Rating of leveled locks. Which lock to choose for the front door. The best of the best

Everyone wants to feel safe in their home and not worry about the safety of their property. The front door and a good secure lock are the main obstacle for burglars. The most perfect locking mechanisms cannot be found. The only question is how long and what devices will be needed to break the lock and the front door. Therefore, it is always important to know how to choose a door lock in order to protect yourself and your property as much as possible.

Classes of door locks

Locks for the front door and their types have their own protection classes. Any castle must be accompanied by a passport indicating its class.

There are four of them:

The main types and types of door locks

1. Crossbar lock

The bolt lock has a rack and pinion unlocking mechanism. It barely reaches the I safety class. Basics of the mechanism: a flat key, along the edges of which grooves are carved at different angles; the latchbolt has identical grooves. The key hits them and moves the bolt, thereby locking or unlocking the door.

A crossbar (rack and pinion) lock is often equipped with handles to open entrance doors from the inside. This is a real gift for a burglar. A loop of fishing line, a thin hollow tube and the lock was opened in a couple of minutes. It can be supplied for an ordinary wooden door.

1. Cylinder lock

This is the most common type of lock. Some of them can be opened with a regular pin, while others are difficult to pick up a master key. Although the thief can strike a couple of strong blows on the castle larva so that it flew into the room. The main feature of this type of lock is a key shaped like a mushroom with a hollow in the middle.

The cylinder lock is familiar to many. To open it, an attacker will already need a drill with a hardened drill bit. The pins are drilled with a drill, which form the lock code. For such locks, thieves also use "roll-up". It has the shape of a key with a lever mount. Thanks to the high-alloy steel, pins are easily cut off by it.

This does not mean at all that the cylindrical lock and its views are completely hopeless. If you choose a mechanism with additional protection, then no "roll" and drill will take it. Reinforcing elements include sheet armor inlays and embedded hardened steel balls. It will be very difficult to knock down the pins, and the balls will prevent the drill from being installed. A cylinder lock with an armored insert belongs to the III and IV class of protection and is perfect for metal entrance doors.

1. Leveler castle

The leveler castle, which was invented back in 1818, has not lost its relevance to this day. This locking mechanism uses levers. These are plates that are driven by the teeth of a key. The key is a rod with plates on which recesses are cut.

The lock will not open even if one of the levers fails. A potential cracker cannot move them without a key. The only option is to pick up the key. The security class of a lever lock increases with the number of plates and the metal from which they are made. Additional armor plates also significantly increase the resistance of metal doors to burglary.

1. Electronic lock

Electronic locks are modern locking mechanisms. There are no usual keys to them, and instead of them magnetic cards, remotes or a code are used. A kind of additional protection of an electronic lock can be called the moment that an ordinary burglar, seeing such an unusual lock on a metal door, will be confused.

Electronic locks can be opened by fingerprint. This protection can be circumvented by attaching a photograph of the owner's fingerprint to the photocell. Electronic locks are good for everyone, but the only drawback is the high cost.

What to look for when choosing a lock for your front door

The choice of door locks in specialized stores is very wide and it can be difficult for a buyer to determine how to choose a door lock that is best suited for a metal door. A passport must go to any castle in accordance with the rules of the Russian Federation. If the passport indicates a class from II to IV, then a certificate of conformity must be available (except for class I). A good lock must combine strength, reliability and resistance to possible burglary. Inspect the lock for rust or cracks.

Also, the lock must fit the door and door frame. Much depends on the thickness of the steel sheets of the iron door. With a metal thickness of less than 4 mm, a massive lock can simply deform the door. Many owners install locks with long, heavy bolts. This increases security to some extent, but the weight of the lock will quickly wear out the door and frame with regular use. For a wooden door, you also need to carefully select a lock that will not damage the canvas and the frame.

What types of locks are best for the front door

So, how to choose a door lock that will become a real barrier and protector of your property. The best design for a metal door is a lever lock. The locking mechanism itself is inside, and it will take a lot of effort to get to it. Experts believe that it is optimal to put two types of locks at once in tandem - cylinder and lever. The number of crossbars is recommended from three or more, with armor inserts and a class of at least III.

