Home security is a necessary measure, the achievement of which largely depends on the reliability of the door lock. Locking mechanisms mounted on metal doors must have a high degree of resistance to burglary. In order to choose a lock for a metal door, it is necessary to study the types of devices that can be purchased today and their characteristics.
Features of door locks on metal doors
When choosing a locking mechanism you need to understand that it must meet the intended purpose. Entrance doors are installed primarily to protect the apartment or private house from the entry of unauthorized persons. The reliability of the entrance structure depends on the type of the castle and its quality.
Choosing a lock on the front door, you should also understand that the mechanism should be easy to handle. This is a very important point, as the canvas, which is mounted at the entrance to the dwelling, is operated daily. The modern market is filled with products manufactured under different brands.
When choosing such a device, it is recommended to consider the operational features in a particular situation. Experts advise not to buy the locking mechanism immediately, but before acquiring to study reviews about it. The castles of Elbor, Guardian, Cisa are very popular.
Note! The locking mechanism for the entrance door must fit the type of canvas. Some people make a common mistake: they buy an interior analogue instead of a lock for the entrance structure. Such devices have a weak resistance to cracking, and do not have high quality characteristics. This significantly reduces their operational life.
The principle of operation of various mechanisms is determined by their design features. Today, there are 3 groups of devices that differ from each other in this indicator:
- mechanical;
- electromagnetic;
- electromechanical.
Mechanical. Mechanisms of this type lock the door with the help of special sliding elements – bolts. The number of these parts may be different. Reliability of devices depends on the number of these elements. Their advantage is that they are not volatile. Today, such a door lock is the most popular among buyers.
Electromagnetic. Such locking mechanisms operate due to the electromagnet, which is available in their design. To open such a lock, the code combination is most often used, consisting of a specific sequence of numbers. Some models are unlocked using a special key fob or electronic card. The material carrier in this case performs the function of a key.
The most expensive models can respond to the host biometric data (for example, a fingerprint). The electromagnetic lock on the door has one serious drawback – volatility. The fact is that the work of such a locking mechanism requires electricity. You can open the lock directly connected to the mains by turning off the power. Therefore, when using such devices, it is recommended to provide them with autonomous sources of electricity, which can be batteries.
Electromechanical. Such mechanisms combine the characteristics of the two previous types of door locks. In this case, the door leaf is locked with bolts, which are driven by electricity.
Useful information! This device, unlike electromagnetic analogs, does not require a constant power supply.
The advantage of this kind of locking mechanism lies in its versatility. You can open the electromechanical device using both electricity and a conventional key.
Different models of locking mechanisms differ from each other in design. The device lock is the main factor that influences the installation of the product. Locking mechanisms are classified according to the method of installation, and therefore they are divided into two groups:
- invoices;
- Mortise.
Overhead. Today, such products are practically not used on metal entrance canvases, which are installed for private purposes. It is associated with a padlock device. Such models are not integrated into the canvas, and mounted on top of it.
The use of an overlap type mechanism is advisable if wood is used as the door material. In such a situation, it is often necessary to preserve the integrity of the door leaf, so installing such a locking device is the only right decision. In addition, the laid on mechanisms installed on a wooden door provide greater reliability than mortise.
Overhead locks for metal doors are installed only when there is no need for maximum security. They can be found on the entrance doors to the entrances, as well as on the canvases, which are mounted in barns and barns. Such structures often consist of a single sheet of metal.
Mortise models are the most common today. The design features of these devices determine their installation. Locks are integrated directly into the door leaf. This allows the appearance of the door to be preserved.
Mortise type products are characterized by a host of advantages. However, there are also disadvantages. The main one is the complexity of the installation of their own hands. Mortise locks in metal doors are located close enough to the surface of the iron sheet. This makes the mechanism more vulnerable. In turn, in wooden doors, such devices are even more accessible for burglary, since there is a possibility of drilling them.
Note! To enhance the protection it is customary to use special armored plates that protect against burglary.
The device of dead locks defines features of their installation. Such mechanisms are located in a niche that runs on the end surface of the web. The lock is fixed by means of a special strap. Mortise mechanisms have a high rate of resistance to cracking. This parameter is largely determined by the quality and reliability of the main part of the device – the core.
Burglary resistance is one of the main parameters by which differentiation of locking devices mounted on the input metal sheets occurs. All locks are divided by this indicator into 4 classes.
1 class. This group includes the mechanisms that are least protected from hacking. Locks of this type are made of materials that do not have high strength. An experienced hacker will need no more than 2-5 minutes to open such a device. Models belonging to class 1 are not recommended for installation on entrance doors. The operational scope of such devices is limited to interior canvases and outbuildings.
2 class. Locks for metal entrance doors of this type can be used on entrance structures. However, their complexity is quite low, which is reflected in the protective qualities. To break such a device takes from 5 to 7 minutes time.
3 class. Products belonging to this group are the most suitable for mounting on input structures. They are most often installed in canvases, the function of which is to protect the dwelling against the entry of unauthorized persons. Such devices are of high quality component parts. Opening the lock of the 3rd class of resistance to burglary requires at least 15 minutes of time.
4th grade. This group includes the most reliable mechanisms. In order to open the lock in a metal door that belongs to this class, it will take at least half an hour. As a rule, such locking devices are installed on armored structures that provide maximum protection of the premises against unauthorized entry.
It is quite simple to learn the resistance class of the locking mechanism. In most cases, this information is recorded in the technical documentation with which the product is sold. A more accurate description of the classes can be studied in the GOST, which regulates the door locks.
Before purchasing a locking device, it is necessary to pay attention not only to its resistance to cracking, but also to the level of secrecy. This parameter is very important, since it also determines the protective characteristics of the mechanism. When buying a lock, as a rule, sellers focus on the number of combinations that the device has. This characteristic is important, but it is not the main one.
Useful information! First of all, you should make sure that the mechanism is protected against master keys, as well as knocking and drilling.
The quality of the material of which the locking device is made, and its resistance to corrosion also play an important role. All these properties are important, and the safety of the home will depend on them. It is much more difficult to open the lock of a metal door corresponding to these characteristics.
Depending on the level of secrecy, all locking devices mounted on metal doors are divided into 3 groups. Before buying it is recommended to study in more detail the features of each variety.
Minimum secrecy. Such devices are the cheapest. It should be noted that they differ from other mechanisms visually. The body of the castle, as well as all its individual components in this case are made of low-quality materials. The number of key combinations for such devices ranges from 10 to 10,000.
Another common problem is jamming the key in the lock. It is worth noting that such a malfunction is most often observed in locking devices installed in metal canvases. In this case, the cause may be a banal blockage of the mechanism of the device. To solve this problem it is necessary to disassemble the device, clean it from dust and lubricate it. The locking of the lock may also indicate breakage of the larva. In this situation, the best way is to replace it completely.
In order to select a suitable locking mechanism for a particular case, all operational features should be considered. Before buying a device, it is recommended to check its operation. The most suitable option is the acquisition of a mechanism relating to the average price group. Cheap devices do not always help to save, because such a lock can fail quite quickly.
