Blog

Quick Verdict

40H is the series name; 45H is the model prefix stamped into the part number. NLS files every 45H lock under its BEST 40H series category, and 40H accessories such as the A44070 H rose and 40HVITH thumb-turn indicator are listed "for 40H Series." Order by the full 45H string, not by the series name. The string tells you function (0N passage, 7R classroom, 7W or 7D storeroom, CARD classroom deadlock), lever style (14H, 15H), finish (626, 630, 605) and whether you are buying a complete lock or a lockbody only. The listed bodies share a 2-3/4 in. backset, 8 x 1-1/4 in. faceplate and S1 curved lip strike on 1-3/4 in. doors. The cylinder is a separate SFIC housing order.

Is a BEST 45H the same lock as a 40H?

Treat them as one platform with two labels. BEST markets its heavy-duty mortise line as the 40H series, and the lock bodies, complete locks and electrified versions in that category all carry 45H model numbers. NLS sorts them that way: the BEST 45H lockbody-only category sits inside the 40H series path, and parts like the A44070 rose (2-3/8 in. diameter, H trim style) are sold "for 40H Series Mortise Locks."

What to check on the existing lock before ordering is not the series label but four fields:

1. The model string on the lock face or in the hardware schedule (for example 45H7R14H626).
2. The function letter(s) after the 45H prefix.
3. Backset and door thickness. The complete lock listings specify a 2-3/4 in. backset and a standard configuration for 1-3/4 in. doors, with a thick door configuration available for doors up to 5 in.
4. The cylinder: SFIC housing length and cam.

The listed 45H bodies show the same case: 0.095 in. cold rolled steel, 5-7/8 in. high x 7/8 in. deep x 4-1/16 in. wide, stainless steel latchbolt with 3/4 in. throw, stainless deadbolt with 1 in. throw, reversible without opening the case. If you are still deciding between a mortise and a cylindrical platform for the opening, see mortise vs cylindrical locks.

If the stamp reads 45H, shop the full string inside the BEST mortise locks category.

Which 45H function do I need?

The function code sits right after 45H and its pin digit. The listings tie each BEST code to its ANSI function number. Generic definitions are in our commercial lock function codes guide; the table below is limited to what NLS lists for the 45H.

Model	Function (ANSI)	How it locks, per listing	Lever / finish	Complete or lockbody	Order
45H0N 14H	Passage (F10)	Both levers always unlocked	14H / finish options	Complete	Mortise locks category
45H7R 14H	Classroom (F05)	Key outside locks or unlocks outside lever; inside always free	14H / finish options	Complete	45H7R 14H
45H7D 15H	Storeroom (F07)	Outside always locked; inside always free	15H / finish options	Complete	Mortise locks category
45H7W 14H	Storeroom (F30)	Key in inside or outside cylinder operates latch; both levers always locked	14H / finish options	Complete	Mortise locks category
45H7T 15H	Dormitory (F13)	Deadbolt by key outside or inside turn; inside lever retracts both	15H / finish options	Complete	Mortise locks category
45HCAD	Storeroom (F07)	Same as 7D	None (body only) / 626, 630, 605 and others	Lockbody only	Lockbody category
45HCARD	Classroom deadlock (F29)	Deadbolt by key outside or inside turn lever; inside turn retracts but will not project	None (body only) / 626, 630, 605 and others	Lockbody only	45HCARD

Two field notes. The 45H7W listed function is a key-only storeroom: both levers stay locked, so the person inside needs a key to operate the latch. Confirm with the AHJ before putting that function on any door in a path of egress. And for classrooms, the 7R gives outside-key locking; if the school wants a visible locked or unlocked status, the 40HVITH sectional visual thumb-turn indicator (red for secure, green for unsecure) is listed for certain 40H functions.

Pick the function by how the room is used, then order the matching string; classroom openings most often land on the 45H7R 14H classroom lock, about $865 at NLS complete.

Should I order a lockbody only or a complete lock?

Order the lockbody only when the trim and cylinder on the door are sound and the failure is inside the case: broken latch spring, worn hub, a deadlocking latch that no longer holds. A lockbody-only part replaces the case and bolts and reuses the levers, roses and cylinder already on the door. Order the complete lock when the function is changing, the lever style or finish is changing, or the trim is worn too.

The lockbody listings give the specs you match against the door: 1-3/4 in. door thickness, 2-3/4 in. standard backset, 8 x 1-1/4 in. lock face, S1 ANSI curved lip strike at 4-7/8 x 1-1/4 x 3/32 in., field reversible handing. The 45HCARD body has a 1 in. deadbolt projection; the 45HCAD storeroom body lists a 3/4 in. latch projection.

The cost gap is real. The 45HCARD classroom deadlock lockbody runs about $234 at NLS against several hundred more for a complete 45H lock, which is why a dead body on an otherwise good door is a lockbody-only call.

Read the existing face for the function, then pull the matching body from the 45H lockbody-only category.

Which BEST cylinder fits a 45H mortise lock?

