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Read our advice about choosing a lock: is it for your doors or windows? Do you want electronic, electric or mechanical?

While it is true lockdown has drastically reduced crime, including burglaries, it is equally true that numbers are still high and we can’t afford to lower our guard.
What about you? You’ve bought an alarm system. You never forget to lock your door. You’ve installed an armoured door and shutters on the windows in your home. So you’re safe, right?
Well, yes and no. These are valid measures for preventing theft and forced entry, sure. But you may have overlooked a smaller, less obvious but equally important aspect: your lock.
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Even with an alarm and an armoured door, if you haven’t got a good quality lock, a burglar could easily force it and enter the house undisturbed.

Crime data regularly compiled by the Home Office show that most burglars (almost 70%) force the front door. About 20% come in through the window and the rest don’t actually break in: they gain entrance because the homeowners have forgotten to lock the door.

Home security begins with the front door, lock and cylinder that you choose.

But with so many options to choose from, how do you go about finding the lock that best meets your needs?

Locks aren’t something you buy every day: they are usually purchased when building a new home or renovating your existing one. We often don’t have a say in the matter and are not fully aware of the choice made.
Yet, as we have pointed out, our lock is what stands between us and unwanted entry.

If you ever have to buy or replace a lock, remember to bear in mind a couple of variables such as the type of door/window you are going to install it on, the quality of the structure it is going into and the level of security you want. Basically, no single lock can satisfy all needs.

For instance, the lock you choose for an armoured door will be different from that for a wooden or aluminium door. Or, if the structure of the door is weak or damaged, it will inevitably be less secure, regardless of the type of lock you install.

Even the best lock in the world is useless if installed on a weak door. For example, some garage doors in apartment buildings are made of sheet metal that is so thin, it can easily be cut and manipulated, without even having to touch the lock.

So our first piece of advice is, if in doubt, always contact an experienced locksmith who will inspect and check your entrance, doors and windows and advise you on the best solution for your specific needs.


As well as meeting security standards and ensuring you choose the right lock and it is installed properly, a professional locksmith will also be able to suggest additional security measures you may wish to take into consideration. For instance railings, a safe or CCTV cameras.

First things first: which room or entry point do you need a lock for? Is it a front door or in a passageway? Is it inside or outside? Establishing the main function of your door is the first step when choosing a lock.

It will help you determine the most appropriate level of security and resistance.

For example, a corridor or an internal door typically require a lower level of security than your front door. If, on the other hand, the door is installed in an area with high foot traffic (like a bathroom), it is better to choose a harder-wearing lock, even if it offers lower security.

THINK OF THE FUNCTION

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corridoio
bagno
garage

THINK OF THE DEGREE OF SECURITY AND RESISTANCE




Internal doors are usually fitted with one kind of lock whose degree of security can be lower than that of the front door and other external entrances (windows, garages).

Doors and windows, on the other hand, are entry points from the outside so need a higher level of security.

Access can be gained through a front door by forcing it (if, for instance, it is not an armoured door) when the burglar is in a hurry, alone or inexperienced, so acting rather haphazardly. There are, however, more “sophisticated” burglars who are not put off by an armoured door. They manage to force the lock and break in using a variety of housebreaking techniques:

Lock Picking

Lock picking takes place on double bit locks: the opening mechanism is blocked by a tension tool and a “Bulgarian pick” is inserted. This is a «flexible» key which assumes the shape of the original key. This same technique can be used on cylinders with different tools.

Key Bumping

Others resort to key bumping, using it on the most “modern” Euro profile cylinder locks too: a key that fits all locks is inserted and lightly tapped with a hammer.

Cylinder snapping

Another common break-in technique, frequently used on wooden and aluminium doors, involves breaking the cylinder using tools like a steel tube with an interchangeable head. The hollow shape of the head allows the burglar to grasp the protruding part of the cylinder and use force to snap and extract the cylinder from the lock.

The criteria for certifying lock quality

The standard which determines the security of a lock is UNI EN 12209:2016 for mechanical locks, 15685:2014 for multipoint locks and 14846:2008 for electromechanical locks. A score is given on the basis of 8, 10 and 9 principles/criteria respectively. The higher the score, especially in specific parameters such as resistance to forced entry, the more secure the lock.

Before buying a lock, always check if it is certified and its scores for the individual criteria.

Category of use

This goes from Grade 1 for locks suitable for residential use, to Grade 2 for use in offices and Grade 3, for doors in public buildings with high foot traffic.

Durability

Lock operation is tested with a high number of operations, ranging from 50,000 for Grade A to 200,000 for Grade X. This parameter also assesses the load applied to the latchbolt.

