Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, usually a screwdriver or cordless screwdriver is sufficient to remove the protective fittings and pull out the door handle.

Mortice lock door handle sets, BB sets for short, are suitable for room doors made of wood. Doors that are typically equipped with a door lock cylinder require a door handle with profile cylinder insert, or PZ for short. The most common door handle for use on bathrooms and toilets is the WC set with closer. For more intelligent closing and locking, there are door handles with Griffwerk smart2lock technology. The locking mechanism is integrated in the handle. You no longer need a key rosette. Smart2lock handles also impress with a modern and puristic design.

Door handles are very easy to change: Remove the old handles - to do this, simply loosely turn the small grub screw on one side of the door and pull both door handles outwards. Then remove the door plates or rosettes and mount the new handle set in the reverse order of removal. Finished.

It is best to buy from specialised retailers, such as timber merchants or glaziers. You can find recommended dealers at www.griffwerk.de/en/store-locator/

Basically, weekly cleaning is sufficient. First remove dust or similar particles with a dry towel, then wet with detergent and wipe thoroughly. In pandemic times like Covid-19, we recommend disinfecting hard surfaces that are touched often several times a day. So if there is a risk of your door handles being touched by infected or possibly infected people, wet the door handle with disinfectant. Pay special attention to the areas where the hand rests. Allow the disinfectant to take effect. Please follow the manufacturer's instructions. Finally, wipe the surface once with a disposable towel.

Escutcheons consist of door handle and cover or border of the door lock. Escutcheon fittings: Door handle and keyhole are connected with a metal plate ("door shield"). Interchangeable sets consist of two different door handles: on one side a classic door groff, on the other side a knob. 

Half sets are characterized by the fact that one side has a completely different door handle installed than the other - mainly to connect two rooms with different interior style. 

To disinfect a door handle set, you need a virucidal disinfectant for surfaces and disposable wipes - such as from a kitchen roll.
In the first step, wet the door handle completely with disinfectant. The areas where the palm of the hand rests on the door handle are particularly important. For WC sets, do not forget the WC lock. 
Afterwards, the disinfectant must act according to the manufacturer's instructions. Follow the respective product instructions.
Finally, wipe the surface with the disposable cloth. When doing so, avoid rubbing the cloth back and forth on surfaces that have already been disinfected and avoid using the cloth several times.
To ensure that the surface remains beautiful after frequent disinfection, it can be wiped with water or soapy water. Disposable cloths should also be used for this purpose. Throw the water away afterwards.

The price of a sliding door depends on how big it is, whether it is single or double-leaf and what glass is used. A single-wing door in the simplest version can be obtained from about 100 euros glass + 250 euros hardware, whereas a double-wing sliding door with digital printing decoration can sometimes cost more than 1,000 euros. 

Sound as well as kitchen odours, water vapour and draughts are kept out by the tightly closing PLANEO AIR SILENT sliding door system from GRIFFWERK. The seal is made possible by laterally attached rubber lips and a floor brush. Both elements are integrated into the surrounding aluminium profile and blend into the purist design. The door reveal remains unchanged. PLANEO AIR SILENT is comparable to a wooden door in terms of sound insulation.

Sliding doors are locked with a so-called circle and hook bolt. With an ordinary bolt, you could simply push the sliding door open again. The curved hook holds the door leaf to the frame so that you can no longer slide the door open. With our smart2lock handle, the sliding door can even be locked and opened with just one touch of the finger.

