Which companies make the best locks. Technical characteristics of the most reliable lock for a metal door

It is quite difficult to rank castles. When choosing such accessories, customers are often guided by price and only then think about quality. However, not everything is so bad. There are several quite budget options that have all the necessary certificates and decent burglary resistance.

No. 3 - economy class

• Apecs(China). Product reviews are very different, but most are positive. People mark decent appearance(galvanic coating) and durability, however, marriage is also found. The most popular model is 1023/60 AB. Changing the larva in such a mechanism is easy on your own.
• Border(Russia). The brand has about three hundred items. The lock is willingly chosen by customers for installation in the doors of the middle price segment. Some even purchase it for gun safes.
• Elbor(Russia). It produces affordable products - mortise and overhead.
• guardian(Russia). Mechanisms are financially available, strong enough. Preference is often given to models: 21.12, which can be additionally equipped with an armor plate and an end plate, and 25.12 with two locks, 5 crossbars.

No. 2 - middle class

These are locks that are installed on the doors of the middle price segment. They are certified, have a high level of protection against hacking. Best:

• Titanium(Slovenia). Releases stealth locks without a keyhole. They are opened with a special key fob, powered by batteries (enough for a year, provided that it is opened no more than 20 times daily). In principle, stealth locks can compete with elite mechanisms.
• Abloy(Finland). High-quality products at an affordable price (the most sophisticated mechanisms are not much more expensive than titanium ones). On sale you can find simple models for a couple of thousand rubles and exclusive ones, the cost of which is more than 10 thousand. Devices show the best protection from hacking.

No. 1 - top class

This includes locks of three brands:

• German Abus- according to users, these are the most reliable and durable mechanisms, which, among other things, also have corrosion protection, so they can be installed where it is humid;
• Italian Cisa- the company produces mainly electromechanical models, the number of which is more than 30 thousand copies, the cost is affordable, despite the high quality and reliability;
• Turkish Kale Kilit- most users are inclined to believe that these products have the best combination of price / quality, they are problematic to open, so the safety of the home is ensured.

The best of the best

This is Israeli locking hardware. MUL-T-LOCK. The company has been a market leader for over 4 decades. The products have the largest guarantee - 10 years, the highest degree of protection - it is impossible to duplicate the key in a regular workshop (modern models).

How to choose?

Before buying an entrance door to a private house or apartment, consult with the manager about the lock. First of all, pay attention to:

• Reliability. Remember, you can crack any lock - it all depends on the qualifications of the thief, his equipment and skills. However, if it takes a professional only 5 minutes to make a class 2 product, then he will break class 4 for half an hour. During this time, someone will surely scare him away.
• Manufacturer. The top 10 above is at our discretion. User feedback was taken into account when compiling it. The list of the best may well include a device from another manufacturer, which did not fall into our field of vision.

If a door with a low burglary resistance is ordered, then there is no point in buying expensive valves. In this case, an experienced burglar uses other methods to penetrate the living quarters, for example, he will bend the corner of the door leaf with a crowbar or break it out in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe castle, but the mechanism itself will not be touched. This is especially true of cheap Chinese products, which can be opened independently and without difficulty with an ordinary can opener.

Remember, standard doors include an average quality lock. It is certified, but in some cases it is better to agree on replacing the fittings with a more burglary-resistant one even at the stage of placing an order.

A steel box and a solid door are not a guarantee of complete security. Constipation plays an equally important role. If the acquisition of locks for entrance metal doors is approached competently, with skill, then the probability of unauthorized entry into the home is reduced to almost zero. What should be guided by when going to the store for a purchase?

Main selection criteria

The complexity of the locking device

According to the 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 the simplest design.
• Second. More complex and relatively cheap devices. But it will take a specialist 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 not advisable to purchase for a suburban building or a private house. Such a lock on the front door will not provide effective protection for the home.
• Third. These locks are much more reliable. Even a skilled cracker would have to spend at least half an hour to deal with any of the examples of this class. As a rule, it is these devices that are purchased most often 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 security are increased, this is the best option. With such constipation, you can carry more than one hour, and then, the result is unpredictable.

