Deadbolt: latch or key

[kamaaina1]

My entry door has a dead bolt installed, but I changed it to a "key/key", meaning no latch on inside.  You need the key to unlock.  I did this because we have a sky light that runs down the side if the door.  My thinking was, someone could break glass, and just have to turn latch to enter home.  Now that I'm thinking about it; in case of fire, I would need to locate key to exit door.  Would it be better if I reinstalled the inside latch instead?   
   Love the show!!!
  Thanks gang!

[bjtraz]

Welcome Kamaaina, Enjoy ur stay with us. As for as the lock goes, in a single family home, it is ur preference, the bldg code doesn't address it. If it is a multi-family, it must be able to operate w/o any special knowledge or keys. I personally prefer a single cylinder (w/o inside key) dead bolt for the very reason you mention. I have windows in the door, but feel the fine motor skills needed to find and insert a key would be questionable in an emergency situation. YMMV!

Brian

[Timothy]

Latch on the inside is the preferred method.  There isn't much to stop a person from entering a basic home defense system.  I'm not a pro and I could get into most homes where I've lived in seconds.

Not worth putting yourself into danger.  Close off the side lite and leave a light on outside.

[Solus]

Put a small hook on the door molding out of reach of the window and hang the key from it.

It will always be handy for anyone leaving the house.  I have a lock on my mail box and that is where the key resides.
 

[bodean87]

The only thing that a lock is going to do is keep an honest person honest.  As far as breaking the window to unlock the door, It would be faster to just kick the door in. In my experiance in forcing doors, it dosen't take much to open a residental door even with deadbolts. The door frame is normaly the weakpoint.
   I would put the latch on the inside instead of a cylinder. In a fire you wont be able to see to find the key on a hook even if you know where it is and if you have to stand to get it, you just killed yourself. Keep everything simple. Its going to be hard enough to get the door unlocked in a fire with the smoke, heat and limited visibilty to no visibility.

[Sponsor]

[jaybet]

Ex Fire Chief... no key for safety reasons, and it won't keep a BG out if he wants to get in.

[tombogan03884]

If I really want to get into your (or any ones ) house, I will just chainsaw the wall, or back a truck through it.

[Michael Janich]

If you have a double-sided cylinder because there's a window next to the door, you're only mitigating the problem, not solving it. The window next to the door also means that you have a weak door frame, since the frame itself is unsupported on the window side.

If possible, get rid of the window and put something solid in its place. If you insist on natural light by the door, reinforce the frame and replace the standard glass with glass or plastic block. Its much stronger and does lend some support to the door structure.

As mentioned, for safety reasons, a latch is preferable.

Stay safe,

Mike

[r_w]

If you have a double-sided cylinder because there's a window next to the door, you're only mitigating the problem, not solving it. The window next to the door also means that you have a weak door frame, since the frame itself is unsupported on the window side.

If possible, get rid of the window and put something solid in its place. If you insist on natural light by the door, reinforce the frame and replace the standard glass with glass or plastic block. Its much stronger and does lend some support to the door structure.

THANKS!  The thought of glass block never crossed my mind.  That is the perfect solution for retrofitting a sidelight. 

[Timothy]

I just recalled an incident from a few years ago.  I'd left a teakettle on the stove a few years back and stupidly melted it and started a small kitchen fire.  My daughter happened to catch it before it got worse but it still prompted the local FD to respond.

I'd never noticed, but the back door, which we never used, had a keyed internal latch and the Fire Chief wrote the owner a citation for not having a workable latch without a key.  Some municipalities may require the latch vs. the key.  He also bagged him for no CO detectors and not enough smoke detectors.

Don't count on building codes for your safety.