, cycles, strength, security, finish, and applicable criteria |
| Marking | Physical UL mark and traceable identifier | BHMA mark where certified, or other accurate product identification |
| Database | UL Product iQ | BHMA Certified Products Directory when BHMA Certified status is claimed |
| Test documentation | Certification record and related instructions | Complete test report, certificate, or directory entry |
| Ongoing control | UL Follow-Up Services | Periodic recertification for BHMA Certified products |
| Delivered product | Must match listed construction and marking | Must match tested or certified model and configuration |
A certificate title or catalog statement should not replace this comparison.
Yes—and this is a common submittal risk.
For example:
The UL record may cover a base lock case.
The Grade 1 test report may cover a complete lockset with a particular lever.
The commercial quotation may use another suffix.
The delivered product may contain an electrified modification.
The website may show a broader function range than either record.
The buyer should establish a traceable relationship among:
Scheduled model
Quoted model
UL-listed model
Grade 1 tested model
Physical product marking
Delivered construction
If different model codes are used, request a manufacturer-issued cross-reference. Similar appearance is not enough.
Incorrect. UL listing and ANSI/BHMA grading use different criteria and evidence.
Incorrect. Grade 1 addresses mechanical performance under A156.13, not fire-door listing.
The two designations are not levels on the same scale. Neither is above the other.
The laboratory cycle test is a standardized performance benchmark, not an unconditional field-life warranty.
A product-page claim should be supported by documentation identifying the model, grade, standard edition, and test source.
A UL file can contain defined models, families, constructions, and conditions. It does not automatically cover every lock sold by the company.
The complete door assembly and the lock's specific certified conditions still control acceptability.
Grade 1 operational requirements can support accessible operation, but the complete installed opening must still be evaluated.
Not unless the certification scope expressly includes that electrified construction.
Dual evidence can address important fire and mechanical-performance requirements, but code compliance also depends on the function, egress method, accessibility, door assembly, installation, and authority requirements.
Before approving a lock described as "UL Listed and ANSI Grade 1," ask:
What is the UL file number?
Who is the certification holder?
What product category applies?
Is the exact quoted model included?
Which standard was used—UL 10B, UL 10C, or another standard?
What fire rating and application are covered?
Are the function, latch projection, deadbolt, and trim included?
Is the lock mechanical or electrified?
What limitations apply to the door construction and installation?
Will the delivered product carry the required UL marking?
Which edition of ANSI/BHMA A156.13 applies?
Is the product BHMA Certified or tested through another route?
What laboratory conducted the tests?
What is the report or certificate number?
Does the document identify the quoted model?
Which function and trim were tested?
Was Grade 1 achieved across all applicable requirements?
Have there been construction changes since testing?
Does the commercial model use the same lock case and components as the tested model?
Is the supporting evidence current and complete?
Is the door fire rated?
What rating is required?
What lock function is scheduled?
Is panic hardware required?
Is the lock part of an access-control system?
What egress and accessibility conditions apply?
What door construction, thickness, backset, and handing are required?
Which cylinder, keying, lever, strike, and finish are specified?
Are field modifications planned?
Who will confirm compatibility with the complete assembly?
D&D HARDWARE presents commercial mortise locks in passage, entry, classroom, storeroom, privacy, deadbolt, and other configurations. Its UL-listed ANSI mortise lock range includes models marketed with both UL and ANSI/BHMA performance claims.
For project selection, do not transfer the description of one product to the entire range.
Request documentation for the exact proposed model, including:
Complete D&D model and function code
UL file reference and applicable product category
Evidence that the specific model is within the UL scope
Fire-rating duration and installation conditions
ANSI/BHMA A156.13 edition
Grade 1 test report or certification evidence
Relationship between the tested lock case and the commercial model
Mechanical or electrified configuration
Latchbolt and deadbolt details
Lever, cylinder, thumbturn, and strike
Door thickness, backset, handing, and preparation
Installation instructions
Photographs of the product and marking
This model-specific review is more reliable than approving a lock based only on the combined phrase "UL ANSI Grade 1."
Neither is better because they address different requirements. UL listing verifies a defined certified application. Grade 1 establishes the highest mechanical performance level under A156.13.
No. A high-traffic fire-rated opening commonly requires both. A non-rated interior door may need Grade 1 performance without a fire-door listing. Project requirements determine the correct combination.
For mortise locks under the current A156.13 summary, Grade 1 includes one million cycles with a 10-pound load under the standard's test conditions.
Not because it is UL Listed. One million cycles is an ANSI/BHMA Grade 1 performance requirement. A lock must separately support that claim.
Only if the exact lock configuration is also listed or otherwise accepted for the applicable fire-door assembly. Grade 1 alone is insufficient.
No. UL 10C is a positive-pressure fire test standard for door assemblies. Grade 1 is a mechanical performance level under ANSI/BHMA A156.13.
No. It should identify the full standard, edition, grade, model, and supporting certification or test documentation.
Not necessarily. BHMA Certified status can be checked through the BHMA Certified Products Directory and includes independent third-party verification and periodic recertification. A general "tested to Grade 1" claim should be supported by its own documentation.
No. The required passage, entry, classroom, storeroom, privacy, or other function must be selected separately and confirmed against the certified model.
No. The lock remains one component. The door, frame, hardware, installation, fire rating, egress, and accessibility requirements must still be coordinated.
Yes. Writing ANSI/BHMA A156.13-2022 Grade 1 is clearer than writing only ANSI Grade 1.
UL listing and ANSI/BHMA Grade 1 should be treated as complementary evidence, not competing labels.
For a mortise lock used on a fire-rated opening, the UL record helps establish whether the exact model and construction are certified for the required fire-door application. ANSI/BHMA Grade 1 establishes whether the lock has passed the highest mechanical performance requirements in A156.13 for operation, durability, strength, security, finish, and related criteria.
One does not prove the other.
A dependable submittal should therefore identify:
Exact manufacturer and model
Required lock function
UL file and model scope
Applicable fire-test standard and rating
ANSI/BHMA A156.13 edition
Grade 1 test or certification evidence
Mechanical or electrified construction
Complete door and installation conditions
When both requirements apply, verify both independently and then confirm that the two records refer to the same product configuration. That is what turns "UL Listed and Grade 1" from a marketing phrase into a traceable project specification.
Contact: David Jian
Mob:0086-139 2903 7292
Email: David@dndhardware.com, sales@dndhardware.com,
Contact: Jobby Zhang
Mob:0086-137 2599 9617
Email: jobby@dndhardware.com
D&D HARDWARE INDUSTRIAL CO.,LTD
ADD:12th Floor, Building 2, No.898, KeChuang Technical Zone, Jiangmen Avenue, Pengjiang District, Jiangmen City, Guangdong, China (Postcode:529000)
Tel: +86-750-3856396
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