Guide
BS 3621, TS 007 and What an Insurance Approved Lock Really Means
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Which Standard Applies for Your Door?
Start with the door’s hardware and its inside operation when choosing a standard to check; an insurer’s wording cannot change a standard’s scope. Insurance conditions differ, so you must read the terms for that particular entrance. An “insurance-approved” description is informal shorthand, rather than certification.
This guide helps establish which specification may fit, explains TS 007 stars and points to the markings worth recording. The table routes the enquiry; it cannot settle insurance, building-management or fire-safety obligations.
| Door | Lock fitted | Scheme and coverage | Marking to identify | Possible location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Timber entrance | Mortice lock | BS 3621 family: qualifying complete single-point assembly | Complete standard reference and certification details | Edge faceplate, case or product papers |
| Timber entrance | Nightlatch or rim lock | BS 3621 family: qualifying complete surface-mounted single-point assembly | Assembly’s standard and certification identification | Internal body, faceplate or supplied documentation |
| Cylinder-operated door, including uPVC or composite | Replaceable euro, oval or threaded cylinder | TS 007: cylinder and separately assessed protection | Component’s TS 007 identification and rating | Cylinder, security handle, escutcheon or product records |
| Entrance providing keyless departure | Key outside; handle or thumbturn inside | BS 8621 may cover the complete assembly | Assembly reference and certification information | Lock itself and supporting documents |
| Door with selectable secure operation | Normally keyless inside; separate secure mode | BS 10621 may cover a specialist dual-mode assembly | Exact model’s standard and certification particulars | Product marking, operating instructions and certification records |
BS 3621 concerns an entire qualifying single-point lock with keys operating both sides. TS 007 assesses replaceable cylinders and their protection, including security handles, so these schemes address different hardware. On the common euro-cylinder multipoint arrangement in uPVC or composite doors, TS 007 may cover the cylinder and protective handle; it does not assess the whole locking strip. Timber does not establish BS 3621 certification either: a mortice lock, nightlatch or cylinder system needs its own product evidence. The three BS references distinguish operating arrangements, rather than ascending security grades. A BS 3621 quotation for a uPVC multipoint door therefore needs clarification about which hardware is actually proposed.
BS 3621 Is for Lock Assemblies, TS 007 Is for Cylinders
BS 3621 concerns the complete qualifying lock assembly; TS 007 concerns a replaceable cylinder and hardware shielding it. A euro cylinder cannot obtain BS 3621 status by itself. Equally, TS 007 cylinder stars do not describe a lever mortice deadlock. A product description using both schemes needs separate explanations, not a claim that one is superior.
What BS 3621 Covers and What It Does Not
Key operation on both sides, including a removable internal key, defines the BS 3621 arrangement. The current BS 3621:2017+A1:2024 assesses mechanically operated, thief-resistant single-point assemblies as complete products. Qualifying nightlatches and mortice locks on timber entrances are common applications; their type may also be found without certification. Check the exact maker and model, full reference and assembly mark, because five-lever wording does not prove compliance.
BS 8621 uses an exterior key and an interior handle or thumbturn, and may be relevant to specified keyless exit. BS 10621 normally permits that exit but has a separate secure setting stopping it. These are different operating designs rather than security levels. Before changing a thumbturn, resolve building and escape arrangements; do not introduce an internal key only because a policy mentions a British Standard.
Who Owns TS 007, and What It Covers
TS 007 includes replaceable euro, oval and threaded cylinders plus security handles, escutcheons, guards and surrounds. The Door and Hardware Federation describes its cylinder and protective-hardware star routes.
Trace each rating to the fitted part. A cylinder rating does not cover the complete multipoint system, door or frame. Replacing that cylinder can address damage or an upgrade, while a defective gearbox, locking strip or door alignment calls for a different repair.
| Scheme evidence | Hardware being assessed |
|---|---|
| BS 3621 full reference and certification identification | Complete qualifying single-point assembly |
| TS 007 reference with stars and certification particulars | Cylinder or separately rated protective component |
The Three British Standards, Named by How You Get Out
The three standards describe thief-resistant single-point locks with different internal release arrangements:
BS 10621 and the Secure Mode
A BS 10621 assembly has a specialist dual-mode design. Its scope concerns dwellings where an alternative escape route exists. It is not stronger than BS 8621, and should not be treated as a general choice for homes, shops or offices. Professional specification needs to consider the building, intended use and escape arrangements. Identify the current inside-opening method first.
Verify Cylinder Protection Independently
TS 007 stars concern the security rating of assessed cylinders and protective hardware. They do not automatically cover a frame, door, multipoint mechanism or installation; the rating does not extend simply because those parts share an entrance. Stars should appear with the applicable Kitemark, rather than in advertising alone.
The Door and Hardware Federation identifies two routes:
- Three stars on a TS 007 Kitemarked cylinder, independent of a separately rated handle.
