Thank you for visiting my page on Security, hopefully it will provide you with some useful advice to help you keep your property and valuables safe and secure.

Its a brand new page and will be updated regularly as I improve it.

If you are a locksmith or security specialist please feel free to email me if you would like to offer any advice. info@locksandleaks.co.uk

The first thing I’d like to start with is Insurance requirements for your property, now Insurance companies differ so its important you check your policy. The last thing you want is to be paying hundreds of pounds a year to find out you can’t claim because your security doesn’t comply with their requirements.
The amount of times I’ve heard people say “I called my insurance but I can’t claim because”, is unbelievable.
If your experience is anything like mine, you know that Insurance companies will try their best to squirm out of paying you, if they can. “DON’T LET THEM”.

So what are your Insurance requirements? Please find below a guide of standard Insurance requirements.

Warning I was falling asleep whilst reading them so please don’t read whilst driving or operating heavy machinery

Standard Insurance Requirements

NB: These may differ from company to company so check your policy!

All final exit doors must be fitted with:
(a) a mortice deadlock conforming to BS3621; or
(b) a rim deadlock conforming to BS3621; or
(c) for aluminium or UPVC framed double glazed doors a multi-point locking system or an in-built mortice deadlock.

All other external doors (including Single, solid wood or wood panelled doors must be fitted with:
(a) a mortice deadlock conforming to BS3621; or
(b) a rim deadlock conforming to BS3621; or
(c) any mortice deadlock or rim deadlock with either two mortice rack bolts fitted internally top and bottom or two surface mounted key-operated security bolts fitted internally top and bottom.

Double, solid wood or wood panelled doors must be fitted with:
(a) a mortice deadlock or rim deadlock conforming to BS3621 with hidden flush bolts fitted at the top and the bottom of the closing edge of the first door; or
(b) a mortice deadlock or rim deadlock conforming to BS3621 & two mortice rack bolts fitted to the first door, one at the top which goes into the door frame and one at the bottom which goes into the floor; or
(c) a mortice deadlock or rim deadlock conforming to BS3621 with surface mounted key-operated security bolts fitted to the first door at the top and bottom into the frame or the floor; or
(d) any mortice deadlock or rim deadlock with mortice rack bolts or surface mounted key-operated security bolts fitted to both doors with those at the top going into the door frame and those at the bottom going into the floor; or
(e) a mortice hook bolt conforming to BS3621.

Aluminium/UPVC doors must be fitted with:
(a) for single doors a multi-point locking system of deadbolts or an in-built mortice deadlock.
(b) for sliding patio doors with two key operated locks fitted internally top and bottom and preferably in the opposite diagonal corners.
(c) for french doors or windows a mortice deadlock or rim deadlock with mortice rack bolts or surface-mounted key operated security bolts fitted to both doors with those at the top going into the door frame and those at the bottom going into the floor.

Garage Doors must be fitted with:
(a) a key-operated lock (other than a rim latch); or
(b) a good quality padlock.
Electronically operated garage doors do not require special protections.

Windows
All external basement, ground floor and other windows, skylights and fanlights accessible from roofs, fire escapes, down spouts, walls or other features of any building must be:
(a) fitted with key-operated window locks; or
(b) permanently screwed or bolted shut.
The glass in louvre windows must be glued into its mountings by strong impact adhesive.
These requirements do not apply to fire exits designated by the fire prevention officer.

Use of minimum physical
Whenever your home is left unattended or when the occupants go to bed at night it is a condition that you put into full operation any lock or bolts or other security devices.
However, locking devices on windows in occupied rooms need not be brought into operation.