It is also a good option to install combination locks. They use a double mechanism (lever and cylindrical), which can complement each other. For example, if they try to open one mechanism, then the other is blocked automatically. A thief will have to spend a lot of time to "deal" with two systems at once. This is the best option for installation on a metal or wooden door.

In conclusion, it is worth recalling that you never need to advertise the installation of the lock and show its key unnecessarily. An experienced burglar only needs a glance at the key to memorize its structure and determine the type of locking mechanism.

A steel box and a solid door are not a guarantee of complete safety. Constipation plays an equally important role. If you approach the purchase of locks for entrance metal doors competently, competently, then the likelihood of unauthorized entry into the home is reduced to almost zero. What should you focus on when going to the store for a purchase?

Main selection criteria

The complexity of the locking device

According to their resistance to opening, they are divided into 4 classes.

• First. Door locks of this group are definitely not suitable for the front door due to their simple design.
• Second. More complex and relatively cheap devices. But a specialist will need 10-15 minutes to select a master key for them. If this is an apartment in a high-rise building, then it is a good option, but it is impractical to purchase for a suburban building or private house. Such a lock on the front door will not provide effective protection for the home.
• Third. These constipation is much safer. Even a skilled cracker will have to spend at least half an hour to deal with any of the samples of this class. As a rule, it is these devices that are most often purchased for installation at the entrance to a dwelling.
• Fourth. The most expensive, but also the most reliable locks for metal doors. If the requirements for home safety are increased, this is the best option. With such constipation, you can spend more than one hour, and then, the result is unpredictable.

Mechanism type

• Crossbar. These locking devices are positioned in almost all ratings as unreliable. The reason is that they are easy to open with a wire that can be pushed into the well. You just need to hook on the levers and pull to the side; the lock opens easily. Besides, it is quite easy to forge keys; they are not original.
• Cylinder. It is he who is the most reliable lock. Such models are considered one of the best for doors at the entrance to the house. They are distinguished by the complexity of the selection of the key, since it is difficult to determine the position of the pins in the larva without completely disassembling it. Additional safety is provided by the installation of an armor plate on the back side of the web, which prevents mechanical stress on the core or its removal by drilling.
• Suvaldny. A fairly reliable lock, which is also recommended for installation on the front door. It is almost impossible to hack it or open it with someone else's key. If the grooves on its working part do not coincide with the levers that hold the crossbar, it simply will not turn. The locking elements will remain in place, and the door leaf will not swing open.

All other variants of mechanisms - cruciform, disc - should not be seriously considered for installation at the entrance. They are easy to open with a primitive master key. The same applies to electric / mechanical, electromagnetic models. The disadvantage of these types of shut-off devices is that they are prom / voltage dependent. In case of malfunctions (disconnection) on the line, the dwelling will remain unprotected.

For the front door, it is advisable to purchase locks with a cylinder or lever mechanism. It is desirable to pair them. Experts consider this combination to be optimal. There are locking devices in the design of which both mechanisms are combined. And although such products are expensive (for example, the Guardian model 25.12), they provide the highest degree of security. For a country house - the most reliable locks.

Metal

What the locking device is made of can be found in the accompanying documentation. When deciding which lock to choose, preference should be given to products made of high-strength steel. Various soft alloys and metals (silumin, brass), especially samples containing plastic parts, will not provide safety. If it is difficult to open them, then it is enough just to break or break.

Installation method

The choice of a lock for a metal door on this basis is not so great. Mounted and overhead samples are definitely not suitable for it; only cut-in type devices. In addition, at the entrance to the house, rarely does anyone install wooden blocks and canvases. Such locks also differ in the specifics of their installation.

• Installation by "nesting". In the private sector, there are less common models, since a hatch must be made to mount them on the back of the canvas. Although if the frame is trimmed with a metal sheet only from the outside (found at cheap entrance doors), then there will be no problems with installation. It is not difficult to make a corresponding cutout in the slab (MDF, chipboard).
• Installation by sidebar. The most popular models of locks for iron doors. Since there is a cavity inside the web, the locking device is immersed in it rather quickly. It is only necessary to take into account the location of the stiffeners in the sash. On its end part, only the decorative strip covering the mechanism will be visible.