Movement type

• Crossbar. These locking devices are positioned as unreliable in almost all ratings. 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 is easy to open. In addition, it is quite easy to forge keys; they are not original.
• Cylinder. It is he who is the most reliable castle. Such models are considered one of the best for doors at the entrance to the house. They are distinguished by the difficulty of selecting a key, since it is difficult to determine the position of the pins in the larva without completely disassembling it. Additional security is provided by the installation of an armored plate on the back side of the web, which prevents mechanical impact 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 recesses on its working part do not match 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 options for mechanisms - cruciform, disk - should not be seriously considered for installation at the entrance. They are easy to open with a primitive master key. The same applies to models el / mechanical, electromagnetic. The disadvantage of these types of locking devices is that they are industrial/voltage dependent. In the event of a malfunction (disconnection) on the line, the dwelling will be left without protection.

For the front door, it is advisable to purchase locks with a cylinder or lever mechanism. It is advisable to put them in pairs. 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 high-strength steel products. Various soft alloys and metals (silumin, brass), especially samples that contain plastic parts, will not provide security. If they are difficult to open, then simply breaking or breaking them is enough.

Installation method

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

• Insertion installation. In the private sector, less common models, since for their fastening on the back of the canvas it is necessary to make a hatch. Although if the frame is finished with a metal sheet only on the outside (found at cheap entrance doors), then there will be no installation problems. It is not difficult to make an appropriate cutout in a slab (MDF, chipboard).
• Inset installation. The most popular models of locks in iron doors. Since there is a cavity inside the web, the locking device is immersed in it quickly enough. It is only necessary to take into account the location of the stiffeners in the sash. On its end part, only a decorative bar covering the mechanism will be visible.

Manufacturer

Locks "made in China" are attractive only for the price. For all other indicators, they clearly lose to their counterparts. Among the manufacturers of really high-quality locks, one can single out Cisa, Kale, Mottura, Vachette, Iseo, Asix, ABLOY. The 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 the entrance metal door to pay attention to various novelties. Since they have not yet found wide application, it is logical to assume that burglars have not “worked out” an effective technique for opening them.
• Often, managers operate with such a concept as the secrecy of the mechanism of the locking device. So they explain to the buyer why this particular model is the best of all presented. This is a kind of deceit. 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 material of the case 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 an apartment.
• In this regard, it is also important which 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 not the fact that it will be possible to purchase it at retail.
• It is not advisable to install the same locking devices at the entrance. It is better to take different ones so that they cannot be opened with one master key.
• Locks for front doors should not be bought at bazaars or from street stalls. You should choose them only in specialized shopping centers. This ensures that the manager's advice will be professional, and the goods are really branded, and not counterfeit.
• The key can also tell about the quality of the product. If it has a logo applied by an industrial method, and the surface is perfectly processed, there is no doubt - this is a really good lock.

Maximum security of the entrance is also ensured by a number of additional measures - the installation of an internal latch, metal trim, hidden loops, alarm elements. This should not be forgotten either.

Every day, most of the population of our planet is faced with the need to unlock and lock the locks on the front doors of their houses, apartments, garages, offices, shops and many other premises. Restricted access allows only a select few who have the key to the installed lock to enjoy the privilege of entry. Human nature does not allow us to hope that some will not want to take advantage of other people's property, which is why locks were invented. The safety of property depends on their quality and reliability, so the choice of device should be approached very carefully. The key parameters that you need to pay attention to when choosing a lock are:

• If it is necessary to replace a failed lock, when choosing, it is necessary to take into account the conformity of the landing dimensions, or the possibility of altering them without violating the integrity of the door leaf;
• Door opening direction;
• Thickness, type (interior or entrance), material of manufacture (plastic, glass, wood or metal) and design feature of the door leaf (solid or hollow);
• The presence of a new lock protection against hacking, additional "secrets", etc. features that can resist the intervention of unauthorized persons in the structure.
• Device cost.

The last factor is the higher, the more levels of protection the castle has. Also, the cost is affected by the popularity of the brand, which is usually in direct proportion to the quality of the mechanism and its safety characteristics.

TOP 10 best door lock companies

A large selection of models from different brands can make it difficult to choose the most preferred lock. Our rating brings together the best manufacturers of this type of product, widely represented on the domestic market. We hope that this review will help you find and choose the most reliable lock.

10 APECs

The most affordable price. Acceptable quality
Country: China
Rating (2019): 4.0

In our rating, there was a place for a Chinese manufacturer. This is really the best Chinese brand, whose product quality is very close to European and domestic models. Locks have 4 class of secrecy, more than affordable price and quite tolerable quality to pay attention to them. Mortise lever mechanisms have been successfully tested, during which specialists have made unsuccessful attempts to open the lock by manipulating the master keys (selection) and using a roll (power scrapping of the secret mechanism).

