Understanding lock security: Common padlock terms

As thieves adopt more destructive entry methods, the engineering behind your locks has never been more critical. While most opportunistic burglars lack the finesse and expertise of a locksmith, they compensate for this with heavy tools and brute force.

At Squire, we design our ranges to ensure that whether a thief tries to use modern brute force methods or unsophisticated attacks, they won’t find an easy win. Below, we compare common padlock designs and the specific engineering features we use to increase their forced-entry resistance.

Brute force: The modern standard

Today, most intruders bypass security features and opt for brute force entry. They rely on hammers, chisels, saws and bolt cutters to overwhelm standard security.

The Stronghold® range is specifically built to resist high-impact attacks, tampering and forced entry. This range is designed for industrial, commercial and high-security applications, utilising hardwearing materials to offer a robust solution for safeguarding gates, doors, sheds and other valuable assets.

To protect the most valuable assets, we developed the SS100CS LEV5 padlock and the Defiant brake disc lock. These locks feature specialised anti-angle grinder materials, an advanced engineering feat that makes them some of the strongest locks on the market.

What is a double locking padlock?

A double locking padlock means that both sides of the shackle are locked into the padlock’s body, rather than just one side. This prevents the padlock from being opened by a single cut to the shackle, doubling the security and requiring two cuts to break it.

Padlocks like our CP60 have a double locking mechanism to provide peace of mind that valuables will stay safe and secure.

What is anti-bump?

To explain anti-bump, we first need to explain what a shear line is. The shear line in a padlock is the crucial, invisible line where the inner rotating plug (where you put the key) meets the outer, stationary casing of the lock.

Lock bumping involves using a specially cut key and a striking tool to “jump” the pins to the shear line, essentially tricking the lock into opening. It’s a quick and relatively quiet method of entry.

To prevent this from happening, anti-bump locks require special keys, which require the lock barrel to have more pins within it. They are much more durable and have shallow pin stacks to prevent the pins from jumping up and unlocking the padlock.

Instead of simply adding more pins, our anti-bump cylinders utilise stepped pins, which are precision-engineered to only travel a specific distance, physically preventing the “jump” required for a bump key to work, rendering the bumping technique useless.

What is anti-drill?

Drilling is a method used by thieves to gain access to a property, where a drill bit is forced through the keyhole above the shear line, destroying the lock and rendering the locking mechanism useless. The intruder can then open the lock by force by simply turning the lock as a normal key would with a flat-headed screwdriver.

To counter this, our Stronghold® six-pin cylinders are reinforced with tungsten carbide pins. Tungsten carbide is an extremely hard, dense and durable ceramic-metal composite that can withstand high temperatures. Its hardness rivals that of a diamond, and when a drill hits these pins, the drill bit typically blunts or snaps, rendering it useless.

What is anti-pick?

Lock picking is a skill largely reserved for locksmiths and hobbyists, as it requires patience, time and expertise. However, we still incorporate design features to make it more difficult for any potential intruders.

Our six-pin cylinders contain specially shaped pins within the chambers, which are designed to snag and ‘false set’ when a picking tool is used. This feature makes it incredibly difficult for an intruder to feel the shear line or guess the correct pin height to open the lock.

Security standards and certifications

When choosing a padlock, you may see lots of acronyms for security standards. Here’s the most common ones you might see when shopping for a new padlock…

• LPCB stands for Loss Prevention Certification Board - a leading international certification body for security and fire protection. Its purpose is to independently certify security and safety products using a range of common lock breaking tools, such as angle grinders and saws. The highest certification a padlock can receive from LPCB is SR8, which no padlock on the market currently holds. Our SS100CS LEV5 received a rating of SR5 from the LPCB, the first and only padlock to ever achieve this grade, making it the highest-accredited padlock currently available.

• CEN stands for Central European Norm, and is a padlock testing standard which grades padlocks from one to six. CEN testing involves many categories, such as drilling, twisting the shackle and heating at various temperatures. This stringent test criteria means that if a product fails in just one category, its CEN grade is reduced. The SS100CS LEV5 achieves a CEN6 rating, the highest available, essential for high-security applications.
• Secured by Design (SBD) is an official police security initiative, owned by the UK Police Service. Its product-based accreditation scheme is called the Police Preferred Specification, which provides recognition for all security products that can deter and reduce crime. Products often meet specific standards like LPS 1175 tested by Sold Secure, ensuring high resistance to burglaries. Many of our padlocks, including the SS100CS LEV5, are recognised by Secured by Design for added reassurance.

Whether you’re facing the brute force of an angle grinder or the quiet finesse of a lockpicker, your security is only as strong as its weakest point.

The specialised materials we use, combined with advanced security features, ensure that every vulnerability is covered. By understanding how these different attack methods work, you can choose a lock that fits your specific risks - giving you one less thing to worry about.

If you want a deep dive into our best advice on choosing the right padlock for your home or business, check out our guide here.