Penco Vanguard Lockers
Penco’s traditional knock-down steel locker line for school corridors, employee break rooms and PE spaces. Compare Vanguard tiers, sizes, handles, ventilation and QuickShip options, then get a free layout and quote from a team that designs, supplies and installs locker projects.
24 ga
Body steel
16 ga
Doors 12″ wide and up
Up to 9
Tiers per column
24 colors
Penco color chart
Close Matches You Can Order Online: Tennsco Steel Lockers
Penco Vanguard lockers are quoted, not sold through our online store, and we do not post Penco prices. If you need a few standard lockers quickly, these Tennsco knock-down lockers are the closest in-stock matches in our shop. They are a different brand with their own construction details, so for a true Vanguard order or a matching add-on to an existing Penco run, request a quote.
What Is a Penco Vanguard Locker?
Vanguard is Penco’s standard, knock-down (KD) steel locker. It is Penco’s traditional locker design: a louvered steel door on a bolted steel body, a choice of handles, and a long list of tier and size combinations. Penco positions it as a locker built to take daily use and abuse, and it is one of the three Penco lines the manufacturer lists for school corridors, alongside Guardian and Invincible II.
Because Vanguard is knock-down, the body ships as flat parts (or factory assembled on request) and is bolted together on site. That keeps freight compact and suits projects that need a large number of Penco openings, while still giving you Penco’s welded door frames, full-loop hinges and powder-coat finish.
Quick answer
Choose Vanguard when you want a dependable louvered Penco locker with the widest choice of configurations. Step up to Guardian for a solid, quieter door with a stainless recessed handle, or to welded Penco lines for the heaviest abuse. See the comparison below or the full Penco lockers overview.
Vanguard Configurations: Tiers, Box Lockers and Specialty Units
A Vanguard locker is ordered by the frame. Each frame is one column, and the tier count is how many doors that column is split into. Penco builds Vanguard from a single full-height door up to nine-tier box lockers, plus a set of specialty units for break rooms, locker rooms and clubs.
| Specialty Vanguard unit | How it works | Best fit |
|---|---|---|
| 2-Person locker | Two tall side-by-side doors under two full-width book compartment doors, in roughly the footprint of one single-tier locker; coat rods on units 18″ deep or more | Shared shifts, staff rooms |
| Duplex | Two narrow full-height doors on one frame | Employee rooms where each user needs a hanging space |
| Dual locker | Single-tier locker with a vertical partition below the shelf, usually 15″ or 18″ wide and 18″ or 21″ deep | Keeping street clothes and work clothes apart |
| Box Over locker | A small lockable door above a 60″ Vanguard door on a 72″ frame | Valuables over a clothing locker |
| 7- and 8-Person lockers | Box compartments (18″W x 12″H) beside one large 18″W x 60″H locker; 36″ or 54″ wide, 72″ high | Gym locker rooms where gear stays and street clothes rotate |
| 16-Person locker | 69″W x 18″D x 72″H with a 45″ coat rod; built-in locks or padlocks | Break rooms |
| Wall-mounted locker | Four compartments plus hanging for 16 coats, 45″W x 18″D x 13-5/8″H; wall anchors not included | Tight rooms where the floor must stay clear |
| One-high box locker | A single 12″-wide box compartment, 13-5/8″ overall height, friction catch | Counters and cabinets |
| Half-height locker | 1-tier, 12″ wide, 30-1/2″, 36-1/2″ or 48-1/2″ high, 12″/15″/18″ deep (shelf only on 48-1/2″) | Under windows and in low spaces |
| The Executive | 24″-wide double-door locker with optional shelves, inner lockable compartment, comb/brush tray, towel bar, mirror and name card holder | Golf and country clubs |
Vanguard Sizes and Dimensions
Penco lists Vanguard frames in nominal widths of 9″, 12″, 15″, 18″ and 24″, depths of 12″ to 24″, and overall frame heights of 60″, 72″ and (for some 12″ and 15″ models) 84″. Overall height does not include the standard 6″ legs. Not every width, depth and height combination is built, so the table below is a planning guide; we confirm the exact catalog number on every quote.
