Guide
BS 3621, TS 007 and What an Insurance Approved Lock Really Means
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Which Standard Applies for Your Door?
Match the standard to the door’s fitted mechanism and its internal release, rather than letting insurance terminology decide what the standard covers. BS 3621 and TS 007 assess different things, so identifying the component comes before interpreting its marking. This guide also explains TS 007 stars and checks behind an informal “insurance-approved” claim.
| Door to identify | Fitted lock | Scheme and assessed item | Relevant identification | Where it may be recorded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Timber door secured with a mortice lock | Recessed complete single-point assembly | BS 3621 family for a qualifying assembly | Complete reference and assembly certification | Door-edge faceplate, case or product documents |
| Timber door secured with a nightlatch or rim lock | Surface-mounted complete single-point assembly | BS 3621 family for a qualifying assembly | Standard and certification belonging to the surface lock | Body, faceplate or documentation |
| Door using a replaceable cylinder, including uPVC or composite | Euro, oval or threaded cylinder; separate protection | TS 007 for the cylinder and rated protective hardware | Each component’s TS 007 rating information | Cylinder, security handle, escutcheon or product literature |
| Door providing an inside exit without a key | External key operation and internal handle or thumbturn | BS 8621 may describe the complete assembly | Assembly’s exact standard and certification | Lock and supporting product records |
| Door capable of a separate secure mode | Specialist dual-mode assembly with normal keyless exit | BS 10621 may describe the arrangement | Exact product marking and certification | Assembly, instructions and certification information |
Complete single-point assemblies operated by key from either side fall within BS 3621. Replaceable cylinders and protection such as security handles fall within TS 007. Its rating may concern a cylinder and protective handle on a euro-cylinder multipoint door, but does not extend to the complete strip. Such mechanisms are common on uPVC and composite doors.
A timber door does not establish BS 3621 certification, since a mortice lock, nightlatch or other system must be checked as an exact product. The BS family distinguishes internal operation, not superior and inferior grades. Insurers set individual conditions; you must read the policy for that door and confirm building-management and fire-safety obligations separately. Where a uPVC multipoint door has attracted a BS 3621 quotation, clarify the scheme and hardware before going further.
Lock Assemblies Are BS 3621, Cylinders Are TS 007
Think of BS 3621 as an assembly assessment and TS 007 as a cylinder-and-protection assessment. They cover different hardware, not competing grades. A euro cylinder sold separately cannot be BS 3621-certified on its own; TS 007 stars cannot be assigned to a lever mortice deadlock. Where both appear in a listing, establish the component behind each claim.
BS 3621: What It Covers and What It Does Not
The current standard reference is BS 3621:2017+A1:2024. Its thief-resistant, mechanically operated single-point assemblies use keys on both sides, with a removable key needed inside. The assessment covers the complete lock’s tested performance.
Qualifying mortice locks and nightlatches fitted to timber entrances are common examples, but both types may lack certification. Check the manufacturer and precise model against the full standard and assembly certification. A count of five levers does not establish BS 3621 compliance.
BS 8621 provides outside key operation with an internal handle or thumbturn; it may apply when the specification calls for keyless exit. Under BS 10621, normal keyless release can be disabled through a separate secure-mode action. Their numbers distinguish operation rather than increasing strength. Confirm escape and building needs before replacing a thumbturn only because insurance paperwork says British Standard.
Who Owns TS 007, and What It Covers
TS 007 includes replaceable oval, threaded and euro-profile cylinders, plus protective handles, cylinder guards, surrounds and escutcheons. Its star-rating options are explained in Door and Hardware Federation guidance.
The cylinder’s rating does not certify a complete multipoint strip, gearbox, door or frame. Protection can carry a separate rating. A new cylinder may suit cylinder damage or an upgrade, but does not resolve a faulty gearbox, failed strip or misaligned door.
| Reference supplied | Corresponding check |
|---|---|
| Complete BS 3621 number and certification marking | Qualifying complete single-point lock assembly |
| TS 007 marking with stars and certification details | Cylinder and any independently rated protection |
Three British Standards, Named for How You Get Out
A bigger BS number does not identify a stronger lock here: these standards distinguish departure through a locked door.
BS 10621: The Secure Mode
BS 10621 covers a specialist assembly with two operating modes. It should be selected through professional specification, rather than recommended generally for homes, shops or offices. The dwelling scope assumes an available alternative escape route; building use and escape arrangements determine suitability. This is a different arrangement from BS 8621, not greater strength. Start with how the existing door releases internally.
