Is my business secure? – Security overview

Is my business secure?

With everything starting to open again, business owners who haven’t been able to trade for the last year are able to get back to their livelihood and resume a bit of normality.

The worst thing that could happen is to come back to your place of work and find it has been broken into and items stolen.

This is the sad reality for some business owners when they do go to open.

Having the right security for your business is a top priority, as it keeps you safe and secure. It can also reduce your insurance premiums as insurers deem it a lesser theft risk if you have the adequate security in place.

The main door lock types & window lock types

Five lever mortise deadlock:

This type of lock is one of the most common available. Typically, it is installed on wooden front doors and it involves cutting a cavity into the door frame (known as a ‘mortice’) for the actual lock to be fitted.

Most business insurers usually insist that every exit door and ground floor window is fitted with a five-lever mortise lock conforming to BS3621 before they offer cover.

The levers are what the key must move in order to ‘throw’ or ‘deadlock’. The more levers a mortice has, the more secure it is, mainly because you need more points of contact for lock picking or to unlock it. Though three-lever locks are available, the British Standard BS3621 recommends five for the minimum level of security.

Many insurers will reduce your business contents insurance premiums if you use door locks which feature the Kitemark, as this ensures they have been manufactured to a high standard and incorporate exceptional lock technology.

You can tell a 5 lever mortice deadlock conforms to BS3621 by looking out for the following:

Kitemark engraved – the mortice lock will have the British Standard Kitemark engraved on faceplate.

Number of levers engraved – the faceplate should state the number of levers the lock has.

Standard number engraved – the faceplate of the lock will state the standard number (e.g.  BS3621:2017).

The most popular brands of BS3621 mortice deadlocks include ERA, Union, Yale, ASEC, Chubb and Legge.

Multi-point locking system for doors & windows:

These types of locks are considered more secure than a mortice lock, this is due to these locks incorporating at least three locking points which all lock simultaneously when you turn the key.

These locks include the type where to need to lift the handle up to lock the door properly and are most common on uPVC doors. If they feature on your business’s main entrance door, you will need a locking cylinder with at least 5 pins for your insurance.

The Master Locksmiths Association recommends the use of locks with cylinders that are SS312 Diamond Approved, or which conform to the newer TS007 three-star Kitemark standard. Alternatively, you can have a minimum of 1-star cylinder with 2-star PAS24 handles fitted.

Night latches & rim latch locks for doors:

Instead of being morticed within your door, night latches and rim lack locks are mounted to your doors, or door frames instead. A night latch should never be used on its own, but we recommend that you install one as an extra layer of protection.

Double-locking night latches are the most secure form, as they have a keyhole on the handle inside the door so the door latch can be deadlocked from inside. As with the five-lever mortice deadlock, a night latch built to BS3621 standards is a much safer bet.

Key-operated window locks:

We always strongly recommend fitting your windows with key-operated window locks, which can be fitted to the top or bottom of a window, or on the handle that closes the window.

Of course, there are many other popular types of locks for businesses, including:

Keypads: where you enter a designated code and you’re granted access to the building or office.

Push paddle locks: where you push in on the metal lever to open the door.

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Have any questions? please don't hesitate to contact one of our team