Locks and Security News: your weekly locks and security industry newsletter
17th April 2024 Issue no. 701

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Householders call in security professionals following BBC lock snapping exposé

Householders concerned about the security of their homes are calling in locksmiths, installers and security professionals for advice following a number of BBC programmes on lock cylinder snapping, according to the Door & Hardware Federation (DHF) and the Glass & Glazing Federation (GGF).

In one programme it was revealed that more than a quarter of all burglaries in West Yorkshire are being committed by criminals using snapping techniques. It showed how euro cylinders in external doors can be forced in under a minute.

Secured by Design, the Association of Chief Police Officers’ crime prevention initiative, has worked with the UK door and window industry on a new standard for lock cylinders and security hardware, such as handles.

The standard has been developed by the DHF and the GGF with consultation and support from other leading industry associations. The new domestic lock cylinder and hardware standard -Technical Specification 007 (TS 007) - has now been published and lock cylinders and hardware are currently undergoing testing to TS 007.

Said DHF general manager and secretary Michael Skelding: “Locksmiths and installers need to be aware that there’s likely to be an upsurge in inquiries from householders wanting their locks to be checked following the BBC programmes. At one stage the online BBC news story about lock snapping featured in the ten most viewed UK news websites. So it has triggered a great deal of consumer interest in home security.”

The TS 007 Kitemark security retrofit standard features enhanced security performance requirements for replacement lock cylinders and associated security hardware such as handles. The correct combination of lock cylinders and protective handles or hardware that carry the Kitemark to TS 007 will resist cylinder snapping, bumping and other forms of cylinder attack.

The new TS 007 specification has been modelled on the cylinder security requirements of the long established PAS 24, the security “gold standard” for domestic doors that come pre-fitted with security locking systems.

The TS 007 standard incorporates the use of a Kitemark symbol and star ratings that range from one to three stars. TS 007 is designed as a three star solution. Security can be achieved by either a combination of a cylinder (marked with one star) and security door furniture such as a strengthened door handle (marked with two stars); or a “super cylinder” (marked with three stars) that successfully resists snap attack. In both cases, the same degrees of resistance against attack will be provided.

For more information, visit www.dhfonline.org.uk/downloads/pub194.pdf

Door & Hardware Federation T: 01827 52337 www.dhfonline.org.uk

Glass and Glazing Federation T: 020 7939 9108 www.ggf.org.uk

The organisations that were invited to comment on the new standard, and after making comments are now supporting the introduction of the standard, include:

Association of Composite Door Manufacturers

RISCAuthority (representing UK insurers regarding security risk mitigation measures)

Association of Chief Police Officers/Crime Prevention Initiatives/Secured By Design

BRE

BSI

Association of Building Engineers

Exova Warrington

NHBC

Guild of Architectural Ironmongers

Council for Aluminium in Buildings

White Technology & Engineering

25th April 2012