Euro Style Lock Cylinder Replacement

uPVC & Patio Door Lock Cylinder Replacement

Euro cylinders, commonly found in conservatory or other uPVC doors, are increasingly being attacked throughout the country.  No special tools are needed and a burglar can break these euro profile cylinders in a matter of seconds and many websites disclose the methods used encouraging "copy-cat" burglaries.

This type of cylinder, commonly known as a euro profile cylinder, is used worldwide on uPVC, PVCu, aluminium and some wooden doors.  However secure or elaborate the multi-point locking mechanism is, it is the cylinder that is the vulnerable area and if the cylinder is broken, the multi-point lock can be easily be opened in moments.

Watch our measuring and installation videos or download our measurement and fitting guide.  Both are designed to help with ordering the right size cylinder and fitting them correctly.

Currently, only two of the major lock manufacturers have come up with a practical a solution.  Mul-T-Lock and Squire have designed a cylinder that still snaps, but it does so at a predetermined position which leaves the door secure.  Mul-T-Lock have called their range of cylinders Break Secure.

Although these new cylinders are not guaranteed against all methods of attack on uPVC doors, they are a definite visual deterrent as the villains are finding out they are much more difficult to beat.

Squire and ERA, are approaching the crisis by offering cylinder enhancers. These are metal surrounds that can be secured to the existing cylinder underneath the door handle.  ERA’s solution is particularly beneficial as it sandwiches the door and the cylinder in place, making it almost impossible to remove the broken cylinder.

Using one of these cylinder enhancers together with a Break Secure or SnapSafe cylinder is, we feel, the most effective solution currently available.

It is also extremely important to ensure that a cylinder is the correct size and properly fitted.

A Euro Profile Cylinder should never protrude more than 2-3mm passed the door furniture. Often, when cylinders have been replaced, the wrong size replacement has been used and this adds to the doors vulnerability.

To avoid becoming a victim of this type of forced entry, check all door cylinders and, if necessary, upgrade to a Break Secure cylinder.

Read more about Break Secure Cylinders.

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