Sliding doors made of glass are in vogue because they offer many advantages over conventional doors made of other materials:

1. Aesthetics: sliding doors made of glass give rooms a modern and elegant look. They appear light and transparent, allow natural light to enter the room unhindered and create an open, airy atmosphere.
2. Space saving: One of the greatest strengths of sliding glass doors is the space they save. Since they do not swing inwards or outwards, but slide along a track, they do not require any additional space for the door opening area. This makes them ideal for rooms with limited space.
3. Natural lighting: Sliding glass doors maximise the amount of light entering the room and help make the space feel brighter and more welcoming. They can reduce the need for artificial lighting and thus save energy.
4. Room separation and flexibility: Sliding glass doors offer flexibility in room design as they can be used as partitions to separate different areas in a room without compromising visual connectivity. This is particularly useful in open-plan living concepts or office spaces.
5. View of the surroundings: When sliding glass doors are used to access terraces, balconies or gardens, they allow an unobstructed view of the surrounding landscape or the outside world.
6. Modern design and variety: There is a wide range of designs, styles and frame types for sliding glass doors. The choice ranges from simple, straight-lined doors to ornate and decorative variants that blend harmoniously into any architectural concept.
7. Safety: Modern sliding glass doors are usually made of safety glass such as toughened safety glass (ESG) or laminated safety glass (VSG). This ensures that they pose less risk of injury in the event of breakage.
8. Accessibility: Sliding glass doors are usually easy to open and close, which makes them particularly accessible for people with limited mobility.

The advantages of sliding glass doors are:

1. Light transmission: sliding glass doors allow natural light to enter rooms, providing a brighter and friendlier atmosphere.
2. Optical illusion: sliding glass doors can visually enlarge the space and give a more open impression.
3. Design: sliding glass doors can be made in a variety of colors textures and designs, making them a stylish addition to any room.
4. Easy cleaning: Sliding glass doors are easy to clean and do not require extensive maintenance.
5. Weather Resistance: sliding glass doors are ideal for outdoor use as they are weather resistant and durable.
6. Flexibility: sliding glass doors can be used in both residential and office spaces, offering maximum flexibility.

Sliding doors save space in the room, because they do not need a swing area. Therefore, they are particularly suitable for small rooms or niches, which otherwise could not be used.

However, sliding doors are also practical room dividers for very large rooms that you want to divide only temporarily.  Especially in apartments with large but few rooms, a sliding door as a room divider can organize space in a useful and flexible way. Intelligent opening and closing of sliding doors as room dividers can also improve the indoor climate and save energy.

There are historical records and archaeological findings that indicate that Sliding doors were used in Antique times. For example, in the ancient Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum were found remains of Sliding doors, which were buried by a volcanic eruption around the year 79 AD. These doors were made of Wood and were built into walls or niches.

One of the earliest known uses of glass in doors comes from ancient Egypt and the Roman Empire. Remains of Windows with thin glass panels have been found in Pompeii and Herculaneum, ancient Roman cities. It is possible that these techniques evolved over the centuries to create Sliding doors with glass panels that could allow more light into interior spaces.

However, the development of modern Glass sliding doors as we know them today probably occurred during the 19th century as a result of the Industrial Revolution and advances in glass production and processing.

You can even find reasonably priced glass doors from Griffwerk for less than 150 euros. Our most luxurious models are priced at more than 1000 euros.

Yes. Existing frames for wooden doors can also be used for glass doors. When installing a glass door, please note whether 2-part hinges or 3-part hinges are to be used. To match the respective hinges, only the frame section needs to be replaced, readjusted and screwed tight. Then just hang it in place. That's it.

The more mass a door has, the more sound-absorbing the material is and the better the door seals, the better it protects against noise. Wooden doors are thicker but not generally more sound-absorbent than glass doors. With sliding doors, it is important to use a suitable sealing system. It closes the open gap between the door leaf and the wall.

For glass doors, you can use your existing frame.

With warm water and a sponge or a soft, lint-free towel. Clean large areas, not selectively.
Residues such as fingerprints can also be removed with commercially available glass cleaner (foam cleaner). Please do not use any abrasive, corrosive, acidic or alkaline cleaning agents. They attack the surface. Wipe excess water dry with a microfibre cloth. Because: If water acts on the glass door over a longer period of time, stubborn limescale residues can form.
In the case of laminated glass doors, do not allow the edge seal to come into contact with water, otherwise moisture and cleaning agents will penetrate between the connected glass panes.

