Most front and back doors on houses and flats across Essex and East London are uPVC or composite, and almost all of them use a euro profile cylinder — the part you put your key into. That cylinder is also the part of the door that burglars most often target, using a method known as lock snapping. This guide explains what snapping is, what the TS007 and Sold Secure markings on a cylinder actually mean, and how to check what is fitted to your own door.
What is lock snapping?
A standard euro cylinder is a single bar of metal with a rotating cam in the middle. The cam is what turns the lock mechanism inside the door when you turn the key. Because of the slot where the cam sits, the cylinder body is at its thinnest point right in the middle of the door.
If enough force is applied to the part of the cylinder that sticks out beyond the handle, a standard cylinder can break at that weak point. Once the outer half has gone, the mechanism behind it can be turned and the door opened. It does not require specialist tools, it is quick, and it can be fairly quiet — which is why police forces and the lock industry have spent years warning homeowners about it.
The good news is that the problem is well understood, and cylinders designed to resist it are widely available and usually straightforward to fit.
How anti-snap cylinders work
An anti-snap cylinder is built with a deliberate sacrificial section: a cut line near the front of the cylinder. If someone attacks it, the front portion breaks away at that controlled point, leaving the cam and the inner part of the cylinder intact. The door stays locked.
Better cylinders also include protection against other common attacks, often listed on the packaging as:
- Anti-pick — pins that make manipulation with picking tools much harder.
- Anti-bump — resistance to “bump keys”, which jolt the pins into line.
- Anti-drill — hardened inserts that resist drilling through the cylinder.
- Anti-extraction — features that stop the cylinder being pulled out of the door.
There is a catch, though. “Anti-snap” on its own is a description, not a certification. Any manufacturer can print it on a box. What tells you how a cylinder performed under independent testing is its rating — and in the UK the two you will see most often are TS007 and Sold Secure SS312.
TS007 star ratings explained
TS007 is a UK specification covering the security of euro cylinders and the door handles (door furniture) around them. Products tested to it carry the Kitemark and a star rating:
- 1 star cylinder — a basic level of attack resistance. On its own it is not intended to resist snapping; it is designed to be paired with 2 star security handles.
- 2 star handles — security door furniture that shields the cylinder so it cannot easily be gripped.
- 3 star cylinder — tested to resist snapping and other attack methods on its own, without relying on the handle.
The stars add up. A door reaches an overall 3 star level either with a 3 star cylinder, or with a 1 star cylinder protected by 2 star handles. For most homeowners the simpler route is a 3 star cylinder, because it keeps its protection even if the handles are later changed.
Sold Secure SS312 Diamond
Sold Secure is an independent testing and certification house owned by the Master Locksmiths Association. Its SS312 standard applies to euro cylinders and has three grades: Silver, Gold and Diamond. Diamond is the highest grade and includes testing against snapping as well as a wide range of other attack methods.
TS007 and SS312 are separate schemes, and a cylinder can hold one, both or neither. Many high-security cylinders carry both a TS007 3 star rating and Sold Secure Diamond, and several of the cylinders we stock, including models from Ultion and Avocet ABS, do. When a cylinder carries both marks, you know it has been independently tested under two different regimes.
How to check the cylinder on your door
You can usually check your own cylinder in a couple of minutes:
- Open the door and look closely at the face of the cylinder around the keyhole, on the outside. Certified cylinders are normally stamped with the Kitemark and stars, and/or “Sold Secure”, “SS312” or “Diamond”. The markings are small, so a torch helps.
- Check how far the cylinder sticks out. A correctly sized cylinder should sit close to flush with the handle or the metal plate around the keyhole. If it protrudes by more than a few millimetres, it is easier to grip. Cylinders are sold in many lengths, and an oversized one is a common result of a hurried replacement.
- Look at your keys. Some high-security cylinders come with registered or restricted keys that can only be copied with proof of ownership, and a key card to prove it.
- If you can find no markings at all, it is sensible to assume the cylinder is a standard one.
When is it worth upgrading?
It is worth considering a certified anti-snap cylinder if:
- You have just moved in and do not know who holds keys to the property.
- There has been an attempted break-in nearby, or you have noticed marks around your cylinder.
- Your cylinder has no visible security markings.
- Your insurer, landlord or letting agent has asked about the standard of your locks.
Replacing a euro cylinder is usually one of the simpler lock jobs. The cylinder is held in place by a single screw in the edge of the door, so in most cases it can be swapped without touching the lock mechanism or the door itself. The important parts are measuring accurately so the new cylinder sits flush, and choosing a genuinely certified product rather than one that simply says “anti-snap” on the packaging.
What about the rest of the door?
A good cylinder is one part of a secure door. The multipoint locking mechanism, the hinges, the handles and the way the door sits in its frame all matter. A door that has dropped, or a lock that is stiff to operate, can undermine an otherwise good cylinder — our guide to the signs your uPVC multipoint lock is failing covers what to look out for. If you have a timber door with a mortice lock, the relevant standard is different; see our guide to BS3621 locks and home insurance.
Getting it done
We fit anti-snap cylinders as standard whenever we replace a euro cylinder. You can read more about our lock replacement and security upgrade service, or uPVC door lock repairs if your door has other problems. We work across the areas we cover across Essex and East London. To talk through the cylinder on your door, call 07500 582013.