Guide
BS 3621, TS 007 and What an Insurance Approved Lock Really Means
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Which Standard Applies for Your Door?
Which component needs certification, and does the locked door need an internal key? Those questions, together with the door arrangement, establish the applicable standard; the insurer sets separate policy conditions. You must compare those conditions with the entrance concerned, rather than treating “insurance approved” as a formal certificate.
| Door in use | Lock or component | Specification and scope | What to look for | Where to look |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Timber door with a mortice fitting | Complete recessed single-point lock | BS 3621 family, subject to qualification | Relevant full standard and assembly certification | Edge plate, lock case or product documents |
| Timber door with a nightlatch | Complete surface-mounted rim-lock assembly | BS 3621 family, subject to qualification | Assembly-specific standard identification | Visible body, faceplate or documentation |
| Door taking a replaceable cylinder, including uPVC and composite | Euro, oval or threaded cylinder with protective hardware | TS 007, with separate component ratings | TS 007 details on the rated cylinder or protection | Cylinder, security handle, protective escutcheon or documents |
| Door intended to release internally without a key | External key; internal handle or thumbturn | BS 8621 may apply to the full assembly | Exact assembly’s standard and certification | Lock assembly and its product records |
| Door having an additional secure operating mode | Specialist assembly normally permitting keyless exit | BS 10621 may apply to the dual-mode design | Product-specific standard and certification evidence | Assembly marking, instructions and certification details |
BS 3621 and TS 007 concern different hardware: the former a qualifying complete single-point assembly, the latter replaceable cylinders and their protection, including security handles. Key operation on both faces belongs to BS 3621. The other BS references distinguish inside-release methods, rather than higher security grades.
A timber leaf does not guarantee a certified mortice lock or nightlatch; another locking system could be fitted. Check the actual product on uPVC and composite doors too. A euro cylinder commonly operates their multipoint mechanism, but TS 007 does not certify the full strip even where it may cover the cylinder and protective handle. This guide explains the relevant schemes, star ratings and marking checks, without deciding building-management or fire-safety obligations. A BS 3621 proposal for a uPVC multipoint door should prompt a clearer explanation of the proposed lock.
Lock Assemblies Are BS 3621, Cylinders Are TS 007
A whole assembly is the subject of BS 3621; the replaceable cylinder and its protection are the subjects of TS 007. They answer separate questions. Certification cannot be transferred between them: a loose euro cylinder is not a BS 3621 lock, and a lever mortice deadlock has no cylinder-based TS 007 rating.
BS 3621: What It Covers and What It Does Not
For current BS 3621 certification, the reference is BS 3621:2017+A1:2024. Its scope is mechanically operated, thief-resistant single-point assemblies with removable-key operation internally and externally. Assessment concerns the complete assembly’s performance. Mortice locks and nightlatches on timber entrance doors commonly feature here, although either type may be uncertified.
Record the manufacturer, precise model, complete standard and certification applying to the assembly. A five-lever mechanism does not prove compliance, so use product evidence rather than lever count.
With BS 8621, the outside uses a key and the inside a handle or thumbturn; it may be relevant where keyless exit is specified. BS 10621 adds a separate secure no-exit setting to normal keyless operation. Their numbers are not strength rankings. Establish escape and building arrangements before replacing internal keyless operation only in response to British Standard wording in insurance papers.
Who Owns TS 007, and What It Covers
TS 007 covers euro, oval and threaded replaceable cylinders and protective handles, escutcheons, cylinder guards and lock surrounds. Its star routes are explained by the Door and Hardware Federation.
A TS 007 cylinder rating does not assess the whole multipoint mechanism, door or frame. Identify each separately rated protective component too. Changing the cylinder can address that component’s condition or specification; gearbox faults, strip failure and door misalignment need their own diagnosis.
| Product evidence | What it establishes |
|---|---|
| Complete BS 3621 number with certification mark | Status of the qualifying complete single-point assembly |
| TS 007 identification, stars and certification information | Rating of the particular cylinder or protective fitting |
How to Reach Three Stars Without Buying a Three-Star Cylinder
Two Routes, One Rating
Either a TS 007 three-star cylinder does the whole job by itself, or a Kitemarked one-star cylinder is paired with a TS 007 two-star Kitemarked armoured handle or lock surround and the pair together meets the three-star level.
- Cylinder alone: three stars on the Kitemarked cylinder, with no separately rated handle needed.
- Cylinder plus protection: one star on the cylinder and two on the armoured handle or lock surround, each Kitemarked.
