As a homeowner, few things in life are more important than protecting yourself and your assets, right?

We all worry about our homes from the moment we leave for work in the morning to the minute we go to bed at night. Especially with crime rates in the UK showing concerning trends with regards to break-ins, home security remains paramount to a quality living experience. As such, it pays to know what kind of door locks you have. Homes in the UK get all kinds of locks fitted by locksmithing companies, from standard Euro locks to oval locks and threaded locks.

While at first lock types can feel pretty confusing, this guide should break down the essential details of one lock type in particular: Euro cylinder locks. As arguably the most commonly used lock type for UK homeowners, but also for commercial properties and beyond, they make a fantastic choice for the most part. In this Euro Cylinder guide, we’ll break down everything worth knowing about Euro cylinder locks and why any professional locksmith tends to recommend installing Euro cylinders.

Euro Cylinder Locks: The Simplest Fit For Most Doors

There are many different lock types out there, each with different styles, functions, features and, yes, limitations. However, one common feature is that locks tend to require significant installation. With Euro cylinder locks, though, you can have your locks fitted without having to make any real changes to your door itself. While other locks might necessitate getting new doors, that is not the case here.

While not always the case, installing Euro cylinder locks tends to be something that can be done with the removal of just a screw or two. That makes it easy for a locksmith to install new, high-security Euro cylinder locks for your property. That simplicity is why many homeowners also go down the route of DIY installation, too. Of all the lock types you can install, Euro cylinder locks are the easiest. Still, we would recommend hiring a locksmith, just to ensure the best results and consistency.

One of the main benefits of Euro cylinder locks, too, is their versatility. With so many varying lengths of Euro cylinder locks, you can find a suitable model for just about any door that you have in your home or business.

Euro Lock Cylinder Types: What Are My Options?

Before we go any further, we should note that Euro cylinder locks are not one and the same. You get three different types of Euro cylinder locks on the UK market.

The first are known as single-cylinder Euro cylinder locks. These have just one locking side, and that means that you cannot lock/unlock the Euro cylinder lock from the other side. Your second option is known as double-cylinder (or double-ended cylinder) Euro cylinder locks. As the name suggests, these can be opened from both sides of the lock, improving access and functionality overall.

Lastly, you get a key and thumb-turn Euro cylinder lock. These are locked from the outside with the use of a key, as you would any other door. On the inside, though, the door is locked by using a dial that you turn with your thumb; that locks the door internally, negating the need to use keys inside.

Commercial Euro Cylinder Locks

We mentioned above that you can have Euro cylinder locks fitted for your business, too. While they tend to feel more suitable in homes, Euro cylinder locks have a place in the business world as well. The best idea, though, is to have a locksmith design a master key system for your Euro cylinders.

Why? Master keys provide great peace of mind to any business owner, management staff member, etc. 

A master key system means that you can give people access to the specific parts of the property they should have access to. For example, you could provide your staff with access to their office and the staff room. You could give management staff access to management suites, storage facilities, etc. 

The manager of the property can set the hierarchy for who has access to what in the building. Another example could be to fit internal Euro cylinder locks. That means, for example, that your office staff could only access their own office. In the example of rental properties, it means that if you own a house of multiple occupation (HMO), then residents could have keys that work with general access to the property and their rooms, but not their housemates.

Master lock systems are one of the most commonly used methods for managing a business and keeping a close eye on access credentials. By using Euro cylinder locks in your doors, it becomes much easier to design an easily followed master key system that keeps everyone safe whilst ensuring proper access to the right area(s) of the building. 

How Secure Are Euro Cylinder Locks?

In a word? Extremely. In the past, criminals had found easy ways to circumvent Euro cylinder locks and use their ease-of-function to their advantage. Now, with the advent of Euro cylinder locks that have anti-snap protections, such easy access is no longer possible. Any of the early adoption security risks that existed in early Euro cylinder locks have since been overcome by professionals.

Most Euro cylinder locks that you can buy, or that a locksmith will recommend, already come with anti-snap protections included. Most locks will be British Standards 3621-approved locks, meaning they provide modern innovations that limit opening techniques such as lock snapping and lock bumping. Another certification commonly used is TS007; if your Euro cylinder locks are TS007, they are secure.

Potential Challenges With Euro Cylinder Locks

While broadly the best choice for many homes and businesses, Euro cylinder locks are not infallible. One area of concern, as mentioned above, comes down to quality. Without lock snapping and lock bumping add-ons, for example, or even lock drilling protections, Euro cylinder locks could be easily compromised. Not every model of Euro cylinder lock on the market comes with these extra features.

There is also the issue of wear and tear. Buy a cheaper model, and not only might it lack the above security features, but it might wear out sooner. That means more regular lock replacements and re-keying from a locksmith, adding to your security bill. Like any other lock and key system, too, losing or breaking your keys likely means having to call on a locksmith to replace your locks and keys ASAP. 

Getting The Best Euro Cylinder Locks Installed

Generally, Euro cylinder locks make a great choice as they are highly versatile, easily installed by a pro, and tend to be very effective overall. As mentioned above, though not all Euro cylinder locks are perfect. The next step is to find the best Euro cylinder locks that you can afford. 

To do this, we recommend speaking with a locksmith. They can help you with the selection, supply and installation of your desired Euro cylinder locks.

These lock types remain some of the most popular in the industry thanks to their versatility. The fact that homeowners and business owners can easily understand their operation, too, is a valuable feature. Affordable and easy to work with for keyholders, Euro cylinder locks are a great investment for any home or business. 

If you want to make sure that your Euro cylinder locks are of the standard expected, call a locksmith. Speak with them about your needs, and they can help you to make sure you get a model that suits your requirements. While DIY installation is possible, we always recommend leaving it to the pros!