Manufacturer

Locks "made in China" are attractive only for the price. For all other indicators, they are clearly inferior to their analogs. Among the manufacturers of really high quality locks, one can single out "Cisa", "Kale", "Mottura", "Vachette", "Iseo", "Asix", "ABLOY". Russian models "Barrier", "Pro-sam", "Guardian", "Elbor" are not inferior to them in reliability, although they are not the only ones on our market.

• Experts advise, when choosing locks for an entrance metal door, pay attention to various novelties. Since they have not yet found widespread use, it is logical to assume that hackers have not yet "developed" an effective method of opening them.
• Often, managers operate with such a concept as the secrecy of the locking device mechanism. So they explain to the buyer why this particular model is the best of all. This is a kind of slyness. You need to know that the reliability of a lock is a whole set of properties and characteristics: wear resistance, the number of key matches, the strength of the body material and parts, shock resistance, and so on. Consequently, the concept of the best, high-quality lock is somewhat vague. When choosing, it is necessary to prioritize, based on the characteristics of the further use of the sample - at the entrance to a private house or apartment.
• In this regard, it is also important what key to the locking device, its configuration. If it is original, of increased complexity, you should think carefully when choosing such a door lock. It is unlikely that in case of loss it will be possible to make a duplicate, and the core of even a very expensive and reliable mechanism will have to be changed. And it is not a fact that it will be possible to purchase it at retail.
• It is impractical to install the same locking devices at the inlet. It is better to take different ones so that they cannot be opened with one master key.
• Locks for front doors are not worth buying from bazaars or street stalls. They should be chosen only in specialized shopping centers. This ensures that the manager's consultation is professional and that the product is truly branded and not counterfeit.
• The key can also tell about the quality of the product. If it has an industrial logo on it, and the surface is perfectly processed, there is no doubt - this is a really good lock.

Maximum security of the entrance is ensured by a number of additional measures - the installation of an internal latch, metal platbands, hidden hinges, alarm elements. This is also not worth forgetting.

Only the most reliable front door locks can keep your home safe and secure from intruders. Perhaps it is the front door lock that is a more important element than the door itself and the material of its manufacture.

Flimsy, unreliable and Chinese locks, in combination with the durable material of the entrance wooden door, will not give the proper result of protective properties and will be broken open as soon as possible. Whatever one may say, but the choice of locks for the front door should be approached with special care and responsibility.

Finding a good lock for your front door yourself is not as easy as it seems at first glance. It is better to trust a qualified specialist in this matter, who, based on his knowledge and experience, will be able to advise you on the most reliable mechanism in terms of burglary resistance, which will serve you for a long and loyal service.

Sometimes the sale of doors with built-in locks is practiced, but, unfortunately, the degree of their reliability is often questionable, especially if they are Chinese, or simply do not meet all the consumer's requirements for security.

Experience shows that it is most convenient, both for the pocket and confidence in the reliability of the mechanism, to purchase locks for the front door from the same company where your door block was ordered. Moreover, it is not at all in their interests to offer you Chinese or other unverified devices.

If this is not possible, look for separate locking devices, but mostly newer models. Since they have not yet developed methods of opening and breaking, they will be more reliable. In addition to the clear advantage, the acquisition of new models is fraught with significant financial costs, both during purchase and installation.

Method of installing door locks

It is necessary to be well versed in the types of locks according to the installation method, so that the acquisition and installation of the locking mechanism is crowned with success, and not a mistake.

Thus, the types of locks for entrance doors are divided into hinged, overhead and mortise mechanisms.

Let's consider each of them in more detail.

Simplicity of the hinge mechanism

Padlocks, it is worth clarifying right away, are not used for wooden or metal entrance doors, they are designed to equip gates and other similar structures. Simply put, where padlocks or mortise locks cannot be used.

Traditional hinged locks are durable, but not very reliable in operation. The closure of such a device occurs by means of a shackle, which can be hacked or simply ripped off, for attackers, in the presence of improvised tools, is not even the slightest difficulty.

If we talk about the material of the mechanism, then brass will make the work of the robbers even easier, while cast iron will force them to make more efforts. The most resistant to physical burglary is the lock in the steel case.

Doubtful aesthetics of the padlock

An overhead lock for an entrance door has more advantages than a hinged one, but still it is not installed on the canvases of metal doors, more than wooden ones.

