The grade can be found on the label and packaging of the lock you want to buy. If you want to know how good a lock you already own is, you need to know what kind it is. Brands frequently leave their names in a number of places.
The head of the key should be checked first for any engraving. Check the knob, deadbolt, reinforcement plates, and door jamb if nothing is present. There ought to be a company logo somewhere on these. Find out which lock you have by researching the brand online.
It will be nearly impossible to identify the kind of lock you have if there is no branding. Even if you know the brand, you might still struggle with your lock’s specifications. You can get help with this by calling a locksmith. Using information on the key, Locksmith near Sutton Coldfield can determine the brand of a lock using reference materials.
How Grades Are Tested
What elements are evaluated when grades are given? What is significant to ANSI? The response varies based on the type of lock being tested, but there are six broad categories.
You can learn how easily latches close and retract from operational tests. The lock won’t be reviewed high on the off chance that the lab laborers need to utilize a great deal of solidarity to open the hook.
The number of times a lock can be used before it wears out is one of the cycle tests. During these tests, lab workers use locks hundreds of thousands of times to check for wear and tear.
The mechanisms’ ability to withstand abuse is the sole focus of strength tests. The door lever is put under hundreds of pounds of pressure by lab workers to see if it breaks.
You can find out whether the lock can withstand being forced in through security tests. They exert the same force as someone attempting to kick down a door when they repeatedly deliver powerful blows to the lock.
The resistance of the trim to piercing is tested in the material evaluation tests. They poke at the metal plate or trim on the outside of the lock, and if it isn’t thick enough, it won’t be able to withstand the pressure and will get a bad score.
Finish tests measure how a lock looks after being exposed to the elements. They test for condensation and humidity, spray the lock with salt spray, and expose it to ultraviolet light.
The specifics of ANSI’s mortise lock grade have been made public.
The requirements for the operational, strength, and finish tests are the same for all grades. The lever should be able to withstand 360 pounds, and all latches should close with no more than 4.5 pounds of force. Although they haven’t specified what these environmental standards actually are, the finish ought to meet reasonable ones.
Grade 1 locks should be able to withstand ten blows, operate for one million cycles, and have a trim of 1.9 millimeters.
Grade 2 should be able to withstand five blows, go through 800,000 cycles, and have a 2.5 mm trim.
They are only tested for two blows, but Grade 3 should also operate for 800,000 cycles and have a 2.5 mm trim.
This only applies to mortise locks, as previously stated; other components of a door may vary. Deadbolts and door knobs, for instance, have distinct standards.