Secure doors are nothing without secure locks
There are many components that contribute to Rockdoor being the most secure door on the UK market, with locks being just one of them.
With most exterior door manufacturers using different locking systems and components, we wanted to ensure you know, exactly why Rockdoor locks are so secure resulting in an entrance door that is both stylish and ‘Secured by Design‘.
Locking cylinders
If you don’t work in the external door industry locking cylinders can be somewhat of a minefield, but rest assured that at Rockdoor, we pride ourselves on using the very best components, such as a 3-star Diamond Sold Secure Cylinder, which is one of the most secure key-operated locks in the industry.
Thanks to this 3-star rating (the very best rating a cylinder can achieve) our lock cylinders are completely burglar proof meaning they can’t be bumped, drilled or snapped – the most common ways burglars try to gain entry into a property.
Should our composite door locking cylinder detects forced entry, a hidden lock within the molybdenum cam fires into action, meaning burglars cannot get through, keeping your home and everyone in it safe and secure.
In fact, we are so confident that Rockdoor cylinders are 100% burglar proof we offer a £2,000 security guarantee to all our customers!
Multi-point locks
Along with our 3-star Diamond Sold Secure Cylinders, each of our doors that are manufactured from our Lancashire based production facility also comes with a multi-point locking system, as standard.
All our multi-point locking systems use German engineered, solid steel hooks which attach the door sash to the frame using full-length keeps, rather than individual pocket keeps, which other composite door manufacturers may use resulting in a much less secure door.
Whilst all Rockdoors are manufactured with a 2-hook locking system homeowners do also have the option to upgrade to a 4-hook design. However, our 2-hook multi-point locking systems are already enough to achieve our extremely high-security standards!
Switch latch
Whilst our 3-star cylinders and multi-point locks come as standard on all Rockdoors, a switch-latch is simply an optional part of the locking mechanism, which allows you to control whether your composite door completely locks behind you, like a slam lock would, or whether your door can open and close freely in a similar way a roller-latch would operate.
The switch-latch is commonly found on some of our more contemporary door styles, such as the Vermont, Vogue and Indiana. These door styles all typically feature a stainless-steel bar handle – a look that is becoming increasingly popular on homes across the UK.
If your door does feature a switch latch, then you will need to use the key or thumb turn to engage the multi-point locking system completely.
Rockdoor keys
When ordering a Rockdoor you will get three branded purple keys per door. However, when it comes to stable doors which have two locking cylinders, one for the top and one bottom of the door. They will come with a set of six keys (three keys per cylinder).
We understand that sometimes keys can get lost and that moment of realisation when you lose a key can be stressful, however, getting replacement keys for your Rockdoor really could not be easier.
Simply request blank keys from the installer that fits your Rockdoor and take these to your nearest high street key cutters, such as Timpson’s.
In the very rare event that your lock fails, or you need to change the lock cylinder on your Rockdoor, the cylinders are completely changeable, you will just need to contact your installer who will be able to make the required changes.
All Rockdoor Trusted Installers have comprehensive training on all things Rockdoor, including our locking mechanisms. Find your local Trusted Installer today.
Types of Rockdoor Locks
With multiple locking options available to suit your individual lifestyle and needs, secure your home with one of our extensive range of locks, all explained below.
Heritage Plus lock
New for 2023, our Heritage Plus lock is an instant multi-point locking system with independently acting hooks where the action of closing the door is enough to lock it.
A traditional key cylinder and finger pull or escutcheon are positioned at shoulder height like a number of other instant locks, but what separates our instant lock from others is that the gearbox is still positioned centrally, resulting in a stronger overall mechanism with no weak spots on the door.
Making use of a magnetic sensor that triggers the multi-point hooks at the top and bottom of the door frame, the lock is activated when the door latch engages with the keep, no turning of the key is required!
When the magnetic switch latch is in the UP position, the door instantly locks upon closing. A key will then be required to regain entry to the property, or the door can be opened internally with a thumb-turn.
Alternatively, when the switch latch is in the DOWN position, no key is required to regain entry freely. With the switch latch in this position the door cannot be locked with a key or thumb-turn, to lock the door you will need to move the switch latch to the UP position.
Key wind lock
Operated by merely rotating the key in the cylinder, our key wind locks are simple and extremely convenient to use.
Multi-point hooks are thrown at the top and bottom of the door once a key is inserted and fully rotated thanks to the direct gearbox, which will deadlock the door into place and prevent entry without reinserting the key.
