Slats, materials and performance · Rolling Shutter Guide
How do rolling shutters stop break-ins, and how do they lock?
A rolling shutter puts a locked aluminum curtain over the glass, so getting in takes time, tools and noise. Motorized shutters are held down by the motor; manual shutters use slide, key or thumb-turn locks that engage the guide rails; the extruded slat runs in end-retention rails so the curtain cannot be pushed out of them.
Key facts
- Bottom-bar locks are a manual-shutter option; motorized shutters are not offered with them and rely on the motor to hold the curtain down. Roll-A-Shield data
- Roll-A-Shield's wired tubular motor has an electromagnetic disk brake that stops the curtain accurately and keeps braking if the power fails. Roll-A-Shield data
- On a spring shutter, turning the key or thumb-turn pushes two locking pins into the guide rails, not into the sill. Roll-A-Shield data
- End retention puts a screw at each slat joint (or every other joint) whose head rides in its own channel in the guide rail, so the curtain cannot be pushed out of the track. Roll-A-Shield data
- Roll-A-Shield does not stock spare keys; copies are cut from the key blank by a locksmith or hardware store. Roll-A-Shield data
- Roll-A-Shield claims no burglary or forced-entry certification; the security comes from the construction and the locks. Roll-A-Shield data
Applies to: Roll-A-Shield rolling shutters with motor, pull-strap, crank or spring operation on 38 mm and 55 mm insulated and 63 mm single-wall slats; the principles apply to most aluminum rolling shutters.
A rolling shutter is a security product first. Closed, it puts an aluminum curtain between the outside and the glass, and getting through it takes time, tools and noise. How well a particular shutter resists depends on three things: the slat, how the curtain is held in the rails, and how it is held down. Roll-A-Shield claims no burglary or forced-entry certification for its shutters; the protection comes from that construction.
How does a rolling shutter stop a break-in?
By being hard to lift, hard to push out of its rails and slow to cut through. Each part does one job:
| Part | What it resists | Where it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Motor and brake | The curtain being forced up from outside | Motorized shutters |
| Bottom-bar lock | The curtain being lifted | Manual and spring shutters |
| Anti-lift brackets | The shutter being raised without the strap | Pull-strap and crank shutters |
| End retention | Slats being pushed out of the guide rails | Extruded slats |
| Extruded slat | Cutting through the curtain | 63 mm single-wall |
Roll-A-Shield's own slat comparison rates the 63 mm single-wall extruded slat strongest, and marks it as resisting damage during a crime attempt; the 38 mm and 55 mm insulated slats are not marked that way.
How do motorized rolling shutters lock?
They do not need a separate lock: the motor holds the curtain down, which resists it being shoved up from outside. Roll-A-Shield's wired tubular motor has an electromagnetic disk brake that gives an accurate stop and full braking if the power fails. Bottom-bar locks are not offered on motorized shutters; one can be added only as a special factory exception.
Two choices change how a motorized shutter can be opened:
- Key switch. A wired motor can take an outdoor key switch, so the shutter can be raised from outside only with a key, alongside an inside wall switch. See key switches, wall switches and keypads.
- Manual override wand. A universal override has a fitting you hook the wand onto. On a Gosnell-style override the wand's hex end is fished into a hole in the box, which is harder to use in an emergency but gives someone without the wand nothing to grab and overpower. See the manual override.
How do manual and spring shutters lock?
With a lock in the bottom bar that engages the guide rails. On a spring shutter, turning the key or the thumb-turn pushes two locking pins into the guide rails, not down into the sill. The rails are drilled or notched at the factory to receive the lock. The lock sits on the box side or the back side of the shutter, chosen when the shutter is ordered.
| Slat | Lock options on a manual shutter |
|---|---|
| 38 mm insulated | Slide lock; heavy-duty locking bottom bar in select colors |
| 63 mm single-wall | Key lock or thumb-turn lock; heavy-duty locking bottom bar in select colors |
| 55 mm insulated | No lock option; this slat is built motorized only |
The heavy-duty locking bottom bar comes as key only, thumb-turn only, key on both sides, or key on one side with a thumb-turn on the other. Spring shutters must be ordered with a lock whenever one is available for the slat. Color affects which locks are available, so the exact option is confirmed on the quote.
Pull-strap and crank shutters also get anti-lift brackets, which mount at the rear of the box and stop the shutter being raised without the strap. See anti-lift brackets and spring-loaded shutters.
Tip: A manual lock only protects you when it is turned. Make locking part of closing the shutter.
Can a burglar lift or pry a rolling shutter up?
That is what the hold-down parts are for. On a motorized shutter the motor holds the curtain down; on a manual or spring shutter the lock holds it; on a strap or crank shutter the anti-lift brackets stop it being raised without the strap. The other route is pushing the slats sideways out of the rails, which is what end retention is for.
What is end retention, and do I need it for security?
End retention locks the slat ends into the guide rail. A screw at each slat joint has its head riding in a dedicated second channel in the rail, and the teeth of that channel block the heads, so the curtain cannot be pushed out of the track. It comes in two levels:
- Every other slat: alternating long and short screws. Roll-A-Shield generally recommends this level: it is the right security balance, with less friction, quieter running and a lower cost.
- Every slat: a long screw on every slat, for maximum-security jobs.
The 63 mm single-wall slat always runs in an end-retention rail. The 38 mm insulated slat cannot take end retention. More in Do I need end retention?
How do I get spare keys or replace a lost one?
Roll-A-Shield does not stock spare keys. Ask us for the key blank and have copies cut by a locksmith or hardware store. Locks are supplied with two keys. If every key is lost, the lock or its cylinder can be replaced; see lost keys and replacing a shutter lock. For the types of lock in more detail, see Do rolling shutters lock?
Are rolling shutters certified for security?
No. Roll-A-Shield's shutters hold no burglary or forced-entry certification, and they are not bullet-resistant. See Are rolling shutters bulletproof? If a specification calls for a tested security class, ask us before ordering; we will tell you plainly that the shutter has not been tested to it.
What next
In metro Phoenix, Roll-A-Shield measures, installs and services security shutters; elsewhere we build and ship them. Call (480) 921-0200 or request a quote.
Watch it done
Spring-loaded shutter: key and thumb-turn locks into the guide rails
The written steps on this page are the reference; the video shows the same job.
Frequently asked questions
Do rolling shutters lock automatically when they close?
A motorized shutter is held down by its motor as soon as it stops, with nothing to set. A manual or spring shutter is only locked when you turn the key, thumb-turn or slide lock.
Can I add a lock to my motorized shutter?
Roll-A-Shield does not offer bottom-bar locks on motorized shutters; one can be fitted only as a special factory exception. For keyed control from outside, a wired motor can take an outdoor key switch instead.
I lost the key to my shutter lock. What do I do?
Roll-A-Shield does not stock spare keys. Ask us for the key blank and have copies cut by a locksmith or hardware store; if every key is lost, the lock or its cylinder can be replaced.
Is a shutter fitted inside the room as secure as one outside?
A shutter inside the room still locks the opening, but someone outside reaches the glass before they reach the shutter. A shutter on the outside also protects the glass itself.
Parts and next step
Need a part or a hand?
Tell us what you are protecting and we will recommend the slat, end retention and lock. Call (480) 921-0200; the factory answers technical questions for any rolling shutter, not only ours.