What are British Standards?

You may have noticed some products are branded with a certification known as the ‘Kitemark’ (pictured on the right), which is used to indicate certification by the British Standard Institution, but only where a Kitemark scheme has been set up around a particular standard. 

So what are British Standards?

“In essence, a standard is an agreed way of doing something. It could be about making a product, managing a process, delivering a service or supplying materials – standards can cover a huge range of activities undertaken by organizations and used by their customers.” (BSI Group)

British Standards in the locksmith industry...  

A British Standard is the minimum standard that a product such as a cylinder must be manufactured in accordance with before it is recognised by the relevant authorities as a quality product. 

For example Home Insurance providers will specify that all external wooden doors such as your front door are fitted with a British Standard deadlock. 

British Standard and Home Security

When assessing the security of your home you may want to consider upgrading your cylinder to one that protects you against the five most common methods of attack:

•       Drilling

•       Picking

•       Snapping

•       Bumping

•       Plug Extraction

The majority of cylinders with a kitemark such as ABS High Security cylinders will help to protect your door from these types of attack. 

The Door and Hardware Federation strongly advise that in order to effectively protect your home from any type of attack to update your cylinder to one that is to the TS007 Kitemark standard.

TS007:2012 – What is it?

TS007:2012 is a Technical Specification that has been produced in the form of a document by the Door & Hardware Federation (DHF) and the Glass and Glazing Federation (CGF). The DHF and CGF worked closely alongside Secured by Design (the Association of Chief Police Officer’s crime prevention initiative) to develop the TS007 Kitemark standard. 

Meeting the TS007 standard...

The TS007 standard is characterised by a star rating and also uses a third party certification mark, typically the Kitemark. The star rating will also be imprinted on the cylinders and door furniture. It provides a mix and match approach with the ability to interchange cylinders and security hardware giving a flexible way to achieve the three star rating.

TS007 standard – How it works...