French windows can be secured in a variety of ways. The option you choose will depend on the overall look and style of ironmongery you wish to fit on the doors and the constraints imposed by the door construction.

Traditional surface espagnolette bolts (BT065) can provide an authentic look to French windows although lever handles (AT356A) or possibly knobs (AV063) can also be fitted. The last opening leaf or the slave leaf will also need to be secured by some form of bolt (BT066) in order to create a frame for the first opening leaf or active leaf. Ideally fitting flush bolts (BT055) in the leading edge of the slave leaf is most secure as the bolt is concealed from view when the doors are secure.

French Doors

It may not always be an option if the door frames cannot accommodate the amount of wood that needs to be removed in fitting. Mortice rack bolts (BT210) will also provide additional security, as a removable key is required in order to operate them. External French windows will often need to be secured by locks approved by BS3621: 2004 as noted in many insurance policies. These will require dead locks (AL056) or sash locks (AL052) to be fitted. Generally external French windows will also have rebated meeting styles to stop draughts and the weather, so rebate sets (AL127 / AL128) may be required to adapt the locks to suit this type of door frame.

Some insurance companies will also accept mortice espagnolette bolts (ESP100). These are similar to the locking espagnolettes found on uPVC doors. These will require specific types of lever handle to operate them (ESP121) and the door frames will need to be large enough to accommodate the mechanism as large amounts of wood will need to be removed in fitting.

A fully glazed set of French windows will not be suitable for door knobs due to the close proximity of the door knob to the edge of the door and the risk of a person catching their knuckles on the opposite door in operation. Increasingly French windows are being manufactured with very narrow frames in order to maximise the amount of glass and thus light that can come into a room. The drawback with this is that the frames may be so narrow that locking mechanisms available may not be narrow enough to fit in the frames causing security problems. It is advised that available locking mechanisms be investigated before door frame sizes are confirmed.

French windows that incorporate some form of central style provide more options as doorknobs can potentially be used, and the additional frame depth created can make the fitting of locking mechanisms simpler.

Below are a number of fitting set-ups for French windows that have been created to demonstrate some the various options available.

FULLY GLAZED

Option 1: Slave Leaf Surface bolt, Flush bolt, Mortice bolt (2 bolts fitted top and bottom), Active Leaf Mortice Sash Lock (1no.), Rebate set (1no.), Lever handles (1pr.), Bolts as slave leaf (optional).

Option 2: Slave Leaf Surface bolt, Flush bolt, Mortice bolt (2 bolts fitted top and bottom), Mortice Dead Lock (1no.), Rebate set (1no.), Escutcheons (2no.), Active Leaf Surface espagnolette (1no.).

Option 3: Slave Leaf Surface espagnolette (1no.), Active Leaf Surface espagnolette (1no.), Mortice Dead Lock (1no.) fitted to head of door Rebate set (1no.).

Option 4: Slave Leaf Surface bolt, Flush bolt, Mortice bolt (2 bolts fitted top and bottom), Active Leaf Mortice espagnolette (6 point) and components (1no.), Appropriate lever handles (1pr.).

Option 5: Slave Leaf Mortice espagnolette (2 point) and components (1no.), Appropriate lever handles (1pr.), Active Leaf Mortice espagnolette (6 point) and components (1no.), Appropriate lever handles (1pr.).

PARTIALLY GLAZED WITH CENTRAL STYLE

All options listed above plus the options below:

Option 1: Slave Leaf Surface bolt, Flush bolt, Mortice bolt (2 bolts fitted top and bottom), Active Leaf Mortice Dead lock (1no.), Rebate set for dead lock (1no.), Escutcheons (2no.), Mortice latch (1no.), Rebate set for latch (1no.), Door Knobs (1pr.), Bolts as slave leaf (optional).

Option 2: Slave Leaf Surface bolt, Flush bolt, Mortice bolt (2 bolts fitted top and bottom), Active Leaf Mortice Dead lock (1no.), Rebate set for dead lock (1no.), Escutcheons (2no.), Rim lock (1no.), Door knobs (1pr.) suitable for use on rim locks, Bolts as slave leaf (optional).

Option 3: As option 1 but surface espagnolette on slave leaf.

Option 4: As option 2 but surface espagneolette on slave leaf.