Multi-Point Locking Hardware for Swinging Doors: What Are They & Benefits They Provide

What is a multi-point locking hardware?

They are exactly what it sounds like, a door that locks in multiple points throughout the doors edge. If you think of a traditional door with a standard deadbolt the door will have two holes bored in it (see picture in figure a). One for the knob/lever and one for the deadbolt. A multi-point locking system often times utilizes a deadbolt but in addition to a deadbolt, they have a strike/tongue/latch that gets "thrown" into the door jamb in (usually) 3 locations. See Figure B for a close-up of what the hardware looks like

Figure A: Standard Door Prep

  

Figure B: Multi-Point Hardware

Benefits:

1) Security:

The first thing that people like about these systems is the obvious added security. It’s much harder to kick a door down with a multi-point engaged. Secondly it’s also more difficult to pick a lock that has a multi-point system installed. 

2) Air tightness:

Something that people don’t typically think about when seeing this hardware is it’s relation to air tightness. When all three points of contact are engaged it creates a seal that is far superior to any standard locking system, like a standard deadbolt. High performance homes are becoming increasingly popular and one of the key elements of a high performance home is air tightness. Doors with multi point locking hardware are highly suggested in these types of homes in order to achieve a low ACH (air exchanges per hour) score on a blower door test. Of course there are many other factors related to air tightness on a building envelope but doors are an important piece when talking about Fenestration specifically.

3) Stiffness (less bowing)

If you walk up to your door now that has a regular latch and deadbolt, I guarantee you could easily push on the top of your door and create a 1/4” or more of deflection. This means that the door slab is not held in its ideal closed position perfectly in line with the jamb/frame. Wood doors are notorious for warping, especially, the taller the door the more susceptible the door is to warping. That is why some wood door manufactures will not warranty a door over 8ft tall UNLESS it has a multi-point built into it. By having a multi-point lock, it makes it so the door is held tightly against the jamb at all times helping the door to hold its original form and not warp.

Warped Door = Air Leakage

4) Design Pressure (DP) Rating:

Design pressure ratings are one of many rating systems window and door manufactures use when creating product. DP rating is associated with wind and rain pressure loads. The higher the score, the better it will perform. Before a product is launched it is usually tested for its performance and efficacy. Any door with multi-point locking hardware will seal up better not on for air leakage but also for water infiltration. This is why on doors that are in a highly exposed area (say on a bluff overlooking water on the south-side of their house) I always try to sell a high performing door that has a higher DP rating. Too often people put in a basic fiberglass door with a standard deadbolt and water leaks on the really stormy days. 

Single Doors vs Double Doors with Multi Point

Single doors have the three points of contact along the doors edge that get secured into the jamb like the first picture (figure a). Depending on manufacture of hardware it could be different, but typically you lift up on the handle to engage all three points of contact. It's pretty easy to understand single doors and how they operate.

Double doors are a little different. First let me explain how they work and how a "normal" locking system works. On a double door, you have a "passive" door and an "active" door. The passive door is usually the door that you only open up when you have a party or want a lot of ventilation or have furniture to move in/out. Then the active door is what you use on a daily basis. Every time the active door is shut and locked, it gets engaged into the passive door panel, more specifically the "astragal." But before you can shut and lock the active door you need to make sure the top and bottom "flush" bolts are thrown. See picture below to reference the flush bolts. These bolts are normally engaged by manually reaching up and down to push on the levers that engage them... tedious and annoying. 

Flush Bolts on Standard Double Door

Now let me explain how it works on a double door with multi-point hardware. It is the same basic premise where you have a passive door and an active door. The passive door still needs to be shut first but where the operation differs is how you engage the bolts. Instead of having to bend low and reach up high, you simply lift UP on the handle to throw the bolts in the locked position. Much much easier. Then, when you shut the active door, you do the same motion to throw the three points of contact into the passive panel (or astragal), lift up on the door handle. This allows the user to easily open and close both doors at ease.

Andersen Double Door with Multi-Point Hardware

 

Ordering multi-point with your door(s):

It can get confusing when trying to order a door with multi-point hardware since there are so many different types. Also, the door and jamb need to be prepped perfectly to a accommodate hardware. Here are three of the major manufactures offering this hardware. Hoppe, Trillenmium and Rocky Mountain Hardware. Some door manufactures like Thermatru have an option to buy trillenium multi-point through them so that it all comes from one place to ensure a proper fit.

Some window and door manufactures offer propriety multi-point hardware with their doors, like Andersen and Marvin. Each company has many styles and finished available for the multi-point systems. It is a standard feature on their doors which is also what makes them such high quality. When I mentioned earlier about selling higher performing doors in an exposed area, these two brands are who I lean on to get the job done correctly. I always have piece of mind knowing that one of their doors with the multi-point hardware is installed.

Other Thoughts:

I recently learned about Endura's Product "Pano-Lock" which is a 3-point locking system that is compatible with standard Schlage hardware/key way. This is pretty revolutionary making a system like this much more affordable. You would just need to tell the door manufacture to prep the doors edge and jamb to the pano-locks specifications. Then you can use any regular Schlage handle set to operate the multi point. 

Emtek is a major manufacturer of all hardware but I really like their door handles and lock sets. They also offer multi-point “trim sets” (which are simply the actually handle/lock/plate that you see when using it) compatible with all major multi-point locking hardware. What this means is you can buy a Jeld-Wen, Pella, Andersen or Marvin door with the locking “guts” and then buy an Emtek trim set that you like.