How do your locks Grade?

You’re looking to change the locks on your house because they are starting to stick and or you are concerned that they may be easy to bypass. You are wonder how to know if a lock is good?

There is a simple method to help you determine the durability of a lock along with the potential for it to be forced open. Locks come with grades assigned to them. These grades are established by Builder's Hardware Manufacturers Association (BHMA) in conjunction with the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). BHMA/ANSI Standard A156.2 outlines grading requirements for cylindrical and bored locks, while A156.13 covers mortise locksets.

Locks are graded from grade 1 to grade 3, grade 1 is the highest quality and grade 3 is the lowest quality. There are three main components that locks are tested for, Strength, Operation, and Finish durability.

Grade 1 locks are manufactured to out perform and out last grade 2 and 3 locks in all measurable test.

Cycles:A grade one lock is rated for 800,000 cycles, which means that it can lock and unlock over 800,000 times and still be able to perform normal operation.

A grade 2 lock is rated for at least 400,000 cycles and a grade three lock is rated for at least 200,000

Strength:Grade 1 locks are tested to withstand 300lbs of force per square inch for a knob and 700lbs per square inch for levers.

Grade 2 can withstand 150/450 per square inch and grade 3 120/225

Most high traffic areas need and require a grade 1 lock. They will hold up to the frequent use and abuse very well.
Most residents will be very well protected with a high quality grade 2 lock and reinforced strike plate, but not all grade 2 locks are created equal.

Grade 3 locks are generally designed for interior applications that don’t get a lot of use. We would never recommend the use of a grade 3 lock on the exterior of your home.

Cost:

Grade 3 locks can range in price from $15 - $35, Grade 2 locks $45 - $85 and Grade 1 locks $90 - $200.

There is also a difference in quality and security of locks within grades. An example is that a lock may be a grade 1 for operation but be a grade 2 or lower for security.

A reputable locksmith can help you pick out the right locks to ensure that your home is adequately secured.

As always Please give Pop-A-Lock a call and we can answer any questino you might have.

Pop-A-Lock
652 36th Ave N.E.
Minneapolis, MN
612-331-3093