Wednesday, November 22, 2017
Residential security grading
The first thing you should know is that a group of industry experts called the Builders Hardware Manufacturing Association (or BHMA for short) set national standards regarding the security level, durability and finish quality of door hardware products. This helps professional locksmiths, building managers and other professionals to ensure that they are using the right hardware in the right places, especially when they have to adhere to local building code requirements.
In order to help homeowners make the same decisions about which hardware is best for their home, BHMA created a set of standards specific to residential door hardware. They created three categories - Security, Durability, and Finish โ with rigid criteria for testing the hardware to ensure it meets either a C (good), B (better) or A (best) grade in each category. Most Schlage products receive a AAA, which means they have received the best possible grades in Security, Durability and Finish.
So what does all that really mean? It means that all of our products, whether mechanical or electronic, run through all kinds of heavy-duty, intense testing procedures โ including, yes, hitting it with a sledgehammer really hard. So regardless of what kind of lock you buy, you know youโll be getting a product that has been tested against the rigorous demands of daily usage. Our Schlage Senseโข Smart Deadbolt, Schlage Connectโข Touchscreen Deadbolt, and Schlage Touchโข Keyless Touchscreen Deadbolt and Lever have all received a grade A in security, the best possible grade to keep your home, and everything inside it, safe.
What about hackers?
Weโve all heard about the neighborโs garage door code getting hacked. The good news is that these days that story is a bit of an urban legend โ there were some instances of compromised garage door codes back when the technology was new, but major strides have been made in electronic security since then, making these types of hacks much more difficult to pull off. Basically, if youโre comfortable ordering items from Amazon, you can trust that the connection between your Schlage smart lock and your smartphone is just as secure.
Besides, when it comes to entry points to the home, blunt-force attacks are much more effective than sophisticated electronic methods, though the rising popularity of home security systems is putting a dent in traditional break-ins as well. Electronic locks that integrate with home security systems, like the Schlage Connect lock, actually add a layer of electronic security to your home, allowing you to keep better track of whoโs coming and going, and when.
Locks that add extra security without requiring a smart home or security system are also on the rise. The Schlage Sense Smart Deadbolt is a great example - with multiple options to connect your lock to the cloud, you can receive real-time notifications and view a history of who used the lock and when. Thereโs also a built-in alarm on the Schlage Sense and Connect locks that sounds when the lock or door is forced, or the wrong code entered repeatedly.
Spare keys are a safety faux pas
Thereโs an added security element to simply doing away with spare keys and using access codes instead. Codes are easier to control โ if a code becomes compromised, simply delete it. No need to rekey or buy new locks because a key has been lost and anyone in town could have it. A lock without a cylinder, like the completely keyless Schlage Touch lock, also eliminates the possibility of picking or bumping because thereโs no keyhole for intruders to manipulate.
As you can see, electronic locks are a smart choice for any home. They can save time, add convenience, and make it safer and easier to share access by eliminating spare keys. Paired with the easy installation and exceptional customer service that Schlage is known for, adding one of our electronic deadbolts or smart locks to your home is an easy step toward a safer, simpler day.
