What BS 3621 means for homeowners
July 23, 2019
Some home insurance questions can feel impossible to answer. For example, do you know whether your door locks meet BS 3621 standards?
This is a question that would baffle and bemuse almost anyone that does not possess an in-depth knowledge of security product standards. However, knowing whether your locks are compliant with BS 3621 may be the difference between your home insurance covering you or not.
Whilst it might seem like technical jargon, BS 3621 is an important standard to understand for homeowners, with the implications being potentially fairly big.
The Door and Hardware Federation advise that for all timber doors, homeowners should look for the Kitemark on the lock and ensure it is rated to BS 3621 to help prevent lock snapping, bumping and other forms of lock attack.
To meet this standard, a lock must exceed a certain level of performance and be subjected to a general vulnerability assessment. This assessment allows it to be Kitemarked by the British Standards Institution – a highly-recognisable quality mark showing it meets optimum standards for attack resistance, security, quality and reliability.
Crucially, BS 3621 is the benchmark for insurance companies to measure the robustness of door locks. If you are burgled and your locks have not been tested to this standard, you may not receive your expected cover upon making a claim.
Fortunately, any Kitemarked lock will bear the logo, so with a simple check you can ensure there’s nothing to worry about.
At UNION, we ensure all relevant products meet BS 3621. So, there’s no need to check and you can answer a home insurer’s questions with ease. Visit the Union Website to view our product range.
Craig Birch is a Product Category Manager at UNION, a leading manufacturer of door locks. UNION is part of ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions UK & Ireland, the global leader in access solutions. Craig has been with the company for over 13 years.