What to Upgrade To A 3* Anti-Snap Euro Cylinder is the answer.

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The importance of secure external doors can not be ignored. Should you suspect that any of your existing cylinders are vulnerable to attack, or fall short of insurance policy requirements - consider replacing with high security cylinders.

What are High Security Euro Cylinders

The euro cylinder is probably the most vulnerable part of a door. If a burglar can manipulate or remove the euro cylinder, then they can open the door. That's why it's important to fit a euro cylinder that can resist compromise.

Euro cylinders that are designed to resist physical attack and manipulation are commonly referred to as high security cylinders.

Typical High Security Euro CylinderFeatures

Anti-Snap - deliberate weak point resists lock snapping
Anti-Bump - low and high driver pins resists lock bumping
Anti-Drill - Lock drilling resisted with anti-drill pins and plug cuts
Anti-Pick - spool pins make lock picking fruitless
Anti-Plug Pull - resists plug and cylinder pull
Visual deterrent - visible kitemark discourages thieves

We describe the individual features of high security euro cylinders in more detail within the Security Products pages.

Certification & Euro Cylinder Quality Logos

There are a number of certification marks that can be used to determine the quality of a euro cylinder. Some aspects of the certification marks are concerned with the quality of manufacturing processes, while others test and grade the cylinder based on it's resistance to attack and it's general durability.

When purchasing euro cylinder locks, be sure to look out for the following marks.

TS007:2012

TS007:2012 is a security standard for replacement cylinder locks and protective door furniture. Developed by Door & Hardware Federation and Glass & Glazing Federation in response to concerns over cylinder attacks. The standard uses criteria of the past Kitemark tests (BS EN 1303:2005, BS 3621:2007 and PAS24:2007*) but also includes tests for the common lock-snapping attack method.

This TS007 British Kitemark, with it's star rating system, is now used to classify euro cylinder door locks and security hardware.

When put to the test, successful high security euro cylinders are awarded either a 1-star classification or a 3-star classification, with 3-star being the most secure.

Security hardware is also tested, with handles and cylinder guards awarded a 2-star rating if they meet the desired standard.

It is recommended that external doors be fitted with 3-star security, which can be achieved by the use of a 3-star rated cylinder, or by combining a 1-star cylinder wth 2-star door handle furniture.

BSI Kitemark

The BSI kitemark is a product certification mark that represents quality and safety and is one of the most respected and trusted throughout the world. Manufacturers require a comprehensive quality management system and must carry out initial product testing and subsequent audit testing to achieve the kitemark classification.

A large number of insurance companies now require any euro cylinder lock fitted to an external door to have been awarded a British Standard Kitemark and for the kitemark to be stamped on the cylinder.

European Standard EN 1303:2005

The EN 1303 European Standard was introduced to establish assessment and test criteria for the measuring of a cylinders resistance to physical attack, key security, fire resistance and durability. Assessed cylinders are awarded an 8 digit code that describes their performance against each assessment criteria. This code is a useful tool for comparing the strength of one cylinder against another.

EN 1303 8 Digit Code Explained

Each of the 8 digits that make up the BS EN 1303 classification shows the Grade awarded to a feature of a product when measured against the performance requirements of the standard. The following is an example code for demonstration purposes.

This code tells us that the cylinder used for the example met the required Category of Use torque resistance, passed 100,000 cycles during Durability tests, offers Fire Resistance, got highest grade for Corrosion Resistance, achieved grade 5 and 2 for Key Security and Attack Resistance respectively. Note that euro cylinders do not require Door Mass and Safety to be measured.

Look at the following table, which describes the EN 1303 classication code when applied specifically to euro cylinder locks. This will help you to understand the above example and better appreciate what you are buying.

Digit	Feature	Grades Available
1	Category of Use - Linked to frequency of use	Grade 1 - Usable after resisting 2.5Nm torque
2	Durability - Cycles achieved during testing	Grade 4 - 25,000 cycles Grade 5 - 50,000 cycles Grade 6 - 100,000 cycles
3	Door Mass & Closing Force - Not required	N/A
4	Fire Resistance - Tested to BS EN 1634-1 for use on fire/smoke doors	Grade 0 - No requirement Grade 1 - Approved
5	Safety - No requirement	N/A
6	Corrosion - Corrosion tested to BS EN 1670. Temperature resistance tested within -20° to +80°C	Grade 0 - No requirement. Grade A - Corrosion approved. No temperature resistance required. Grade B - No corrosion resistance required. Temperature resistance approved Grade C - Corrosion and temperature resistance approved
7	Key Security - Measures key related security	Grade 1 to 6 where 6 offers the greatest security
7	An explanation of Key Security Grades can be seen within the separate table below.
8	Attack Resistance - Performance against common techniques	Grade 0, 1 or 2, where 2 offers the greatest resistance.
8	An explanation of Attack Resistance Grades can be seen within the separate table below.

