It is often confusing when and when not to fit a rebate kit.  Let us expalin what rebate kits are, how to use them, and whene and when not to use them when fitting ironmongery.

In the ironmongery world, you’d use a rebate kit when:

You’re fitting hardware into a rebated (stepped) door frame or leaf, and the standard product won’t sit correctly on its own.

In short: the rebate creates a gap or misalignment, and the rebate kit fixes that.

But first…What is a Rebate Kit?

A rebate is essentially a groove/strip that is cut into the edge of a door to allow two doors to overlap where the meeting ends of the doors join when closed.  The term ‘rebated doors’ is used to describe a set of two doors which have been cut, or rebated, into one another.

A Rebate Kit is an ironmongery accessory that is used to allow a lock or latch mechanising to be fitted correctly on a pair of double opening rebated doors.   A Rebate kit is a shaped surround for a latch that will make level the rebate on the face of both the double doors at the point where the latch is placed. This allows the doors to latch into place properly and securely.

The Rebate Kit made up of two parts – The Face Plate, or Lock Distance Piece and The Strike Plate.

Click here to view the Atlantic UK range of rebate kits. 

Where is each part of the rebate kit fitted?

The Face Plate is used on the master door and the strike plate is used on the slave door.

What is the master and slave door?

These are the doors that make up a set of double doors.

  • The Slave door is the door that remains primarily closed. This door usually does not have a handle
    on and if it does it will be a dummy handle (one which does not operate a locking mechanism). This is the door
  •  that the striker plate will be fitted.
  • The master door is the most used door (main door) in the double door set. This is the door that the rebated latch will be fitted as well as the operating handle.

Common situations where a rebate kit is needed

1. Rebated double doors

  • Especially with double-leaf fire doors

  • Closers, coordinators, panic hardware, or latches often need a rebate spacer or kit so everything lines up across both leaves

2. Door closers on rebated frames

  • Many overhead closers are designed for flush frames

  • A rebate kit spaces the closer body or arm out so:

    • The arm doesn’t bind

    • The door actually closes properly

3. Panic / emergency exit hardware

  • Rim panic bars and latches often need rebate kits on:

    • Rebated meeting stiles

    • Double escape doors

  • Without the kit, the latch won’t engage cleanly

4. Fire-rated or compliant door sets

  • Fire doors are commonly rebated

When you don’t need one

  • Flush single doors

  • Hardware specifically designed for rebated doors

  • Concealed closers or systems already tested on rebated assemblies

Why it matters (a lot)

Skipping a rebate kit can cause:

  • Poor closing action

  • Excessive wear

  • Failed fire inspections

  • Non-compliance with test evidence

  • Angry installers

Atlantic UK offers rebate kits in 15 finish options for CE certified tubular latches.

View the Atlantic UK range of rebate kits here:  https://atlanticbase.dev-version.website/?s=rebate+kit