What's The Most Important "Myths" About Upvc Replacement Door Handles May Actually Be Right

· 5 min read
What's The Most Important "Myths" About Upvc Replacement Door Handles May Actually Be Right

UPVC Replacement Door Handles

The handles on your doors are worn out over time and need to be replaced. It is important to keep the same dimensions as the handles that were previously used when replacing them.

The top screw position as well as the lever and keyhole dimensions are the three measurements you have to determine. Check the size guide for help with this.

Inline Lever/Lever

A lever door handle is a contemporary handle that can be used on doors that are new or replacement. This kind of handle is available in many designs and finishes. A variety of manufacturers provide this handle, including Avocet ERA, Fullex, Hoppe, Mila, Millenco & Yale.

Fab and Fix Windsor Inline Sprung Lever Door Handle

The  door handles  of uPVC/Composite are made of robust materials and are suitable for multi point lock doors that require a heavy duty design. The handles are inline and work from the same spindle and screw fixings, so they can be easily fitted to doors made of uPVC/Composite, either new or old.

The spring lever design allows the handle to be placed and angled for comfortable operation and is suitable for all users. The handle has been tested for endurance up to 200 000 cycles. This ensures that the finish is of high quality and performance is maintained over time. The lever that is sprung can be reduced to accommodate the widest range of locks. This is especially useful in doors with smaller door frames where the cylinder is further back. A shortened lever is also a good choice for doors where the latch could be opened by a thumb turn inside.

Lever Pad

The lever pad upvc handle is different from the lever handles commonly found on doors. These handle types are either operated by one spindle, or two spindles, inline or offset. They are usually employed on UPVC double glazed doors and are available in a variety of variations and styles.

The handles are available in various finishes, including White, Chrome, and Gold. The finish is compliant with BS EN 1670:2007 Grade 5 and is also resistant to corrosion, which gives the handle a high degree of durability and performance for the intended use.

All UPVC lever pads for handles include a spindle and screws and can be installed on the uPVC door. The backplate fixing centres of 211mm permit a bigger size handle that is often a benefit when replacing a damaged or worn multi point door lock mechanism. The levers for these handles have springs, which eliminate the problem of door handles that move out of horizontal position when not being used.


It is important to ensure that the PZ dimensions of both the multipoint lock as well as the uPVC doors when selecting a replacement UPVC spindle and handle. This measurement is often known as the "handle centre" or "cylinder centres and is an essential aspect in ensuring that you have the appropriate handles.

Once you have decided on the correct size of PZ, you will need to make sure that the push and lever pads are shaped to match the American with Disabilities Act compliant handles that you need for your door. These are typically rectangular or round in shape with an internal lever and an external push pad.

The majority of UPVC lever pads that we sell are sprung, meaning that they return to their horizontal position after not in use, instead of hanging out and potentially sticking in the frame. This prevents drafts and cold air from entering a property. It is also the case that the majority of UPVC handle lever pad style handles are handed, allowing you to install them on either side of the door.

Euro Cylinder

Cylinder locks are usually found on uPVC doors, but can also be used on other types of doors. They operate by using a key that unlock a cylinder case which will reveal pins that can be aligned with those in the lock body and allow them to rotate an revolving cam, opening the door. Euro cylinders can be equipped with up to six pins with both internal and external doors usually needing different levels of security.

The selection of a cylinder is vital. It's dependent on the type of use your doors and handles receive. Doors that are external, for instance, should be fitted with higher security cylinders while internal doors can be secured using a standard cylinder. Some cylinders have extra features that increase security, for instance, anti drill or anti bump properties.

To ensure that the euro cylinder is the correct size for your door, it must be measured accurately. The cylinder needs to be measured from the screw hole in the center to the ends of the cylinder. This includes the thumb turn if there is one. If you cannot measure using the lock in its position, you can take it out of it. A cylinder that is protruding beyond the handle and escutcheon might be vulnerable to attacks, such as lock snapping, so it is essential that it's not too long.

The majority of modern cylinders have been made with bump and anti-drill features included in their design. They are designed to decrease the chance of a attack by causing the cylinder to rotate in an opposite direction. This can help deflect the attack, and protect your door.

Certain cylinders are constructed to resist snapping. This is a growing method of attack on cylinders which is where the break line of the lock is smashed by a tool that is specially designed to break the front of the cylinder to allow the door to open. This is much quicker and less difficult than opening the door with multipoint locks. It also leaves no evidence of a break-in which can hinder the insurance claim.

Spring Cassette

This spring cassette is found inside the base plate of your door handle. It is a spring-loaded solution to bring your multipoint lock handles to their normal position after use. In the past, a lot of handles didn't have a spring built into them and without this they can droop or  drop when the locking mechanism is removed. This simple part is the best way to address this issue. It also prevents your upvc door from becoming stuck in the closed or open position as they aren't easy to close manually.

The spring cassettes were made to be used with a sprung multipoint lock. They won't work with handles that aren't sprung and you'll have to cut a hole in your backplate for them to fit. (Please check the image for a technical diagram). They are a replacement for existing broken or missing cassettes within the door handle backplate of various brands of uPVC doors. They are sold as a single unit. They come with a square cut out that can accommodate an 8mm shaft.

These spring cassettes are an excellent value-for-money way to fix the problem of door handles that are sliding. They are simple to install and will extend the lifespan of your uPVC door. Contact us for more information on our range of uPVC accessories and spares. We are always available to provide expert advice and support you.