Proven in this way in practice, Chinese locks at a low price today are very popular products. On Russian market Mortise lock APECS 1023/60-AB is very popular. It is installed both on metal entrance doors and on interior wooden ones. Electroplated coating gives the lock a presentable appearance and makes the structure more resistant to external factors, and therefore more durable.

9 Border

durable
Country Russia
Rating (2019): 4.2

On the territory of our country it is the largest manufacturer of locks. It is based on the basis of the factory of calculating and analytical machines, located in Ryazan. The model range of products includes about 300 items, and the sales market is not only the territory of Russia, but also neighboring countries. The presence of its own design office is the reason for continuous improvement, taking into account the operational experience of previously released models.

In addition to the relevance of the products, the owners in their reviews note the high quality of the materials used in the manufacture of the mechanism and the lock case. The reliability of the device and its high security features make it possible to use Border not only on front doors, but also in gun safes. A model such as BORDER 71602 has decent protection and is popular with domestic buyers, many of whom have successfully used this lock for garage doors.

8 Elbor

Reliable. Affordable price
Country Russia
Rating (2019): 4.4

The company that produces door locks under this brand can be safely considered a coryphaeus among domestic manufacturers of locking mechanisms. Elbor products are popular among consumers - a fair price and high security parameters that guarantee reliable protection of your premises are the main factors when choosing mortise locks. As evidence of the reliability of the lock systems of this brand, it is enough to say that some models of lever locks (Elbor SAPFIR 1.09.06.5.5.1) are recommended by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia for installation in gun rooms.

The great popularity of the model is a natural reaction of consumers to the high level of resistance of the mechanism to unauthorized access. In their reviews, the owners of these locks give a decent assessment of the model, both in terms of the quality of work and its reliability. The design feature of Elbor SAPPHIRE is an insurmountable obstacle in the way of most thieves and robbers.

7 Titan

best secret
Country: Slovenia
Rating (2019): 4.6

The company was included in our rating because it began its successful history back in 1896. Exactly 25 years later, the company produced its first mortise lock, and has continued to compete for its customers ever since. The company has successfully passed the ISO 9001 certification and today is a major player in the door lock market, selling its modern models to different countries of the world. The campaign's design department has created a revolutionary locking system that sits discreetly in the door leaf and is controlled via a dynamic radio signal. It is the lock of such a system that breaks the hopes of most of the robbers to gain access to your valuables.

Reviews of owners who have installed an additional hidden Titan-Battery + lock on their metal door note a high level of security, peace of mind for the safety of their property and reliable operation of the mechanism. The device can operate on AC power or on batteries (enough for a year of operation with the daily opening of the lock no more than 20 times). The design of the mechanism has 5 levels of protection against dead batteries, and the control panel is provided with a blocking of accidental pressing.

6 Abloy

Better Rationality
Country: Finland
Rating (2019): 4.7

For more than a century, a Finnish company has been producing cylinder-type door locks. Extensive experience and continuous improvement of products allows the models of this Finnish company to be considered the best in resisting hacking attempts. In the arsenal of the company there are devices with the Anti-Panic system, the production of modern interactive locking mechanisms with the implementation of remote access has been launched. The developed master system allows you to combine many locks into one (there is a master key that can open a certain group of doors, each of which has its own key). It is an ideal solution for offices, hotels and similar spaces.

Wonderful models of locks for interior doors are in stable demand and are very popular in the domestic market. A lot of positive feedback deserved the ABLOY LE310 lock, which has a convenient configuration and expediency of installation not only on emergency exit doors. The absence of the need to lock when leaving the premises (office, study, laboratory, etc.) is noted by the owners of this system as the most rational and convenient solution. The main thing is that the key is always with you.

5 Abus

mechanism durability. Reliability
Country: Germany
Rating (2019): 4.8

Started in the 1920s with the production of padlocks, the German company Abus has now grown into an international group of companies producing and selling a wide range of padlocks and mortise security locks around the world. And if the design of the lock of this brand is quite simple, then the cylinder mechanisms have an undeniable advantage over competitors. Their structure includes several levels of protection against burglary, reliable and durable.

In the Russian market, the products of this company are valued for the high quality of the material from which the body and details of the lock are made. For installation in interior and entrance doors, the ESK PZ 2 55/20 model has proven itself well. The universal body has an affordable price and compatibility with euro cylinders of different brands. In the reviews, the owners like the presence of corrosion protection, which allows you to install the lock in rooms with high humidity.

