New uPVC door and locks

surreysaver

Had a new uPVC door installed. The lock is a bit daft from a fire safety point of view, as you need a key to lock and unlock from inside. Would make sense to have a thumb lock put on the inside, but this then creates a security risk.
Why do they not make these locks so you double lock it from outside if you're the last one out? Is there such a lock that does this?
Alternatively, we could just leave a key in the lock on the inside if someone's in, but then it won't let you insert a key in the lock outside.
It just seems a very poor design.
Does anyone have any suggestions to solve these issues?

grumbler

surreysaver said:

Alternatively, we could just leave a key in the lock on the inside if someone's in, but then it won't let you insert a key in the lock outside.

Some cylinders do let this. E.g. this one as I found out recently - https://www.screwfix.com/p/smith-locke-6-pin-euro-cylinder-30-40-70mm-nickel/6870x

Is it only if the key inside is vertical? Can't check ATM as it was my friends' house where I installed it.

If it doesn't, just pull the key inside slightly out.

FreeBear

A thumb lock on the inside does not present a security risk unless you have a letterbox close to it. If you do have a letterbox in the door, then fit a deflector plate to prevent small arms from reaching the thumb turn.

housebuyer143

Are the majority of door locks not like this? I have never had a door that didn't need a key inside. 

The fashion seems to be the thumb turn locks now. They don't really pose a security risk but more a safety risk for those with young children as they can't be locked from inside with the key. 

I prefer to lock the door inside with the key.

surreysaver

FreeBear said:

A thumb lock on the inside does not present a security risk unless you have a letterbox close to it. If you do have a letterbox in the door, then fit a deflector plate to prevent small arms from reaching the thumb turn.

It does if an intruder gains access by other means - they can then exit the front door easily with all my goodies

surreysaver

grumbler said:

surreysaver said:

Alternatively, we could just leave a key in the lock on the inside if someone's in, but then it won't let you insert a key in the lock outside.

Some cylinders do let this. E.g. this one as I found out recently - https://www.screwfix.com/p/smith-locke-6-pin-euro-cylinder-30-40-70mm-nickel/6870x

Is it only if the key inside is vertical? Can't check ATM as it was my friends' house where I installed it.

If it doesn't, just pull the key inside slightly out.

I think pulling the key out is the obvious and easy answer! I cannot insert the key from the other side even if I turn the key on the inside. Although pulling the key out slightly does make it slightly easier to remove from the lock if someone were to insert something through the letterbox 

surreysaver

housebuyer143 said:

Are the majority of door locks not like this? I have never had a door that didn't need a key inside. 

The fashion seems to be the thumb turn locks now. They don't really pose a security risk but more a safety risk for those with young children as they can't be locked from inside with the key. 

I prefer to lock the door inside with the key.

Our previous door was a traditional wooden one, with a Yale lock that could be double-locked from the outside, and a deadlock with could be locked from either side with a key. This has always been the traditional set up as far as I'm aware. 
Just seems daft to have a single lock which isn't safe from one point of view (needing a key to escape in an emergency) and insecure from the other point of view (cannot double lock it from the outside if using a thumb lock on the inside)

New_in_the_fens

I’m not clear what you mean about not being able to double lock from the outside if you have a thumbturner. 

I have UPVC doors, they were keys in and out, but we swapped the inside lock for a thumbturner. It doesn’t prevent the door being double locked from outside. 

In fact, if you don’t double lock a UPVC door, it can be opened from outside through the letterbox. Swapping the key inside to a thumbturner doesn’t impact on this at all. 

surreysaver

New_in_the_fens said:

I’m not clear what you mean about not being able to double lock from the outside if you have a thumbturner. 

I have UPVC doors, they were keys in and out, but we swapped the inside lock for a thumbturner. It doesn’t prevent the door being double locked from outside. 

In fact, if you don’t double lock a UPVC door, it can be opened from outside through the letterbox. Swapping the key inside to a thumbturner doesn’t impact on this at all. 

Surely a thumb-turner on the inside just replaces a key? Or are you saying double-locking it on the outside prevents someone opening it from the inside, and I should get a thumb-lock?

35har1old

FreeBear said:

A thumb lock on the inside does not present a security risk unless you have a letterbox close to it. If you do have a letterbox in the door, then fit a deflector plate to prevent small arms from reaching the thumb turn.

It does if entry gained by other means (small window for example)
Open the door from the inside and then you can remove large items at will.

35har1old

New_in_the_fens said:

I’m not clear what you mean about not being able to double lock from the outside if you have a thumbturner. 

I have UPVC doors, they were keys in and out, but we swapped the inside lock for a thumbturner. It doesn’t prevent the door being double locked from outside. 

In fact, if you don’t double lock a UPVC door, it can be opened from outside through the letterbox. Swapping the key inside to a thumbturner doesn’t impact on this at all. 

If your are concerned about security you should be fitting a anti snap lock at around £50.
I do understand your point regarding exiting the premises in the event of a fire perhaps you could mount a small hook on the frame to hang a key on when you are at home
What kind of windows do you have can you exit from every room in the house via a window