At a glance: entrance door hardware
- 🔐 Hardware decides security: a multipoint lock locks the leaf into the frame at several points, not just at one latch.
- 🖐️ The handle is the part people touch daily: long stainless pull handles look striking but need matching fixings, reinforcement and leaf weight checks.
- 📱 Keyless access is now a standard option: fingerprint, keypad and app-controlled locks can be built in at the factory.
- 📋 Specify before production: handle length, cylinder type and lock function are hard to change once the leaf is made.
From the door to the part you actually use
Over the last weeks we have followed the front entrance step by step — the aluminium entrance door, pivot doors, sidelights and fanlights, the canopy and the threshold and landing. The next question a buyer asks is practical: what lock, what handle, and how will the family and visitors get in?
Hardware is often chosen last and rushed, yet it determines how secure the door is, how it feels in daily use and how well it seals. This guide covers what to specify with a Polish manufacturer.
1. Multipoint locks and how they secure the leaf
Most Polish aluminium and uPVC entrance doors use a multipoint locking system: when the key is turned or the handle lifted, hooks and bolts engage in several places along the frame edge, pulling the leaf tight against the seals.
- Automatic multipoint locks engage as the door closes, so it is locked even if you forget to turn the key.
- Manual multipoint locks need the key or handle lift to lock; the leaf is held only by the latch otherwise.
- Hook and bolt versions add resistance to levering and sawing, and improve compression of the gaskets for better air and water tightness.
Ask the manufacturer for the lock model, the number of locking points and the security or burglar-resistance class of the complete door set, not just the lock on its own. Insurers and building control may ask for it.
2. Handles, cylinders and hinges
Pull handles. Long stainless pull handles, often the full height of the glazing strip, are a signature of contemporary entrance doors. They are fixed through the leaf, so they must be specified with the door: confirm length, centre-to-centre fixings, finish (brushed or polished) and whether a matching inside handle is included.
Cylinders. A euro cylinder with anti-snap, anti-drill and anti-pick features is the usual upgrade. Specify whether you want key-both-sides, thumb-turn inside (useful for escape) and how many keys, and check cylinder length matches the leaf thickness so no part protrudes.
Hinges. Heavy leaves, particularly oversized and pivot types, need adjustable, load-rated hinges. Three-dimensional adjustment allows the fitter to correct alignment after installation as the building settles.
The fix: send the manufacturer a one-page hardware schedule listing handle, lock, cylinder, hinge type, finish and number of keys for every door, and ask them to confirm it in the order acknowledgement. Hardware errors found on delivery are slow to correct.
3. Smart locks, access control and compliance
Keyless entry. Fingerprint readers, keypads and app or card-controlled locks can be integrated into the leaf at the factory, with the wiring routed through the frame. This is cleaner and more weather-resistant than adding a retrofit device later.
Power and back-up. Specify how the lock is powered (battery or mains supply through the frame), what happens if power fails, and that a mechanical key override is included.
Intercom and video. Allow for a cable route and a recess for a video doorbell or intercom, so wiring is hidden in the frame or reveal.
Fire and escape. Where the door serves as a means of escape, for example in apartments or shared entrances, check the lock function against the fire strategy and building regulations, and have the designer sign off the release arrangement.
Documentation and delivery. Request the DoP, CE marking and the installation and maintenance instructions in English, and confirm that any electronic components come with their own manuals and warranties. Hardware and spare keys travel with the doors on the same consolidated load to your Irish site.
| Option | Best for | Trade-off | What to confirm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Automatic multipoint lock | Family homes, simple use | Higher cost than standard locks | Number of points, security class |
| Manual multipoint lock | Budget builds | Relies on the user locking it | Lock function, latch type |
| Long pull handle | Contemporary pivot and aluminium doors | Needs through-fixing and a matched inside handle | Length, fixings, finish |
| Smart / keyless lock | Rental, Airbnb, busy households | Power supply and software | Power back-up, override, warranty |
Choosing the right hardware for your door?
Actitrade sources entrance doors from Polish manufacturers and checks the hardware schedule against your order before production, so the locks, handles and cylinders match what was specified. Everything arrives on one consolidated load.
See our external doors offer or contact Actitrade with your door schedule and preferred finish for a quotation.