Jackloc is a well-established UK window restrictor brand with British Standard certification and a cable design widely used in care homes. LockLatch® is a South African-invented stainless steel latch that locks windows open at a chosen width. Both restrict windows. They solve different problems, and the differences matter more than most comparison sites acknowledge.
What Is the Strongest Window Restrictor on the Market?
Jackloc’s range includes products tested against British Standard BS 8213-1 at high force thresholds. The range is British-designed, British-made and widely specified for hospitals, care homes and local authority estates across the UK.
LockLatch® uses a solid C304 stainless steel arm rather than a cable. It is rust-resistant and carries a lifetime guarantee. The arm locks rigidly at an adjustable 9-17cm gap, which means it resists force in both directions. A cable restrictor resists pulling force but has no rigidity against sideways pressure.
Strength is not one number. It depends on what force the restrictor is intended to resist and in which direction.
Jackloc: Cable Restrictor for Closed-Position Safety
Jackloc restricts how far a window can open. The cable attaches to the frame and sash, limiting the gap to a fixed distance, typically 100mm for child safety compliance. The window can be fully closed and locked normally. The restrictor only activates when the window is opened.
Jackloc holds Secured by Design (SBD) approval. That accreditation covers closed-position security, which is the framework SBD categories assess.
Pricing typically sits in the mid-range bracket, widely available through UK retailers and specialist lock shops.
The cable design offers no adjustability at the user level. The restrictor opens to one fixed width set at installation. The cable itself provides no structural resistance to being pushed sideways.
LockLatch®: Rigid Arm for Open-Position Security
LockLatch® restricts the window and fastens it open but locked at a predetermined gap. That gap is adjustable between 9 and 17cm. The arm is rigid stainless steel, locked in place by a pin secured with a removable key.
The product was invented in South Africa where the need is different. Homeowners there leave windows open for ventilation in extreme heat but need security against break-ins and wildlife. A cable restrictor does not solve that problem because it has no rigidity and cannot lock the window in the open position.
LockLatch® sits outside existing Secured by Design categories. SBD was approached but does not currently have a category that fits open-position security devices. That is not a failure of the product. It is a gap in the accreditation framework.
LockLatch® fits any window or door whatever the frame is made from and whichever way it opens. Installation takes about 15 minutes. The fixing method uses one-way security screws on wood and steel frames, or pop rivets on uPVC and aluminium. Four small holes are drilled into the frame, then secured using either a screwdriver or a rivet gun depending on the frame type.
Do Window Locks Stop Burglars?
Most standard window latches are simple mechanisms that a determined intruder can bypass in seconds. Industry guidance on burglary prevention consistently notes that factory-fitted window latches provide limited security against forced entry.
A cable restrictor adds a fixed limit that prevents the window from opening beyond a set point. That stops entry through an opened window but does not change the closed-window security.
LockLatch® does not add extra security to a closed window. It only adds security to the open position, which the existing window mechanism cannot provide. The distinction matters. If you need closed-window security, upgrade the existing lock. If you need open-window security, that is what LockLatch® was designed for.
Are Window Restrictors a Legal Requirement in the UK?
Not universally. Window restrictors are legally required in buildings where at-risk individuals, such as children or care residents, can access a window above a certain height. For standard residential properties, they are recommended but not mandatory.
Rental properties face stronger expectations. The Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) includes falls from windows as a Category 1 hazard. Landlords are expected to mitigate this risk. Cable restrictors and LockLatch® both satisfy that requirement in different ways.
Both LockLatch® and MiniLatch® comply with the 100mm child safety rule because the footplates usually mount to the middle of the frame rather than the very edge, which reduces the practical opening by roughly 3-4cm below the nominal adjustable range. The effective opening sits well within the 100mm regulatory threshold.
Which Should You Choose?
Choose a cable restrictor like Jackloc if you need a British Standard certified product for a care home, hospital, school or any building where SBD accreditation is a procurement requirement. The Jackloc range is built for that market.
Choose LockLatch® if you want to leave windows open for ventilation while maintaining security. If you need adjustable gap width. If you want a rigid arm rather than a cable. If you live somewhere where open windows need to stay locked open.
The products overlap in function but diverge in purpose. A cable restrictor restricts opening. LockLatch® locks the window in the open position at a chosen width. Both restrict. Only one locks open.
LockLatch® ships from distribution centres in South Africa and the UK, with the UK distribution centre located in Penley, near Wrexham. Shop LockLatch® now and see the full feature comparison.
