Locks play a crucial protecting your home, family, and belongings. So it makes sense that you’d want the best quality product that money can buy. But with so many locks to choose from, knowing what’s best isn’t always easy.
So, how exactly do you find the best lock to protect your property? UK experts from Locksmith Leeds recommend BS3621 locks, as these products meet some of the highest security standards around. Let’s take a deeper dive into BS3621 locks and why they’re an excellent choice for keeping your property safe and secure!
What is the British Standard Institute?
The British Standards Institute (BSI) is the national standards body that provides technical standards for a massive range of products and services available in the UK, including locks.
Products with BS ratings have passed rigorous testing standards when it comes to quality and reliability. As a result, locks with BS standards offer some of the best security, with the BS3621 being one of the highest standards on the market.
An Overview of BS3621 Locks
BS3621 standard was established around 60 years ago covers locks found on external doors common on UK properties. The goal of the standard was to ensure that external locks on front and back doors provide suitable break-in resistance.
Because properties with BS3621 locks offer the highest levels of protection from burglaries and forced entries, it’s a no-brainer to have them on your doors. The BS3621 standard covers wood and timber doors, which typically feature mortice and cylinder locks. You can also find BS3621 locks in industrial properties.
BS3621 have a strict criteria to ensure they meet a high standard. This include having five or more movable levers and 1,000 key patterns. The locks must also have inaccessible screws when the lock and door are engaged and have suitable protection from drilling.
Benefits of BS3621 Locks
Professional locksmiths around the UK recommend BS3621 because it provides outstanding protection for your property. These locks undergo some of the highest testing standards against forced entry and tampering, such as drilling and lockpicking.
Any lock manufacturers that want to obtain BS3621 standards for their products must go through regular inspections. These inspections include annual sample testing and production checks, ensuring BS3621 lock products continue to meet the highest year in, year out.
BS3621 locks are so reliable that they are a requirement for many UK insurance providers. So, if your home has BS3621 locks, they could help lower your insurance premium! Landlords may also be legally required to upgrade to BS3621 locks if the current locks aren’t meeting existing standards.
How to Check if You Have BS3621 Locks
Not sure if your home has BS3621 locks? Don’t worry, it’s easy enough to identify them by checking the lock faceplate. Just open your door and lock on the side where the lock is installed. There should be a BSI kitemark engraved on the lock.
Simply check the number below the kitemark to determine if it’s a BS3621 lock. There might be additional info with the number, such as the standard year. The more recent the year, the newer your lock is.
If you notice both the kitemark and standard number, then your locks are BS3621 compliant. If you’re unsure, get in touch with a local locksmith who can quickly check for you.
What Locks are BS3621 Compliant?
The main criteria for BS3621 compliance is that locks at five or levels. This covers several lock types common in UK properties, including mortice sash locks, mortice dead locks, Euro sash locks, and Euro dead locks.
Conclusion
BS3621 locks are the best locks on the market for protecting external doors. All BS3621 lock with the have been extensively tested against common break-in methods like lockpicking and drilling to ensure that they provide the utmost protection for your property.
If you’re unsure whether your locks are BS3621 compliant, check the lock faceplate for a BSI kitemark and the standard number. Alternatively, call a local locksmith company, such as Lock & Key, who can send a locksmith check locks for BS3261 compliance and upgrade your locks if needed.
