The Reasons Why Euro Cylinder Locks Make Your Home Safer, Explained

There is no topic more important to us than making sure our homes are safe. Knowing that we can go to bed at night without worrying about someone breaking in and stealing our stuff or harming our families is a feeling that is worth any cost. So, when it comes to home security, most of us focus on the most obvious starting point: our locks. Specifically, the type of locks we have. Are they enough?

Many households in [LOCATION] utilise locks known as Euro cylinder locks. These are extremely popular lock types across the country. Locksmiths up and down the UK fit Euro cylinder locks on a regular basis. Hire a local locksmithing company like Lock & Key and ask them for advice on the best lock types for you, and they will likely suggest that you consider Euro cylinder lock installations. 

Why, though? In this guide written by a professional Bradford locksmith, we’ll evaluate every important detail!

Euro Cylinder Locks: At A Glance

You might know a Euro lock cylinder by a different name, by the way. They might also be referred to as a pin tumbler lock; this is their old name from back in the 1800s when they were first patented. The vast majority of UK households have Euro cylinder locks, and they have their use in commercial locksmithing, too. 

If you look at the lock on your door, you will know if you have Euro cylinder locks due to their shape. Are you able to spot a cylindrical shape in your lock? Then you likely have Euro cylinder locks. Inside these locks are a series of eleven pins that all combine within the cylinder to manipulate and manage the lock mechanism. They are famed for their ease of installation and maintenance, while also being extremely easy for locksmiths to upgrade, replace, repair and modify. 

When Did Euro Cylinder Locks Arrive On The Market?

The pin tumbler lock first came into being back in the 1900s. First patented back in 1805, it was created by Linus Yale Sr., the founder of security giant Yale, back in the 1840s. 

When Euro cylinder locks were first conceptualised, professional locksmiths were looking for a lock design that was protected from lock drilling. This was the pre-eminent choice of break-in method at the time. The Euro cylinder is designed to make sure that drills are unable to drill below the core of the lock itself. 

However, Euro cylinder locks were not perfect when they were first conceptualised. Part of the appeal was that a locksmith could easily unlock them if someone happened to lose their keys. While that made getting back into our homes easier in the event of a key loss, it also made breaking through locks easier. As such, Euro cylinder locks were soon upgraded to include anti-pick protections.

Euro Cylinder Locks: How Do They Operate?

The operations of a Euro cylinder lock are important to understand. Generally, they are made up using a combination of either five or six pins; however, more specific Euro cylinder locks have as many as eleven pins. Within a Euro cylinder lock, as many as thirty-four moving parts and mechanisms exist. 

Inside a Euro cylinder lock, the pins are split up into a top and bottom half; these are known as the master pins (or wafers) and the bottom pins. When a key is inserted into the Euro cylinder lock that is compatible with the door, then the pins will be pushed upward to create an even line across the interior of the lock. So long as the key is the correct fit for the lock, this will create the line needed to allow the lock to turn, unlock, and lock/unlock the Euro cylinder lock as required.

What Door Types Are Compatible With Euro Cylinder Locks?

Praised for their versatility, Euro cylinder locks are commonly installed in just about any kind of door. The most common door types that use Euro cylinder locks include:

• Standard house doors made from wood, metal and/or UPVC

• Garage doors

• Patio doors

• French doors

• Storage devices

Unlike other lock types, too, Euro cylinder locks are ideal for both internal and external locking mechanisms. You get different standards of Euro cylinder locks, though, with six-pin locks the ideal choice for external doors, as these add an extra layer of protection that internal Euro cylinder locks do not. For internal doors and storage facilities, most Euro cylinder locks use a five-pin design instead. 

Are There Different Types Of Euro Cylinder Locks?

Yes, you have numerous models to choose from on the market. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular Euro cylinder locks that you will find in the UK:

Single Euro Cylinder Locks

These smaller, shorter Euro cylinder locks are quite popular due to their affordability. However, since they only lock on one side of the door, they are not ideal for use as your main door lock style. Single Euro cylinder locks are more suited to doors that you only want to be lockable/unlockable from one side, such as the doors you use to access your garage. 

Double Euro Cylinder Locks

Arguably the most popular version, these are different from the above as they lock at both ends. While a single Euro cylinder lock only locks at one side, you can lock/unlock a double Euro cylinder lock from both sides of the door. That makes them generally more secure; if you have UPVC doors, then there is a good chance you have double Euro cylinder locks.

