Why all Locks are Not Created Equal

Locks, like all things come in varying quality and understanding what the pros and cons of different hardware is can generally save us a headache in the future. While locks types differ in their various advantages and disadvantages such as a deadbolt being a far superior security option than a locking handset, today Id like to touch on lock grades.

Locks and other door hardware are graded by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association and ratings typically appear as ANSI/BHMA and range from 1 to 3 with 1 being the superior. Any lock without a rating should not be utilized as it hasn’t been held to their standards. The things the locks are tested for include;

Cycles- The lock is cycled for a set amount of times and retested after to ensure its still in working order.

Finish- A series of tests is performed to ensure the locks appearance will hold up to exposure to various environmental conditions.

Security- An array of tests is performed that consist of various attacks to gain entry.

Strength- Tests are performed to ensure the various parts of the lock hold up to various abuse. 

Operational- Tests are performed that test the functionality and ease of use of the lock.

Often, grade 3 locks are described as residential, grade 2 as light duty commercial and grade 1 as commercial. It’s a bit of an oversimplification though and it should be known that having a grade 1 lock does not mean it is a high security lock. Even within the 3 grades various locks are not equal to one another and several factors need to be considered while choosing new locks in regard to what is being secured, the environment they are being installed in and the level of security that needs to be obtained.

While all this can seem a bit overwhelming, JD Locksmith Solutions can provide an array of options for every scenario and help navigate to the right decision. Whether you need a high security solution, the convenience of keyless entry or a finish that will hold up to the harshest conditions we’ll make it easy to get it done right. We cover Barnstable, Plymouth, Norfolk and Bristol counties and can be reached at (508)535-5625.