Record the door before asking for a price
A photograph helps identify the layout, but it cannot replace measurements. Give every door type a reference number and keep its measurements, pictures and proposed hardware together. Separate guestroom doors from shared-area and exposed doors; do not assume one lock configuration covers them all.
| Survey item | What to record | Why it affects the proposal |
|---|---|---|
| Door and frame | Material, thickness, handing, condition and clearance | The proposed fitting drawing must match the actual assembly. |
| Existing lock | Mortise, backset, centre distances and cut-outs | A similar-looking escutcheon does not prove the new lock will fit. |
| Door finish | Visible marks and holes after removing the old trim | The quotation may need cover plates or making-good work. |
| Operating workflow | Room moves, late checkout, staff access and emergencies | Hardware replacement can also change credential issuing and procedures. |
Installation measurements must be taken by the project team or installer.
Match the fitting drawing to the ordered configuration
Ask for the exact model, mortise, handing and document revision. Keep the installation drawing separate from the sales brochure and software manual. A document for a family of locks may be useful, but the supplier should identify which drawing applies to the quoted configuration.
ORBITA’s documentation center, for example, separates operating manuals from opening drawings. Use that distinction when requesting your own document pack.
Approve one sample before a room-by-room rollout
- Choose a representative door for each different installation type.
- Have the installer fit the quoted model using the matched drawing.
- Check closing, latch engagement, handle operation and clearance with the actual frame.
- Demonstrate guest and staff credentials using the intended issuing equipment.
- Record unresolved work, photographs, the tested configuration and who approved it.
Do not treat the sample as permission to alter every door in the same way. Refer changes affecting a fire-rated or other regulated door assembly to the responsible qualified project specialist.
Write the handover plan before ordering
Agree how rooms are taken out of service, who issues credentials during changeover and who keeps emergency access. State the completion check for each room rather than relying only on a count of locks installed.
- Label spare parts and keys against the accepted configuration.
- Provide staff instructions for normal operation and failure recovery.
- Keep signed room-by-room checks and the final drawing/manual versions.
- Name the party responsible for defects, training and follow-up support.
Questions to settle with the supplier
Can the new lock use the old holes?
Only a comparison of measured cut-outs and the exact drawing, followed by the sample installation, can settle that question.
Does a successful sample confirm local approval?
No. Physical fit, operating tests and applicable project approvals are separate checks.
Sources and further reading
Public sources checked 20 October 2026.