Is your locker fitting causing you issues? Choosing a padlock for your locker should be easy. Surely if it goes onto the fitting on your locker and you can close it, then job done! Well, it may not be that straightforward.
Lockers are fitted with either Cam Latches or hasp and staple, which are then secured with a 30 or 40mm padlock. Most of the time the 30mm padlock option is preferable as this is cheaper than the 40mm equivalent, this is especially important when buying in bulk. We often get a lot of schools and gyms asking us for the cheapest possible 30mm padlock to use on their lockers. However, the problem is the design of the Cam Latch that is often installed by the locker manufacturer. You can see the difference between a Cam Latch and a normal Hasp & Staple below:
Hasp & Staple
Secured with a 30mm Padlock
Can secure with 30mm Padlock
40mm Padlock (CAM LATCH)
40mm Padlock (CAM LATCH)
With the hasp and staple system as long as the padlock closes over the fitting, then the locker will be securely shut. This is not the case with a Cam Latch fitting since any padlock using a shackle (loop) with a thickness of less than 6mm will not work effectively, even if it closes and looks securely locked. When you attach a 30mm padlock, which has a 5mm shackle, the Cam Latch can still be turned and the locker opened. This may not appear obvious when you first attach the padlock as you may need to apply some pressure but in most cases, it will open.
So if you have bought lockers with a Cam Latch system, then you will have to buy a padlock with a shackle that is 6mm or more. Most 40mm padlocks will use a shackle with at least 6mm thickness but it is best to double-check first.
