Julian Roberts
Julian Roberts, technical services director at UAP, the specialist in hardware and locking systems for the fenestration sector, discusses the vertical and horizontal models in the UAP Fullex Kinetica+ K4 range and provides tips on selecting the most appropriate model.
For most end users, a vertical cylinder is the expected and most natural installation; whether they are opening the front door to their property or their double doors onto the garden. But different designs of door, different property layouts and personal preference all have an influence on whether a vertical or horizontal 3* cylinder is the most appropriate choice.
Personal Preference
Personal preference is usually the key driver for the choice between a vertical and a horizontal cylinder, but it’s important to understand the needs of the end user to ensure that the installation is aligned to the requirements. This includes a consideration of the installation environment, along with the position of the cylinder in the door. Sometimes, where a vertical cylinder might be the obvious choice, a horizontal cylinder can provide a solution to a spatial issue, for example, or there may be aesthetic factors to consider.
In many ways, whether a vertical or horizontal cylinder is chosen is immaterial, because both options are usually equally simple to install and use. Both can be keyed alike, to enable the end user to operate more than one lock with a single key if, for example, they have a pair of double doors, or they want to use the same key to access their home at both the front and the rear.
Security Perceptions
The design of horizontal cylinders means that they are often perceived to offer more robust levels of security, so this may be a consideration for properties where the residents feel vulnerable or locations where there is a greater risk of break ins. In reality, if they are Secured by Design accredited, BSI 3* Kitemarked, and Sold Secure Diamond Standard approved, both vertical and horizontal cylinders will provide a robust level of security that makes it extremely difficult for criminals to break. Nonetheless, perceptions can carry substantial value, both for residents and insurance companies. For developers constructing retirement villages and assisted living projects, offering assurances of the number of different key combinations provided by the cylinder installed is another marketing message to add into the mix.
The UAP Fullex range of Kinetica+ K4 3* cylinders highlights the key difference between vertical and horizontal models. Both models are BSI Kitemarked and Secured by Design accredited and Sold Secure Diamond Standard approved and they have many of the same security features, including UAP’s innovative anti-pick, anti-bump and anti-drill systems. Vertical Kinetica+ K4 cylinders provide more than 200,000 different key combinations thanks to six vertical pins within the cylinder. In the horizontal model, these are replaced with six dimple pins and five laser track side pins, creating the potential for 13 million differs, and making the lock even more difficult to pick.
As an additional security measure, the UAP Fullex Kinetica+ K4 horizontal cylinder has been designed to allow only single-orientation key insertion. This has enabled the in-house UAP design team to create a smaller keyway for the horizontal model, making it even harder to attack the cylinder.
By working closely with locksmiths to understand the latest techniques, the UAP design team approaches product development with a problem solving focus that considers new ways to overcome attempts to break in. Meanwhile, an emphasis on the end-user means that the design considers ease of use and convenience too; in this case, leading to the provision of an indentation on the key to indicate the correct key position for the end user, making it easier for them to open the door first time, every time.
Just like the vertical model, the Kinetica+ K4 horizontal cylinder is supplied with three UAP Fullex Bio keys, which have antibacterial and antiviral properties. The Bio keys have been tested to ISO 22196:2011 standards and shown to reduce Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia col. They have also been tested to ISO 21702:2019 standards and shown to reduce SARS-COV-2 (COVID-19). The Bio keys’ unrestricted keyway makes it easier to have duplicate keys cut using the UAP Fullex Kinetica key blank, making both the vertical and horizontal models suitable for both domestic use and small mastersuite installations for commercial projects or multi-occupancy environments.
Functionality First
Ultimately, all cylinders – vertical or horizontal – should be ease to install, smooth to operate and capable of providing robust security performance throughout their service life. For those unsure whether to opt for a vertical or horizontal cylinder, the specification choice begins by selecting a brand you can trust.