Insurance Approved Locks

Are your locks to the recommended insurance and police approved accreditations?

It is extremely important to ensure the locks to your home conform to your home insurance requirements as failing to do so can lead to any potential claim being invalid but more importantly the correctly accredited locks ensure you and your family stay safe against unwanted visitors.

Don’t worry, we are not going to bamboozle you with technical explanations as to the inner workings of different locks, that’s not our style.

BS3621 accreditation

"Does your door lock conform to British Standards BS3621?"

You may have seen the television advert being broadcast regarding insurance companies requiring locks being to the British standard of 3621 accreditation to comply with home insurance policies.

Many people have no idea what this standard means or how this accreditation is achieved and most importantly how do you know if your current locks have this required accreditation.

As always SheffLOCK are here to make this straight forward and easy for you to understand what is an Insurance Approved Lock.

We are simply going to provide you with a quick and easy guide to establish what accreditations (if any) your current locks are and crucially what markings to look for to ensure you have the correct locks fitted.

Firstly the BS 3621 standard is an accreditation awarded by the British Standards Institute (BSI) when a lock is classed as “thief resistant” having successfully passed the relevant testing which includes being attacked by all known prolific methods used by criminals to bypass the lock. This includes methods such as drilling and picking the lock to gain entry.

Approved by locksmiths

Here are some symbols you will see on all insurance approved locks. Few locks survive the test designed with the Master Locksmith Association and carried out by locksmiths. If they do pass the test they can carry the diamond symbol with the star rating. 3 star security standard

Approved by the Police

The official UK Police flagship initiative combining the priniciples of "designing out crime" with physical security. Locks and equipment carrying this symbol have undergone very vigorous testing. secured by design

Approved by the British Standards

The kitemark is the standard of excellence recognised around the world. Ultion locks are credited with the highest 3 star rating. This is the symbol most people will recognise on their insurance approved locks for doors and windows. BSI Kite Mark

If you have any further questions please feel to contact us

Euro cylinder lock

This lock is mostly found on UPVC doors, Composite doors, patio doors, French doors and some garage doors.

With the door closed, quickly check the area underneath where the key goes in and if that lock is not displaying at least 3 stars stamped marked in that area, then they are vulnerable to the popular method of lock snapping.

A cylinder with a 1 star stamp mark DOES NOT conform to the TS007 3 star standard and as such is vulnerable to lock snapping attack. We have an article and a few videos about anti snap locks.

Mortice locks

These type of locks are usually found on timber/ wooden doors in domestic homes but also at commercial properties that have metal doors installed.

To quickly check if this meets the required BS 3621 lock standard, simply open the door and check on the side plate area where the deadbolt comes out when you turn the key to lock the door.

This area should display the British kitemark and BS3621 stamp mark as well as stating it is 5 lever.

The BS 3621 standard is recognised as giving the maximum protection for home and commercial use, approved by insurance companies and the police.

A mortice lock that simply states “5 levers” on the side plate and does not display the BS 3621 stamp mark still does not meet insurance and police recommendations.

Mortice Lock Replacement

Mortice locks have been the main type of door lock for a long time but they are steady making way for more modern types of lock that are proving to be more secure and convenient to the household.

Mortice locks can be replaced with euro lock type cylinders where you have the combination of uPVC or composite doors and wood doors.

This makes having locks keyed alike so you only need carry a single key to operate the front door, back door, garage and padlock.

Multipoint door lock

A Multipoint door lock is located at the side of the door.

The purpose of these mechanisms is to provide significant reinforcement to your door by multiple hooks and bolts engaging in the door surround keeps when closed and locked.

Usually these mechanisms are found on UPVC doors, Composite Doors, patio doors and French doors whereby a euro lock cylinder is installed.

The euro cylinder lock is the crucial element with regards to the Multipoint door lock as it controls whether or not the hooks & bolts remain fixed in the keeps.

This is why it is extremely important to ensure your euro cylinder is to the TS007 3 star standard and ideally for maximum security ensure the euro cylinder also has the additional Sold Secure diamond accreditation.

Multipoint mechanism

The new insurance & police approved standard is PAS3621 which is equivalent to the BS3621 standard.

The standard delivers a solution where a multi-point lock in a Secured by Design approved door can be replaced with a Kitemarked PAS 3621 rated lock, so keeping the door’s PAS 24 rating in place

The only problem with this PAS3621 accreditation is that the majority of older multipoint door lock mechanisms cannot be retro replaced with the new PAS3621 accreditation mechanisms.

It would more than likely mean a new door, complete with a new mechanism.

SheffLOCK advise you have at the very least a TS007 3 star euro cylinder Ultion lock paired with a TS007 2 star security Lock Lock handle for maximum protection.

Rim Cylinder Lock

To conform to BS 3621 accreditation, rim cylinder locks must have 5 levers installed within and:

Measures to prevent picking those 5 levers.
At least 1000 key differs.
Anti-Pick qualities.
Anti-drill type hard plates installed.
Have a minimum of a 20mm bolt throw into the door frame itself.

The very latest Insurance Approved Lock standard of accreditation is BS 3621:2017 however BS3621:2007 is widely accepted by all insurance companies.

*The BS3621 standard first became introduced sometime in the 1960’s*

Night Latch

This lock is found on the outside area of the door installed within a night latch mechanism that is installed and used on the inside of the door.

The night latch mechanism and similar versions by other companies should display the accreditation on the side.

The SheffLOCK team encourage you to contact us directly should you have any queries about your current locks.

We offer our customers a free assessment of your current locks. Send us your name and telephone number along with a photo of the lock you wish to have assessed.