Security

At Cotswood we are able to offer first rate advice on how to improve door security. Our friendly, knowledgeable staff will be pleased to advise you in person at our Southgate showrooms, where we carry an excellent range of security locks and products. Good security in a front door is achieved by a combination of of good quality door and frame together with well engineered locks and secondary security devices. The following tips may be helpful in achieving maximum security.

Front Doors
Doors should be a minimum of 44mm thick (1 ¾ ") solid timber (not hollow) and supported by three 100mm (4 ") hinges. The frame should be securely bolted or screwed to the walls at 600mm (23 ") around the frame. About 1/3 of the way down the door, fit a good automatic dead-latch cylinder lock, remember to position locks avoiding joints in the timber. About 1/3 of the way up the door, fit a good 5-lever mortice deadlock with boxed staple (Conforming to British Standard BS 3621). To stengthen the doorframe, fit a 'London bar' to support the locking points, and a 'Birmingham bar' to reinforce the hinges. If your door opens outwards, fit hinge bolts to the hinge side at approximately 150mm (6 ") below the top hinge, and the same distance above the bottom hinge. Recessed or decorative panels should be at least 9mm (3/8 ") thick in order to resist attack. On either side of the mortice lock, fit metal plates as a means of reinforcing the area around the lock, and increasing the door's resistance to forced entry. Double or triple glazing is stronger than ordinary glass. Strongest of all is laminated glass. Our glass designer can work with all these types of glass to produce glazing that is safe as well as beautiful. (Forest Stewardship Council).
Back Doors
Doors should be a minimum of 44mm thick (1 ¾ ") solid timber (not hollow) and supported by three 100mm (4 ") hinges. The frame should be securely bolted or screwed to the walls at 600mm (23 ") around the frame. About 1/2 way up the door, fit a good 5-lever sash lock with boxed staple, ensure it conforms to British Standard BS 3261). Fit mortice rack bolts at the top and bottom of the back door. Alternatively, fit surface-mounted, key-operated press bolts. As with front doors, double or triple glazing is stronger than ordinary glass. Strongest of all is laminated glass. Again we can work with you to achieve a glass design that is pleasing to the eye as well as strong and secure. If the door opens outwards, fit hinge bolts to the hinge side at approximately 150mm (6 ") below the top hinge, and the same distance above the bottom hinge. Recessed or decorative panels should be at least 9mm (3/8 ") thick in order to resist attack.