Distinguish Exit Standards from Star Ratings
TS 007 rates cylinders and protective hardware using stars, attached to the assessed components. It does not automatically cover the complete door, frame, multipoint mechanism or fitting work. Stars should be supported by the relevant Kitemark. Advertising stars and an “anti-snap” label provide no substitute.
Door and Hardware Federation guidance confirms:
- A cylinder Kitemarked to TS 007 at three stars meets that route without separately rated handle protection.
- The combined route needs a TS 007 Kitemarked cylinder rated one star and a TS 007 Kitemarked armoured handle or surround rated two stars.
Both combined products must have the stated ratings, be compatible and correctly installed, and form a recognised pairing. An unrated cylinder with two-star protection, or a one-star cylinder alone, is insufficient. Check cylinder length and profile too.
- BS 3621: removable keys operate both faces.
- BS 8621: an external key works with an internal handle or thumbturn.
- BS 10621: keyless release is normal, with a separate action enabling secure no-exit operation.
Each concerns a thief-resistant single-point assembly.
Insurance Approved: What It Actually Means
There is no universal insurance approval for a lock. The phrase is trade shorthand for certification to a standard mentioned in insurance wording. BSI’s certification role is separate from an insurer’s policy decisions. Some policies specify BS 3621 for certain external doors; conditions differ by door type, insurer and policy.
Who Certifies Which Products
Technical standards describe tests, certification concerns an identified assessed product, and a policy condition describes the insurer’s expectations. Product evidence can include a standard number, Kitemark and TS 007 star rating. It does not guarantee that an insurer will accept every certified lock on every entrance.
For example, a mortice lock may be BS 3621-certified as a complete qualifying single-point assembly. A five-lever description proves no such status. TS 007 generally concerns replaceable cylinders and separately rated protection; it does not certify the whole multipoint system or entrance. BS 3621 is not normally the relevant scheme for uPVC cylinder-operated multipoint locks. PAS 24 assesses enhanced doorset security. BS 8621 covers a keyless-exit arrangement, not automatically every flat door.
Checking Your Own Policy
Write down the entire standard reference, rather than only “British Standard”, because the numbers distinguish internal operation. Check faceplate, case, packaging and product papers for BS 3621 details. TS 007 markings may sit on the cylinder or protective fittings. Record which component carries the Kitemark, reference and correct stars, with photographs and model details.
TS 007 three-star protection has two routes: a Kitemarked three-star cylinder, or a Kitemarked one-star cylinder paired with Kitemarked two-star protective hardware. An “anti-snap” name does not verify either. An unseen Kitemark is not proof of an unsuitable lock; supporting documentation may resolve it.
Check complete policy terms, door coverage and endorsements. Obtain the insurer’s interpretation in writing. A locksmith can identify the lock, while escape and managed-building arrangements need checking before internal operation changes.
How to Reach Three Stars Without Buying a Three-Star Cylinder
A door reaches the TS 007 three-star level in one of two ways: with a single TS 007 Kitemarked three-star cylinder, or with a Kitemarked one-star cylinder working alongside a TS 007 Kitemarked two-star armoured handle or lock surround.
The single-part route - One component carries the full rating. - The handle plays no part in the score. - The exact cylinder shows the Kitemark and three stars.
The combination route - Two components share the job. - The cylinder supplies one star and the handle or surround supplies two. - Each part needs its own Kitemark.
Why rate a pairing at all? An attacker does not have to go straight at the cylinder, because the handle and escutcheon around it offer another way in. Guarding that surround properly achieves what a tougher cylinder would, which is why the scheme looks at the defence as fitted. Both options are described in the Door and Hardware Federation’s published TS 007 guidance.
What has to hold for the pairing:
- Each part is Kitemarked to TS 007, not simply shown with stars in an advert.
- The cylinder holds its one-star rating and the handle or surround its two-star rating.
- The fitted parts suit each other, the door and the lock mechanism.
An unrated cylinder behind a two-star handle falls short of three stars, and so does a one-star cylinder left on its own. Whoever is quoting, find out which of the two routes they are working to and whether each item is Kitemarked.
How to Check What You Already Have
The door edge is the first place to look for the lock’s own identification. Keep the door open and controlled during the check.
Find the assembly evidence.
Examine a mortice lock’s edge plate, also called the forend, or a nightlatch’s visible inside body. Copy complete references and certification marks, including maker and model. BS 3621 applies to qualifying complete lock assemblies, not merely a five-lever description.
Read cylinder protection separately.
TS 007 covers cylinders and their protective hardware. On uPVC or composite doors, look at the accessible cylinder face or end for stars beside a Kitemark, then inspect handles and escutcheons independently. Avoid removing parts to expose hidden markings.
Describe the door’s operation.
