Home Safety

For the past two weeks, I have been writing about ways to prevent your home from being burglarized. I wanted to share a letter I received from a reader. He's a certified locksmith, and I only quoted a small part of his letter in my Times-News column:

I read your article. Thank You! As an FBI cleared Locksmith 11/04/1987 I am aware Certified Locksmiths have generally neglected the Residential and Commerical Lock security sector, The most I communicated with were caught up in the automotive sector of unlocking vehicles,that of VATS and now Passkey III primarily because of the service industry even though locksmith was and still is considered a manufacturing,sales and installation skilled trade since this trade deals with working on locks and generating keys per the numerical combination of the pin drops,safe locks and yes now the digital age. We must also conform with ADA not personal convenience.

However, several things I'd like to point out. According to ANSI which dictates the way locks are designed and used we can't go strictly digital for a reason. There must be a a key override in the event the electronic system fails.

ADA and the NFC which every Bonafide Locksmith is required to know also speaks of no barriers in transportation egress emergency or normal for the legal owners,renters,occupants then outlines how doors and their hardware are to be installed. Example: Class II doors are outside residential doors which require a Class II locking device,not a Quickset 400TAL which is Class III, including the keyway which is a KW1. As my instructor in Kansas City,MO stated.

You may ask what's the difference.The class II is designed and made to resist break or kick inn to a greater extent than the class III. The key to a Class II isn't composite meaning: one or more lock manufacturers use the same keyway. Examples of a Class II key would be SchlageC or A, Russwin, Corbin,Sargent,Greenleaf. A Class III is designed for inside use only. The First digital Lock Was Quickset Access One with a Class III keyway being Titan KW10.Reason six pin offset first pin from bow to tip keyway. More secure? Still CLass III keyway since the kw10 was adopted from the KW1 5 pin composite.. All it had going for it was one million rolling combinations in it's battery powered microprocessor.

What do I recommend other than window locks,Solar security lighting, and solid steel doors. Class II Double cylinder deadbolts for door with windows, and a holy oil annoyed Pray cloth and annoyed the doors from church since I know Jesus is the master guard over all.

There are Manual Non-Electric Outside Wall Mountable four Digit Combination Changeable Key Security Boxes that can be purchased. HPC Made them just like they made a many of the picks and other tools I have tested and used since graduating. They are Heavy Steel Constructed.

Why don't I retail them? Their Cost. Scott County is SSA/SSI, and they still will preach locks are just to keep honest people honest. Which is very true.


Respectfully,
Willie Ray Bowen