This is why our key wind locks are the perfect type of mechanism if you are after a pair of bar handles on your Rockdoor.
Should you want to, you can also upgrade your key wind lock to an interior thumb-turn lock, which means whilst you’ll need to use your key to lock or unlock the door from the outside, only a turning motion of the thumb-turn on the inside is required to lock or unlock – pretty easy.
Lever lock
Although a lever-operated Rockdoor is pretty much the ‘standard’ option, it does not diminish the quality of security for your door.
A lever lock works slightly differently from a wind lock by making use of a mechanical gearbox. This is because the multi-point hooks are thrown when the handle is lifted rather than just rotating the key, however, the hooks are then secured in place and deadlocked by one final rotation of the key.
By lifting the handle, this increases the compression between the door and outer frame compared to a traditional key wind only mechanism.
Like the key wind mechanism, you can also opt to choose a thumb-turn lock to replace needing a key to unlock or lock your Rockdoor from the inside.
French door lock
A French door lock can only be used when there are two doors within one set, known as a master and secondary door. This kind of locking mechanism is used when one door acts as the main/aster door with a less frequently used secondary door next to it.
French door locking mechanisms make use of integral top and bottom steel shoot bolts that will securely fasten the doors into the outer frame, every time, without fail.
The doors are fastened together using zinc hooks between the master and secondary to make sure that they can’t be prized apart forcibly by intruders.
The secondary lock is activated with the secondary handle, which ensures that the door will remain in place when locked, but with there being a handle on both doors for a French door set, this means two key cylinders are required, one below each handle – as such, bar handles are not achievable on French door sets.
These security details are just a few of many reasons as to why we were the first ever composite door manufacturer to achieve the Police backed ‘Secured by Design’ accreditation for our French door sets.
Double door lock
Whilst most people believe that a French door lock is the same as a double door lock, there are actually a number of differences that make these two types of locking mechanisms operate completely differently to one another.
In comparison to French doors, Double doors make use of a pair of finger locks on the top and bottom of the secondary door to ensure it remains in place as there is no secondary door lever handle or key cylinder to engage the shoot bolts that would seal into the outerframe.
With there only being a key cylinder on the master door, a lever handle on the secondary door would be completely useless!
This is also why it is not possible to have a pair of bar handles on a set of French doors yet is possible on a pair of double doors.
Stable door lock
As the name suggests, this lock is only available on our range of stable doors, which creates a fully secure entrance for you and your family all with the added convenience of the independent stable door segments.
Because of the independently operating segments of the door, there is a need for two locks positioned, one positioned on the top segment’s lock strap and one on the bottom segment’s lock strap, which will allow both segments to lock independently, however, the same key will work for both cylinders.
A lever lock is used for the top segment whilst a key wind-only mechanism is used for the bottom half of the door which allows our stable doors to be operated independently from one another, thanks to the adjustable slide bolt that connects and disconnects the two door segments together.
This locking mechanism comes as standard with our stable collection – including stable view light and stable spy.
Rockdoor Brochure and Technical Manual
For more information on our composite doors, download our Brochure and Technical Manual.
Reasons to Choose a Rockdoor
Core Benefits
Rockdoors inner strength is unsurpassed thanks to a combination of a 360° aluminium reinforced inner frame and high-density thermally efficient PU foam. Customers can also choose steel mesh reinforcing for the ultimate in security.
£2,000 Guarantee
Our lock cylinders are burglar proof. A TSOO7 3 star rating, SS 312 Sold Secure Diamond Standard and Secured by Design accreditation see to that, plus our £2,000 security guarantee.
Forced Entry
Rockdoors are designed for strength, it is in our DNA. For over 25 years, we have led the way in composite door development to ensure our doors protect homes and families from unwanted intruders and forced entry.
Hook up with Rockdoor
Strong sintered steel multi point hook locks with a 25mm throw, securely attach the door to the frame to ensure it cannot be forcibly opened by burglars whilst ensuring a better sound and weatherproof seal.
Glass Leading Security
Rockdoors feature S Glaze technology, meaning your glass is locked into your door for life, for added security. It also means no glazing cassettes are used which are prone to fading and discolouration.
Stronger, it's Official!
Rockdoor is consistently found to be one of the most secure doors available in the UK, studies show that a Rockdoor is 35% stronger than a typical GRP door.