4 Mottura

Most practical
Country: Italy
Rating (2019): 4.8

The company occupies a leading position in the market of locking systems due to the unique properties of its products. Half a century of experience and thousands of own developments, patents, allow us to keep consumer demand at a high level. The company is one of the few that offer a practical solution to consumers in case of loss of the key.

The system of replaceable secrets allows you to leave the base of the lock, which is a practical and economical solution for lever models. In addition, in certain designs, the nucleo recoding technology is implemented - you simply purchase new set keys of a certain type and with the help of a simple algorithm of actions, the secret of the lock is recoded by you yourself under a new key. The Mottura 54.Y787 My Key model, popular in Russia, installed in a metal door, allows you to quickly change the key without having to disassemble the mortise lock mechanism. The reviews of the owners, faced with a similar situation, are full of recognition and respect for the designers for a very practical and modern solution.

3 Cissa

Most Innovative
Country: Italy
Rating (2019): 4.8

Among the best brands in our ranking, the Italian manufacturer is due to its long history and innovative approach. Modern technologies in the design of lock systems make Cisa products in demand in 70 countries of the world, and the number of manufactured items today exceeds 30 thousand. It was the engineers of this company who first developed an electronic lock. Today, the company offers its modern version - a smart lock, which can be controlled using a phone.

In our country, electronic locks of this company are very popular. Overhead or mortise, they are the ideal solution for controlling the entrance to offices, residential buildings, porches and more. Cylinder lock systems of the company have maximum protection against burglary, which makes them popular in our market. The great demand for models such as Cisa 11610.60.1 is explained not only by the reliability of the equipment, but also by the reasonable price.

2 Kale Kilit

Best value for money
Country: Türkiye
Rating (2019): 5.0

For more than half a century, the Turkish company has been developing and manufacturing locks of various designs, armored safes and doors. Vast experience and modern production solutions, the introduction of advanced innovative technologies allow the company to remain relevant and in great demand for its products. Popular mortise and overhead models of locks are highly reliable. Recently, an innovative model of a cylinder lock has appeared on the market, which, when attempting to break (drilling, hitting, selecting a key), activates a sound siren with a power of 80 dB.

In our country, Kale locks are popular due to their simple and reliable design, as well as affordable price. Lever models are especially in great demand, as their quality is much superior to Chinese ones, and in terms of its characteristics, Kale is in the wake of more reliable Italian brands. Mortise lock KALE 257 has earned great popularity in the domestic market. The simplicity and reliability of the design, the ability to adequately resist attempts to open the mechanism without a key - such ratings in the reviews for this model are given by their owners.

1 Mul-T-Lock

High level of protection against hacking
Country: Israel
Rating (2019): 5.0

This popular company has been in the leading positions among manufacturers of locking systems for more than 40 years, and therefore takes the best place in our rating. Service centers are located in many countries of all living continents, maintaining popularity and demand for products. Working with high-security locks, the company has implemented more than one hundred patents and inventions, has developed and manufactures unique machines for creating the most reliable locks. Mul-T-Lock keys and moving parts are made of cupronickel, which makes them more reliable and resistant to external factors, and also explains the large (10-year) manufacturer's warranty. It should also be noted that modern models have key copy protection and make it impossible for third parties to create a duplicate.

Among the wide range of models of lock systems of this company, models for metal entrance doors are very popular in our country. Thus, the Mul-T-Lock "265" lock, which has four locking channels and a gear control mechanism, has a justified consumer demand, which is due not only to product quality, but to an affordable price. In their reviews, the owners note the smooth operation and reliability of the mechanism of this model. The fact that the image of the manufacturer's logo, placed on the front door, deters most potential burglars, speaks of the reliability of the chosen system.

Savings on door locks can turn out sideways: not only does the home become vulnerable to intruders, but you also have to spend money on frequent repairs or, worse, call the master for it if it gets stuck. Although not a single lock is immune from such problems, nevertheless, when choosing a mechanism from a reliable and reputable company, reliability and security increase. Which door lock manufacturers can you really trust today? Let's take a look at the best of the best.

