Why BS 3621 is so important for homeowners

In light of National Home Security Month, Craig Birch, Product Catgeory Manager at UNION, explains why it’s so important to make sure door locks meet BS 3621 for residential installations.

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, did you know that if the door locks on your home do not meet BS 3621, then you may not be convered by your home insurance policy, should there be a break-in?

While it might seem like technical jargon, BS 3621 is an important standard to understand to help protect homeowners.

The Door and Hardware Federation advises 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.

For installers fitting door locks, it’s critical that products meeting BS 3621 are chosen, so this is not an issue. At UNION, we ensure all relevant products meet BS 3621, so you can fit door locks in residential properties with confidence.