The 45H takes a BEST 1E series SFIC mortise housing, ordered separately. Every 1E listing states the same rule: standard mortise applications use 1E series cylinders with the standard 1E-C4 cam, and different cams and rings adapt the cylinder to other applications. Three variables decide the part: housing length, pin count and cam.

Ordering field	Example code	Where to read it
Series prefix	45H	Lock face stamp or hardware schedule
Pin housing	7 (7-pin housing)	Digit after 45H; the keypad listing defines 7 as 7-pin housing
Function	0N, 7R, 7D, 7W, 7T, CARD, CAD	Letters after the pin digit
Lever style	14H, 15H	After the function in complete locks
Finish	626, 630, 605, 613	End of the string
Cylinder	1E7428C265RP3	Separate line item, measured off the existing housing
Cam	C265, 1E-C4	Cam tail on the existing cylinder

The BEST 1E7428C265RP3 SFIC mortise housing is 7-pin, 1-3/4 in. long, 1-5/32 in. diameter, with a C265 cam and an RP3 ring package, listed for 1-7/8 in. to 2-1/2 in. door thickness; it runs about $108 at NLS. Housing length depends on door thickness and trim, so measure the old cylinder instead of guessing; the mortise cylinder sizes and cams guide walks through that. A passage 45H0N needs no cylinder. If the site is weighing small format against large format cores, read SFIC vs LFIC before standardizing.

Match pin count to the building's BEST system (6 or 7 pin), measure length and cam off the existing housing, and order the housing from the same BEST mortise locks category as the lock.

What are the 45HW electrified and 45HZ keypad versions?

The 45HW is the electrified lockbody. NLS lists two:

• 45HWCADEU: fail secure, 24 VDC standard with 12 V optional, 2-3/4 in. backset, 1-3/4 in. door, 3/4 in. latch projection, ASA strike 4-7/8 x 1-1/4 in., field reversible. Outside key or inside lever always retracts the latch.
• 45HWCADELRQE: fail safe, 24 VDC standard, with request to exit, same body dimensions.

The 45HWCADEU fail secure lockbody runs about $815 at NLS. Fail secure vs fail safe is a code and life safety decision tied to the opening's fire rating and egress path: the AHJ and local code govern, and wiring belongs to a qualified technician. Power transfer through the hinge or a door loop has to be planned with the body.

The 45HZ keypad EZ is a standalone keypad mortise lock on the same heavy-duty platform: DV function (latch with key override), 7-pin housing, 12-position keypad with green and red feedback, PIN length 3 to 6 digits, maximum 50 users, 1 administrator and 5 supervisor PINs, programming at the keypad, remote unlock standard, and AA batteries in a standard 4-cell holder or optional 8-cell holder. NLS lists it as 45HZ7DV16KP626 and 45HZ7DV14KP626 in satin chrome; the strings differ only in the 14/16 lever designation. For standalone keypad and prox locks from a different maker with audit trail and network options, see our sibling guide to Alarm Lock Trilogy models.

Choose 45HW when the door ties into access control power and wiring, 45HZ when you want code entry with no panel; both sit in the BEST mortise locks category.

Common mistakes

1. Searching "40H lock" and ordering by series name. Order by the full 45H string on the lock face.
2. Buying a complete lock when only the case failed. A lockbody-only part reuses good trim and cylinder at a fraction of the cost.
3. Ordering the cylinder by pin count alone. Length and cam must match the door thickness, trim and lock.
4. Assuming the lockbody includes a cylinder. Body-only parts do not; the SFIC housing is its own line item.
5. Specifying 45H7W (both levers always locked) on an egress door without AHJ review.
6. Swapping fail secure and fail safe electrified bodies without checking the fire rating and egress requirements.
7. Forgetting the finish code. 626 and 630 look close on a screen but are different finishes on the door.

FAQ

What is a BEST 45H lock? It is BEST's Grade 1 heavy-duty mortise lock, sold as the 40H series. The listed models use a 2-3/4 in. backset, 8 x 1-1/4 in. faceplate and stainless steel latchbolt and deadbolt on 1-3/4 in. doors.

Is the BEST 45H mortise lock the same as the 40H mortise lock? For ordering purposes, yes: 40H is the series and 45H is the model prefix. NLS lists 45H locks, bodies and parts under the 40H series category.

Can I buy just the 45H lock body? Yes. NLS lists lockbody-only models such as 45HCAD storeroom, 45HCARD classroom deadlock and 45HWCADEU electrified fail secure. They reuse the existing trim and cylinder.

What cylinder does a BEST 45H mortise lock take? A BEST 1E series SFIC mortise housing. Standard mortise applications use the 1E-C4 cam per BEST; measure length and cam on the existing housing before ordering.

Next step

Read the full 45H string off the lock face, decide complete vs body only, and order from the BEST mortise locks category. Common orders: the 45H7R 14H classroom lock, the 45HCARD lockbody and the 1E7428C265RP3 housing. For a full door schedule, send it to the quote desk; public agencies can use government PO intake. Orders placed by 3 p.m. ET ship the same day.