Top 10 lock manufacturers in the world

Italy

Cisa company world leader for the production of door locks. Founded in 1926 in Italy, factories in other countries were already opened in the 70s. Today the company includes 6 factories, products are supplied to 70 countries of the world and has about 30,000 items. Cisa locks are time-tested quality and innovation. Within the walls of this company was designed electronic and smart lock which are in widespread use today. The range includes locks with different locking mechanisms that are suitable for any type of door. The company also produces armor plates, anti-panic handles, door closers and padlocks. Cylinder mechanisms of the company are completely protected from breaking and opening.

Mul-T-Lock, Israel

The company was founded in 1973, developed rapidly and quickly became one of the world leaders in the production of lock systems. Representative offices and service centers of the manufacturer successfully operate in more than 100 countries around the world. The company develops and manufactures high security locks, it owns hundreds of patents for locks, cylinders and machines for making locks. Cylinder mechanisms of the company have increased burglary resistance, keys and moving parts are made of cupronickel which provides them with increased resistance to negative environmental factors. The range of locks is the widest. Recently, the manufacturer has been part of the ASSA Abloy group of companies, which brings together world leaders in the field.

Italy

The company with half a century of experience is considered one of the most famous European manufacturers of locks and fittings. Products are widely represented in many countries of the world, incl. and in Russia. The company conducts its own research and development, produces lever, cylinder, electronic locks and armor plates. All products are protected by patents, as technologies are used that have no analogues from other manufacturers.

Kale Kilit, Türkiye

Turkish Kale locks have been produced since 1953. Today the company is also engaged in the manufacture of safes, metal doors, window fittings, but locks remain the main activity. The plant is equipped with modern equipment, innovative technologies are used, which makes it possible to produce high-quality mechanisms that meet international requirements. The company's product range includes overhead, mortise and padlock types with different opening mechanisms. Recently introduced cylinder lock with sound effect: the alarm (80 dB) is triggered by breaking, pulling out, drilling the lock or selecting the key. The company's products are in demand in 80 countries around the world.

Evva, Austria

The company was founded in 1919, today its factories are located not only in Austria, but also in the Czech Republic and Germany. Manufacturer specializes in the production of cylinder locks, which are equipped with unique security systems that make hacking and copying the key almost impossible. The company is known for numerous innovations both in the field of locks and in the field of software. The manufacturer was one of the first in the industry to receive the ISO 9001 standard, which indicates a high production culture and excellent product quality.

Abus, Germany

Today Abus is a group of companies that produce a wide range of safety products. The history of the company began in 1924, and initially padlocks were produced here. By the way, everyone knows The U-lock was invented here. Today the company offers big choice mortise locks for entrance and interior doors. Cylinder mechanisms of the company can boast of the highest quality, durability and burglary resistance. Representative offices of the manufacturer operate all over the world, incl. and in Russia.

Abloy Oy, Finland

The company was founded in 1907 and in 1994 became part of the Swedish group of companies ASSA Abloy. Specializing in production cylinder locks, which receive protection from any type of hacking. The range includes locks of varying degrees of secrecy. The company also produces padlocks and electromechanical locks, door fittings, armor plates and an anti-panic system.

Spain

The manufacturer has been operating since 1941 and at first was engaged in the production of locks for suitcases, but in 1947 it mastered the production of door locks, and in the 80s it already produced electronic access control systems. In 2001, the company became part of the ASSA Abloy group. On the manufacturer's account a lot of own unique developments, incl. standalone access control and access control system. Today the company is a well-known manufacturer of cylinder locks, fire door locks, handles and other fittings for various types of doors. In addition, the plant is one of the leaders in the production of anti-panic systems.

Dom Group, Germany

The company has been operating since 1936 and was originally engaged in metal processing. Today the manufacturer is considered world leader in the production of access control systems and produces a range of products to ensure maximum security for residential and commercial premises. As for door locks, high-quality and reliable ones are produced here. cylinder mechanisms, which receive protection against breaking, drilling and knocking out, and the keys are equipped with protection against unauthorized copying.

Titan, Slovenia

This is one of the oldest European companies specializing in the production of locks. In 1896, they began to produce metal elements, including locks. In 1919, the production of mortise locks began. Today it is a powerful enterprise engaged in the production of cylinder locks. The plant is ISO 9001 certified. In 2015, the company was renamed to DOM Titan.

Top 5 lock manufacturers in Russia

Mettem

It is one of the largest domestic manufacturers of locks. It was founded in 1992 and at first produced analogues of imported lever locks, but after a while there appeared own developments, and the range of products is constantly expanding. At the moment, the company produces mortise, insert and overhead locks of cylinder and lever type, and combination locks are also produced. The products are intended for installation on the doors of apartments, offices, garages, and can be used to equip fire doors. All products meet the requirements of relevant standards.

