Opening and closing doors

Single doors (PVCu and composite) – unlocking

Step OneDoor is closed and locked.
Step TwoTurn the key or thumb turn one full turn away from the lock edge to unlock the deadlock.
Step 3Push the handle down to retract the hook bolts and the latch. This allows the door to be opened.
Step 4Some front-door fittings need a turn of the key to retract the latch bolt from outside. Turn the key away from the lock edge to retract the latch bolt.

Note: Some locks have a handle type that means to open the door from the outside you must always have a key. Please ensure you take the key with you otherwise you will not be able to get back in.

Note: The door must be fully locked to be secure.

Note: It is important that you never leave your key in the lock on the inside to prevent the risk of being locked out of the property.

Single doors (PVCu and composite) – locking

Step OneClose the unlocked door.
Step TwoLift the handle upwards as far as it will go. This engages all hook bolts.
Step ThreeTurn the key or thumb turn one full turn towards the lock edge to deadlock all hook bolts and the latch bolt.
Operating the snibA snib is available on some doors. It is possible to keep the latch pulled back so the door can open from the outside without the key. Push the handle on the inside down to retract the latch and slide the white button (snib located in the faceplate) upwards.

Unless you complete step 3, your door is not fully secure.

While the snib is in use, your door is not secure.

Thumb-turn cylinders

Some doors may be fitted with a thumb-turn knob to the inside of the door. The door will lock and unlock as usual with the key from the outside. The inside knob replaces the need for a key from the inside. Turn the knob through one full turn to either look or unlock.

Please make sure that whenever the door is shut, the handle is lifted up. This fully engages the multipoint locking system into the frame, and will help the door to keep its shape.

Double doors – unlocking

Double doors open and shut in a similar way to a single door. It is only the opening sequence that makes them different in that the main door needs to open first and close last to prevent them clashing.

Step OneTurn the key one full turn away from the lock edge to unlock the latch and hook bolts.
Step TwoPush the handle down to pull back the latch and hook bolt. This allows the door to be opened.
Step ThreeTo open the secondary door, simply push the handle down to unlock the top and bottom shootbolts and turn the key one full turn away from the lock edge. 

Double doors – locking

Double doors open and shut in a similar way to a single door. The difference is that the main door cannot be locked without the secondary door shootbolts also being locked.

Step OneClose the secondary door, lift the handle to lock the shootbolts into their keeps and lock by turning the key one full turn towards the lock.
Step TwoClose the main door and lift the handle to lock both shootbolts and hook locks.
Step ThreeTurning the key one full turn towards the lock engages the deadlock.

Note: It is important that you never leave the key in the lock to prevent the risk of being locked out of the property.

Unless step 3 is done your door is not fully secure.

Sliding patio doors (PVCu)

Sliding doors have two locking mechanisms – either one or two plunger locks to the central meeting stiles to lock the panes together and a four point lock jamb at the side of the frame.

Plunger lock - Step oneBegin by unlocking the plunger locks. To unlock the centre plunger lock, turn the key until the plunger retracts.

                                                Plunger lock - Step two
                                                                        
Plunger lock - Step threeTo lock, once the sliding door is closed, simply push the plunger closed.