The school year is almost over and everyone is prepping for finals, so I figured now is the perfect time to brush up on some door and lock terminology.
It’s not a secret the door and lock industry is filled with (sometimes confusing) terms that may make your head spin. However, taking it slow will definitely help you win this race.
Door and Lock Terminology
uPVC
Everyone’s heard of PVC pipe, but what about its lesser known cousin, uPVC? The full name, Unplasticised Polyvinyl Chloride, sounds like it’s something a mad scientist has cooked up in the lab, but really, it’s just a material used to manufacture things such as windows and doors.
uPVC is much more durable than PVC and is used in door and lock building products where strength is a huge factor. If you have a project that requires a little flexibility, PVC would be a better option.
Hook Bolts
When it comes to names for door and lock hardware, the creators didn’t put a lot of work into them. Hook bolts are exactly what they sound like. It’s a bolt used on a multipoint lock that’s shaped like a hook. These are designed to secure sliding doors and give you an extra level of security if your property ever falls victim to a forced entry attack.
Multipoint Lock
Speaking of multipoint locks, I may as well explain those, while we’re at it. This is a type of lock mechanism that has locking points (the point where a multipoint lock enters the outer frame of the door) in more than one place. It usually has a minimum of three points, but the more locking points you have, the harder the door is to get open without a key. These are big in pharmacies where certain medicines require a higher security level.
Thumbturn Cylinder
Thumbturn cylinders are pretty basic and are seen often in various facilities. These are simply a knob fitted to one end of a cylinder, which allows the door to be unlocked without a key from one side only. If you’re not on the thumbturn side, good luck getting in if you don’t have the key.
These are just a few of the terms we hear in this industry quite a bit. If you have any questions about any of these, we can help! Just contact us through this link and we’ll give you all the information you need.