The home is where one feels safe and it is now more apparent than ever. Due to the lockdown following the Coronavirus pandemic, we have been forced to stay at home, to ensure our safety. This has also given us the time to rethink the safety of our homes and our loved ones, as we gradually start going back to our normal lives. For this, one of the simple things that one should look at, is upgrading the locking system in the house. According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), in 2019, there were more than 670 cases of residential robberies/ thefts per day. Also, according to Godrej Locks’ Har Ghar Surakshit report, only 23% of Indians change their locking systems once in two years. Hence, it is not only important to change the locking system at home more often but also pay special attention to the home security technology that is available in the market and make an informed decision, when we choose the next locking system.
There are mainly five safety levels, based on the strength and technology used in locking systems. It is important that consumers evaluate the locks on these core strengths, while choosing a system.
Safety strength 1: Basic safety
The locks in this category come with conventional mechanical locking systems, having basic safety level and can have either levers, wafers, tumblers or single-row pin-cylinder technologies.
Safety strength 2: Ultra-safe technology
These locks have computerised dimple keys, with advanced multi-row pin-cylinder technology. In this, the maximum number of key combinations that can be provided are up to 100 million. Hence, the lock can only be opened by its own key and to create a duplicate key, one needs the original key.
Safety strength 3: Extra safe (EXS) technology
These locks come with advanced, angular multi-row pin-cylinder technology. The maximum number of combinations (key differs) that can be provided is up to two billion and a highly complex system of master key solutions is possible.
Safety strength 4: Highest mechanical safety
This is the highest level of safety in mechanical locks and comes with a mechanical three-curve system with a floating pin, sidebars and locking bar. This conforms to European standard EN 1303. Combinations up to 30 trillion are available, ensuring generations of non-repeating keys.
Safety strength 5: Advanced digital access control technology
Unlike conventional mechanical locks, the locks in this category are digital locks, which are based on virtual networks which function through access and control systems and have combinations up to 200 trillion.
See also: Cool gadgets to make your home smarter
To ensure complete safety, it is important that the people comply with at least level 3 of safety mentioned above, when using mechanical locks. Also, they must follow basic safety measures, such as changing the locks once every two or three years and upgrading to advanced technologies. High-security/ digital locks are costlier than the traditional mechanical locks but, at the end of the day, the cost of the lock is far less than replacing the contents of your home after a break in. Hence, people should consider the best lock for their homes, even if it means spending a little extra for safety.
(The writer is EVP and business head, Godrej Locks)
