How to make the right choice

How to choose the right cylinder lock

While choosing a cylinder lock, keep in mind few basic points:

1. What type of door you are buying a cylinder lock for – an entrance door to a flat or a house, cellar, gate, garage door, etc.

2. Security level – always remember to follow the SECURITY PYRAMID, perhaps even according to the conditions under which your property or assets would be insured by your insurance company

3. Door thickness – is measured from every side from a fixing bolt hole. Don´t forget the door fitting – cylinder lock may overreach it by max 3 mm on both sides. The cylinder locks size specification can be found on the back of the packaging. The actual size is always rounded down to integrals.

Example: the label on a package of cylinder FAB DYNAMIC, lenght 59 mm states:
FAB 2402BDN/29 + 29 mm - the actual size is always rounded down to integrals

4.  What do you have to know to set the right size of a cylinder?

• door thickness (a)
• a distance between a fixing bolt of the cylinder and the outside fitting edge from the outside of the door (b)
• a distance between a fixing bolt of the cylinder and the inside fitting edge from the inside of the door (c)

By adding (b) and (c) measurements together you will gain the required cylinder size.

5. Implementation – double-sided, one-sided or with a knob on one side

6. Surface finish – satin nickel, brass, satin chrome

How to choose the right mortise lock

First of all you have to assess the type of door opening. Right or left doors are always identified from the side of hinges.

• left doors have hinges on left side, lock and door fitting are on the right side
• right doors have hinges on right side, lock and door fitting are on the left side

Further, it is necessary to know:

• span (A) – the distance between the handle centre (axis) and the centre of the locking mechanism hole, i.e. cylinder lock
• backset (B) - distance between the front plate of the mortise lock to the handle axis
• depth of mortising (C)
• height of the front plate (D)