| Home security quite literally begins with the front door. The truth is that the vast majority of front doors and their locking mechanisms are wholly insufficient to withstand forced entry by even the least capable burglar. What good is a highly advanced alarm system with CCTV cameras and motion detectors if the front door can be compromised by one swift kick? Properly securing the front door of one’s business or commercial property need not require a monumental effort nor a monumental amount of cash. There are a number of simple rules that a property owner should follow so as to provide a requisite amount of security at their front door. The first fact that must be understood is that a simple rim latch is simply not adequate. In addition to a rim latch, a door should be fitted a rim automatic deadlock or a 5 lever mortice dead lock. It is important to remember that while quality locks are important, if the doors and their corresponding frames are weak then even the strongest lock is rendered useless. One must ensure that the door frame is sound and the door is of suitable strength for external use. A front door should be of sturdy construction, a minimum of 44 mm in thickness to firmly support the mortice lock and connected to the frame on three strong 100 mm hinges. Optimally, the mortice and the rim latch should be set anywhere from 45 cm to 65 cm apart. If there are any recesses or decorative panels in the door, they should never have a thickness of less than 9mm. In order to reinforce the door, one may consider fitting a metal strip on the frame side of the door, known as a London Bar, to help support the strike box or a metal strip on the hinge side, known as a Birmingham bar. If the door lacks stability, one might consider having a sheet steel plate or even just a door reinforcer covering the lock area. Frames constructed from timber are certainly more than adequate. It is recommended that timber frames be secured to the wall every 600 mm along the length of the frame. Doors embellished with glazed panels are substantially less secure than solid doors. These doors should be reinforced with a deadlock. The homeowner might also consider replacing the glass panels with laminated glass as they are far more resistant to assault. A front door should always be fitted with a spy hole and a door chain or limiter. These measures will allow the homeowner to attend to uninvited callers while retaining a reasonable level of security. If you are concerned by the current level of security that your front door truly affords then you will want to call Always Locksmith, the premier source of front door security solutions in London and the greater London area. Our call centre is at your disposal at all hours of the day. Our customer support team are fully trained and capable of handling any inquiries that you might have and will send a certified and experienced technician to your location at your convenience any time of day. Always Locksmith has a massive inventory of front doors as well as locks and a variety of other solutions. Our client’s security is our main priority and we help ensure it at the most competitive prices. |