The installation of an overhead locking device on a metal door inevitably leads to an increase in the overall cost of the structure.

In addition, such a lock can rarely be combined with the bunk of the block, because of the protruding part of the canvas, intended for fastening the seal.

And the aesthetics of the product is completely lost due to the installation of the mechanism on the inner visible side of the canvas.

The popularity of mortise devices

Mortise locks, undoubtedly, can be called the most popular and most often used to equip both metal and wooden doors. They are arranged inside the canvas, performing the function of protection and fastening. Unlike hinged ones, mortise mechanisms are not visible on the surface of the canvas, which looks very neat and aesthetically pleasing.

The mortise mechanism, in turn, differs in the type of mounting for insertion and insertion. Of course, it is easier to install using the plunging method, because it is done in accordance with the lock, the striker plate of which will be visible at the end.

As for the method of insertion, despite its complexity of installation, it is the guarantor of reliability and safety. The complexity of the installation lies in the need to locate the hatch on the inner sheet of the door.

Features of locking mechanisms

The technical characteristics of the lock, and especially the principle of operation, determine the level of its resistance to unauthorized burglary. Locking mechanisms for wooden doors are cylinder, lever and crossbar.

Each of them has certain advantages and disadvantages, comparing which, you can choose the most reliable locks that meet your requirements.

Cylinder mechanism: convenience and reliability

The principle of its operation is to line up small pins in the required positions when introducing a figured key into the well. If you try to open such a mechanism with a master key, as a result of not falling into at least one groove, the lock will immediately jam, which is quite problematic.

Locks with a cylinder mechanism are quite reliable, but still have one significant drawback, they are the weak point of the mechanism - the larva. By virtue of its design, it is quite easy to knock it out or drill it out. To avoid such situations and to smooth out the drawback, special armored pads and balls are used to prevent direct access to the device.

When trying to drill, the drills will break from contact with the balls inside the mechanism, and the armored plates will prevent knocking out, as they strengthen the structure well.

In addition to this disadvantage, cylinder locks have a huge and undeniable advantage - ease of use and repair. If the key is lost or the well is jammed, you will not be forced to completely change the lock case, but just replace the cylinder, after which the mechanism will function correctly again.

The perfection of the lever lock

Like the cylinder, the lever mechanism can be found in almost every front door. The principle of operation is based on plates (levers) located inside the lock. The interaction of the levers and their entry into the corresponding grooves ensures that the lock and the entrance door are locked.

The degree of burglary resistance of the locking device is determined by the number of levers, to ensure complete security, the minimum number of plates must be at least six. It is impossible to get to the keyhole, its narrow dimensions exclude the possibility of intelligent hacking.

As for physical hacking, there will also be a problem for intruders, since the lever mechanism is one of the owners of a high degree of anti-vandalism.

Summarizing the above, an entrance door with a lever lock can rightfully be considered reliable, especially when installing the device indoors. Do not hesitate, the reliability and protective properties of the lever mechanism are perfectly manifested not only when equipped with a metal door, but also with a wooden one.

Doubtful reliability of the bolt lock

If you are the owner of a high-quality steel door, it is not recommended to use the crossbar mechanism as the dominant locking device, except as an additional lock on the front door.

This advice is explained by the low degree of security of the device, which can be opened with a lockpick as easy as shelling pears, and the level of secrecy leaves much to be desired. The bolt lock is unlocked with a rather heavy key, not convenient to use, which is easy to copy.

Required number of locks

How many locking devices do you need in one door to be sure of the safety of your home? Two - just right. The traditional, and perhaps the most competent combination of locks is cylinder + lever.

Where can you win by resorting to such a scheme? Firstly, the more combinations the key of the cylinder lock will have, the more difficult it will be to break the mechanism with the help of a selection of a key and a master key. Secondly, the lever mechanism is massive and durable, which means that it is not as easy to open it with a primitive instrument as it might seem at first glance.

Additional measures to protect against hacking

In order for an intruder who entered the apartment not through the door to easily leave it by opening the lock from the inside, the door leaf is equipped with a special lock pocket that blocks the way to the secret mechanism and fastening of the lock from the inside of the room.

By installing the armor plate under the sheathing sheet of the canvas, next to the lever mechanism, its opening will be hardly feasible. And the installation of a bulletproof cup helps prevent the cylinder from knocking out or drilling. Its price is quite acceptable, and it is extremely unreasonable to refuse to install it.

