Euro locks

[Phil Pascoe]

Rather than corrupt another thread, I thought I'd start another. I changed the locks when we bought the house, and I bought the euro lock barrels from a specialist supplier. When I asked if they were insurance compliant, the guy just laughed and said none of them were. Is this true? If they are not insurance compliant there must be millions of properties with invalid insurance, and I can't see that somehow. Why is there such apparent prejudice against them?
Phil

 

[Zeddedhed]

If you ever get locked out take a normal flat blade screwdriver (if you happen to have one in your pocket), place it in the key slot and give it a sharp whack with the heel of your hand.
Then walk in.
That's why they are not insurance rated - about 1 - 2 seconds from locked to open. It's actually quicker than using the key!

 

[Phil Pascoe]

So everyone in the country with uPVC doors has no effective insurance, then? I wonder if anyone's told them?

 

[ColeyS1]

There are euro locks made now to over come this. If you search for antibump and antisnap you should get some hits newer insurance ones are designed to snap off on the outside so still keeping the actual locking mechanism intact- I think :lol:

 

[Phil Pascoe]

That's strange. I changed mine only last December and bought from a long established supplier of up market ironmongery, locks and door furniture : I asked if the locks he'd given me were compliant and he insisted that none were. Common sense tells me there must be, but I'm surprised it hasn't been plastered all over the press that millions of households effectively have no insurance. It would suit the insurance companies to keep the information in the small print, of course.

 

[Harbo]

Lots of stuff on UTube showing how easy it is!

Rod

 

[carlb40]

I have worked for various maintenance companies over the years and must have done over 300 'forced' entries to properties for evictions etc. We used to love it when there was euro locks on the doors. Most times we were in the property within 10 seconds, it used to take longer to fit a new cylinder than gain entry. :lol:

If you want security, fit standard sash locks/ deadlocks. They help, but a lot of time it used to take me under 3 minutes to gain entry with those. (hammer)

 

[deema]

UTube! I sighed with resignation when I looked up how I might get into my garage after locking the keys inside. 30 minutes later and it took two minutes for me a complete numpty at the breaking in lark to gain access. Curious at the lack of security my insurance rated 5 lever front and side doors were next for the treatment. Again, about 5 minutes to gain entry the first time, about 30 seconds after that.

Conclusion, any lock is a doddle to pick, the anti pick system of wobbly tumblers etc just cause a delay.

How any respecting locksmith can charge a fortune to get anyone back in / drill out a lock rather than use a set of lock picks and a few minutes patience is beyond me.

It's illegal I believe to be possession of lock picks unless you are licensed. Nit that I'm sure it bothers the determined burglar!

 

[RobinBHM]

Some anti bump cylinders, like those from avocet have a small magnet in the key that lift one the pins and prevents bumping.

They have secure by design status I believe, although Ive no experience in breaking in so couldnt tell you if they work.

 

[marcros]

I remember being alarmed when we moved into our current place. I thought that it would be a good idea to change the cylinders as a matter of course and I wanted everything keyed alike. I hadn't heard if bumping and snapping at that time.

I ended up going for http://www.avocet-hardware.co.uk/images ... ylinders(2).pdf which were quite expensive by comparison to the standard cylinders, but really very cheap as a security measure. I forget how much they were, 15 or 20 quid a cylinder. With the standard ones, you may as well not bother locking the door.

Like with all of these measures, anything that you can do to be a bit more difficult than next door is probably enough. They can still smash a window but may as well go and bump next doors locks!

Those cylinders that I did buy, we have had no issues with in 4 years. Probably doesn't say much about the quality but I am happy with them.

 

[No skills]

I have worked for various maintenance companies over the years and must have done over 300 'forced' entries to properties for evictions etc. We used to love it when there was euro locks on the doors. Most times we were in the property within 10 seconds, it used to take longer to fit a new cylinder than gain entry. :lol:

If you want security, fit standard sash locks/ deadlocks. They help, but a lot of time it used to take me under 3 minutes to gain entry with those. (hammer)

+1

Better 3 minutes than 30 seconds.

The only euro locks we have had trouble snapping had steel in them, one had a steel plate running through the length of the cylinder and the other actually had a steel body instead of brass/alloy. Still got there in the end.

If you encounter the ones with the snap off ends they can be annoying, sometimes that bit breaks off and doesn't leave enough meat sticking out of the handles to get on to do the rest. Have to knock the handles off then try again.

FWIW ERA now do a multipoint lock that runs from a 'mortice' style key (vectis ??) - don't know if their any good.

 

[No skills]

Heres the Vectis...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kl8ePm0s7k

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Marcros - the link doesn't work.

 

[TimothyClaypole]

http://www.avocet-hardware.co.uk/images/catalogue/ABS-Cylinders(2).pdf

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Thanks - I could have googled it, of course.

 

[RobinBHM]

I fitted an avocet ABS eurocylinder on my front door, in a mortice euro lock case and have to say it the action is always very smooth. The only slight bug is that the key has a small magnet which sometimes has a coin stuck to it when I get it of my pocket!

Ive never tried to break in, so couldnt tell you if its burglar proof.

Multipoint locks may not be considered all that secure, but they are much better at pressurising weather seals, something which mortice sash locks or deadlocks arent designed to do.

 

[ColeyS1]

Multipoint locks may not be considered all that secure, but they are much better at pressurising weather seals, something which mortice sash locks or deadlocks arent designed to do.

That depends where you put your draught strip. I put a wiping seal in the frame rebate so even if the door was 10mm open it would still seal the gap. I guess you're thinking of a compression draughtstrip rather than a wiping one

 

[Stu_2]

I use the Mut-T-Lock brand, and my mate swears by Avocet, but I guess they're just a better level of deterrent to the average scrote looking for a quick and easy target.

I'm amazed the insurance industry hasn't been more prescriptive over the locks used on domestic properties, although I think the best deterrent is probably a decent alarm system, or dogs. Preferable both

 

[Harbo]

Similar problem with car locks where the advice is to go back to a Krooklock!!


Rod

 

[RobinBHM]

Multipoint locks may not be considered all that secure, but they are much better at pressurising weather seals, something which mortice sash locks or deadlocks arent designed to do.

That depends where you put your draught strip. I put a wiping seal in the frame rebate so even if the door was 10mm open it would still seal the gap. I guess you're thinking of a compression draughtstrip rather than a wiping one

Thats a very point, a wiping seal is certainly a better option with a mortice lock. Wiping seals are very good for traditional windows since the sash can close tight against the rebate with no draught seal visible and they dont stress cockspur handles.