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
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 |
Reaching Three Stars Without Buying a Three-Star Cylinder
There are two ways to reach a TS 007 three-star rating: fit a TS 007 Kitemarked three-star cylinder on its own, or pair a TS 007 Kitemarked one-star cylinder with a TS 007 two-star Kitemarked armoured handle or lock surround.
| Route one | Route two | |
|---|---|---|
| Cylinder | Kitemarked three-star cylinder under TS 007 | Kitemarked one-star cylinder under TS 007 |
| Protective hardware | Not needed for the rating | Kitemarked two-star armoured handle or lock surround under TS 007 |
| Where the protection sits | Inside the cylinder itself | Shared between the cylinder and the hardware around it |
The second route exists because a cylinder is not only attacked head-on. It can also be reached through the handle and the escutcheon, so the scheme rates the defence as it is assembled, and hardening the surround does the work a stronger cylinder would otherwise do. The Door and Hardware Federation’s TS 007 guidance sets out both routes.
For route two to count, three things must be true:
- Both the cylinder and the handle or surround are Kitemarked to TS 007.
- The one-star and two-star ratings belong to the parts actually fitted to the door.
- The parts are compatible and correctly installed, with the cylinder at the right length and profile.
A two-star handle fitted over an unrated cylinder does not make a three-star door. Before agreeing to any quote, ask which route it follows and whether both parts carry the Kitemark.
Naming the Three British Standards by How You Get Out
How an occupant leaves a locked door is the organising difference between the three standards:
The Secure Mode and BS 10621
The dual-mode arrangement covered by BS 10621 is intended for dwellings with another escape route available. It is different from BS 8621, rather than stronger. Professional specification should precede selection, taking account of building use and escape provisions. It is no general recommendation for domestic, shop or office doors. Check the existing internal operation before considering changes.
Read Stars on the Products Fitted
TS 007 uses stars to identify the security achieved by cylinders and their protective components. That assessment does not automatically cover installation, the multipoint mechanism, frame or door. The appropriate Kitemark should sit alongside the stars, rather than stars appearing merely in advertising. An “anti-snap” description proves no TS 007 rating.
The Door and Hardware Federation explains two recognised routes:
- A TS 007 three-star Kitemarked cylinder supplies the cylinder route independently of handle ratings.
- A TS 007 one-star Kitemarked cylinder works with a TS 007 two-star Kitemarked armoured handle or lock surround.
The actual components must be compatible, correctly fitted and recognised together. Neither a one-star cylinder alone nor two-star protection over an unrated cylinder qualifies. Verify markings, cylinder profile and length.
- BS 3621 requires a key on either side.
- BS 8621 uses a key outside and a handle or thumbturn indoors.
- BS 10621 provides normal keyless departure with a separately selected secure no-exit mode.
All concern thief-resistant single-point assemblies; the numbers are not strength grades.
How to Check What You Already Have
Start the check where a mortice lock meets the open door edge, then follow the markings to the relevant component.
Read the complete assembly reference.
Inspect the mortice faceplate or forend, or the inside body of a nightlatch. Record the certification mark, full number, manufacturer and model. BS 3621 concerns qualifying complete lock assemblies; lever count alone cannot identify certification.
Look beyond the edge on cylinder doors.
For uPVC or composite systems, inspect the visible cylinder face or end for TS 007 stars and Kitemark evidence. TS 007 assesses cylinders and protective fittings, so check the handle or escutcheon separately and record which component carries each rating.
Describe the door and its inside release.
Note material and internal, external or flat-entrance use, plus key, handle, thumbturn or selectable secure operation. BS 8621 and BS 10621 cover differing inside-opening arrangements. Confirm building and escape provisions with the responsible person before changing those arrangements.
Make a useful record.
Photograph the cylinder, faceplate, handles and whole door before contacting a qualified locksmith. Supply full insurance wording and readable product details. Identification or compatibility may still need measurements or inspection. The insurer must confirm policy acceptance, preferably through written clarification where wording is unclear.
Note: A mark that cannot be seen does not establish a failed test. Check documentation and keep certification unconfirmed until evidence is found. Do not dismantle the lock for identification. Brand, stars or informal insurance claims cannot prove whole-door compliance, and a locksmith can explain repair or replacement options.
