Locksmith Picard

Picard: the French specialist in combined armoured doors and locks

Picard is a French manufacturer that has carved out a specific niche: they build the door and the lock as a single integrated system. Unlike Fichet, where the armoured door and cylinder can be sourced independently, Picard designs the lock body, cylinder, and door panel to work together from the factory. This approach has gained a solid following in Brussels, particularly among homeowners in Uccle, Woluwe, and Watermael-Boitsfort who want a complete security solution installed in one go.

Vigie, Presence, and Diamant: understanding the Picard range

Picard's door range is structured in three tiers, each pairing a specific door with a matching lock mechanism:

• Vigie: the entry-level armoured door. It uses a 5-point lock with a standard Picard cylinder. Adequate for apartment front doors in buildings with controlled access. We install these mostly in mid-range apartment buildings.
• Presence: the mid-range option with a 7-point lock and an upgraded cylinder offering anti-picking and anti-bumping features. The door panel itself is thicker, with additional steel reinforcement around the lock area. This is the model we install most often.
• Diamant: the top of the range. A 9-point lock with a high-security cylinder, reinforced hinges, and anti-lever protection on all four edges. We recommend this for ground-floor properties and standalone houses where the front door faces the street directly.

What makes Picard different from Fichet on armoured doors

The main practical difference comes down to servicing. With Fichet, the cylinder and lock body are standardised components that can be replaced independently. With Picard, the lock mechanism is more tightly integrated into the door, which means that certain repairs require Picard-specific parts. We keep the most common Picard replacement cylinders and lock bodies in stock, but unusual configurations may require ordering from the factory, with lead times of 1 to 3 weeks.

On the positive side, Picard's integrated design means fewer compatibility issues at installation. The door, frame, lock, and cylinder arrive as a matched set, which eliminates the alignment problems we sometimes encounter when fitting third-party cylinders into Fichet doors.

Common issues with Picard doors in Brussels

We service around 5 to 8 Picard doors per month. The most common call is for cylinder replacement on Vigie doors from the early 2000s. These cylinders were not designed for the high cycle counts that Brussels apartment life demands, and after 12 to 15 years, the internal mechanism develops play.

Another issue we see regularly is hinge adjustment. Picard armoured doors are heavy, typically 70 to 90 kg, and the hinges can settle over time, causing the door to drag on the frame. This puts extra stress on the locking points and can prevent the bolts from engaging fully. We always check hinge alignment before diagnosing a lock problem on a Picard door.

Key management with Picard

Picard uses a proprietary key system with an ownership card, similar to Fichet and Bricard. Key duplication must go through Picard's authorised network. We handle the ordering process and typically deliver new keys within 2 weeks. For co-ownership buildings with Picard doors, we manage full key charts, ensuring that each unit's key is tracked and that master keys are accounted for when tenants change.

If you have a Picard door and your lock is becoming stiff or noisy, schedule an inspection rather than forcing the mechanism. Picard lock bodies are durable but not designed to operate under misalignment stress.