A multipoint lock is a door lock that engages several bolts at once — at the latch and additionally near the top and bottom of the door — with a single movement of the key or handle. The locking points sit on a drive rod behind the faceplate and are operated by the central lock case.
Why more than one point?
A door with a single lock has exactly one weak spot. An intruder only has to lever the door at that one height, and the leaf itself flexes to help. With a multipoint lock, three or more points spread over the full height of the door have to fail together. That makes levering with a crowbar considerably harder and slower — and time is precisely what a burglar does not want to spend.
There is a second benefit: because the door is pulled tight against the frame over its whole height, the weather seal compresses evenly. That improves both airtightness and sound insulation.
Types and points to watch
- Bolt types. Versions exist with hook bolts (which grip behind the keep and resist levering very well), mushroom cams (which pull the door in) and pin bolts
- Operation. Some units lock automatically as the door closes; others only engage when you lift the handle and turn the key. With the latter type, always turn the key — otherwise only the latch is holding
- Cylinder. A strong multipoint lock with a weak cylinder is pointless. Choose a cylinder with anti-snap and anti-drill protection
- Keeps. The keeps must be screwed into the frame timber or profile, not just into the rebate trim. On timber frames, long screws reaching the jamb make the difference
- Adjustment. If the door binds or feels heavy, adjust the hinges and keeps. Forcing it damages the drive rods, and a lock that is awkward to use will not be used
- Door and frame. Ironmongery is only as strong as what it is fixed into. A thin leaf or a poorly fixed frame defeats any lock
Related terms
- Ironmongery
- Security hardware
- Anti-snap cylinder
- Espagnolette
- Door
- Lock
- Burglary resistance
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