A large domestic company has been producing locks and fittings since 1994. Since then, the manufacturer has managed to get many patents for unique developments. The company focuses on continuous development, product improvement and expansion of its range. One of the biggest achievements is the patented K-System. This is a special system of interaction between key furrows and levers, which allows you to keep the lock working in case of various breakdowns. At the moment, the company produces mortise and overhead locks of lever and cylinder type.

Border is one of the largest enterprises in the sphere in Russia. The plant operates on the basis of the Ryazan plant of calculating and analytical machines. Today, the product range includes more than 300 modifications of locks, they are supplied to all regions of the country and neighboring countries. A large design bureau operates at the plant, which, when developing new mechanisms, takes into account domestic features of the operation of locks. All locks are made of high quality materials with anti-corrosion zinc coating, they have a beautiful appearance and excellent protective characteristics, so they can be used not only for entrance doors, but also for safes.

The company is considered one of the oldest in its field. Despite the achieved high level of popularity, the company constantly improves and refines the burglary-resistant qualities of its locks. A distinctive feature of the manufacturer's products is a pleasant price-quality ratio. The range includes mortise and lever locks designed for metal and wooden doors.

The company has been operating since 1991 and produces locks under the Barrier trademark. All products are simple and reliable in use, with a high level of safety and durability. When developing locks, the experience of criminologists and specialists in opening locks is used, which allows the company to produce products that are most protected from various kinds of influences. Prices are low.

Everyone wants to feel safe in their home and not worry about the safety of property. The front door and a good secure lock are the main barrier to burglars. You can not find the most perfect locking mechanisms. The only question is how much time and what tools 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.

Door lock classes

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

There are four in total:

The main types and types of door locks

1. crossbar lock

The crossbar lock has a rack-and-pinion unlocking mechanism. It barely reaches the I class of safety. The basics of the mechanism: a flat key, along the edges of which grooves are machined at different angles; the lock bolt has identical grooves. The key gets into them and moves the bolt, thereby locking or unlocking the door.

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

1. cylinder lock

This is the most common type of lock. Some of them are opened with an ordinary pin, while others are quite difficult to pick up a master key. Although the thief can inflict a couple of strong blows on the lock cylinder so that it flies into the room. The main feature of this type of lock is the 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 drill drills the pins that form the lock code. Thieves also use a "fold" for such locks. It has the shape of a key with a lever mount. Thanks to the high-alloy steel, pins are easily cut off.

This does not mean at all that the cylindrical lock and its types are completely hopeless. If you choose a mechanism with additional protection, then no “roll” and a drill will take it. Reinforcing elements include plate armor inlays and embedded hardened steel balls. Knocking down the pins will be very difficult, and the balls will not allow the drill to be installed. The cylinder lock with an armor insert belongs to the III and IV protection classes and is perfect for metal entrance doors.

1. Level lock

The lever lock, 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 the key. The key is a rod with plates on which notches are cut.

The lock will not open, even if one of the levers fails. A would-be burglar without a key can't move them. 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 breaking.

1. Electronic lock

Electronic locks are modern locking mechanisms. They do not have the usual keys, but magnetic cards, remotes or codes are used instead. A kind of additional protection for 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 bypassed by attaching a photo of the owner's fingerprint to the photocell. Electronic locks are good for everyone, but the only negative is the high cost.

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

The choice of door locks in specialized stores is very wide and it can be difficult for the buyer to determine how to choose the best door lock for a metal door. Any castle must have a passport 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 should combine strength, reliability and resistance to possible breaking. Inspect the lock, it should not have rust or cracks.

Also, the lock must fit the door and the 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 locking mechanisms with long, heavy crossbars. This, to some extent, increases security, but the weight of the lock, with regular use, quickly wears out the door and frame. For a wooden door, you must also carefully select a lock that will not damage the canvas and the box.

What types of locks are best for front doors

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 can be called a lever lock. The lock 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 in tandem at once - cylinder and level. The number of crossbars is recommended from three or more, with armor inserts and a class of at least III.

Also a good option is to install combined locks. They use a double mechanism (lever and cylindrical), which can complement each other. For example, if they try to open one mechanism, the other is automatically blocked. The 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. For an experienced burglar, a glance at the key is enough to remember its structure and determine the type of locking mechanism.