Thumb-Turned Euro Cylinder Locks

Your other option is to get a Euro cylinder lock that is opened using a thumb-operated latch. Senior citizens in particular like these as they can be quickly operated in the case of an emergency unfolding.

Euro Cylinder Locks For Internal And External Doors

As we have mentioned above, you can have Euro cylinder locks installed both internally and externally. That makes them a great choice for all security upgrades in your home or business. However, not all Euro cylinder locks are made identically. What lock types are there, broadly?

Internal Euro Cylinder Locks

Most properties will use Euro cylinder locks for specific security upgrades. These are not as common to find inside homes, though you might use Euro cylinder locks if you have a house of multiple occupancy (HMO). They are mostly used in commercial settings, such as office buildings, where you want to keep certain parts of the building secured from access by all but the most specific staff.

External Euro Cylinder Locks

External locks are probably the most commonly used. These are, as mentioned above, typically a 6-pin setup. They are more secure than 5-pin models, which makes them ideal for external doorways. You will mostly find these fitted into front and back doors, as well as patio doors. 

The Security Benefits Of Having Euro Cylinder Locks

The main reason to upgrade your locks is to make your home more secure, right? Well, that is why Euro cylinder locks are so valuable. They provide a whole host of protections, including: 

Lockpicking Protection

We mentioned this above, but it bears mentioning again: Euro cylinder locks are lockpick proof. They come with designs that mean the lock cannot be manipulated and opened using a lockpick or similar. Now, a criminal is unable to fool your lock into having the lock pins line up without the use of an actual key. With anti-pick pins, someone can't pick most modern Euro cylinder locks. 

Drill Protection

If a criminal cannot pick your lock, they might try to go for the more direct route and drill through it. Lock drilling is about as conspicuous as you get in the lock-breaking world, so most criminals avoid trying to use it. Even better, though, a criminal trying to drill through your Euro cylinder locks will soon find that they cannot. Anti-drill protections mean that the shear line cannot be drilled through or into, using a much more durable material to prevent the drill from being able to penetrate successfully. 

Snapping Protection

As you might have heard, lock snapping is one of the most commonly used methods for breaking into homes in the UK. Lock snapping is a quick, easily applied method that requires precious few tools and technical ability. 

Anti-snap protections come as standard for any new Euro cylinder locks that you have fitted today. Rather than having the weaker central section that was found in older Euro cylinder locks, anti-snap models have extra protection. With a ‘sacrificial’ line of pins, these are designed to be snappable without then giving the criminal access to the pins they need to break through to break the lock. The snap line will break, but the central lock continues to work as it should, preventing lock snapping. 

Bumping Protection

Another regularly used underworld skill is known as lock bumping. A modified key is placed into your lock, and then the criminal uses a torque applicator to force the lock open. One of the major issues with bumping is that, unlike, say, lock drilling, it leaves next to no signs of forced entry. That can make it look like your criminals managed to get into your home with ease. Anti-bump protections mean that such silent methods of entry into your building no longer work, thanks to changes to the pin alignment. 

How Do I Know If My Euro Cylinder Locks Are Secure?

Your main aim should be to look at the security rating that comes with any Euro cylinder locks that you buy. If you are buying a replacement lock, you should be looking for certain certifications to be mentioned on the product page. The most important and prominent security ratings in the UK are:

Sold Secure

Sold Secure (SS) is one of the most important names in British lock security. They have become the leader of UK security certification. Sold Secure products come with ratings from Bronze to Diamond, and that gives you a clear understanding of how secure these locks are going to be and how much work a criminal has to put into breaking through them.

• Sold Secure Bronze-rated products are protected against basic, low-level entry

• Sold Secure Silver offers additional protection against more robust criminal tools

• Sold Secure Gold is aimed at protection against tools dedicated to lock-breaking

• Sold Secure Diamond provides comprehensive protection against specialist equipment

TS007

Another high-value security rating that you can have on your locks is known as TS007. The most up-to-date method, TS007:2012, is a comparable security rating to Sold Secure. TS007 locks are known to have been thoroughly tested against the ‘big four’ lock-breaking methods we mentioned above: snapping, picking, bumping and drilling. 

Locks come with a one to three-star rating, with three being the best. Look out for the BSI Kitemark logo; it looks like a heart with a squiggle inside, plus a star rating. 

