Guide: door opening, profile cylinders & fixed prices

Ludwigsburg lexicon with technical depth: slam-lock vs locked, latch/deadbolt, profile cylinder DIN EN 1303 / DIN 18252, ES1 ZA shield, non-destructive opening, cylinder change and fixed prices.

To the guides (waiting & checklist) — Practical steps before calling and while we are on the way – separate from the lexicon.

Slam-lock door / door opening – slam-lock

Slam-lock means the door only latched. The deadbolt is not out – only the spring latch in the mortice lock holds the door.

Opening technique

Typically latch wire, spatula or needle in the door gap: the latch is pushed back without opening or damaging the profile cylinder. Often a few minutes – unless an extra bolt, box lock or cross-bolt engages.

Fixed price

Door opening – slam-lock daytime 99 €, night/weekend/holiday 149 €. Travel in the service area included. A new cylinder is not automatic.

Prices: door opening · Emergency call

Locked out / door opening – locked

Locked out means the deadbolt is extended. Whether the key is inside or lost does not change the opening price – latch vs deadbolt does.

Opening technique

Work on the profile cylinder: picking, electro-pick or comparable non-destructive methods until the plug turns and the bolt retracts. A shield with cylinder cover (ZA) or anti-pick pins makes this harder – then a different fixed price may be quoted first.

Fixed price

Door opening – locked daytime 129 €, night/weekend/holiday 179 €. Often without a new cylinder. Cylinder change only if needed – extra (fitting + 49 € + material).

Prices: locked · Emergency opening

Latch vs deadbolt

Two parts in the mortice lock (DIN 18251 / DIN EN 12209) decide the case – and thus the price cell.

Latch (spring latch)

Spring tongue with a bevel. It clicks in when the door slams. Can be pushed back from outside via the gap – no key and no cylinder work.

Deadbolt

Thick bolt, only thrown via the profile cylinder (key/plug). If the bolt is out, latch technique is not enough – cylinder work = “locked” case.

Price logic

Surcharges = night, weekend, holiday (higher cell). Latch vs deadbolt picks the base cell: 99 €/149 € vs 129 €/179 € – not “someone home” and not “key inside”.

Diagram & price matrix

Broken key

A fragment in the profile cylinder often blocks the plug or keyway. Goal: remove it without unnecessary damage, then check function and security.

Process

Extract the fragment with a puller/gripper. Then check: does the cylinder still lock reliably? Are pins/plug damaged? Sometimes removal + opening is enough; with deformation, rust or insecurity a cylinder change is a separate step.

Price

Opening by latch/deadbolt table. New cylinder: fitting + 49 € same visit + material (standard typically €25–50) – fixed price by phone first.

Emergency page · Cylinder – extra

Fixed door-opening prices

One cell: slam-lock or locked × day or night/weekend/holiday. No “from”, no haggling on site. The website amount is the fixed price for a standard apartment door.

Steps

Step 1 = opening only (travel incl.). Step 2 = optional cylinder fitting + 49 €. Step 3 = day vs night/weekend invoice. Step 4 = material & hard cases – not the night surcharge.

Standard case

Apartment door with profile cylinder, non-destructive opening possible. Multi-point, VdS/high-security, drilling: different fixed amount – before we continue.

All price steps

Cylinder change

Opening alone does not replace a cylinder. The profile cylinder sits in the mortice lock and is held by the faceplate screw (usually M5).

When it makes sense

Key loss, theft, break-in attempt, unclear key distribution after moving – not automatic after every door opening.

Prices

After opening same visit: fitting + 49 €, material separate. Cylinder only, door already open: 89 € day / 119 € night incl. standard cylinder. Security/VdS: surcharge fixed before fitting.

Cylinder prices · Lock change

Profile cylinder: DIN EN 1303 / DIN 18252

Euro profile cylinders are the standard locking part on apartment doors. Dimensions and resistance classes explain why standard cases have fixed packages – and when an extra fixed price is needed.

Dimensions A/B

Outer/inner length from the faceplate screw centre (DIN 18252). Apartments often 30/30 to 35/40 mm, 5 mm steps. Wrong size = protrusion or short cylinder – security and function risk.

Attack resistance

Position 8 of the marking: classes 0 / A–D (or 1–2). Tests include drilling and plug pulling (e.g. 10–15 kN on higher classes). Police guidance: drill protection required; A better than B without pull protection, C better than D with pull protection. Class 0 is unsuitable for burglary resistance.

VdS 2156

Extra approval (A / AZ / B / BZ / BZ+) beside DIN – often insurers/higher demands. BZ = medium protection with integrated pull protection. Not required for every standard apartment; surcharge before fitting.

Tech on prices page

ES1 ZA security shield & multi-point locking

Hardware and locking points drive opening effort more than “key gone” alone.

DIN 18257 – security shield

Police recommendation: at least ES 1 with cylinder cover (ZA = pull protection). ES 2 for higher demand. Outside cylinder protrusion max. ~3 mm – otherwise pull/snap risk. If the shield has no ZA, pull protection must be in the cylinder (class C/D).

Multi-point locking

Several bolt points (top/middle/bottom) per DIN 18251. Much more effort – no automatic website opening price; separate fixed price before continuing.

Retrofit DIN 18104-1

Cross-bolt locks, auxiliary locks, hinge-side protection. Police: handle and hinge side; at least one lockable device. Fitting: separate fixed price upfront.

Hard cases & extras

Non-destructive door opening

Goal: access without damage to door leaf, frame and hardware – where technically possible. Method depends on latch/bolt, cylinder and security shield.

Order of methods

1) Slam-lock: latch technique in the gap. 2) Locked: non-destructive cylinder work (picking / electro-pick etc.). Anti-pick pins (mushroom, spool, serrated) make setting harder – still non-destructive first.

Drilling / destructive

Only if needed and only with your consent. Almost always a new cylinder afterwards (material never silently in the opening price). New fixed price before continuing.

Emergency opening · Price matrix

Mortice lock, backset & strike plate

Besides the cylinder, lock and strike plate form the functional unit – relevant for damage or planned upgrades, rarely for pure emergency opening.

Mortice lock DIN 18251 / DIN EN 12209

PZ lock with latch + deadbolt. Interchangeability via backset and centres (apartments often backset 55/60 mm, centres 72 mm; doors also 92 mm). Replacement more for damage or upgrade – not every opening.

Strike plate

Counterpart in the frame for latch and bolt. Must match bolt throw and lock; reinforced plates raise lever resistance. Replace only if damaged or when retrofitting.

Diagrams & standards

Material & hard cases

These are not night/weekend surcharges. Surcharges = time of day (night, weekend, holiday). Material and hard technique are extras – by phone first.

Material

Standard profile cylinder typically €25–50. Security/VdS: surcharge often about €25–70 – fixed before fitting.

Hard cases

Long travel outside service area, multi-point, high-security, drilling/destructive opening: separate fixed price before we continue – no on-site renegotiation.

Extras on prices page

Unsure? Call briefly

Tell us: slam-lock or locked out, place, time. We name the fixed price and ETA.

Mobile0155 67688091 Landline07141 6964912

Fixed door-opening prices · Emergency door opening · To the guides (waiting & checklist)