There are some established rules, the adherence to which will allow not only to acquire reliable protection of property, but also to ensure a long service life of the shut-off product:

• buy products exclusively in specialized stores to get competent advice;
• do not purchase locks lower than III class of resistance, the opening of which takes about 10 minutes;
• choose devices with a minimum number of combinations of 100,000;
• when buying, pay attention to the appearance of the device and its accessories. Chinese and other low-quality locks are made by handicraft or semi-handicraft methods.

You can find out whether a product is of good quality or not by using the brand name applied to the keys by an industrial method. Then you can be sure that the keys have a high purity of processing and a complex shape of the working part.

For a steel front door to be truly reliable and provide the maximum degree of security, it is necessary to choose quality locks. Since there are many manufacturers of locking mechanisms on the modern market, and everyone diligently praises their products, it can be difficult to choose locks for metal doors. In this article, we have tried to collect the most useful information that will come in handy when buying locks for metal doors.

Mounted Overhead Mortise

According to the method of installing locks on entrance doors, there are the following types of locks:

• Suspended - the most primitive option, which in our time is used only for sheds and individual outbuildings. The low degree of reliability and burglary resistance of these structures makes them unsuitable, and, moreover, inconvenient for use on the entrance doors to a house or apartment.
• Overhead locks for metal doors are practically not used. Most often they are installed on wooden structures, but this type of lock provides insufficient protection. The only advantage of the overhead structure is that you do not have to perform complex manipulations over the door leaf to install it. Padlocks are best used only as additional protection.
• Mortise locks for iron doors look more aesthetically pleasing than the two previous designs, since the mechanism is inside the door leaf, while outside there are only hardware elements: a handle, a decorative cover for a well, a latch. In terms of burglary resistance, mortise locks are considered the most reliable.

Mechanism classification

The principle of operation of the internal mechanism of the lock is also responsible for the degree of security. There are not so many options for choosing this parameter.

Cylinder locks

These types of locks have been used successfully since the middle of the 19th century. Of course, over such a long period, the design has undergone significant improvements, but the principle of operation remains the same. The main structural element is a cylinder, inside which there are rotary elements - pins, washers, blocks or probes. The reliability of the lock depends on the number of pins: the more there are, the better the protection of the locking device. Cylinder locks on a metal entrance door have a clear advantage in that it will be very difficult to open them with a master key. In addition, if the mechanism has worn out from time to time, you can do with simple repairs - replace the larva. But these designs also have their drawbacks: the cylinder lintel is unable to cope with high shock loads, so it can break under external influence. Cylinder locks are represented by the following designs:

• Cruciform lock has pins in the mechanism, which are activated by a square key. Such products have a large number of secret combinations, but due to their susceptibility to mechanical burglary, they are of little use for an iron door.
• Disc lock instead of pins, it is equipped with movable discs. The creator of such a mechanism is ABLOY - its products are considered to be of the highest quality and most reliable. To protect against knocking out, a disk cylinder lock for a metal door must have an armor plate and protective plates.
• Pin lock well suited for both iron doors and wood. By the appearance of the key, you can determine the degree of secrecy of the mechanism. If the structure is opened with a key similar to English, it is not recommended to use it for entrance doors due to its low secrecy. More reliable locks for metal doors have a perforated key.
• Eurocylinders- these are modern locks designed with the latest technology. Their principle of operation remains the same, but the advantage is provided by high-strength materials of construction. These are hard-alloy inserts that do not lend themselves to drilling, a titanium case, tamper-resistant, durable pads. It is impossible to break such a lock without the use of electrical engineering, but even with a special tool, opening it will create significant noise and take a lot of time. Among all the mechanisms listed, these are the most reliable locks, but their cost is rather big.

Lever locks

Lever locks were invented much earlier than cylinder mechanisms, but, despite their considerable age, they are still considered the most reliable for iron doors. This fact does not mean that they cannot be opened, but even a professional hacking of such a locking mechanism can take from 30 minutes to two or more hours, since modern models are equipped with a complex secret mechanism and protection against the use of master keys.

