The sheer variety of locking systems can become a little confusing. No one kind of lock is suitable for every use. Plenty of factors influence a lock system’s suitability for a purpose. Ease of use, strength of authentication and resistance to picking and jacking are all important. This article is a very brief guide to the kinds of lock available and their suitability for different applications. There are, of course, many kinds of specialist lock. This article focuses on the more common kinds of system.
Sheds, Greenhouses & Gates – Padlocks & Sprung Locks
The humble padlock is often good enough for securing your gates greenhouses and sheds. One of the great benefits of a padlock is just how easy it is to install. Simply screw in brackets to the property you want to lock and then clip the padlock onto it. One drawback to using padlocks is that they are by no means completely secure. If your bracket is simply screwed in, nothing is stopping a would-be thief from coming and using a screwdriver to take the whole thing off!
If a padlock doesn’t quite seem secure enough for your garden property, consider installing a sprung lock system. These cheap, traditional key and lock units automatically lock when closed thanks to being spring loaded. They are installed directly into the door or gate you want to lock, so can’t simply be dismantled using a screwdriver. A determined thief will still be able to use specialist tools to jack them open, but they are not likely to make this kind of effort for a shed door unless you keep incredibly expensive tools inside and keep them in plain view. A word of advice: keep your tools covered up if you are worried about thieves.
Houses – Deadbolt Locks & Mortise Locks
For the external door of your house, you should go for something a little more secure than a traditional spring loaded lock. Deadbolt locks are very commonly used to secure houses. Instead of automatically closing, the bolt needs to be activated using a key every single time. The fact that it does not need to be held by a spring means that the bolt can be designed to be a great deal more robust that traditional examples.
Even more secure than a regular deadbolt lock is a mortise deadbolt lock. These differ slightly in having a reinforced and bolt hugging slot installed in the frame of the door – otherwise known as a mortise. This makes it harder for thieves to use tools to loosen the bolt. Companies like All United Locksmith specialize in installing mortises securely. Installing one yourself is possible, but you can compromise the strength of your doorframe if you do it incorrectly.
Commercial Property – Biometric Authentication Systems
For commercial properties, owners need to be able to allow lots of staff to enter without handing out loads of keys. The more keys that are handed out, the less secure a property is. The latest biometric authentication systems scan for employees’ unique biometric data – like their fingerprints – in order to provide secure keyless access.