Why the Scheme Accepts a Pair
An attack on a cylinder can come past the handle and escutcheon as well as straight at its face. Make that outer layer strong enough and it carries part of the load, so the scheme assesses what is assembled on the door rather than the cylinder in isolation. You can read both routes in the Door and Hardware Federation’s TS 007 material.
What Must Be True
- The stars sit on Kitemarked products, not just on packaging artwork.
- Both the cylinder and the handle or surround are rated under TS 007.
- Neither part is unrated, since a two-star handle over an unrated cylinder is not a three-star door.
Whichever way you go, the rating covers the cylinder and its protection only, not the gearbox, the locking strip, the frame or the quality of the fitting. Ask the supplier or locksmith which route they have in mind and whether each of the two parts has a Kitemark.
The Three British Standards, Each Named by How You Get Out
Exit operation separates these thief-resistant single-point lock standards, rather than increasing strength:
BS 10621 and the Secure Mode
BS 10621 describes a specialist dual-mode assembly, not an upgraded BS 8621 lock. Its dwelling scope assumes an alternative escape route. Suitability depends on the building, use and escape arrangements, so professional specification is needed. It should never become a blanket recommendation for homes, shops or offices. Begin by recording the existing inside release and obtaining advice before changing it.
Keep Cylinder Stars Separate
TS 007 stars rate assessed cylinders and protective hardware. The rating does not automatically cover the door, frame, multipoint mechanism or installation. Stars should accompany the relevant Kitemark; advertising and “anti-snap” wording cannot establish certification.
Door and Hardware Federation guidance recognises these routes:
- A three-star cylinder bearing the TS 007 Kitemark, without reliance on a separately rated handle.
- A one-star TS 007 Kitemarked cylinder paired with a two-star TS 007 Kitemarked armoured handle or lock surround.
Both fitted products in the combined route must carry their stated ratings and form a recognised, compatible, correctly installed combination. A lone one-star cylinder or two-star handle over an unrated cylinder is insufficient. Check the actual markings; the cylinder’s profile, length and compatibility must also suit the lock.
- BS 3621 uses keys internally and externally.
- BS 8621 pairs an exterior key with an interior handle or thumbturn.
- BS 10621 normally permits keyless exit, but a separate action selects a secure setting that prevents departure through the lock.
What Does Insurance Approved Actually Mean?
A certified lock has product credentials, not blanket approval from insurers. There is no body issuing universal insurance approval. BSI handles certification against published standards, and insurers decide their own conditions. “Insurance approved” is loose trade language. Some policies specify BS 3621 for certain external doors; insurer, policy and door type affect the wording.
Who Certifies What?
Standards set technical tests, certification identifies assessment under a scheme, markings display product information, and policy conditions state insurance expectations. Markings can include a BS number, Kitemark or TS 007 stars. Their presence does not prove what every insurer will accept at every entrance.
A mortice lock may have BS 3621 certification for the complete qualifying single-point assembly. Its lever count does not establish that status. TS 007 normally concerns replaceable cylinders and protective hardware, without certifying the entire door or multipoint mechanism. BS 3621 is generally inapplicable to uPVC cylinder-operated multipoint systems. PAS 24 assesses enhanced security at complete-doorset level. BS 8621 relates to keyless exit and is not automatically appropriate for each flat entrance.
What You Should Check in Your Own Policy
Record more than only “British Standard”: the full number identifies a particular inside-opening arrangement. BS 3621 details may appear on a lock case, faceplate, packaging or documentation. Look separately for TS 007 information on cylinder and protection. Save photographs, exact model details, the reference, correct stars and Kitemark or other certification mark.
TS 007 recognises a Kitemarked three-star cylinder, or a Kitemarked one-star cylinder combined with Kitemarked two-star protection. “Anti-snap” alone does not prove three stars. A missing visible Kitemark does not demonstrate unsuitability, so verify other product records.
Check full conditions, endorsements and entrance coverage. Ask the insurer for a written interpretation; a locksmith can explain the fitted hardware. Confirm managed-building and escape arrangements before any change to inside release.
How to Tell What You Already Have
Look along the open door edge for identification before judging the lock by its appearance.
Establish the hardware.
Record the door material and whether it serves an internal opening, external entrance or flat. Identify the recessed mortice lock, surface nightlatch or replaceable cylinder. BS 3621 addresses qualifying complete assemblies; TS 007 addresses cylinders and protective components.
Copy the assembly details.