| Configuration | Overall frame height | Nominal opening height | Widths offered | Depths offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Tier | 60″ / 72″ | 60″ / 72″ | 9″, 12″, 15″, 18″, 24″ | 12″–24″ |
| 2 Tier | 60″ / 72″ / 84″ | 30″ / 36″ / 42″ | 9″–18″ (24″ on one model) | 12″–24″ |
| 3 Tier | 60″ / 72″ | 20″ / 24″ | 9″, 12″, 15″ | 12″–21″ |
| 4 Tier box | 60″ / 72″ | 15″ / 18″ | 12″, 15″ | 12″–21″ |
| 5 Tier box | 60″ / 72″ | 12″ / 14-2/5″ | 12″, 15″ | 12″–18″ |
| 6 Tier box | 72″ | 12″ | 12″, 15″, 18″ | 12″–21″ |
| 2 Person | 60″ / 72″ | Lower doors 42″ / 54″; book doors about 9″ | 15″, 18″ | 12″–21″ |
| Duplex | 60″ / 72″ | Full height | 15″ | 15″–21″ |
- Width sets how wide each door is and how many columns fit on a wall. 12″ is the most common; 15″ and 18″ suit coats, uniforms and bulky bags.
- Depth is usually limited by the corridor. 12″ keeps a hallway open, 15″ is a common school compromise, and 18″ or deeper gives room for coats and adds a coat rod on single-tier units.
- Height: 72″ frames on 6″ legs are the usual full-height choice; 60″ frames help younger students and rooms with low windows or soffits.
- Full size charts for every brand we carry are on our locker sizes and specifications page.
Vanguard Construction and Manufacturer Specifications
These details come from Penco’s published Vanguard knock-down specification and catalog. They are the points architects and purchasing teams usually compare against other brands.
| Component | Penco Vanguard specification |
|---|---|
| Body (tops, bottoms, backs, sides, shelves) | 24-gauge cold-rolled steel |
| Doors | 16-gauge steel; doors under 12″ wide are 18-gauge |
| Wide tall doors | Doors over 15″ wide on 60″ or 72″ frames get a 3″-wide, 20-gauge full-height reinforcing pan |
| Door frame | Channel-shaped, at least 16-gauge, with a 3/8″ flange forming a continuous door strike; welded frames with mortise-and-tenon joints, spot welded |
| Hinges | 2″ high, five-knuckle full-loop hinges; three on doors over 48″ high, two on all others |
| Latching | Automatic multi-point latch that can be closed while locked; doors over 48″ high engage the frame at three points, others at two; rubber silencers at each latch hook |
| Box lockers | Friction-catch door pull with padlock hasp |
| Legs | 6″ legs standard (can be deleted) |
| Finish | Powder coat, 1 mil minimum; Powder Coat Plus option to 2 mil; antimicrobial, anti-graffiti and custom color options |
| Body color | Common Color Body Parts in 073 Champagne standard on most models; full color at extra cost; doors in any of 24 colors |
Handles. Most 1-, 2- and 3-tier Vanguard lockers come with Penco’s die-cast pull handle, which lifts the latch and opens the door in one motion and doubles as the padlock strike. The Classic III recessed handle (a deep-drawn stainless pocket with a lift trigger) is standard on QuickShip multi-point models and on recessed Vanguard units, and it is the handle Penco prefers for accessible lockers. Box lockers use a friction-catch pull. Three-tier Vanguard lockers can take any of the three.
Ventilation. Standard louvers are the default. Mini louvers, a solid door or a visual-perforated door are options.
Penco’s specification also lists its lockers as GREENGUARD Gold certified and calls for U.S.-fabricated steel. If your project specification requires either, we include the manufacturer’s documentation in the submittal package.
Vanguard QuickShip
Penco runs a QuickShip program for its most common Vanguard lockers. Per Penco’s catalog, QuickShip covers 1-, 2-, 3-, 5- and 6-tier lockers plus the 16-person and wall-mounted units, in 028 Gray or 073 Champagne only. Tier lockers are packed in 1-, 2- and 3-wide groups (a 3-wide item has to be ordered in multiples of three), the 1-, 2- and 3-tier models carry recessed handles, number plates are included, and 6″ legs are standard. Penco states that knock-down QuickShip lockers ship within 72 hours, with assembly available on request.
Planning, Layout and Assembly
Count the wall, not the room. Each 12″-wide frame is one column, so 30 feet of wall holds about 30 single-tier, 60 double-tier or 90 triple-tier openings before you subtract doors, fire equipment, end panels and fillers. We lay out every run from your plan.