What ‘Insurance Approved’ Actually Means
Insurance approval is not a separate lock certification. BSI certifies a lock against a standard; the insurer decides what its policy asks for. The industry phrase “insurance approved” loosely connects those different things. Some policies specify BS 3621 for certain external doors, with conditions varying by policy, insurer and door type.
Who Certifies What?
Technical standards define tests, product certification records assessment, and markings show information such as a BS reference, Kitemark or TS 007 stars. Insurance conditions express the insurer’s expectations. Product certification does not settle what every insurer will accept for every entrance.
A mortice lock may have BS 3621 certification applying to a qualifying complete single-point assembly. Five-lever construction alone does not demonstrate it. TS 007 normally assesses cylinders and separate protective hardware, without certifying the whole door or multipoint system. BS 3621 is not usually applicable to the cylinder-operated multipoint locks fitted to uPVC doors. PAS 24 assesses enhanced security of a complete doorset. BS 8621 addresses keyless exit, not automatically every flat entrance’s specification.
What to Check in Your Own Policy
Write down the entire standard number instead of only “British Standard”; inside-opening arrangements vary between references. BS 3621 information may be on the faceplate, case, product packaging or documentation. TS 007 markings may be on the cylinder or protection. Save photographs showing the component, reference, correct stars, Kitemark or other certification mark and model.
The TS 007 three-star routes use a Kitemarked three-star cylinder or a Kitemarked one-star cylinder alongside Kitemarked two-star protection. “Anti-snap” alone does not verify that rating. An unlocated Kitemark does not prove unsuitability either; consult product records.
Read the complete policy, including endorsements and entrance-specific terms. A locksmith can explain the hardware; only the insurer can confirm policy application, with written clarification useful. Check escape and managed-building arrangements before altering internal release.
Talk to Us About What Your Door Takes
We can check what is on your door, explain what it is and what alternatives exist, and confirm the price before we begin.
Three things make that quicker: the door material, one photo showing the faceplate or cylinder, and the policy’s own wording for any standard it names.
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British Standard Lock Questions
Does a five-lever lock automatically meet BS 3621?
No. Certification depends on the particular lock assembly, so counting five levers does not prove it meets BS 3621. Those levers form part of the internal mechanism; the key must lift them correctly to allow bolt movement. A different lever count, such as three, describes a design difference rather than the whole security assessment. BS 3621 tests complete assemblies. For insurance or specification purposes, verify the model's standard and certification markings. Similar-looking five-lever products, familiar branding, key shapes and bolt lengths are insufficient evidence.
Does BS 3621 apply to locks on uPVC doors?
For a typical uPVC multipoint system operated by a cylinder, generally no. BS 3621 does not usually apply to that arrangement. The replaceable cylinder, together with protective hardware, may fall within TS 007. That specification concerns those components; it provides no certification for the door as a whole 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. 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?
A missing Kitemark leaves a question to investigate, rather than an automatic finding of unsuitability. It does not show that testing was failed. Look through the original documentation and packaging, and check elsewhere on the product. Photographs and a reference may allow identification without dismantling. A familiar brand, distinctive key, lever count, appearance, seller's description or unchecked 'insurance approved' wording cannot replace verification. Certification requires confirmation of the standard and marking; otherwise, the lock should be described as unidentified.
Will changing the cylinder make my entire door compliant?
No, the scope of the change stops at the cylinder. Replacing it does not certify how the entrance is installed, the frame, the door, the handles or the multipoint mechanism. An applicable insurance condition, building requirement or security specification may require assessment of the complete entrance.
Is PAS 24 the same as BS 3621 or TS 007?
No, their assessment scopes differ. A qualifying single-point lock assembly falls within BS 3621; replaceable cylinders and related protective fittings are covered by TS 007. PAS 24 deals with the complete doorset and its enhanced security performance, rather than assessing those individual locking components on the same basis.
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?
Not automatically: the doorset and applicable requirements need consideration. BS 8621 concerns a qualifying lock assembly with one locking point that permits exit from the inside without using a key. It is not a universal requirement for flat entrances; fire, building and property-management requirements affect the appropriate arrangement.
Where can I find the BS 3621 or TS 007 marking?
Use the lock type and manufacturer to guide the search. The cylinder and protective hardware may bear TS 007 markings. BS 3621 information could instead be on the case, faceplate, packaging or accompanying documents. Do not judge from stars in isolation: establish the standard number, certification mark and rating together.