Explanation of lock types for home insurance!

Phil4432

So I'm just looking over lock types for home insurance.  I'm a little confused on the types of locks.
What I have are UPVC doors, front and back.  Plus UPVC double doors that slot into one another in a conservatory attached to the main house.  They are all multi pointed locking devices, non have the BS safety mark on them.

Looking at Churchill insurance it says; "If the main door is double glazed PVC-U... a key operated multi-point locking device is an acceptable alternative."  So I'd be covered there.

But Churchill goes on to say in the section for other external doors;
 Single external doors must be fitted with :

1)top and bottom key operated security bolts; or

2)a mortice deadlock with at least 5 levers; or
3) a lock conforming to at least BS3621:1998.
Double doors must be fitted with vertical top and bottom key-operated security bolts, that enter the door frame, to the final closing door, or if not rebated to both doors. 

Looking online, I can't find what exactly a 'top and bottom key operated security bolt,' is nor a 'vertical top and bottom key-operated security bolt.'  As mentioned, I have UPVC multi pointed locking devices for all of my external doors.

If anyone could shed some light, and provide a picture of the locks mentioned in my previous paragraph, that would be much appreciated.

Ectophile

The "key operated" bit should be fairly obvious.

Where you have double doors, you need bolts that go up into the frame above, and down into the frame below, so these must be "vertical" to do that.  On a single door, the bolts could instead go horizontally into the upright part of the door frame.

I have no idea why they don't accept multi point locking on other single doors.  That makes no sense.  But multi-point locking on its own wouldn't really work for double doors - you'd just be locking the doors to each other, not to the frame.

Other insurance companies are available, and have different rules.

chrisw

Key operated security bolts are normally fitted horizontally on single wooden doors or vertically on double wooden doors to secure each door into the top and bottom of the frame.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/era-brass-concealed-door-security-bolts-60mm-2-pack/5748g#product_additional_details_container

The Churchill requirements seem to imply the other external doors are made of wood as these and options 2 and 3 are usually fitted to wooden doors. I would suggest that if it's ok for the main upvc door to be multipoint then it should also be fine for any other similar upvc doors, although it doesn't exactly say that. 

Or when it says other external doors, does it mean external doors other than upvc?

Homer_home

Have you considered phoning the insurance co to clarify what they mean rather than ask a random forum to guess what they mean?

Phil4432

chrisw said:

Key operated security bolts are normally fitted horizontally on single wooden doors or vertically on double wooden doors to secure each door into the top and bottom of the frame.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/era-brass-concealed-door-security-bolts-60mm-2-pack/5748g#product_additional_details_container

The Churchill requirements seem to imply the other external doors are made of wood as these and options 2 and 3 are usually fitted to wooden doors. I would suggest that if it's ok for the main upvc door to be multipoint then it should also be fine for any other similar upvc doors, although it doesn't exactly say that. 

Or when it says other external doors, does it mean external doors other than upvc?

Yes, it is a tad confusing.  They do seem fine with the main door being multi point, do not clarify if they are ok with the other doors being so.   Seems that both AA and Swinton are happy for all UPVC external doors to be multi point locking system.  

Phil4432

In case anyone has the same question, I got this from Churchill.

6002 SECURITY REQUIREMENTS

Loss by theft or attempted theft from your Home is not covered unless the following security measures are in operation when the property is left unattended. All external doors and windows must be closed and locked and keys must not be visible from the outside.

1. THE FINAL EXIT DOOR i) is fitted with a mortice deadlock with at least 5 levers: or ii) is fitted with a lock conforming to BS3621:1998 or to a higher specification. In addition, where the final exit door is double-leaf, the first closing leaf must be fitted with top and bottom key-operated security bolts. Bolts must be positioned vertically so as to enter the framework of the door, not the opposing leaf.

2. ALL OTHER SINGLE EXTERNAL DOORS
i) are fitted with key-operated security bolts at the top and bottom; or
ii) are fitted with a mortice deadlock with at least 5 levers; or
iii) are fitted with a lock conforming to BS3621:1998 or to a higher specification.

3. ALL FRENCH OR DOUBLE DOORS (OTHER THAN FINAL EXIT DOORS) - are fitted with two key-operated security bolts at the top and bottom of the final closing door or, if not rebated, to both doors. The bolts must be positioned vertically, so as to enter the top and bottom of the door frame, not the opposing leaf.

4. ALL SLIDING PATIO DOORS - are fitted with an anti-lift device to prevent the doors being lifted off their running tracks when closed and are either:
i) fitted with key-operated patio door locks on the inside of the doors at the top and bottom of the frame; or
ii) are fitted with a key-operated multiple-point locking system having at least two locking points.

5.WINDOWS All opening ground floor and basement windows, and all windows which are accessible from roofs, walls, fences, balconies, landings, porches, soil pipes, drainpipes, trees or shrubs must be fitted with at least one key-operated metal lock. Alternatively, these windows are permanently fixed shut by means of non-return or defaced head screws angled through the window frame into the timber or metal surround.

6 LOUVRE WINDOWS All ground floor, basement and other Louvre windows accessible by the means described in 5 have their panes secured to the frames by epoxy or glass bonding adhesive to prevent their easy removal.

7 DOULBE-GLAZED PVC-u, METAL OR TIMBER DOORS Key-operated multiple-point locking devices on double-glazed PVC-u, metal or timber doors are an acceptable alternative for the security measures detailed in 1, 2 and 3.

Ectophile

Don't forget clause 7 hidden at the bottom.  It's saying that PVC doors with multi-point locking are acceptable anywhere.

Phil4432

Ectophile said:

Don't forget clause 7 hidden at the bottom.  It's saying that PVC doors with multi-point locking are acceptable anywhere.

Yes, that's what I'm saying.  They told me PVC doors in the whole property, are fine.  Always good to check though.

greenface2

Most UPVc door either single or French doors are multipoint with key operated top and bottom locks and a 5 lever mortise lock . When you lift the handle all the locks engage ( either claws and roller cams or similar and a mortise ) turn the key done . The fixing into the top and bottom of the slave door on a French is to secure the door to make the master lead door lock securely . I would encourage people to look at their locks themselves differently , Most UPVc doors are fitted with basic eurocylinder locks . You can upgrade them to stronger . Anti bump/pick/snap go for 3*star locks . They come in different sizes and are easy to fit , You tube will help you measure and show you how to fit them , Also show you how easy a standard eurocylinder door can be to get into . I own my own double glazing company and been fitting them for 35 years . They're getting better but the trade are all fitting different some according to price .