Security Begins With a Lock on the Door

Locksmiths have a choice as to the type and quality of locks they sell and install, and it’s for sure that not all locks are created equal. The issue of style is especially important to most if not all clients. The foremost reason for this is the fact that it’s the lockset on the door that serves as the first point of contact with members of the public. “Put your best foot forward” is probably the catch phrase of the day for this very reason. Companies such as Assa Abloy  have gone to great lengths to make the various levers and other door hardware items interchangeable, not only between lock types, but even lock lines.

The make, model, and style of the lock(s) selected are often the result of on-site observation and eye-to-eye discussions held with the client. The objective is to derive a clear understanding to the risk(s) involved, what the client’s budget and expectations are, and what the environment is like before a final decision as to the right lock(s) for the job is made.

Where it comes to replacing an existing lock, however, it may not be necessary to conduct a full-scale investigation as cited above. Unless something in the situation has changed since the original locks were installed, all that may be necessary is to install the same make/model/style of locks that were there in the first place. Of course, in either case, the higher the quality of lock, the more secure and expensive it usually will be.

Grading Lock Strength

There’s a way to determine the relative strength of a door lock aide from years of experience. This is accomplished through a grading system that all lock manufacturers recognize. The following is a brief description of the various grades available.

• Grade 1 certification is commonly assigned to the “strongest grade ANSI recognizes for any residential or commercial product.” When a lock bears this certification, this is as good as it gets.
• Grade 2 certification: “Higher Residential Security Designed to offer excellent security and durability. Used mostly for residential applications and some light commercial applications.”
• Grade 3 certification: “Basic Residential Security The lowest grade provided by ANSI, and the minimal acceptable quality for residential door locks” (Source: http://bit.ly/1MJ996c).

The traditional lock choice -- where it comes to lock selection -- is that of a cylindrical or mortise  lock. In this article we’ll examine the pros and cons of both types, we’ll talk about ease of installation, and the relative strength assigned to each one. We’ll also look at available trim and recent additions to stylish lock hardware.

Layered Protection

Let us begin by discussing locks and their role in the prevention of crime. The fact is, almost everything we do as a locksmith equates to “crime prevention.” Having a strong, quality lockset and deadbolt on each perimeter door actually acts to deter most criminals. The installation of quality locks is merely part of a larger philosophy where protection is administered in a layered manner.
Whether it involves residential, commercial, multiple-family, or institutional protection, this includes a regiment of physical precautions, such as quality locks in addition to adequate lighting, sensible landscaping, and a variety of electronic safeguards, such as outside motion lights, underground seismic detection, cameras with video motion detection, and others.
In terms of best practices, probably the first point of concern with regards to protecting single and multi-family homes, businesses, and institutions is the space between public accessible spaces, such as sidewalks, streets, yards, and parking lots, vacant ground—all of which adjoin the building(s) that you’re asked to protect. For example, the contour of the land, landscaping, should be conducive to creating a clear view of the protected facility from said public spaces to the client’s home or buildings. There also should be enough lighting to illuminate the grounds for better safety and security.
The next and probably the most important consideration is that of security at specific perimeter doors. Besides utilizing quality hardwood or metal doors, the locks used thereon are of immense importance to the overall security of the facility.

Cylindrical Pin Tumbler Locks

The pin tumbler, cylindrical lock had its beginning in Egypt more than 4,000 years ago. More recent designs began with a father-son team bearing the well known name of “Yale.”
“In 1848, Linus Yale, Sr. invented the modern pin-tumbler lock. In 1861, Linus Yale, Jr. was inspired by the original 1840s pin-tumbler lock designed by his father, thus inventing and patenting a smaller flat key with serrated edges as well as pins of varying lengths within the lock itself, the same design of the pin-tumbler lock in use today”  (Wikipedia, http://bit.ly/1Ud141C).

In the early 1920’s, Walter Schlage improved on the basic design by adding two buttons between the two knobs.
The biggest advantage to installing a cylindrical lock is ease and speed associated with installation. Depending on the materials used in the construction of a door, installation requires the cutting of two round holes, the main one for the lock body, which are traditionally either 2-1/4 or 2-3/8 inch, with a smaller ¾-inch hole drilled perpendicular to the first, which is for the latch or bolt.
Where it comes to quality, which dictates the degree or level of security and ultimately price, pricing can vary from less than  $4  to more than $100 0 per lock. It’s quality and style that determines price, but after years of working with cylindrical locks, professional locksmiths are sure to form an opinion regarding the relative strength of each make/model they use.

Putting Mortise Locks to Good Use

Another type of lock commonly used by professional locksmiths is the mortise lock.
“A mortise lock (mortice lock in British English) is a lock that requires a pocket—the mortise—to be cut into the door or piece of furniture into which the lock is to be fitted. In most parts of the world, mortise locks are found on older buildings constructed before the advent of bored cylindrical locks, but they have recently become more common in commercial and upmarket residential construction in the United States” (Source: http://bit.ly/1Rv6b9y).
Mortise locks come in two basic types, the warded mortice lock and the more modern Euro cylinder mortise lock. The warded mortice lock has been in existence far longer than the Euro type. Warded keys are actually lever-oriented ones, which means that they 1) are extremely vulnerable to those who understand how they operate, and 2) offer a limited number of available keys to choose from. Euro cylinder keys, however, offer a virtually unlimited number of key combinations.

Whether we’re talking about the warded or the Euro mortise lock, the mechanism is designed to fit into a small pocket cut out inside the door. Because of this, as well as the fact that the mechanism itself is noticeably stronger than the average cylindrical pin tumbler lock, the mortise lock will provide a higher degree of security.