Padlocks – What you need to know

If you need to secure something or to prevent access to somewhere, then you are likely to need a padlock. But there are a vast array of options available and knowing what to select can be a challenge. Padlocks range in quality/security and of course costs can vary accordingly. The aim of this article is to offer some guidance as to what to look out for depending on what you are trying to lock.

Although there are differences in the size, shape, design and materials used, padlocks are made of three main parts:

Body – This holds everything together. Most padlock bodies are rectangular, square, circular or cylindrical.
Shackle – This is the ‘U’ shaped piece of metal that hooks around the thing you are trying to secure/lock. Shackles can swing or slide in and out of the locked position.
Locking Mechanism – Traditional padlocks force the shackle to engage with the tumblers in the lock. The modern versions contain a plug within a cylinder.

Main Types/Features:

Waterproof Padlocks

If you intend to use the padlock outdoors and in harsh environments, then you need to select a ‘Marine‘ or ‘Waterproof‘ padlock to prevent against corrosion over time. These padlocks can withstand salty water and humidity so are perfect for boats, beach huts, etc.

Discus Padlocks

Discus padlocks can be easily identified by their circular body and curved shackle. These padlocks are very secure and difficult to destroy to gain entry. They are not spring-loaded, meaning the design is very robust and any impact or damage to the padlock will not cause it to unlock.

Combination Padlocks

Rather than using a key to unlock, Combination padlocks require the correct sequence of numbers to be selected to unlock it. Very useful if you want to allow access to a number of different people without having to organise and manage additional keys.

Shutter Padlocks

Shutter padlocks are identified by a straight bolt-like shackle that slides in and out of a U-shaped solid rectangular body. The body is very strong and these padlocks are especially good where the lock is in a tricky position (e.g. tight to the ground) and may otherwise be difficult to operate.

Lever Padlocks

The most old-fashioned design still available today are Lever Padlocks. They have a set of levers (like a mortice lock) which hold the bolt in place until the key is inserted and turned to move the levers out of the way to enable the shackle to disengage.

There are now also a number of Digital padlocks that can be operated by thumbprint, fob, keypad or phone for example.

Choosing the Right Padlock

One of the most important considerations is the strength of the shackle. Generally, the thicker it is, the more secure it is. High security padlocks tend to have a diameter of 10mm and are made from hardened steel.

Another main issue to consider is how much of the shackle is exposed. The less there is on show makes it harder for thieves to attack. Closed shackles tend to be found on high security padlocks.

Look for high-quality materials if you need a higher quality padlock. Padlock bodies made from solid brass, laminated steel, armoured steel or solid hardened steel should be sufficient. Brass is a softer metal for general purpose low security applications. Hardened steel is best for attack resistance and hardened boron alloy steel is super tough and very hard to break.

Certification

It is a good idea to look out for the British Standard kite mark. If it bears this mark, then it has been tested to a certain standard.

The Central European Norm (CEN) is a certification that some manufacturers use to determine how secure a specific padlock is. The CEN certification is divided into six different grades:

Grade 1 – Low security
Grade 2 – Normal security
Grade 3 – Medium level security
Grade 4 – High security
Grade 5 – Extra high security
Grade 6 – Maximum security

Grade 6 level padlocks are recommended for commercial use, whereas grade 5 padlocks should be suitable for consumer use in most cases. For individual requirements, you can expect padlocks with grades between 3 and 5 to be good enough.

So as you can see, there are many options and the choice of padlock really depends on what you are trying to secure.

If you want to secure, for example, a locker with your gym clothes, then a high security padlock is overkill. But if you want to lock up your expensive motorcycle, then it is very appropriate.

A cheap padlock will be made from cheap materials and can be relatively easily opened either destructively or non-destructively (if you now how… a search on YouTube is quite revealing!).

I hope this article on Padlocks has been useful to you. If you have any questions or would like to discuss any of my services, please get in contact.

Got a question about a lock issue you may have? Why not have a look at the FAQ page or one of the helpful advice videos on the Media page.