The Importance of Five Lever Locks in Bristol

Bristol - Bath - Cheltenham - Weston-super-Mare - Swindon

Five lever mortise locks are often recommended by police forces and on external front, back and side doors for increasing home security. They are usually a requirement for insurance purposes too. But are they really necessary? The answer is, “Yes,” but only as long as you also have a strong door and door frame. Most break-ins involve kicking in a weak door and no matter how strong your lock is, if the door is weak, a determined burglar will get through it. As long as you have a good door then a five or (even better), a seven lever lock is what you need to ensure your door is unlikely to be picked or easily broken through.

What is a Five Lever Mortise Lock?

A five lever mortise lock is set into the door (a mortise is literally the hole in the door into which the lock is fitted) and has a lever mechanism with 5 levers that is operated by a key. The levers open and close the bolt which cannot be pushed open in any other way (unlike a Yale-type lock). Cheaper lever locks with just 2 or 3 levers are available but are more easily attacked and do not comply with current insurance standards. The five lever lock has at least 1000 different key combinations and the 7 lever locks have over 6000 different key combinations, making them very difficult to pick.

Why Use Five Lever Locks?

A five lever lock, apart from being required by insurance companies, should be regarded as the minimum level of security for exterior doors. For maximum security, also fit security bolts at the top and bottom of the door, preferably recessed and operated by a key. Rack bolts (recessed, key operated bolts) are essential for patio doors and French windows and hinge bolts that automatically click into position when the door closes, are a good idea too.

British Standards and Insurance

Most insurance companies now stipulate that 5 lever mortise locks should comply with BS3621:2007 and this is normally printed on the lock itself. The new standard means that the bolt on the door is now 20mm instead of the previous minimum of 14mm which increases the door’s security still further. When choosing a 5 lever lock, look for the British Kite mark; it means that the lock is proof against drilling, picking, cutting or forcing.

Burglaries in Bristol

Good news - burglaries in the Avon and Somerset Constabulary region dropped in 2010 and the number of burglaries are generally below average for the country, but this is not the case throughout the region. The Bristol city area still suffers between 500 and 600 burglaries per month, which is a high rate nationally. If you live within Bristol City, securing your home should be a high priority and door security is your first line of defence.

We supply, fit and repair door locks on residential and commercial properties.

To discuss your requirements, ring Castle Security now on:

Tel: 0117 3660066 or

Mobile: 07831 195151 or

Email: castle@castlelocksmithbristol.co.uk