Tag Archives: Home security

Improving your safety at home with home locks

Your house should be a sanctuary where you feel your safest; where you can escape the world and retire to it with peace of mind knowing that no one can get in if you don’t want them too. Having this type of safety comes with the responsibility of making it a reality. Your first line of protection at home is your home lock. Without a strong lock you may find yourselves with some unwanted guests – no one wants this to happen – therefore, understanding what type of lock you should install is crucial. Many people do not know the different types of locks and why certain ones are better than others. Being educated on these matters is an important safety to having peace of mind that your belongings are safe and most importantly your family is safe. If you want to start this process today get in touch with an efficient lock smith service as this can really make the difference.

The different types of locks for commercial and residential

When we are talking about locks, there are many different types of locks and grades depending on the strength of the lock. First, there are residential locks, commercial locks and automotive locks. We will be looking at what type of locks are suitable for residential and commercial use so you can make a more educated decision when evaluating a lock to see if its needs to be changed. Locks are graded on an ANSI grading system. The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) established three grades for door locks to help identify the quality and durability of lock sets and deadbolts. Each lock must pass multiple tests, including cycles, door strikes and weight test. One cycle consists of the knob or handle turning completely to retract the latch bolt and open the door, and then it is released, allowing the door to re-latch.

The different grades are as follows:

  • Grade 1 – Best

This is the highest security available and meets commercial building requirements; it is available for residential uses via deadbolts. There are no standard knobs, handle sets or mortise lockset that will meet ANSI Grade 1 certifications, only commercial lever handles. To achieve this grade:

Knobs must withstand 800,000 cycles, 6 door strikes and a 360 pound weight test

Deadbolts must withstand 250,000 cycles and 10 door strikes (hammer test)

  • Grade 2 – Better

Meets light commercial building requirements; exceeds standard residential security and building requirements. To achieve this grade:

Knobs must withstand 400,000 cycles, 4 door strikes and a 250 pound weight test

Deadbolts must withstand 150,000 cycles and 5 door strikes (hammer test)

  • Grade 3 – Good

Meets residential building requirements only and provides minimal residential security. To achieve this grade:

Knobs must withstand 200,000 cycles, 2 door strikes and a 150 pound weight test

Deadbolts must withstand 100,000 cycles and 2 door strikes (hammer test)

Hopefully this gives you insight on what type of locks you should be using based on your needs.

Cost of course can play a factor in these situations but a little extra cost is a small price to pay for peace of mind at home. If you are serious about upgrading your residential or commercial locks contact ABC Locksmith, ABC is an efficient locksmith service that can guide you through this process and give you the security you need.

Why you should invest in a gun safe

With gun sales steadily increasing across the United States, safety becomes a priority with families that have guns in the house. More families now own guns as a means of self-defense. In case of an attempted break in or murder, having a gun in the house can save lives in these types of situation. However, just because you own a gun doesn’t mean you are safe from the power it has. It is a lethal killing machine and sometimes I think this is lost information to many people. Keeping it in a draw or under a bed really isn’t good enough to protect your family from its killing ability. There is a great responsibility that comes with owning a gun that must not be overlooked.

Owning a gun doesn’t mean an accident can’t happen

Once the gun is fired a bullet will travel 2,500 feet in one second. This means there is no going back after the triggered is pulled and the damage is done. Many homes that own guns have accidents occur all the time as the gun was easily accessible. Accidents can range from showing someone the gun with the safety off and it randomly firing, a young child thinking it is a toy and firing it, or even if a burglar robbing your house was to get to it first and use it against you. Whatever it is, there is no excuse to not have your gun kept in a safe place in the house. This doesn’t only mean hidden but in a protective environment, a gun safe is the perfect answer to this solution.

A gun safe is a great place to keep a gun

Once you start using a gun safe it is very hard for anyone else to have access to the weapon Only trusted members should be given the code and this way less fatalities will occur from accidental incidents around the house. No children or unknown visitors would be able to access it once it is locked away and this is for the best. When you are deciding what type of safe to get installed in your home, there are a few different options you have. First, you would either be looking at getting a large gun safe or a small gun safe depending on the size of your gun. This is a rather self-explanatory feature of the safe as if the gun doesn’t fit inside then it becomes pretty useless! Another great feature is an electronic key pad, it provides much quicker access than a dial lock which is manual and can be prone to human error. If you are being robbed no one will wait for you to fiddle with the lock. Many trusted local locksmiths that can provide you with good information and install the type of gun safe you want. If you are serious about keeping your home safe then Locksmith Sarasota could be your answer. They will guide you through the process and install whatever gun safe you eventually decide on. Keep your family safe today and do the right thing!