Secret combinations of the lock mechanism provide levers. The key bit allows them to be arranged in a specific position. The door will open only when the originally specified combination is fully matched. To provide an increased level of secrecy, additional false grooves are used inside the mechanism. They act as a trap for the master key.

Crossbar locks

This mechanism is unlocked with a long key on which beveled slots are located. The key should not be turned, as usual, but inserted linearly into the well until it stops. The pressure on the key activates a spring located inside the mechanism, which compresses and releases the bolts. For a long time it was believed that such locks are not very reliable, but the designs are constantly being improved, the level of secrecy and strength is increasing. A bolt lock on a metal door should not be cheap. More expensive designs, equipped with armor plates and a high degree of secrecy, serve as good protection.

Electromechanical and electronic locks

These options for locking devices are based on one of the mechanisms listed above. As a rule, lever or cylinder. But the degree of protection, thanks to electronic programming, they provide a higher. The advantages of such locks include the strength of the locking mechanism, which is made of a durable alloy, an increased level of code secrecy, and even "artificial intelligence" capable of providing accurate information about when the lock was activated. The disadvantages of such products are also significant: a breakdown of a microcircuit, a forgotten code, a lack of electricity (for electronic structures) can prevent access to the room.

Combined locks

In search of the most reliable solution, manufacturers have developed combination locks for metal doors. They are a device that houses several different mechanisms. The design operates in such a way that the built-in mechanisms are interconnected with each other, and while one of them is closed, the rest cannot be opened. An example is door locks for entrance metal doors from companies Barrier, Elbor, Guardian.

Burglary resistance classes

According to this parameter, door locks are divided into 4 classes:

• 1 class- devices that are unbreakable. Testing determines the opening time of less than 5 minutes. It is recommended to install them only on internal doors.
• 2nd grade used for both interior and exterior doors. Opening time - 5-15 minutes.
• Grade 3 maintains resistance to burglary for more than 15 minutes. Such mechanisms belong to the category of locks with improved protection qualities.
• 4th grade- the record holder for strength. The autopsy takes more than 30 minutes. Locks of the fourth class of resistance are used for premises that need increased protection.

The resistance of the lock to burglary, first of all, is provided by the material from which the mechanism is made. When choosing a door lock for an entrance metal door, you should make sure that it is made of high-strength steel alloy and does not contain plastic parts and fragile metals such as silumin or brass in the structure.

Privacy levels

The secrecy of the lock is ensured by the complex capabilities of the mechanism, which includes:

• providing protection from external mechanical impact;
• the number of secret combinations;
• protection against the use of master keys;
• wear resistance of parts;
• the percentage of the likelihood of the keys being matched.

All designs are divided into three levels of secrecy.

Low secrecy. The locks have a simple arrangement of pins in the mechanism and a simple key profile. The possible number of secret combinations varies from 10 to 10,000. There are no armored pads and no lock pick protection. The mechanism is assembled from fragile metal. Visually, you can notice the low quality of the workmanship of the structure.

Medium security has a complex pin combination, although additional protection against hacking and picking may not be available. For the manufacture of locking transoms, as a rule, a durable wear-resistant alloy is used, while the rest of the elements - the body and handles are made of low grade material. The number of secret combinations is 5,000-5,000,000.

The high secrecy of the lock means that all its elements are made of durable alloy. The product has armored plates and is protected from master keys. The design is equipped with a complex combination of pins, the number of which can reach from 100 thousand to a billion.

Popular manufacturers

The rating of the best foreign designs is headed by the products of the Italian company ATRA-DIERRE. Each lock for a metal door produced by this company has high quality, strength and reliability, but it will not be cheap.

The second place is again taken by the Italian company Mottura. In 2016, the MOTTURA 52 YM 515 B / 37 design was recognized as the best product. This device includes three cylindrical bolts, an anti-knockout lock, a replaceable security element.

The third place was given to the lever lock Cisa-57.535.28.C5. It is equipped with four main and two vertical transoms, a reversible latch and an anti-vandal cover.

The fourth place of the best foreign manufacturers was taken by the Finnish company ABLOY.

The fifth place is taken by the products of a well-known German company, the ABUS EP-10 lock. This is a cylindrical mechanism that cannot be knocked out. It has 13 pins, which are located in three planes. Locking rods pins are made of high strength steel.