Assembly. Knock-down Vanguard parts bolt together on the unit principle: each locker has its own door, frame, top, bottom, back and shelf, with shared dividers between compartments. Units are bolted to each other, set plumb and square, and anchored. Penco’s KD instructions require single-row lockers to be anchored to both the floor and the wall.
- Freestanding or recessed? Freestanding runs need sloped tops and finished end panels; recessed runs need a built opening, a base and recess trim. See locker accessories for tops, bases, fillers and trim.
- Base or legs? Legs make floor cleaning easy. A closed base gives a built-in look and keeps trash out from under the lockers.
- Locks. Vanguard doors accept padlocks or built-in combination and key locks. Decide before ordering so doors are prepared correctly.
- Benches. Locker rooms need bench seating and aisle space; see locker room benches and locker room design.
- Accessible units. Penco notes that single-tier lockers, or the lower opening of double-tier lockers, can be set up for accessible use with recessed handles, a raised bottom or extra shelf, and the hat shelf no higher than 48″ from the floor. Our ADA lockers guide explains counts and reach ranges; your design professional confirms compliance.
Vanguard vs. Other Penco Locker Lines
| Penco line | Construction | Door | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vanguard | Knock-down, 24-gauge body | Louvered 16-gauge (18-gauge under 12″), die-cast or recessed handle | General-purpose; schools, offices, break rooms |
| Guardian | Knock-down, built on Vanguard | Solid 16-gauge with stainless Classic III recessed handle; 14-gauge Plus and Defiant II options | Quieter, cleaner look for offices, corridors, healthcare |
| Invincible II | Heavier ventilated athletic construction | Ventilated doors for airflow and visual inspection | Team rooms and PE locker rooms |
| Welded GEN2 | All-welded body | Heavy-duty doors | High-abuse corridors and industrial rooms |
| Stadium and Patriot | Fully framed, open-front designs | Open or ventilated | Team rooms and first responder gear |
Every Penco line, with links to each line’s page as it publishes, is on our Penco lockers page. Comparing brands? See Lyon lockers and Tennsco lockers.
Where Vanguard Lockers Work Best
Related Project Resource
Related government storage project, not a Penco Vanguard installation: our McAlester, Oklahoma evidence-locker project describes configuration help, quoting, ordering and manufacturer delivery coordination for non-pass-through Fasco lockers. It is a different product and application, offered here as an example of product selection and purchasing coordination. For regional locker-planning information, see our Tulsa lockers page.
How to Order Penco Vanguard Lockers
Send the plan
Floor plan or wall measurements, user count, and photos of any existing lockers. Call (800) 326-4403.
Choose the configuration
Tiers, width, depth, height, handle, ventilation and color for each run, plus QuickShip where it fits.
Layout and quote
Catalog numbers, sloped tops or recess trim, bases, end panels, fillers, number plates, locks and freight.
Deliver and install
We coordinate delivery and can assemble and anchor the lockers.
- Locker line confirmed (Vanguard vs. Guardian or a welded line)
- Tier, width, depth and frame height per run, and total frame count
- Handle type and ventilation (standard louvers, mini louvers, solid or perforated)
- Door color and body color (Champagne CCBP or full color)
- Legs or base; freestanding with sloped tops, or recessed with trim
- Lock plan: padlocks, built-in combination or key locks
- Accessible units per type and any bench seating
- Delivery date, dock access and whether you need installation
Adding to an existing Penco run? Send a photo of the door, the handle and the label inside the locker so we can match line, size and color.
Get a free Penco locker quote
Tell us the locker line, tiers, sizes, color and quantity you have in mind, or just send a floor plan. A project specialist will follow up with a layout and pricing. Prefer to talk? Call (800) 326-4403.
Penco Vanguard Locker FAQs
What are Penco Vanguard lockers?
What sizes do Vanguard lockers come in?
What is the difference between Penco Vanguard and Guardian lockers?
Are Vanguard lockers available through QuickShip?
Do Vanguard lockers come assembled?
Can Vanguard lockers be set up for accessible use?
Can I buy Penco Vanguard lockers online?
Do you install Penco lockers?
Plan Your Penco Vanguard Locker Project
Send your floor plan or locker list for a free layout and quote.