A huge number of owners of apartments and residential buildings in an effort to make their home a reliable fortress install metal entrance doors. And these are the right actions, but they can be completely useless if the installed lock does not perform direct duties, is distinguished by poor-quality raw materials and susceptibility to easy hacking. It is very easy to choose a suitable mechanism, you just need to understand the wide range offered on the modern market.
Types of locks by breaking resistance class
A huge number of goods belong to door hardware . These are various door locks, hinges, stops, handles, latches and other designs. But now we will talk about the locking device of the door.
The degree of protection of the lock from opening depends on the base material and the level of secrecy of the mechanism acting inside.
There are four classes of tamper resistance:
- locks that can be opened in just a couple of minutes;
- designs cracked by experienced craftsmen for a period of time from 5 to 15 minutes;
- third-class mechanisms with improved protective characteristics, for the opening of which you need to work more than 15 minutes;
- the most reliable locks, for opening which you need to spend more than half an hour.
Distribution by type of secret mechanism used
Most often, five types of secret secret structures are found in everyday life:
- leverage;
- cylinder;
- electronic;
- code;
- crossbar.
The last three types of secret mechanisms are used very rarely, because such door locks for entrance doors have a lot of serious drawbacks. They can not be called reliable.
Code devices, as a rule, are mounted on the doors of entrances. They open without the use of keys by entering a digital combination. The unreliability of such locks lies in the fact that fraudsters can spy on the cipher, guess it or find out through a special electronic panel.
Crossbars locks consist of internal bolts opening through pressing a key on their internal part. Such mechanisms are characterized by a short service life and ease of opening.
Electronic locks for entrance doors need redundant power supplies, because without them they simply cease to function. Such mechanisms deteriorate very quickly, often do not respond to the control panel signal, are completely unstable to high and low temperatures.
It is best to purchase a door lock for a metal door of cylinder or level type. These structures are considered the most reliable and resistant to breaking. The principle of operation of the lock of the first type is that to rotate the cylindrical block a combination of pins is built that looks like needles. And in lever mechanisms under the influence of a key, a secret mechanism rotates, and a set of plates forms a certain combination.
Types of locks by installation method
There are three types of mechanisms: overhead, mounted and mortise.
The installation of padlocks is most often used for garages and sheds. Each product from this category consists of a body and an arc, one end of which is fixed and rotates around an axis, and the other is locked with a key included in the mechanism.
Overhead structures are attached to the surface of the door leaf, practically without creating damage. They are very easy to mount and connect to other devices.
The mortise door lock for a metal door is usually installed inside the case. Access to the well in this case is provided through drilled holes covered with decorative pads. Such designs are very popular. They do not spoil the aesthetically attractive appearance of the door and can be mounted both in the front door and in the interior.
Distribution of locks by type of action
There are two types of mechanisms:
- Locking, not having a structure of handles and latches. They are mounted above the location of the locking lock. Such products are usually used exclusively for locking.
- Locking and locking. The structure of such locks includes latches and handles with a latch. This is the most common type of locking mechanism, which very comfortably fixes the position of the door and does not require additional effort when closing. Most often, such a lock is mounted at a distance of a meter from the floor surface in the lower part of the housing.
Privacy Type Distribution
The door lock mechanism can have various internal and external parameters. This is the strength of the structure, and the number of combinations used, and the likelihood of a key coinciding, and even the degree of protection against master keys.
All this is included in the degree of secrecy, which are distinguished by three:
- Higher. The door lock device uses a complex combination of pins and a well thought out device profile. Attached is a protective mechanism that is resistant to chemicals and physical strength. The number of secret combinations used ranges from 100 thousand to one billion. Assembly and precision parts.
- Medium. A rather complicated combination of pins is used, but protection against hacking is not always there. The case and structural parts are made of materials with high strength. As a rule, the case and handles are of poor quality, and the crossbars of the system are of high quality. The number of combinations used ranges from 5 thousand to 50 thousand.
- Low Such door locks for entrance doors are not protected from mechanical impact. Their details are not of high quality, however, like the assembly. Simple pin combinations and classic key profiles are used. The number of combinations involved ranges from 10 to 10 thousand.
Locks with cylinder system: breaking resistance
The degree of protection against mechanical stress depends directly on the model and manufacturer. If you purchase a domestic door lock, the price of which will be surprisingly ridiculous, it is unlikely that you can protect your home, because such structures can be opened with an ordinary hairpin.
It is worth paying attention to products of foreign manufacture. As a rule, such mechanisms are more qualitative and resistant to various characters of external and internal influences.
Level locks: burglary resistance
Burglar resistance of such mechanisms depends on the number of combinations of protrusions on the surface of the key. This parameter can be easily calculated using a special formula: multiply the number of levers of the castle by the number of protrusions. On average, this coefficient is in the range from 50 thousand to 100 thousand combinations, which is why scammers use more crude methods of violating the integrity of the corps instead of master keys.
A door lock for a metal door of a lever type will be more resistant to cracking in the presence of false protrusions. In addition, the well can always be protected with armor plates, sheathing from sheets of metal or other durable materials.
Dismantling the old structure before installing the new locking mechanism
If door locks are installed in a new metal door, then you can limit yourself to one amount of work. You just need to purchase the mechanism you like and proceed with its installation. But in the event that the internal door lock should come to replace the old design, you will have to remove the old device before purchasing a new one.
If the previous mechanism was installed without fixing larvae and handles, then there will be no difficulties in the process of dismantling. It is only necessary to unscrew the screws for fastening from the end plate of the door surface, and then remove the door lock for the metal door. This method is great for level constructions.
If there is a fixed cylinder, you will first have to remove the screw from the end plate, which passes through the entire surface of the mechanism. After that, the door lock device is easily removed from the opening.
In some cases, decorative pads that do not provide access to the device’s case can create a problem. As a rule, such elements are fastened with bolts that can be removed with a conventional screwdriver.
Key Lock Care
It is very important not to forget to take care of key mechanisms during their operation. A door lock, the price of which depends on the type of secrecy, the manufacturer and the materials used, can suffer from the effects of moisture and frost. In such situations, it is necessary to regularly use special solutions that prevent the appearance of rust.
Some experts advise lubricating the lock from the inside with machine oil, but this is not always a good option. Over time, dirt and metal chips can accumulate in the larva of the device, and you will have to purchase a new locking mechanism.
Conclusion
To increase burglar resistance and prevent robbers from quickly entering a house or apartment, it is better to install several protective mechanisms at once. For example, a level lock can be used as the main one, and a cylindrical waybill can help him.
When choosing a mechanism for the front door, do not forget to pay attention to the accuracy of its assembly, material of parts, cost, strength, ease of use. Also, be sure to consider the specifics of your door.
Do not save on a device that should protect you and your family. It is best to give preference to trusted and reliable manufacturers.