Record the material, entrance type and whether a key, thumbturn or handle releases it internally. Include any separate secure mode. BS 8621 and BS 10621 concern different inside-opening arrangements; operation helps identification but does not prove certification.
Prepare the enquiry.
Photograph the faceplate, cylinder, handles and complete door. Send a qualified locksmith the readable markings and full insurance wording. Some models need inspection or measurements. The insurer must confirm policy suitability, while the responsible building manager should confirm door and escape conditions before inside release changes.
Note: An absent mark is not evidence of a failed test. Certification may be recorded elsewhere, so seek product documentation without dismantling the lock. Brand, stars alone and “insurance-approved” wording cannot settle the answer. A marking concerns its product, rather than confirming the complete door meets insurance or building conditions.
Talk with Us About What Your Door Takes
Ring us before you buy anything: we will establish what your door has, explain what could go on it, and quote before a tool comes out.
Worth having nearby: the door material, a photo of the faceplate or the cylinder face, and the wording of any standard your insurer’s policy names.
Calls are taken at any hour on any day of the year, and coming out costs nothing in itself. We price the job while you are on the phone, based on what you describe. All technicians are DBS-checked and we are covered by public liability insurance.
Ask What Your Door Takes: 01252 493213
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British Standard Lock Questions
Does a five-lever lock automatically meet BS 3621?
No. For a policy or specification requiring BS 3621, the exact model needs checking. A five-lever label does not verify compliance: it refers to internal levers that the key must position before the bolt moves. BS 3621 covers performance testing of the complete assembly, which must meet those requirements and bear verifiable certification markings. Five-lever models may differ in construction and security features. Even comparison with a basic three-lever design, a familiar brand or the key, bolt and faceplate provides no substitute for verification.
Does BS 3621 apply to locks on uPVC doors?
Usually, no. The cylinder-operated multipoint arrangements typically fitted to uPVC doors are generally outside the application of BS 3621. TS 007 may concern the replaceable cylinder and its protective hardware. That component certification does not establish certification of either the complete door or the multipoint locking mechanism.
Is a three-star cylinder the only way to achieve the TS 007 three-star security level?
No, there is also a component-pairing route under TS 007. The cylinder has a one-star TS 007 Kitemark, while the accompanying protective hardware has a two-star TS 007 Kitemark. Those form one recognised arrangement; fitting a cylinder Kitemarked to TS 007 at three stars is the other.
Is an anti-snap lock the same as a TS 007 three-star cylinder?
No. Describing a cylinder as anti-snap does not establish a three-star rating under TS 007. Look for its Kitemark and check that the stars show the required rating. Relying only on a product name or a claim printed on the packaging leaves that certification unconfirmed.
What does it mean if my lock has no visible Kitemark?
An unseen Kitemark does not, by itself, establish that the lock is unsuitable or has failed testing. Check other product surfaces, the packaging and original documents. Photographs and a product reference may help identification without dismantling. Certification needs a verifiable standard and marking, not assumptions based on appearance, brand, key shape, lever count or a seller's description. An unverified 'insurance approved' claim is insufficient too. If the marking remains unconfirmed, record the lock as unidentified rather than certified.
Will changing the cylinder make my entire door compliant?
No, a cylinder replacement cannot certify the door as a whole. The change concerns one part of the locking arrangement. The door, its frame, the installation, handles and multipoint mechanism remain outside that certification. Applicable building, security or insurance conditions may call for the complete entrance to be assessed.
Is PAS 24 the same as BS 3621 or TS 007?
No, the specifications do not assess the same things. BS 3621 addresses qualifying assemblies with single-point locking. PAS 24 considers a complete doorset's enhanced security performance, while TS 007 covers cylinders designed for replacement and their associated protective hardware. Their respective scopes should therefore be kept distinct.
Does a British Standard lock automatically satisfy my home insurance policy?
A British Standard lock does not automatically fulfil every policy's conditions. The answer is no because requirements can differ by entrance, insurer and policy. Read the entire policy rather than drawing a conclusion from the lock alone, and request a written explanation if the required standard is unclear.
Does every flat entrance door need a BS 8621 lock?
No. BS 8621 is not automatically a requirement for all flat entrance doors. It concerns qualifying lock assemblies with a single locking point and an inside exit that needs no key. The suitable arrangement depends on the doorset and relevant fire, building and property-management requirements.
Where can I find the BS 3621 or TS 007 marking?
Start with the lock itself, then check its packaging and documents. Depending on the manufacturer and product, BS 3621 information may sit on the faceplate or case, while TS 007 markings can be on protective hardware or the cylinder. Confirm the standard number and certification mark as well as any star rating.