Secure and modern door locks. How to choose them and what to look for?

The lock is the least conspicuous part of a door. However, it is just as important to the entire door assembly as its most “prominent” part—the door leaf. The safety of the home and its occupants depends on the design and sturdiness of the lock, which serves as the connection between the door leaf and the door frame.

But the lock isn’t everything. Other hardware—the metal components responsible for the door’s functionality and durability—are also important. Electronics and smart access systems are also playing an increasingly significant role.

We explain how door locks are constructed, how they work, and how they differ from one another, using models available from Barański as examples.

The Standard Option: A 3-Point Bolt Lock

A standard feature of all Barański exterior doors is the 3-point deadbolt lock. It consists of three bolts “nested” at three separate points on the door leaf, mounted in a single strike plate. When the key is turned, the bolts slide into the strike plates mounted on the door frame, thereby locking the door leaf and preventing it from opening. This solution is accepted by insurers. Insurance companies require multi-point systems, and the 3-point bolt strip lock—as its name suggests—successfully meets this requirement.

The 3-point bolt lock fully meets the criteria of insurance companies

It is worth noting that once the door is closed, the door leaf is held in the door frame by the lock’s latch. The bolts extend only when the key is turned. However, if a pull handle or a door bar is installed on the door leaf instead of a doorknob, a key will be required to open the door from the outside—because the lock bolt secures the door and prevents it from being opened by pulling on the handle.

If the customer is not satisfied with this solution, a special latch can be installed in the lock. It allows the door’s opening mode to be set so that it can be opened without a key (this setting can be changed at any time).

4-point bolt lock: four bolts and two cylinders

In the standard option, a strike plate with a single cylinder is installed in the door leaf. In the 4-point variant, available for an additional fee, an additional, independent lock with a separate upper cylinder is installed in the door leaf. As a result, turning the key in the main cylinder causes three bolts to extend. Turning the key in the additional upper cylinder, on the other hand, activates a fourth independent upper bolt.

This solution is characteristic of the Polish market. In Germany, for example, locks with a single cylinder are used almost exclusively. Our market is also gradually moving away from the 4-point solution. Its relative popularity stems from the belief that insurers require such a solution. However, this is a myth. Insurance companies only require that the lock be a multi-point lock (which is exactly what Barański offers as standard), not a dual-cylinder lock.

3-point automatic deadbolt. How does it differ from the standard option?

This solution is similar in design to the standard option, except that it is automatic. The difference, therefore, lies in how the bolts are extended. To do this with a standard lock, you have to turn the key. In the automatic model, every time the door is closed, the bolts extend automatically—as a result, the door leaf is locked in the frame by three bolts and the lock’s latch. Meanwhile, in a standard lock, after the door is closed, the door leaf is held in place solely by the latch—until the key is turned, which causes the bolts to extend.

In a 3-point automatic mortise lock, simply pressing the handle is enough to release the bolts. To lock the bolts, you must turn the key. Then, simply pressing the handle will not release the bolts. To do this, you must turn the key again.

Automatic lock combined with a pull handle. What should you watch out for?

An automatic lock is an ideal solution when paired with a door handle, but it’s a bit risky when used with a pull handle. With this combination, locking the door will prevent it from being reopened from the outside without turning the key—if you forget the key, you’ll have trouble getting into your apartment. An electronic button installed in the pull handle can provide a way out of this predicament. When pressed, the bolts will be retracted by a special mechanism.

4-point automatic mortise lock: higher burglary resistance

As with the standard option, the automatic lock can also be upgraded with an additional main cylinder featuring an extra bolt. The mechanism will function similarly to that of a 4-point bolt lock, with one minor difference.

With a “standard” two-cylinder bolt lock, turning the key once extends all four bolts. In the case of a 4-point automatic lock, 3 bolts are extended automatically (and locked by turning the key), while the fourth, upper bolt is activated mechanically: by turning the key from the outside or using the cylinder’s thumb turn on the inside of the door.

We use a 4-point automatic mortise lock in doors with an enhanced burglary resistance class: RC2.

Electronic kit for a bolt lock with a door handle

Although “traditional” doors are purely mechanical structures, electronic components are increasingly being incorporated into modern door systems. Barański’s product line also includes such kits, which enhance the functionality and security of doors. One example is a kit consisting of a 3-point deadbolt lock with a button on the door handle on the inside of the door. It also includes an electric strike, a power supply, and a jumper that serves as a wireless connection between the door frame and the door leaf.

The mechanism is simple. Pressing the button on the door handle causes the electric strike to release the lock bolt, allowing the door to open. However, if the lock is locked with a key, the bolts will be retracted into their pockets and the door cannot be opened—the button only releases the latch.

Electronics for an Automatic Lock

An automatic lock can also be upgraded with an additional electronic kit. The mechanism works the same way as in an “automatic” lock without electronics—with the difference that pressing the button on the door handle retracts both the latch and the bolts. This “operation” requires greater force, which is why the electronic kit for an automatic lock also includes a motor. This combination represents one of the safest and most advanced solutions on the market.

A Higher Level of Security: Smart Access Control

Modernity is, above all, about “smart” solutions. In the case of door locks, these include systems with smart access control. These are the most expensive solutions, intended primarily for businesses and institutions, though they can also be successfully used in private homes. These types of technologies allow, among other things, access to a building or specific rooms to be restricted exclusively to authorized individuals.

Locks with smart access control provide an additional layer of security

Barański’s lineup of lock sets with smart access control systems includes:

1. Three types of readers to choose from
   • a fingerprint reader—allows you to open the door using biometrics,
   • a glass keypad with a Bluetooth port—allows access by entering a code (the keypad can be paired with a smartphone),
   • RFID reader—works with contactless access cards (a solution recommended for businesses and institutions, such as hotels).
2. 4-point automatic mortise lock
3. Lock motor—a mechanism that automatically releases the lock bolts upon receiving the appropriate command from the reader.

Lock for American-style door handles

Finally, it’s worth mentioning one more solution, characteristic of the American market—also available from Barański. These are American-style door handles, adapted to the requirements of the Polish market. They are offered as a set with a 2-point mortise lock, which is locked and unlocked with a key in the main cylinder. This set includes a lever button that releases the lock’s latch. American-style door handles are exceptionally striking and are ideal for stylish projects.

Eva American-Style Door Handle

When choosing a specific lock model, it’s important to consider, first and foremost, the level of security it provides. Its functionality is also crucial. After all, it’s not just about the lock protecting your home from intruders, but also about it being convenient to use.