With the door under control, read the mortice faceplate or forend, or the nightlatch body inside. Photograph the full standard, certification mark, manufacturer and product reference. A lever count is not certification evidence.
Examine rated components individually.
Check an accessible cylinder face and end for TS 007 stars with a Kitemark, particularly on uPVC and composite doors. Read handle or escutcheon markings separately. Take clear cylinder and faceplate photographs alongside a wider picture before making an enquiry.
Explain the exit arrangement.
State whether internal release uses a removable key, handle, thumbturn or separate secure setting. BS 8621 and BS 10621 describe different internal-opening methods. Include complete policy wording. Your insurer must establish acceptance under its conditions; a managed building’s responsible person should confirm escape arrangements before changes.
Note: Missing visible markings do not demonstrate test failure or an inadequate lock. Evidence may be in documentation, but certification remains unconfirmed until verified. Leave components fitted and ask a qualified locksmith about identification, repair or replacement. An inspection or exact measurements may be necessary, and component certification does not establish whole-door compliance.
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: 01977 210006
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British Standard Lock Questions
Does a five-lever lock automatically meet BS 3621?
No, the lever count is insufficient evidence. BS 3621 concerns how the complete lock assembly performs under testing, so a five-lever label does not confirm compliance. Within the mechanism, the key must align five levers to release the bolt. That distinguishes one design feature from a basic three-lever arrangement, but models can have different construction and certification. Where insurance wording or a specification requires BS 3621, check the exact product and verifiable markings rather than judging its key, bolt, brand or faceplate.
Does BS 3621 apply to locks on uPVC doors?
For the multipoint, cylinder-operated systems commonly installed in uPVC doors, BS 3621 does not normally apply. A check of the replaceable cylinder and protective hardware may involve TS 007. However, that certification concerns components and cannot be taken as certification of the entire door or its multipoint mechanism.
Is a three-star cylinder the only way to achieve the TS 007 three-star security level?
No, TS 007 provides a choice between two recognised arrangements. A cylinder can carry the three-star TS 007 Kitemark itself. Or the arrangement can bring together two Kitemarked components: a one-star cylinder and protective hardware rated at two stars, each certified under TS 007.
Is an anti-snap lock the same as a TS 007 three-star cylinder?
No. The three-star TS 007 rating needs verification beyond an anti-snap label. Check for the appropriate Kitemark, then confirm the stated number of stars. A description on the box does not prove the rating; only looking at the name or packaging claim is insufficient.
What does it mean if my lock has no visible Kitemark?
The appropriate next step is identification, because a concealed or missing Kitemark does not automatically indicate an unsuitable lock. Other product surfaces, documents or packaging may contain the information. An unseen mark also proves no testing failure. Clear photos and the product reference can assist without dismantling. Avoid treating appearance, brand, key profile, lever number, sales descriptions or unconfirmed insurance-approval claims as certification. Unless the standard and marking can be verified, describe the lock as unidentified rather than certified.
Will changing the cylinder make my entire door compliant?
Changing the cylinder alone is insufficient to establish whole-door compliance. Only that component is replaced. No certification follows for the multipoint mechanism or handles, nor for the installation, frame or door itself. Where a security, insurance or building requirement applies, the entrance may need assessment in its entirety.
Is PAS 24 the same as BS 3621 or TS 007?
No. The distinction is what undergoes assessment. TS 007 concerns a replaceable cylinder and associated protective hardware; BS 3621 applies to a qualifying lock assembly operating at one point. PAS 24 examines the enhanced security performance of a doorset in its entirety, so these specifications are not equivalent.
Does a British Standard lock automatically satisfy my home insurance policy?
No. Meeting a British Standard does not establish that a lock satisfies every home insurance policy. The insurer, the particular policy and the entrance concerned can affect the requirements. Read the policy in full and seek written clarification if it leaves the required standard unclear.
Does every flat entrance door need a BS 8621 lock?
No, flat entrance doors do not automatically all require BS 8621. Its scope covers qualifying single-point lock assemblies offering key-free exit from indoors. Choosing the appropriate arrangement requires consideration of the doorset itself, alongside any applicable requirements concerning property management, building matters and fire safety.
Where can I find the BS 3621 or TS 007 marking?
Look on both the fitted product and the information supplied with it. TS 007 details may appear on protective hardware or a cylinder. For BS 3621, possible locations include the faceplate, case, paperwork and packaging. Manufacturers and locks differ, so verify the standard number, certification mark and star rating rather than using stars alone.