A roller latch holds a door closed by using the friction of a roller.
Understanding the Mechanism
Based on the provided information, a roller latch operates on a simple principle:
- It employs a roller component.
- This roller creates friction against a strike plate or the door frame when the door is closed.
- It is this friction that provides the resistance needed to keep the door in the closed position.
Unlike latches with a spring-loaded bolt that actively engages a strike, the roller latch relies primarily on the physical resistance created by the rolling element pressing against a surface.
Key Characteristics
While effective for simply holding a door shut, roller latches have specific characteristics:
- Mechanism: They use a roller and friction to hold the door.
- Latching Type: They are not considered positive latching hardware.
- Classification: They are not considered an active latchbolt.
- Compliance: They do not meet the requirements for active latchbolts as specified by NFPA 80 – Standard for Fire Doors and Other Opening Protectives.
This distinction is important for applications requiring security or fire safety compliance, where a more robust, positive latching mechanism that actively secures the door is typically required. Roller latches are often used on doors where easy, push-pull access is desired and security is not a primary concern.
