As an emergency locksmith in my area, I have found that the majority of people don’t know much about lock standards. It’s a shame, because even basic information can be extremely useful. Standard locks ensure that your doors meet certain standards and have been tested thoroughly. They can make your home safer and prevent intruders. You may also have to ensure that your locks meet the required standards. If you don’t have the right lock standard, your policy might be invalid and your insurance company may refuse to pay.
1. What are British Standards?
Standardization is the best way to accomplish something or to meet certain criteria. Collaboration between experts, academics and users, as well as manufacturers, is what creates standards. These groups meet to exchange knowledge and best practices. The information is then put together into a standard document. British Standards apply to many technologies and industries. Any BS that is in compliance with a particular criteria will be considered to have met those specific criteria.
2. What is BS3621?
BS 3621 was adopted in 2007. It is the British Standard.
Lock assemblies can be operated with a key from both the outside and the inside of the door.
This standard applies:
Mortice Deadlocks & SashLocks
Euro DeadLocks & SashLocks
Cylinder locks e.g. Nightlatches and Rim cylinders
To comply with BS3621, a lock must meet specific design criteria. The lock must have five levers, be resistant to drill attacks for up to five minutes, have an antipicking mechanism, and have a specified minimum bolt length.
These locks are “good thief resistant” locks.
3. Are all exterior locks required to conform to BS3621?
It depends on the property type. External doors that conform to this standard must have locks installed. wood or timber doors. These are often found in domestic houses. These locks are affordable and provide maximum security.
They are not recommended for common main door exits in flats and apartments. A lock with a thumbwheel on one side and a key on one is better. This will allow emergency exit for all household without the need of a key.
4. How do I determine if my lock meets BS3621 requirements?
British Standards Institute (BSI), a British Standards Institute, conducts rigorous standardised testing in order to assess new locks. They include common “attack” methods and wear reliability as well as safety. BSI gives a “Kitemark”, which is a certificate that certifies the lock design and manufacturing product has passed this rigorous testing.
The BSI Kitemark symbol is one of the most widely recognized symbols that can be used to signify quality, reliability, trust and dependability. The kitemark and standard reference should also be stamped on locks that comply with BS3621. This information will be prominent on packaging material as well as the door opening.
5. Are insurance companies required to have locks that conform to BS3621?
Each insurance company has different requirements. But, almost all insurance companies require that the locks be compliant with BS3621. If you mistakenly state that your locks conform to this standard, and it is later proven not to be true, your insurance provider could reject your future claims.
6. Exist other lock standards
Yes, there are other standards which are specific for lock types. Here are some of these more popular ones.
BS8621 – Lock assemblies that are operated by a key on the outside and a thumbturn or handle on the inside.
As mentioned earlier, locks that require a key to enter but not exit are covered by the BS8621 standard. These locks are often found on main door exits of blocks of flats. They have a key outside and a thumb turn inside. This lock is ideal for emergency escape and does not require a key.
BS10621 – ‘Lock assembly in which the operating mode is switched between the normal BS8621operating modes and a secure, in which no egress can be possible’
This standard locks offer all the security and functionality that BS8621 locks have, plus the ability to turn the key from the outside to disarm the interior escape mechanisms (thumbwheel/thumbturn). You can lock up the escape function if you are the last person in a building.
TS007 three-star – This is an upgraded and improved Kitemark standard for cylinder lock cylinder locks. It was created by the Door and Hardware Federation and Glass and Glazing Federation. This update was specifically designed to combat criminals using specialized methods to specifically attack lock-cylinders. It offers multiple layers of protection.
