Digital Lock solutions for doors fitted with Multipoint Door Locks

Mechanical and electronic digital locks are extremely popular. Being a cost-effective product for easily managing a key-free solution for a single door. Digital locks represent a very basic form of access control, they can be easily installed and offer a straightforward option for customers looking to allow access using a code rather than a physical key.

We are often asked if there are digital locking solutions available to be used in conjunction with the multipoint locking systems typically found on a UPVC door. The answer is yes, there are in fact digital locks that have been designed specifically with multipoint locking systems in mind.

These are proving extremely popular in leisure and tourism settings, being an ideal solution for short-term lets and restricted areas of rental properties, as well as being suitable for use on residential front doors, commercial entrances and anywhere it is necessary to grant multiple users access through a UPVC door.

Why is it important to have a specific version for multipoint locks?

It may appear as though any digital lock would be able to be used in this application. If it controls the use of the lever, it should control the use of the door, right?

Well, there are some points that must be considered to ensure you select one that is going to work correctly with Multipoint Door Locks.

Firstly, the operation of the multipoint door lock itself. Most modern multipoint locks will rely upon the lever being lifted to throw the locking points.  This poses a problem for most conventional digital locks as the spindle follower is usually limited to 90 degrees or less of rotation, limited to stop when then the lever or knob is in the horizontal or neutral position. Therefore, a digital door lock designed to work in conjunction with lift lever multipoint locks must have a redesigned spindle follower allowing for a further 60 degrees or so of travel in the upward direction without affecting the workings of the code chamber.

The code chamber itself must be robust and fairly straightforward to reprogram to ensure end-users in residential applications are able to re-code the lock when needed without too much effort.

Additionally, the lock must be designed around the measurements of popular existing multipoint locking systems to ensure it will be compatible. Particular attention must be paid to bolt though fixings that will not collide with the gearbox of the mechanism, and to the inclusion of a euro cylinder piercing at 92mm from the spindle.

Then there are further practical considerations such as the finish, which for obvious reasons will be expected to withstand regular use in outdoor environments, and a well-designed aesthetic, with a narrow profile and modern lever and housing design that will complement a typical UPVC door set.

Finally, the spindle type must be a square drive 8mm spindle, not the typical flat bar or butterfly type spindles found in some digital locks, to ensure it will work with the follower in a typical multipoint lock.

What are the options?

With all the above considerations in mind, it may seem a bit of a minefield sourcing a digital lock, and a multipoint door lock which will be sure to work together. Fortunately, some manufacturers offer specific versions of digital locks, which are suited to ensuring precisely this. The Borg 6100 series digital door lock is one of the best-known examples.

At Duffells we have stocked the Borg 6100 series digital lock for many years, for exactly this reason.

The Borg unit is well established, having proved popular ever since being one of the first UPVC specific digital door locks to be introduced. The Borg 6100 has been refined over the years and continually developed with a view to best satisfying each of the considerations outlined previously in this blog.

For example:

• The operation of the follower allows for enough contra rotation of the lever to fully engage the locking points of most UPVC multipoint door locks in the market
• The code chamber uses easy to handle rotating ratchet wheels to program the code, meaning no parts to remove, replace and possibly damage or lose during programming. The code chamber also allows the use of the same digit more than once in a code.
• The measurements of the lock are cleverly thought out to offer compatibility with as many different locking systems as possible, with an arrangement of the bolt through fixing positions available to cover all common spacings on 92PZ multipoint locking systems.
• The backplate is designed to cover up any existing damage or door preparation from the previous furniture whilst also offering an adaptable escutcheon to neatly complement the euro cylinder all in one continual full-length design.
• The finishes available from stock include hard-wearing satin stainless steel as well as white, ideal for use on many UPVC door sets
• The overall design is narrow and modern, with a single, simple column of digits and an uncomplicated clean appearance, so as to appear unobtrusive when compared to the typical UPVC door hardware.

FITTING THE BORG 6100 TO A MULTIPOINT DOOR LOCK

Which multipoint door locking systems is the Borg unit suitable for use with?

Compatibility between the digital lock and multipoint locking system is the most crucial, and perhaps the hardest bit to get right.

Trying to ensure compatibility with a range of different multipoint locks, each with its own case sizes, piercings for bolt through fixings, and internal workings requires a degree of adaptability to be designed into the digital lock

In the video above, we demonstrate the Borg 6100 in use with a Winkhaus multipoint locking system. This is one gearbox type with which the Borg unit works well, others commonly used in conjunction with the Borg include the standard new style GU case and the Fuhr lift lever gearbox. There are several other gearboxes that we are aware of working with the Borg after some slight modification (usually requiring an enlarging or elongating of a cutout or piercing).

Assessing whether a specific lock will be suitable for use with the Borg, essentially requires comparison of the line drawing and sizes of the Borg unit, against that of the multipoint in question, and assessment of any limitations posed by the door construction itself. 

Our advice is to always contact us if you are unsure of the compatibility between the proposed or existing door/multipoint and the Borg unit. Here at Duffells, we are able to pass on any knowledge we have from previous inquiries and solutions we have found, and can even trial fit to products with each other in our warehouse to be sure that there are no complications waiting to be discovered on site.

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