- One star on a TS 007 Kitemarked cylinder together with two stars on a TS 007 Kitemarked armoured handle or lock surround.
Fitted components must match those ratings, work compatibly and be installed correctly as a recognised combination. One star alone, or an unrated cylinder beneath two-star protection, falls short. Verify profile, length and markings; “anti-snap” alone confirms no rating.
- BS 3621 means key operation outside and inside.
- BS 8621 means an outside key and an inside thumbturn or handle.
- BS 10621 means normal keyless exit plus a separately activated secure setting that blocks internal departure.
The distinction concerns means of escape, rather than a hierarchy of security.
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.
What Insurance Approved Actually Means
No organisation approves locks for insurance. BSI certifies a product against a published standard, and each insurer decides separately what its own policies ask for. “Insurance approved” is trade shorthand for a lock certified to a standard that insurers commonly name, and it is not a certification in itself. Some policies specify BS 3621 for certain external doors, and requirements vary by insurer, door type and policy. A certified lock does not automatically satisfy every policy, so before relying on the phrase, check which standard or rating the exact product carries and what your own policy says about that door.
Who Certifies What
These four ideas are linked but not interchangeable:
- Security standard: sets the technical requirements and test methods for one type of lock or component.
- Product certification: shows that an identified product has been assessed under a stated scheme.
- Product marking: Displays information such as a BS number, Kitemark or TS 007 star rating.
- Policy condition: states what an insurer expects for a particular property, door or situation.
For example, a mortice lock may carry BS 3621 certification. It provides information about the lock assembly that underwent testing. It does not prove that every insurer will accept it for every entrance. A TS 007 rating works in the same way: it is evidence about the cylinder or protective hardware carrying it, not confirmation that the whole door meets an insurance condition. A BS 3621-family marking relates to a qualifying complete lock assembly. A TS 007 rating normally relates to the cylinder or separate protective hardware.
Your Own Policy: What to Check
When a seller or installer calls something “insurance approved”, ask which standard it carries, which component the marking is on, and whether you can see it. Then compare that with the exact words in your policy. Record the full number rather than writing only “British Standard.” Different standards describe different inside-opening arrangements. A five-lever marking does not prove BS 3621 certification, because lever count and a standard reference tell you different things.
Worth noting down from the lock itself:
- The complete BS number, if one is shown
- A TS 007 reference
- A Kitemark or other relevant certification marking
- The manufacturer and model reference
If you photograph the lock for your records, frame the whole door first, then close-ups of the faceplate, the cylinder and the Kitemark or TS 007 stars. Do not change the inside-opening method without checking whether the door forms part of an escape route or managed building. A locksmith can identify the hardware and explain what its markings mean, but only the insurer can confirm how a policy condition applies to your property, and the same holds if you are securing a property after a break-in.
PAS 24 assesses the enhanced security performance of a complete doorset; BS 8621 is not automatically the applicable standard for every flat entrance door.
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 to Us About Which Locks Your Door Takes
Our part is simple: identify the hardware on your door, set out the options, and agree a price with you before anything starts.
So we can help faster: tell us the door material, send a picture of the faceplate or cylinder, and read out the standard named in your policy.
We do not charge for coming out, whatever the hour, and we answer calls 24 hours a day all year round. You hear the price during the call, worked out from what you describe. Our technicians have passed DBS checks and the business holds public liability insurance.
Ask What Your Door Takes: 01202 935089
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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?
BS 3621 does not generally cover the type of cylinder-operated multipoint locking commonly used in uPVC doors. For those installations, TS 007 may be relevant when checking a replacement cylinder or protective hardware. Its scope should be kept clear: neither the entire door nor the multipoint mechanism is certified by it.
Is a three-star cylinder the only way to achieve the TS 007 three-star security level?
No, a cylinder rated at three stars is one recognised option, not the sole option. Under TS 007, Kitemarked protective hardware rated at two stars can accompany a Kitemarked one-star cylinder. Alternatively, a cylinder with its own three-star TS 007 Kitemark provides the other route to that security level.
Is an anti-snap lock the same as a TS 007 three-star cylinder?
No. First verify the Kitemark and its star rating if a TS 007 three-star cylinder is required. The term anti-snap does not supply that proof. Certification cannot be established by considering only a seller's product name or the wording of a claim on the packaging.
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, whole-entrance compliance needs more than a cylinder change. The replacement affects a single component and certifies neither the multipoint mechanism nor the frame, handles, installation or door. Depending on the applicable security, building or insurance requirements, a complete assessment of the entrance may be required.
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?
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, 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?
The fitted components, packaging and paperwork are all places to check. BS 3621 details may be recorded in documents or printed on packaging, with the lock case and faceplate also possible locations. TS 007 can be marked on protective fittings or the cylinder. Locations vary by product and maker; confirm the standard number, certification mark and star rating.