British Lock Standards BS3621 or BS8621 – What does this mean?

It turns out that most people are unaware of the British Lock Standards. These include BS3621, BS8621. These standards may seem obvious, but it’s difficult to be certain how secure and reliable your locks really are.
British Lock Standards were established to ensure that locks installed in doors have been thoroughly tested and meet specific criteria. This will help you to make your home more secure and prevent intruders from entering. This will reduce your home insurance premium. It may also ensure your policy is valid.

The important question is: What British Standards do you mean by BS3621 or BS8621?

BS3621 is the British Standard that describes Lock assemblies that are operated using a key both from the inside and outside of the door. It was adopted in 2007. This standard applies to Mortice deadlocks/Sash Locks as well as euro deadlocks/Sash Locks. Cylinder locks, such night latches or even rim-cylinders are also covered. To comply with BS3621, locks must meet specific design and function criteria. For example, a lock should have 5 levers that can withstand a drill strike for up to five minutes. They should also be equipped with an anti-picking mechanism as well as a specified bolt length. They are considered to be good thief-resistant locks if they meet the above criteria. British Standards Institute (BSI), which tests new locks to ensure safety and reliability, conducts rigorous testing. The lock’s design and/or product is granted a “Kitemark” if it passes the rigorous testing.

The BSI Kitemark symbol is widely used to signify quality, reliability, trust and safety. This kitemark should appear on the front of the lock, visible when it is opened, and prominent on the packaging.

The BS8621 standards are the same, but this refers to locks that are ‘operated with a key from the exterior of the door and a handle/thumb-turn from inside the door’.

You should always buy locks from a reliable supplier and look for the Kitemark to make sure your locks will provide good security. We can assist you with any queries and offer accurate advice. As a highly-skilled locksmith service located in the Durham region, we can help you with all aspects of locking mechanisms as well as getting them installed correctly and securely.