The following tables provide us with an explanation of what the Key Security and Attack Resistance grades actually mean and how they would benefit us.

Digit 7 (Key Security) Grades Explained

Criteria	Grades
Criteria	1	2	3	4	5	6
Min. No. Effective Differs	100	300	15,000	30,000	30,000	100,000
Min. No. Movable Pins	2	3	5	5	6	6
Direct Coding on Key	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No
Cylinder/Plug Torque Resistance (Nm)	2.5	5	15	15	15	15

Digit 8 (Attack Resistance) Grades Explained

Criteria	Grades
Criteria	0	1	2
Resistance to Drilling (net)	N/A	3mins	5mins
Resistance to Chisel Attack (blows)	N/A	30	40
Resistance to Twisting Attack (twists)	N/A	20	30
Resistance to Plug/Cylinder Extraction	N/A	15kN	15kN
Cylinder/Plug Torque Resistance	N/A	20Nm	30Nm

The EN 1303 classification code is a great tool for comparing cylinders.

PAS 23/24

PAS 23/24 is an enhanced security standard, which requires that the cylinder is kitemarked and passes 2 additional cylinder tests, these being lock snapping attacks using mole grips and screw.

PAS 23/24 guarantees that a tested system can withstand an attack lasting 3 minutes, which is the average amount of time a burgular will spend trying to break in.

Euro cylinders that do not include Anti-Snap features can be protected by the fitting of high security handles or cylinder rose.

Secured by Design

The official UK Police initiative supporting the principles of 'designing out crime'. To gain approval and be able to user the Secured by Design mark, locks must be tested to either BS EN 3621:1998 or BS EN 1303:1998 standards.

Insurance Approved

The Insurance Approved mark is awarded to locks that are approved to BS EN 36261 and carry the Brtitish Standard Kitemark. In many cases fitting an Insurance Approved lock is a requirement and may reduce your premiums.

Sold Secure

This identifies a product as having been independently tested and awarded the Sold Secure Quality Mark. Sold Secure was established by Northumbria and Essex Police in 1992 with help and backing from the Home Office. It is now owned and administered by the Master Locksmiths Association (a not for profit trade association).

Checking your Euro Cylinders

Identifying the level of security that a cylinder offers is not always clear. Particularly from just a visual inspection as most of the identifying features may be hidden within the barrel.

Kitemark Stmap

The BSI Kitemark may be stamped on the ends or the side of a cylinder. These suggest that the locks meets EN1303:2005 or EN3621:2007 and has been awarded the Insurance Approved stamp. Some insurance companies have more sepcific, higher level security requirements, so don't take it for granted that a kitemarked cylinder meets your policy requirements.

Manufacturer Stamps

Some manufacturers stamp their cylinders with identifying features like their logo, cylinder model numbers etc. Once you have this information it may be possible to source the security rating from the manufacturer, distributor, retialer or the Internet.

Documentation

Check paperwork relating to the purchase and fitting of the lock for any indication to the lock manufacturer and model. Keep your eyes open for the 8 digit BS EN1303:2005 code as that will identify the performance of the cylinder against the standards criteria.

Identifying Features

There are a few external signs to look for but you will first need to remove the cylinder. Don't worry if you don't know how to remove a euro cylinder, it is really easy and only takes a few minutes.

Number of Pins

Bungs used for blocking the holes through which springs and pins are inserted can often be seen on the underside of the cylinder. A high security lock will generally have at least 6 pins on either end. The more pins give greater number of effective differs, so the lock is more unique and harder to pick.

Guard Pins

These pins may run alongside the standard pins. Smaller and spring loaded, they spring into action and lock the plug when bumping is attampted. Absence of these does not mean that the cylinder is not Anti-Bump as there are other Anti-Bump features that are not visible on the outside of the cylinder.

Anti-Drill Pins

Smaller diameter than any pin bungs. These hardened steel pins may be visible on underside of cylinder.

Anti-Snap Cuts

Vertical cut lines near face of cylinder. Sacrificial weak point that leaves lock secure after lock snapping attack.

Grip Defelctors

Makes it hard to grip the cylinder again once it has been snapped.

Hardened Reinforced Bar

Designed to flex, rather than snap. Runs from one side of the cylinder, through the central weak point to the other. Sometimes seen on the underside of the cylinder or below the cam space, with the fixing screw running through it.

Recommended Euro Cylinders

There are three ranges of high security euro cylinders that we recommend, these are the Yale Platinum 3* Anti-Snap, Yale Superior 1* High Security and the Yale Kitemark Anti-Bump Euro Cylinder.

We recommend these ranges as they offer a great level of protection at affordable prices. Each offer Anti-Bump, Anti-Pick, Anti-Drill, Anti-Extraction and Screw Attack features. However, the Yale Superior and Yale Platinum offer protection against lock-snapping with the Yale Platinum being awarded the high 3* rating. The 1* Yale Superior and Yale Anti-Bump could each achieve a 3* rating when combined with a 2* security handle.