The last time you need to be asked if your lock conforms to BS3621
By now, you've probably seen the Aviva insurance advert. If you haven't, here it is:
Featuring a man being grilled about his door locks, the advert raises a good point: how much do people actually know about their home security? I asked my wife, who held several home insurance policies over the course of her time as a student, if she knew what kind of lock was required for insurance to be valid. Let's just say it is lucky she was never targeted by burglars!
People just don't seem to know whether their door lock matches the standards necessary to validate their home insurance and often click 'yes' to questions about whether their lock conforms to BS3621 insurance approval without truly knowing what that means or looks like.
British Standard refers to the level of security the lock needs to conform to, and is most commonly identified by the 'kite mark'. To check whether your lock conforms, the easiest thing you can do is open your door and look at the lock. This is where the kite mark will usually be positioned.
Alternatively, as a rough guide:
If you have a modern door with a 'lift-to-lock' handle, including hooks or deadbolts (look when you lift up the handle!) you are most likely covered.
If you have a wooden door with just a latch, the chances are that you are not covered, and it is worth double checking manually - a handful of latches do conform to British Standard, but the majority do not.
If your door includes a mortice (chubb) lock that has 5 levers (written on the lock), you are most likely covered.
If you are concerned about the level of security, most local locksmiths offer a free security assessment and would be happy to answer any questions.