Among the manufacturers of domestic products, the following companies should be noted:

• Polyvector (locks "Barrier-Premier");
• Elbor;
• BORDER;
• Guardian;
• Apex.

When buying a lock for a metal door of an apartment or house, each owner is set with the main goal - to ensure maximum security. But, sadly, even the best locks on the front iron door are amenable to burglary. Moreover, burglars are most often attracted not so much by simple locking mechanisms as by a combination of a number of factors:

• frequent absence of owners;
• vigilance of neighbors;
• additional means of protection, more precisely, their absence;
• available information about the values ​​stored in a particular house or apartment.

And, of course, the most attractive door for burglary will be that door on which only one locking mechanism is installed: even if it has a high degree of protection, it will be much easier to deal with a single structure than with two or three. Therefore, when choosing locks for entrance doors, use the following recommendations:

• Don't be limited to one locking mechanism, even if it's a very expensive design. An exception can be made only for combination locks.
• When purchasing locks for an entrance iron door, stop at two different mechanisms - a lever and a cylinder. Together, they will provide a good degree of protection.
• Be sure to check the product certificate, which contains all the technical characteristics of the product. So you will find out what material is used in the mechanism, the degree of secrecy and the level of resistance to burglary.

And do not forget that no lock for a metal door can become reliable protection if the door itself does not meet the basic requirements.

And finally - a video on the choice of locks for a metal door:

When choosing a new door, many factors are taken into account: the thickness of the door leaf, the operating conditions, the choice of a comfortable and beautiful handle, etc. But the most important factor is the locking device. The final choice of the main mechanism depends on what class of security the device has, how well it resists burglary and is convenient in use.

Criterias of choice

Choosing a reliable lock for your front door is a laborious and time-consuming task. Making a choice that combines durability, safety and user-friendliness is not easy. There are many models of Russian and foreign production on the market. You cannot make a mistake and buy a simple internal lock instead of a mechanism for metal doors. So you can make a mistake with safety and get a quick breakdown of the mechanism.

Before buying a device, determine the purpose of the door. The front door is obliged to reliably protect the house from unwanted persons. To acquire such a mechanism, you need to consider the security class of the device for hacking.

Door lock

Safety class

There are four security classes for metal door locks:

1. The first class is the simplest internal locks. Devices of this kind are easily hacked and are not characterized by the reliability of the mechanism. A good "bugbear" will open such a mechanism in 5 minutes.
2. The second class combines devices that will take from 5 to 15 minutes to open. This class of devices is installed on internal doors. It also happens that they are used as the main source of apartment security.
3. The third class includes devices that will succumb to a thief no earlier than 15 minutes. The devices have a decent safety class and are widely used on metal entrance doors.
4. The last, most reliable class of security against hacking is the fourth. Such a mechanism will have to be hacked for more than half an hour. It is characterized by high reliability. This class of locks is designed to prevent undesirable persons from accessing premises of high importance.

The price of the product depends on the safety class. High protective properties of the device are achieved by using expensive, durable metals and complex mechanisms. So, a castle of the 4th class costs in the range of 25 - 30 USD. A class 2 castle, which costs $ 5, can have the same appearance as a class 4 castle. Often, manufacturers try to gain consumer confidence with the appearance of goods that look like high-end locks, but use a material with less strength.

Secrecy

It is easier to determine the safety class of the mechanism, because it determines the material of the product and the complexity of the device. It is difficult for a non-expert to understand the mechanisms. It is even more difficult to understand the secrecy of the castle. Sellers talk about this or that castle as very secret. Representing instances of devices with up to a billion combinations. But the secrecy of the lock is not determined by the number of combinations alone. Secrecy - a range of device properties:

• the number of combinations;
• protection against mechanical stress;
• protection against pick keys;
• wear resistance;
• the probability of finding a matching key.

Secret Mechanism System

According to these parameters, locks are divided into 3 classes of secrecy, ranging from low to high.

1. Low secrecy. The number of combinations varies from 10 to 10,000. They do not have protection against mechanical influences and protection against pick keys. The key consists of simple pins and a profile, which makes it easy to find the right key. The material of manufacture has no wear resistance.
2. Medium secrecy. Combination options range from 5,000 to 5,000,000. Such locks will not have protection against picks and mechanical influences, but they will have a good pin structure. Consists of strong steel combined with low strength parts.
3. High secrecy is characterized by combinations up to the value of a billion. It has all types of protection, both from mechanical stress and from picks. The pins are arranged in such a complex way that it is almost impossible to pick a key. The devices are made of high-strength and wear-resistant material.

