You may, or may not be aware of the Master Locksmiths Association (MLA) and its role within our community. Our membership is very important to us not only for our company, but our industry, the public and fellow members. We strongly feel communities need to know more about the MLA and so encourage the public to familiarise themselves with the association.

Who are the Master Locksmiths Association?

The Master locksmiths association (MLA) is the ONLY locksmiths association approved by the police, the insurance industry and Government Home office in the UK.

What is their role?

As the only non profit locksmith organisation in the UK, the Master Locksmiths Association’s focus is aimed at locksmithing standards including the industry’s reputation, workmanship, and public awareness. To become a member, applicants must complete courses, exams and a CRB (criminal records check).

What is Abbey Gates membership?

Abbey Gate hold a company membership (the highest membership tier). Alongside what is already stated, our company are also independently inspected and vetted with additional information such as terms and conditions and insurance documentation also scrutinised. Company founder Stephen Underwood has been a member of the Master Locksmiths Association for over 40 years.

Abbey Gates membership number is: 003203

Is the Master Locksmith Association involved in product standards and testing?

The MLA also incorporates Sold Secure, who are registered with the Home office, police organisations and the insurance industry. Sold Secure are independent responsible for testing a wide range of security products and work alongside Secure by design (a police initiative) whose aim is to work with the industry and raise security standards both commercially and domesticity. In addition the MLA have Associate membership for wholesalers, this helps to provide a set standard from manufacturing to supply and installation.

Rogue locksmith warning from Abbey Gate locksmiths.

Some locksmiths will reference the terms MLA and “Master Locksmiths Association” in their websites. They do this to boost their companies reputation, raise their profile and in the most serious cases make themselves look like members. You can check if a company is a member by visiting the MLA website completing a search.

Read our blog post here for tips on how to spot rogue locksmiths in the Thames and Loddon Valley.

British standards

British standards are organised by the BSI (British standards institution)* group under a Royal charter in 1901.

Unrelated to British standards are the PAS tests designed to test the security of doors and windows. The tests are endorsed by both the Police and Secure by design.

What are the common British standards used in the security industry?

Without too much jargon the most common domestic British standards for security are as follows.

For the sake of avoiding confusion the Oxford English Dictionary defines Egress as the “action of leaving or going out of a place”.

BS 3621 2007+2009 titled “Thief resistant lock assembly. Key Egress”

The standard first arrived in the 1960’s and provides the benchmark for all lock standards. The BS3621 was intended to cover wooden doors with a five leaver key locking mortise (cut into the door). Because the lock would require a key to exit it was not intended for multi occupancy dwellings.

BS 8621 2007+2009 titled “Thief resistant lock assembly. Keyless Egress”

Introduced in 2004 this standard covered locks that allowed the exit of a property with no key and so was cleared for multi occupancy.

BS10621 2007+A12009 titled “Thief resistant lock assembly, dual mode”

Put simply BS10621 locks incorporates the features of BS8621 and BS3621. Because of the key locking ability’s it can not be used on multi occupancies.

PAS 24 2007+A1 2009 titled “Enhanced security performance requirements for door assemblies”

This standard is intended to give a minimum standard covering door security on newly built homes.

Alongside British standards for locks there are also standards and quality control for cylinders (the mechanisms used to operate certain locks. The three standards to look for are:

Sold Secure SS312 Diamond Approved Standard

British standard (kite marked) TS007 3 star cylinder

1 star Kite marked Cylinder in conjunction with 2 star Kite marked door furniture

This standard allows you to have a one star cylinder in conjunction with any two star door furniture, for example handles, estuations.

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