Basically, glass always consists of five main ingredients: Quartz sand, dolomite powder, lime powder, sulphate powder and soda powder. These raw materials are mixed together and heated so that they melt. Depending on which product is to be produced, there may be a different mixing ratio. The molten glass is then poured into a vat of molten tin. As tin is heavier than glass, the liquid glass floats on the surface and forms a thin "film" there. This "film" can then be rolled onto a belt and is then cut and made into the glass door.
For cooling, the method of "tempering" is used for glass doors. The molten glass is cooled down extremely quickly, making it more robust and break-resistant.
Glass doors from Griffwerk undergo further manufacturing steps depending on the design. For example, for VSG glass, two ESG glass panes are joined with a plastic film. For screen printing, we use ceramic paint that burns patterns or other motifs into the glass. With the help of laser technology, fine lines can be engraved into the glass door.

Yes, Griffwerk offers a made-to-measure option for Glass doors. Customers can specify the desired dimensions to ensure that the doors fit perfectly into their premises.

To ensure the stability of the special size Glass doors, the smallest possible dimension is 1000 x 2100 mm. We manufacture special size glass doors up to a maximum dimension of 1400 x 2500 mm.

Lockable window handles are suitable as an additional means of burglary protection or child safety. Whether plastic windows or noble wooden frames - whether plain silver or noble brass look - in our Griffwerk range you will find the right lockable window handle for every window variant. Ask your specialist dealer about Griffwerk products.

In the past, window handles were also called "window olives". This is because their shape was reminiscent of an olive. Nowadays, the one-armed lever or turn handles resemble the Mediterranean fruit less. But the term has still become common parlance in places of its own.

Yes, lockable window handles can be standardised. To be more precise, this is DIN 18267 for "latchable, lockable and lockable window handles". The standard specifies certain dimensions that can be applied to all types of window handles: Square spindle 7 mm and screw joint spacing 43 mm. However, window handles with lift-slide, lift-slide-tilt or parallel slide-tilt elements are not covered by this standard. 

In addition, the DIN EN 13126-3 standard for window and door hardware applies to all window handles. It specifies certain quality standards, but no dimensions.

Our lockable window handles from Griffwerk are of course standardised handles.

Yes, you can easily put the handle in a horizontal position, loosen the bezel, unscrew the screws and pull off the old window handle. Put the new window handle back horizontally with the square into the frame and tighten the screws. Then put the new cover on it and the new window handle is ready.

First you should loosen the cover of the previous window handle. When doing this, align the handle horizontally so that you can reach the screws that connect the handle and the window. Now turn the cover that sits over the screws. If the cover is glued, loosen it carefully with a cutter knife.

Then remove the screws and pull off the window handle. Screws that are stuck can be loosened with a little oil.

Now you should clean the area where the handle was attached very thoroughly.

Finally, mount the new window handle. Hold it in the same horizontal position as the old handle. Now fix the square pin into the window frame. Now screw the new handle on as tightly as possible. Then close the new cover. Your window handle is now ready for use.

Colors and shapes of window handles determine how the entire room looks. In a playful country house living room, the CAROLA window handle from Griffwerk is certainly more appropriate than in a loft-style room. There, a simple design with clear contours, such as the SIEGER DESIGN MINIMAL MODERN window handle, is more convincing. A golden element has a different effect than a black one. An angular window handle with clear edges contrasts more than a curved handle.

Changing a window handle takes a maximum of ten to 15 minutes. Remove the cover to the screws, unscrew the screws, pull off the window handle, attach the new one. Done. 

Yes, you can replace glass fittings for glass doors yourself. A Phillips or slotted screwdriver and, if necessary, a hexagonal wrench and a drilling template are sufficient in most cases to change glass fittings.

A whisper latch is a door latch that has been partially coated with plastic. The plastic dampens the impact of the metal latch in the lock. Doors can thus be closed "whisper quietly". Whisper latches are available for door handles for wooden doors as well as for glass lock cases on all-glass doors.

