An opportunist will give up if a lock looks challenging, but some will actively seek easier targets if a lock looks like it can be opened easily. It might come as a surprise how difficult some locks are to open and how easy some are even if looks says otherwise. It is important to remember the lock you purchased a decade ago may not provide the level of security required today.
The standards that matter
BS 3621 is the lock standard that most will come across and importantly know. This is the standard your household insurance will likely request the locks on the final exit doors of your home comply with and is a common standard for doors of residences in the UK. Locks that are sor more compliant will have the Kitemark with the standard on it. Some insurance companies will deny claims to homes that don’t have locks compliant with BS 3621.
Sold Secure is a design system that rates locks and other security devices. Locks that are rated Diamond, the strongest rating, are required to meet a longer standard to be considered a diamond lock compared to steel locks and locks on motorcycles. Although it is specific to a doorset, LPS 1175 is also relevant.
The most important thing to keep in mind is that there is no standard for unrated locks, whereas rated locks have been rated, and their standards are known.
Cylinder, mortice, deadlock, and multipoint
There are a number of categories for the average person, and they are listed below.
Cylinder locks are standard for uPVC and composite doors — the cylinder is the component into which the key is inserted, and it controls a multipoint locking system installed on the door. Older versions of cylinder locks suffered vulnerabilities due to a lack of robust construction and were easy to break. These were called snap locks. Snap locks have evolved, and locks to the TS007 3-star standard or Sold Secure Diamond have eliminated these vulnerabilities, but many older buildings continue to have breaches due to the pervading use of snap locks.
Mortice locks are embedded into the core of a door, and are commonly installed on wooden doors. The standard for an insurance-compliant final exit wooden door is a five-lever mortice deadlock to the BS 3621 standard.
Multipoint locking systems are those in which bolts engage with the door frame at several points along the door’s edge when the door is closed. They are standard for most uPVC and composite doors, and a good replacement for heavy wooden doors that are at risk of being breached.
Smart locks: the advantages and disadvantages
Smart locks have become a real category of locks in the last few years. The advantages are very real, with fully digital locks that assign door codes to a recognized system for a programmable period, logs of everyone who has entered without the need for a key, and no more lost keys.
They’re smart for a reason. Smart locks can be dependent on a weak battery and poorly designed units can leave you locked out. Depending on the model, a smart lock can be WiFi dependent for certain functions. Smart locks don’t always meet the physical security standards of traditional locks.
Smart locks can be worthwhile investments for short term rentals and commercial properties, but for the average family home they are not as necessary.
Key management and padlocks
Padlocks could always use more praise than they get. Cheap brass padlocks do very little and Sold Secure Ratings exist for a reason. Gold and Diamond rated padlocks dramatically improve security. The difference is notable for gates, sheds, and even shipping containers.
Key management is one of the less appreciated topics. A master key system in commercial settings gives access to users to unlock more than one door, eliminating a bulk of keys. In residential settings key management is a bit more simplistic, but losing a key copy or letting too many copies exist is a good reason to move to a new lock.
Mistakes to avoid
The most common traps include assuming the lock installed with the house passes current standards when it most likely doesn’t, installing one decent lock onto an inferior door that gives way around it, selecting smart locks for the features without determining the level of security, and buying padlocks without regard for the rating, which is as important as it is for any other lock. A good lock on a bad door is a poorly spent dollar. A bad lock on a good door is a poorly spent dollar. Locks should be appropriately installed on doors, and both should be installed and matched based on the threat intended to keep out.