Door mass and closing force

This parameter assigns a grade based on the maximum door mass supported by the lock and the force exerted when closing the door. It goes from 100 kg for Grade 0 to over 200 kg for Grade 9.

Suitability for use on fire/smoke doors

This indicates if the lock is suitable for use on fire/smoke doors (Grade 0 not suitable, Grade A, B and N suitable), assessing the contribution of the lock to the resistance of the door in the event of fire/smoke.

Safety

This parameter measures the degree of safety for people but it is actually irrelevant as there is only one possible value, Grade 0 (no safety requirement).

Corrosion resistance and temperature

This criterion measures corrosion resistance over a certain number of hours (from 24 for Grade A to 240 for Grade G), combined with resistance to high or low temperatures (-10°C to +60°C).

Security and drill resistance

This parameter measures resistance to forced entry and refers in particular to drill attacks. The score varies according to the force exerted and the average time it takes to force the lock (from 10 minutes for Grade 1 to 20 for Grade 7).

Key identification for lever locks

This criterion refers to the key and gives a score depending on the detaining elements, the number of possible combinations and the effective differs, from Grade 0 to 7.

Types of locks: pros and cons

Here is a summary of the different types of locks on the market, with a brief description and list of their strengths and weaknesses:

Mechanical locks


This is the classic lock which is opened and closed mechanically using a key. When the key is turned one direction in the keyhole, it engages the deadbolts on the door, locking it; in the other direction, it opens the door.

✓  A long history
✓ No batteries required
✓ Long life
✓ Easy to use
✓ The latest versions can have an automatic locking function: when the door is closed, all the throws are engaged

✘ “Outdated” technology
✘ The whole lock must be replaced when the keys of double bit locks are lost, but only the cylinder for cylinder locks

Electric locks


With electric locks, which are connected by cables, a button sends an electrical impulse to the lock to open it. The classic example is opening gates from a distance. The electrical impulse can also be activated by a keypad or remote control.

✓  A long history
✓ Simple and reliable
✓ Long life
✓ Easy to use
✓ Automatic locking function: when the door is closed, all the throws are engaged

✘ More susceptible to wear 
✘ The cylinder must be replaced if the keys are lost

Electronic and motorised locks


The opening system still works on an impulse but is integrated with wi-fi or Bluetooth connectivity, so the door can also be controlled remotely using a smartphone, key card or transponder.

✓  Access control
✓ Control of door status
✓ Home automation integration 
✓ Quickly replaced credentials
✓ Automatic locking function: when the door is closed, all the throws are engaged

 

✘ Uses batteries or
✘ Connected to the mains

 

Magnetic locks

This kind of lock is extremely simple and has just two basic parts: a positive and a negative magnet. One is placed inside the lock’s deadbolt and the other one in the striker on the frame.

✓ Minimal wear
✓ Easy to use
✓ Silent operation

✘ Low holding force (can only be used on internal doors)

 

Features which heighten your level of security

Once you have decided on the most suitable lock for your needs, based on its principal function and your preference for the type (mechanical, electric, etc.), there is another set of features you need to consider to guarantee an even higher level of security:

Lock material

The most commonly used materials for locks are steel and brass: steel is obviously more robust and withstands attempts at forced entry better.

Patented anti-picking system

Over the years, lock manufacturers have started to take action, developing systems to protect locks from the most common housebreaking techniques. CISA, for example, has patented anti-picking technologies for its locks, including a system with floating drivers.

Patented anti-bumping system

The same is true for anti-bumping protection. CISA has patented a system, called Bump Key Power (BKP), which increases the resistance of the cylinder to forced entry using bumping and percussion.

Defender / Protective rose

Clearly visible from the outside, protective roses are a great deterrent against attempts at forced entry and act like a shield around the cylinder, preventing it from being reached by housebreaking tools. CISA has a wide range of protective roses for different types of doors.

Resistance to extraction

Some cylinders are fitted with anti-extraction devices:in the event of attempted forced entry, the cylinder snaps in a controlled manner. The heart of the cylinder is protected inside the lock and is therefore difficult to remove. If it snaps in this way, it is still possible to open the door with the keys.

Resistance to forced entry

Greater resistance to forced entry is guaranteed by the anti-burglary latchbolts and deadbolts which have automatic locking devices and first-rate thickness and materials. Locks can also be fitted with a protective “case” around the inner mechanism.

Number of locking points and operation

The more locking points there are and the greater their thickness, the better the protection. Another important aspect is the independence of the locking points: in an attempted break-in, the burglar has to force every single point. Lastly, “self-closing” means the deadbolts automatically engage when the door is closed.

AuthentiCard

Further protection is provided by locks which come with a security card with a univocal code linked to the key. Only the owner of the card can request a duplicate and only in authorised centres.

 
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