About Lock Grades: Guide to Grab the Best Lock for Home or Business

We all need to understand lock grades when choosing the right lock for our home or business. But, what is a lock grade? How does it affect me? What do I need to know about them and how they work in order to choose the right one for my needs? These are just some of the many questions you might be asking yourself before deciding which type of lock you want on your door.

In this blog post, we will answer these questions and more so that you can make an informed decision on which lock is best for your needs when hiring a professional locksmith service in the Greater Toronto Area!

WHAT IS A LOCK GRADE, AND WHY DOES IT MATTER?

Lock grades are a way of measuring the quality and security features of locks. The two most common types of lock grade systems in use today are American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standards for padlocks and ANSI/Underwriters Laboratories (UL) ratings for door sets with active locking devices. Choosing a lock according to its grade will help you answer questions such as: Is it strong enough? Will it protect me from thieves?

A locked grade can determine the level of protection your lock offers and how it will hold up against a break-in.

The UL ratings for doorsets indicate the type of door locking hardware used on the exterior side and an indication of which points are likely to be attacked by burglars. Hence, you know what areas of your home need more attention in terms of security.

There are three ANSI/UL Classifications for locks (Class One, Two, and Three). Each category indicates the level of protection offered from thieves who might try picking or forcing their way inside through another opening adjacent to where they gained access.

The lock can be used to protect against ransacking or theft and is most often installed on the main entrance door of a home or business. It should also be noted that this type of locking hardware does not provide protection from break-in by unauthorized entry through windows or other openings in your property, such as an attic opening, for example. LOCK GRADES FROM ANSI/BHMA GRADING SYSTEM

Are you in the market for a new lock? If so, you might be wondering which grade of lock is best for your needs. Let’s take a look at three different grades and what they have to offer!

ANSI Grade 1 – The highest grade of security that Canadian society can issue. The ANSI Grade 1 designation means a product has been manufactured to be in compliance with stringent requirements and should not experience any problems as it ages. For those who want the highest level of security, these locks are a great option. These locks go through rigorous testing before they’re certified and can withstand high levels of physical force, such as attempts to pry open doors forcefully or using hammers on them for an extended period. Because it is the strongest grade, it can also be used in residential applications, but it is most typically found in commercial and industrial facilities.

ANSI Grade 2 – The standard but still quite popular type is the ANSI grade two lock which comes in many shapes, materials, colors, and prices, with each variation providing varying degrees of protection against unwanted intruders breaking into your property at any time – it’s essential to be knowledgeable about what kind may best suit your needs! These locks are one of the most common locks that you can find on a variety of different doorknobs. These locks go from being very basic to having an added and useful features such as night locking or deadbolts for additional security measures. The most common application for these locks is residential homes and can also be used in commercial properties.

ANSI Grade 3 – ANSI Grade 3 locks are the most basic level of security available. These locks are suitable for residential uses and are the least expensive. This level is still not perfect for commercial applications though it’s more than adequate for protecting homes. They are often used to safeguard lower-risk areas in buildings such as mailboxes, storage rooms, or basements. These locks are designed to withstand moderate physical force, such as attempts at picking or bumping locks with tools, but it’s not recommended for use in high-security applications. The most important features of the ANSI Grade-III locks are that they offer limited protection against breaking and picking attempts.

HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT LOCK FOR YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS
Choosing the right lock for your property is a delicate process. Some locks are more secure than others, and all have different features which may or may not be necessary to you.

The first thing that needs to be considered is whether the door handle will work with your lock; some handles only accept certain types of key systems, such as mortise locks. Mortise locks, for example, require long keys, whereas rim locks can accommodate shorter ones. This means that if you need a short-keyed lock, then it’s impossible to use on doors with mortise mechanisms built into them!

Other factors include: 
  • The type of protection against forced entry required by law in your country – e.g., UL ratings for Canada (300 series). These range from 30 minutes to 15 minutes’ protection, with 300 being the best.


  • The level of security you desire – which might be different for home and business use


In general, locks are graded in some way that indicates how good they are at resisting unauthorized entry: 

 – These can be broken by anyone skilled enough with a screwdriver or other simple tool, so these grade levels should not be relied on to keep your property safe! They’re only there as guidelines. 

 – These locks offer average durability against forced entry. Most burglars will need around one minute to gain access (30 seconds if experienced). It’s vital, though, that time is running out before someone else who has a key enters the building! This group includes most padlocks, deadbolts, and chains.

 – The next level of security is offered by locks that are pick-resistant with a standard cylinder or keyed alike cylinders. These types of locks will require at least five minutes to be opened using the proper tools (most burglars won’t have access to these). This group includes most Schlage double cylinder locks, Kwikset Smartkey locks, Yale pushbutton lock series, and most of the locks made by Master Lock.

NEED A LOCKSMITH IN THE GREATER TORONTO AREA? CALL NOW!

A Plus Services is here to help! We offer fast, professional service 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for all your lock-related needs in the Greater Toronto Area. Whether you want us to unlock the door or install new locks on your home or business, we can handle it easily. Our team has over 20 years of experience in the industry and is always happy to lend a hand when needed.

If you find yourself in need of our services today, don’t hesitate to call us at (647) 850-7305! No matter what time it is – day or night – we’ll be there as quickly as possible with no extra charge for after-hour calls. And if you’re not sure whether we can help with your problem just give us a call and one of our friendly staff will let you know right away!