Types of locks

The division of locks can be done according to the type of installation. There are three main types:

1. Hinged. These locks are not considered reliable. Even if there are no lockpicks or keys, they can be broken by force. Sheds, etc., are locked in this way. Installing such a device on a metal door is not worth it.
2. Overhead. Used to lock front doors. More often the second is wooden. The advantage is that you do not have to spoil the door leaf. But such locks are also unreliable, using them as the main protective mechanism and locking your house on them is not advisable.
3. Mortise. A popular type of locks that cut into the door leaf. They are highly reliable. They are installed on metal doors and the apartment is locked.

Of all the options listed above, only mortise will fit for installation on an entrance metal door. Devices of the first two types will go to lock rooms of not so high importance.

Mortise lock

Varieties of secret mechanisms

The protective properties of the lock depend on the type of mechanism device. There are many varieties.

Crossbar

This type of lock has a simple mechanism and has low reliability. To lock and unlock the lock, you do not need to turn the key, but only move the crossbars by inserting the key into the keyhole. The robbers can take advantage of this by using a simple lock pick in the form of a wire.

Crossbar lock

Suvaldny

This type of lock is more reliable than the first representative. In its design, it has crossbars that are blocked by a lever mechanism. The key has special pins that snap into place and unlock the lever mechanism. Trying to open the lock with a key other than your own will fail.

Cylinder

In the secret mechanism of the disc lock, not pins are used, but a system of movable cylinders that are shifted by cuts in the key. The cuts have different heights and angles. In this regard, it is difficult to find the key. In addition, such a key must be turned, and this will not allow a thief to open the lock by drilling the cylinders.

Cruciform

The cross-shaped lock has a cross-shaped key. Pins are set along the edges of the key, which is why a large number of combinations are achieved. But this lock is not protected from mechanical stress. It can be opened with a regular Phillips screwdriver. Therefore, it is not worth installing it on an entrance metal door.

Electromagnetic

Electromagnetic locks are widely used and highly reliable. They are opened using a numeric code or a key reader. When electricity is supplied to the coil, an electromagnetic field is generated, which is interlocked with a magnetic element mounted on the canvas. The resulting force is capable of holding the door with a force of up to 1000 kg. When there is a power outage, the door opens.

Electromechanical

Electromechanical lock

This type of device allows you to open the door not only with a key reader and a numeric code, but also mechanically. It combines the advantages of conventional and electromagnetic locks, gaining popularity. The main negative feature is the high price of the product.

Rating of the most popular castles

There are several manufacturers on the market whose products may be of primary interest.

• The Russian company Elbor is the largest manufacturer of door locks in Russia. Produces high quality products with an appropriate security class and degree of secrecy. Durable metal is used in the manufacture. The range includes mortise and overhead types from 2 to 4 reliability classes;
• another Russian representative, Pro-Sam, presents mortise and padlocks to customers. The assortment consists of more than 50 models. Devices made of high-strength material are designed for wooden and metal doors;
• Calais is a Turkish company that has entered the first places of sale in the Russian market. Possesses high quality workmanship. Specializes in cylinder locks, consisting of three-nib and three-step systems;
• The guardian is manufactured in Russia. Has in its arsenal about 40 models of various types. The devices are made of quality material with a good degree of secrecy.

There are several companies from which you can choose a high quality device. When the choice is large and the eyes run wide.

The more, the more reliable

Whichever lock you choose, follow these simple guidelines. The manufacturer of the device must have an appropriate certificate, including reliability, secrecy and material of manufacture. Do not hang large and weighty devices on doors with a thin leaf. Better yet, use two locks.

After watching a video about the device of mechanisms and learning how to choose a reliable lock on the front door, you can safely go to the store and choose.

In contact with

Comments (1)

Unfortunately, there are no comments or reviews yet, but you can leave your ...

New articles

New comments

Sergey

Grade

Sergey

Grade

Ivan

Grade

Artem

Grade

Helena