Security door plate ES 1 ZA and multi-point locking

The door plate and the locking points affect how much work an opening takes more than a lost key alone.

Police recommendation: at least ES 1 (the basic protection class) with a cylinder cover (ZA = protection against pulling). ES 2 for higher demands. On the outside the cylinder should stick out no more than about 3 mm – otherwise there is a risk of the cylinder being pulled out or snapped off. If the door plate has no cylinder cover, the cylinder itself must have pull protection (class C/D).

Several locking points (top/middle/bottom) according to DIN 18251. Much more work, so there is no price from the list. We give you a fixed amount beforehand.

Cross bar lock, additional door lock or rim lock, hinge-side protection. Police advice: secure both the handle side and the hinge side; at least one of the security devices should be lockable. Fitting: separate fixed price given beforehand.

The security door plate (Schutzbeschlag) is the plate around the handle and cylinder. A good plate can’t be unscrewed from outside and covers the cylinder. This means nobody can snap it off or pull it out. It is one of the most effective parts of burglary protection on a flat door.

If the cylinder sticks out more than about 3 mm beyond the plate on the outside, it is easier to grip. Then a shorter cylinder or a plate with a cylinder cover helps. We are happy to check this while we are with you anyway.

With multi-point locking, extra bolts come out at the top and bottom when you lock the door. You can often see several metal parts on the edge of the door. On some front doors you push the handle up before locking.

If the door is only pulled shut, it is usually like a door that has slammed shut. If it is locked, the opening takes much longer. There is no price from the list for this. We give you a fixed amount on the phone beforehand.

A fixed order makes sense: first a good cylinder, then the security door plate, then the strike plate in the frame, and after that an additional lock if needed. The police offer free advice on burglary protection. We give you a fixed price for the fitting beforehand.

A security door plate is screwed firmly to the door. So agree the fitting with your landlord beforehand. Many landlords agree, because the plate makes the flat safer and leaves no damage.

Security door plates come in two basic forms. A long plate is one continuous plate that surrounds both the handle and the cylinder. With roses, there are two separate round or square parts, one around the handle and one around the cylinder. Both forms can protect well, provided they are sturdy and screwed on from the inside. Which one suits you better depends mainly on the door, the existing holes and your own taste.

Many security door plates have a cylinder cover in front of the cylinder that leaves only the slot for the key free. This cover protects the core from being pulled out with tools. It also makes opening the door without a key more work. That is intended and a good sign. For you, it simply means: tell us on the phone if you have a cover like this. Then we plan in a little more time.

With multi-point locking, there is a main lock with a cylinder in the middle. From there, a flat bar runs up and down inside the edge of the door. When you lock the door, this bar pushes additional bolts or hooks into the frame. This means the door is secured not only in the middle but also near the corners. That is why it is much harder to lever open than a door with only one bolt.

If you have to push the handle up with a lot of force, or the key catches, the bolts no longer line up with the parts in the frame. Often the door has dropped on the hinge side. Do not force the key round in that case, or it may break or damage the main lock. Usually it helps to have the door readjusted at the hinges. The locking parts in the frame should be clean and lightly greased.

An additional lock is usually screwed onto the inside of the door above the main lock. It has its own cylinder and engages with a part on the frame. A cross bar lock is a sturdy bar across the whole door that is anchored in the masonry on both sides. It offers a lot of protection, but it is conspicuous and needs solid masonry. For both, we give you a fixed price before fitting.

The front door of a detached house is often hidden from view, for example behind a hedge or at the side of the house. Anyone trying to break in there has more time and is less likely to be disturbed. That is why multi-point locking is particularly worthwhile here. The door of a flat in a block of flats is in the stairwell, where neighbours can hear noises. There, a good cylinder, a security door plate and a solid strike plate in the frame are often enough. A door viewer also lets you see who is ringing.