Parts, boxes, rails and mounting · Rolling Shutter Guide
What are anti-lift brackets on a manual rolling shutter, and where do they go?
Anti-lift brackets are small C-shaped brackets screwed inside the shutter box, on its back wall along the top edge, that stop a closed manual shutter being raised from outside without the strap. They are fitted with the curtain fully down, three screws each, screw holes at the top and the C shape facing down.
Key facts
- Anti-lift brackets are designed to prevent the shutter from being raised from the outside. Roll-A-Shield data
- Roll-A-Shield fits them to strap, crank-strap and crank-wand shutters only, two per curtain (two per panel on a split shutter). Roll-A-Shield data
- Each bracket takes three screws, inside the box on the back wall along the top inside edge, with the screw holes at the top and the C shape facing down. Roll-A-Shield data
- They are fitted with the curtain fully closed, spaced an equal distance apart, with the top of each bracket in line with the top of the box. Roll-A-Shield data
- The brackets ship in the parts kit with the diamond roller and the strap or crank box; the shop checks they are packed before a manual shutter leaves. Roll-A-Shield data
Applies to: Manual rolling shutters operated by a pull strap, crank strap or crank wand, including Roll-A-Shield's. Roll-A-Shield's order system does not add them to motorized or spring shutters.
Anti-lift brackets are the small security parts inside the box of a strap or crank shutter. They arrive loose in the parts kit and are fitted during installation, so on a self-installed shutter it is worth knowing what they look like and where they belong.
What do anti-lift brackets do?
They stop a closed manual shutter being raised from the outside. The install guide states their purpose as exactly that, and Roll-A-Shield's install video describes it as preventing the shutter being raised without the strap.
Each is a small C-shaped bracket screwed inside the shutter box, on the back wall, near the top. The same three screws that hold the bracket also help secure the box to the wall.
Which shutters have them?
On Roll-A-Shield shutters, the order system adds them only to manual shutters driven by a strap or crank.
| Operator | Anti-lift brackets? |
|---|---|
| Pull strap | Yes |
| Crank strap (crank box) | Yes |
| Crank wand | Yes |
| Spring (push-up) | Not added by the order system; spring shutters are ordered with a bottom-bar lock. One older spring-shutter install guide does show anti-lifts, so fit any that came in your kit |
| Motor (wired, remote, solar, battery) | No; the motor holds the closed curtain down |
The factory adds two brackets to each strap or crank shutter, two per panel if the shutter is split into panels. They go in the parts kit with the diamond roller and the strap box or crank box, and checking they are packed is part of the shop's final check on manual shutters.
Where exactly do they go?
Inside the box, on its back wall, along the top inside edge. Position each one with:
- its three screw holes at the top and the C shape facing down;
- the top of the bracket in line with the top of the box;
- the brackets an equal distance apart along the box.
They are fitted after the box is seated in the rails and the curtain has been unrolled, with the curtain fully closed.
How do I fit anti-lift brackets?
You need a drill with Phillips and square bits, a drill bit extension (the install guide notes you may need one to reach inside the box), three screws for each bracket, and a ladder.
- Lower the slat roll to the fully closed position.
- Hold the first bracket inside the box against the back wall, along the top inside edge: screw holes at the top, C shape facing down, top of the bracket in line with the top of the box.
- Space the brackets an equal distance apart.
- Fix each bracket with three screws.
- Drive one screw in each corner of the box near the metal safety plates. Do not overtighten them: that can distort the box and make the slat roll rub. If the shutter is over 8 ft wide, add a third screw in the middle of the box.
- Tighten the rail screws, again without overtightening, then raise and lower the shutter a few times.
For the screws themselves, see What screws to use on stucco, brick, wood and metal. The brackets are step 4 of the full manual-shutter install in How do I install a strap or crank rolling shutter?
Tip: If you open the box later, for example to replace a broken strap, check the brackets are still there with all three screws tight.
My manual shutter can be pushed up from outside. What should I check?
First, that the anti-lift brackets were fitted: they come loose in the kit, and they go in during installation. If they are there and tight and the shutter still lifts, or the brackets are missing, call (480) 921-0200 for replacement brackets or advice.
If you want a lock you can set and release as well, manual shutters can take a lock on the bottom bar; see How rolling shutters lock: key, thumb-turn and slide locks.
Watch it done
Manual strap shutter installation (anti-lift brackets shown)
The written steps on this page are the reference; the video shows the same job.
Frequently asked questions
How many anti-lift brackets does a shutter get?
Roll-A-Shield's build system adds two per curtain, or two per panel on a shutter split into panels. The install guide says the number depends on the size of the shutter, so fit every bracket that came in your kit.
Do motorized shutters have anti-lift brackets?
Not Roll-A-Shield's. The order system only offers anti-lift brackets on strap, crank-strap and crank-wand shutters; a closed motorized shutter is held down by its motor.
Is an anti-lift bracket the same as a lock?
No. The bracket works inside the box and needs no key. A lock is a separate option on the bottom bar of a manual shutter, for a positive lock you set and release. See How rolling shutters lock.
Why do I need a drill bit extension?
The brackets are screwed to the back wall of the box from the inside, and the install guide notes an extension may be needed to reach.
Parts and next step
Need a part or a hand?
Replacement motors, remotes, straps, slats and hardware ship from our Tempe, Arizona factory. Phoenix-area owners can book a service visit; everywhere else, our technicians help by phone. Call (480) 921-0200; the factory answers technical questions for any rolling shutter, not only ours.