What Standard Should Your New Locks Be?

Many people don’t know about the British Lock Standards. The most popular being BS3621 or BS8621. It might seem odd that these standards are so important. However, without them, it is difficult to determine how secure and reliable your locks are.

British Lock Standards exist to make sure that locks you install in your doors are tested thoroughly and meet certain requirements. These boxes will make your property more secure and deter criminals. These locks will help you reduce your home insurance premium and ensure that your policy is valid.

Let’s now address the crucial question: What British Standards are they and what is BS3621/BS8621?

BS3621, which was established in 2007, is the British Standard for Lock assemblies that can be opened and closed using a key from the outside and inside of the door. This standard was applicable to Mortice deadlocks, Sash Locks, euro deadlocks, Sash Locks, and cylinder locks such as Night latches or rim cylinders. These locks must meet BS3621 requirements. One example of this is that locks must have five levers and be capable of enduring a drill attack lasting up to 5 minutes. They must also have an anti-picking mechanism, and a minimum bolt length. These locks are considered good ‘thief-resistant locks’ if they meet these criteria. To assess new locks, the British Standards Institute (BSI), conducts rigorous testing. These tests include common ‘attack’ methods and wear reliability. A ‘Kitemark” is given to the specific lock design and product if it passes these tests.

The BSI Kitemark, which is the most widely recognized symbol to indicate trustworthiness, reliability, and quality, is the most well-known. This kitemark should be prominently printed on packaging and on the lock’s face.

The BS8621 standard is the same as the one that must be met. However, it refers to locks that can be ‘operated using a key from outside the door and a handle or thumb-turn on the inside of the doors’.

It is best to buy locks from a trusted source and to keep an eye out for the Kitemark to ensure that your locks provide adequate security. If you have any questions, Durham locksmith will be able to help you find the right type of lock for you. We are a highly skilled locksmith based in Durham and can assist you in fitting locks correctly and securely.