Euro profile cylinder replacement

European profile cylinder burglaries are on the rise

Most european or euro profile lock cylinders, as they are known, are fitted as standard on uPVC (PVCu) conservatory doors, and can also be found on some composite, aluminium and even wooden doors.  Euro or european 'profile' refers to the cylinder's shape.

The cylinder is the vulnerable point of the lock.  It does't matter how secure or elaborate the multi-point locking mechanism may be, if the cylinder is broken, the lock can be opened in moments.

The two commonest ways to break these cylinders is by "bumping" (also known as the 999 method) and "snapping".  A cylinder can be bumped using a bump key, an easily made key that simply unlocks the door, and because locksmiths use them they remain legal.  Snapping a cylinder is easy.  Information on how to do this is readily available on the web and because burglars don't need any specialist tools there has been a spate of "copy cat" burglaries throughout the UK.  West Yorkshire Police disclosed that at the end of 2011, snapping alone was responsible for over a quarter of all the regions burglaries.

As these cylinders are easy to replace by an entry-level DIY enthusiast, surely it is worth it for peace of mind.

Replace your euro cylinders with a secure alternative

Anti-snap euro profile cylinders are not only inexpensive, they can be replaced by a layman in around ten minutes.  Watch our measuring and installation videos or download our measurement and fitting guide.  These are designed to both help with ordering the right size cylinder and fitting them correctly.  It is also extremely important to ensure that a cylinder is the correct size and properly fitted.

A euro profile cylinder should never protrude more than 2-3mm passed the door furniture.  Often, when cylinders have been replaced, the wrong size replacement has been used and this adds to it's vulnerability.

Although several lock manufacturers have come up with practical solutions, CIA have added the three we consider best to our online store - The Mul-T-Lock Garrison Break Secure range, the Gege Kaba LAM pExtra range and the Yale AS (anti-snap) euro range, as follows:

Mul-T-Lock have designed cylinders with a break-off portion so if attacked, although the cylinder is damaged, they leave the door secure and the key still opens the door.  Mul-T-Lock have called their range of cylinders Garrison Break Secure (buy here).  These cylinders can be keyed alike by our locksmiths so that many locks can be controlled by just one key.  And as these cylinders can be fitted in many different applications (eg in safes or motice locks) and the range extends to padlocks, rim cylinders it can save having a bunch of keys.  The range can also be used for a Master Suite system, a heirarchal key form of access control which gives different keys access to different areas.

Kaba have produced a range of restricted key cylinders (authorisation must be gained by the registered lock owner before copies can be cut) called pExtra, of which the bottom of the range can still be snapped, others in the range are reinforced against snapping (Kaba pExtra LAM - buy here) and some have reinforcement and a snap-off portion (Kaba pExtra LAM SBS).

Yale's range is called the Yale AS euro range (buy here), the AS stands for anti-snap.  This range meets the Sold Secure Diamond Standard SS 312.  Sold Secure is the Master Locksmiths Association's own, not for profit, trade association and the Diamond standard SS 312, is their new high level test specification for cylinder locks that addresses all current MO’s used by criminals.  NB: One important consideration is that Yale AS euro cylinders cannot be keyed alike in the same way as Break Secure or pExtras by a locksmith.  Instead, the Yale AS euro range comes with a line of factory keyed alike pairs, the pairs of which are always identical in size (buy here).

Mul-T-Lock have recently announced that at the end of March 2012, they will be launching their new Sold Secure Diamond Standard SS312 cylinder range, the BSxp, which will meet the same high standard and can also be keyed alike.  We are already taking orders for these to counteract the expected high demand (call 023 9224 2449).

How to identify a vulnerable door lock cylinder

These cheaper euro profile lock cylinders are installed as standard in almost all new uPVC doors, so unless special emphasis was put on the cylinder itself (not the multipoint locking system, which is generally sold as a security feature) by the seller of your uPVC door, it is more than likely to be one that can be beaten in seconds.

However, to be absolutely sure, you’ll need to remove the cylinder from the door.  This is very quick and easy to do and all you need is a medium sized Phillips screwdriver.  Watch the ‘measure cylinder for sizing' video in the margin, and it will show you how.

Once you’ve taken it out, look carefully at the side of the cylinder.  A secure cylinder will have a break-off portion, identified by a deep 1/3 mm wide recessed line several millimeters back from the front of the cylinder, and/or a strengthening reinforcement bar underneath the middle screw hole.  If it doesn’t, then your lock is at risk and you would be wise to replace it.

To avoid becoming a victim of this type of forced entry, check all door cylinders and if necessary, upgrade them to a more secure euro cylinders.

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