Glass fittings are made of sturdy material, such as metal, stainless steel, brass or aluminum.

When cleaning glass fittings, water with a little washing-up liquid is often sufficient as a cleaning agent. After wiping with a towel, always dry well to avoid rust.

LSG doors can be used for glass door systems with clamp mounting SENSA by GRIFFWERK. The inner foil is only slightly elastic. We nevertheless recommend readjusting the screws of the fixing after some time and later if necessary. Glass doors, like wooden doors, can adapt to changing room conditions and thus change. Please refer to the respective product data sheets for detailed information.

To ensure that doors stay open or to protect against a hard impact, it is worth using a doorstop. Especially for glass doors, which break more easily if hit too hard. The door leaf and wall are thus not damaged. Glass doors in particular are protected with a doorstop.

Floor and wall door stops: To prevent the door from hitting the wall, door stops are fixed to the floor or wall. They are screwed or glued to the wall. Some are also equipped with magnets to stop the door. There are also floor doorstops that hold the door open by their own weight without being fixed. Door wedges are only placed on the floor and thus prevent the door from falling into the lock unintentionally. Risk of breakage: Door wedges should not be used for glass doors. Soft rubber door stops are suitable for glass.

There are heavy doorstops made of metal that stop doors based on their own weight and can weigh up to a kilo or more. Door wedges made of plastic or wood weigh only a few grams. As with door stops that are screwed into place, the weight does not matter because they are fastened with screws or wedged in place.

Doorstops are often made of silver stainless steel. Door stops made of plastic are available in almost all colours. For a harmonious overall appearance, it is worth considering the colour of the glass door and the door fittings.

Door stops can be made of stainless steel, metal, plastic, rubber or silicone. Door wedges are often made of wood as well as plastic. Sack-like door stops that are placed on the floor are usually made of fabric.

A security fitting is mounted on the front door and protects the profile cylinder and mortise lock from mechanical impact. This means that the lock cannot be broken open without considerable force - which deters burglars because it costs them time. The goal: to protect your house or flat from unwanted intruders.

Good security fittings are labelled with the manufacturer's name or mark, the resistance class and the test number. They are marked with the corresponding test and inspection mark.

Protective fittings protect doors, locking cylinders and handles against manipulation from the outside. They are composed of an inner shield with a door handle or door knob and a resistant outer shield to which a knob, handle or door lever is attached. Screwed from the inside, protective fittings have no attack surface for burglars: nothing sticks out that can be broken off or twisted or pulled out.

Anyone who wants to provide additional protection for their home or property can take one of the following special measures. GRIFFWERK does not sell these products, please contact an appropriate specialist dealer if you are interested.  

• Multi-point lock: A multi-point lock is an alternative to the mortise lock that secures the front door with up to 7 locking elements.  
• Hinge side security: With hinge side security, several toothed elements interlock in order to keep the attack surface for mechanical effects as small as possible. 
• Sturdy striking plate: High-quality striking plates allow the deadbolt and latch of the mortise lock to engage when the front door is closed.
• High-quality locking cylinder: A burglar-proof locking cylinder ensures increased security through drilling and picking protection. 
• Stable door hinges: Door hinges connect the door frame or frame and the door leaf - similar to a hinge. Deeply anchored door hinges protect against the door being prised open.

A security upgrade in rented flats, like all changes affecting the building fabric, must be agreed with the owner. It makes sense to obtain written permission, which also excludes the obligation to dismantle the building when moving out. Ideally, change requests can be clarified before the tenancy agreement is signed.

Never just pull the front door closed. Under certain circumstances, they are legally considered to be unlocked. In order to benefit from insurance cover in the event of damage, it is worth checking with your insurance company. Take this opportunity to clarify whether the resistance class of the protective fittings is sufficient.

