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Locksmithing 101 | Lock Hardware Grades 1, 2, and 3

Hi. This is PJ with CLK supplies. Today I am talking about lock hardware grades. I will cover each hardware grade and discuss why these are so important for a security professional. 

The normal hardware grades. Grade 1, Grade 2, and Grade 3, was developed by two organizations working together to develop a set of standards a lock has to go through to be categorized by a grade.

The two organizations are ANSI - American National Standards Institute and BHMA - Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association.

The ANSI and BHMA developed five tests that each lock must go through to determine its grade. 

Lock Grades - CLK SuppliesThe tests are…

  1. Strength
  2. Cycle
  3. Security
  4. Material Evaluation
  5. Finish

In my opinion, the CYCLE test stands out above all other tests. This test is the most applicable in day-to-day business operations. When a typical lock is placed on a door, the STRENGTH and SECURITY test does not necessarily apply in most situations because the lock won't be on the door forever. 

What I found most interesting was the number of cycles that each grade must endure to meet minimum standards.

The Grade 3 lock has to go through a 200,000-cycle test. That doesn't mean the lock couldn’t pass a 500,000-cycle test, but the minimum is 200,000.

The Grade 2 lock must pass a 400,000-cycle test. Twice as much as the residential.

The Grade 1 lock must pass a 1 million cycle test.

The difference between the Grade 2, which is a light-duty commercial lock and Grade 1, which is a heavy-duty commercial lock is significant. I think it's very important for professionals to consider the grade of lock when replacing hardware. While Grade 2 locks are less expensive and effective, the number of cycle tests between a Grade 1 and a Grade 2 lock are 600,000 tests!

These tests are important to consider to help you place the correct locks on your client’s doors, and by understanding these standards, you can make the right choice.

Don’t forget to like and subscribe to our channel where we upload new tutorials on locksmithing every month.

See you next time! 

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