British Standards EN 1303

British Standards certifications are some of the most important within the UK security industry. They are one of the leading regulators of security equipment, including Euro cylinder locks. You get various British Standards ratings come in several forms. They include BS EN 1303:2005 regulations to BS 3621. The 1303 2005 standard gives you peace of mind that your locks at least meet the minimum level of expected security protection. You can go from high-risk models with lesser protection to low-risk models that are more robust. 

Euro Cylinder Locks: Keyed Alike & Keyed Differ

When looking into Euro cylinder locks, you might come across specific terminology that sounds quite confusing. Two typically mentioned terms are keyed alike and keyed differently. It is important to understand what these mean and why the difference is so important.

Typically, keyed alike Euro cylinder locks are designed so that the lock mechanism is the same across all of these Euro cylinder locks. That would mean that one key would be compatible with all of the Euro cylinder locks that you have fitted. 

So, Like A Master Key?

No, not really. Master key systems have a unique lock for each door, but also a specialist master key that can work in any of the locks as well. Keyed alike doors are different in that every lock is identical. While that can be useful for certain situations, it does mean that if someone gets a compatible key for one door, they have a compatible key for all your doors.

What About Keyed Differ?

You also get a method known as keyed differ, which, as you might imagine, is the opposite of the above. Keyed differ Euro cylinder locks have unique locks; what works in one of your Euro cylinder locks will not work in another lock. That is better from a security standpoint, but it means having to keep track of multiple keys. 

The Big Question: How Secure Are Euro Cylinder Locks?

As we have noted above, not all Euro cylinder locks are made the same. At their very base level, though, all Euro cylinder locks provide you with a basic, low level of protection. They will be designed to be resistant to all of the usual break-in methods used today, especially if you buy new locks. Your older Euro cylinder locks, though, might not have specific protections in place like the newer models.

Today, many products on the market simply were not available in the past. At one stage, Euro cylinder locks were designed with a 60mm design that was split up into three sections: 25mm, 10mm for the ‘cam’, and then another 25mm. Today, you can buy larger Euro cylinder locks that are 100mm in size, with a 40/60mm split, which makes the lock more challenging to break through. 

My Euro Cylinder Locks Stick Out: Is That A Bad Thing?

It can be, yes. Euro cylinder locks should, ideally, have as little overhang as possible. You want to have your Euro cylinder locks flush to the door, with as little of the cylinder being visible as possible. The more your cylinder sticks out, the more likely it becomes that someone can manipulate it or break it. They might even be able to just pull the cylinder right out of the lock with the right tools!

The general rule among locksmiths is that you should have your Euro cylinder locks as close to the door as possible. In some cases, this is not going to be possible. The MAXIMUM that your Euro cylinder locks should stick out is around 3mm. A lock that sticks out more than 3mm is a genuine security risk and is sure to attract the eyes of criminals hungry for illegal activity. If your Euro cylinder locks stick out beyond this, you should contact a locksmith in your local area ASAP for support. 

How Often Should I Review My Euro Cylinder Locks?

Your locks can quickly become outdated, but it can be hard to tell how outdated your locks are without a professional appraisal. We would recommend that you have your locks reviewed by a locksmith every five to seven years. However, if you see a spate of break-ins occurring in the area, we would advise you to call a locksmith for an immediate review.

If you notice any functional issues with your locks, though, call a locksmith sooner. If your locks feel like they are sticking, appear to be overly tight/loose, or are making strange noises, get help. Problems with your locks rarely vanish on their own; if a problem arises, get it checked out. 

Euro Cylinder Locks: The Best Choice For UK Homeowners

As you can see, then, Euro cylinder locks are very popular and with good reason. Like any other lock type, though, they come in various shapes, sizes and styles. What passes for perfect for one building might not be suitable for what you are looking for. That is why it is always better to get an expert opinion on your Euro cylinder locks. 

As ever, it would be best to speak with a professional locksmith. They can assist you in deciding which type of Euro cylinder lock would be ideal for your needs. For example, do you want a Euro cylinder lock that is lockable from both sides? One side? Or with thumb-turn access on one side?

If you feel like your Euro cylinder locks need to be upgraded, call a locksmith. DIY installations come with numerous challenges, and it can be easy to make one small mistake that makes the entire setup weaker. A locksmith can review your current setup and advise on the best upgrade(s) to make.