Doors are divided into five sound insulation classes:

• Sound insulation class 0: Test value (Rw,P) min. 27 dB corresponds to requirement value (Rw,R) min. 22 dB
• Sound insulation class 1: Test value (Rw,P) min. 32 dB corresponds to requirement value (Rw,R) min. 27 dB (for corridors, workrooms, staircases etc.)
• Sound insulation class 2: Test value (Rw,P) min. 37 dB corresponds to requirement value (Rw,R) min. 32 dB (for classrooms, hotels etc.)
• Sound insulation class 3: Test value (Rw,P) min. 42 dB corresponds to requirement value (Rw,R) min. 37 dB (for treatment rooms in surgeries etc.)
• Sound insulation class 4: Test value (Rw,P) min. 47 dB corresponds to requirement value (Rw,R) min. 42 dB (special cases)

Bel is an auxiliary unit of measurement named after Alexander Graham Bell. It is common to express values in decibels (dB). One decibel is equal to ten Bel. Decibels are used to measure the level of noise. The higher the value, the higher the level and the louder the noise. Even a quiet garden has a noise level of about 25 dB. A television broadcast is already at 35 dB and a normal conversation at 45 dB. An aeroplane, measured at close range, comes to 114 dB. Also interesting: a difference of 10 dB represents a doubling or halving of the level. So the difference between 110 dB and 120 dB is immense. On the other hand, a sound insulation of 10 dB already halves the noise pollution by about 50%. A door with a sound insulation value of 30 dB (sound insulation class 1) therefore already minimises a conversation of 45 DB to the level of rustling paper or the ticking of a clock. Zero decibels would correspond to absolute silence. This practically does not occur. Noise is only perceived by humans from approx. 2 dB.

A distinction is made between airborne sound and structure-borne sound. Sound can therefore propagate not only in the air but also in bodies or materials. Only in a vacuum would there be no sound waves. Solid materials and liquids conduct sound even better than air. The speed in air is about 333 metres per second, in rubber only 40 metres, in water 1480 metres, in wood up to 5500 metres and in steel even 6,000 metres (which corresponds to over 21,000 km/h !). Concrete and stone can have similarly high values. In summary, the less a building material can be made to vibrate, the less it transmits sound.

The sound reduction index of a door is measured in Rw,P and determined in a laboratory on a test bench. In the installed state, the values can deviate due to the environment and installation; in this respect, one assumes approx. 5 dB and speaks of a so-called conditional measurement. This means that the actual test value of a door (Rw,P) must be at least 5 dB higher than prescribed for the respective application. The requirement is measured in Rw,R. The formula is therefore: Rw,R = Rw,P - 5 dB. Detailed information is recorded in DIN 4109 or VDI 4100.

Windows and doors influence how much sound enters a room. Windows and doors are also sound-reflecting surfaces. They therefore also change the room acoustics in a room. In a normal living environment, however, sound reflection through doors hardly plays a role, especially since large wall surfaces, and especially ceilings, have a much greater influence on room acoustics. However, if you are very particular, sound sources should not necessarily be positioned near windows and doors and should not be exposed to direct sound. In general, there should be no large, sound-reflecting surfaces opposite speakers.

While the noise level is indicated in decibels, the unit Hertz stands for the frequency, i.e. the number of regularly occurring processes per second. The unit was named after the German physicist Heinrich Hertz. Humming, low-pitched noises, such as those produced by a car engine, have frequencies below 1000 Hz. The human ear can perceive a range of 10-10000 hertz. The higher the frequency, the higher the sound. Up to 18 000 hertz is called high-frequency sound. Ultrasound is above this and is only heard by some animals such as dogs or bats. Dark tones correspond to slow waves and light tones to very fast waves.

Reverberation is caused by the reflection of a sound wave. The sound hits a surface and is reflected by it. Basically, all sounds in a room reverberate until they have lost their vibrational energy. The reverberation time therefore describes the time from the origin of the sound to its decay. The sound level plays a role here. The louder the sound, the longer it reverberates.