If you are locked out of your house or need your locks changing in an emergency locksmiths’ are there to help. Locksmiths also provide additional services such as fitting a range of locks and security systems as well as advising the right locks and security products for your home.

The following glossary contains some terms commonly used by locksmiths.

• Auxiliary Lock is the name given to any additional lock that is fitted to a door with an existing lock already fitted.
• Bell Box is the protective enclosure that surrounds a bell or electronic alarm system.
• Composite Safes are burglar resistive and fire resistive. Fire ratings and burglar ratings specify how resistant they are.
• Deadbolts are a form of bolt that needs a deliberate action to extend the bolt. Once the bolt is extended it cannot be forced back and can only be opened using the locking mechanism.
• Electrified Lockset is the name given to any lock that’s operated electronically.
• Fail Safe is a feature of security systems which releases locking mechanisms in the event of an emergency.
• Gang Locks feature multiple bolts that are operated simultaneously by a single action.
• High Security Cylinders are cylinders that offer improved resistance against drilling, lock picking, impressioning and other forms of forced entry.
• Impressioning is a method of making new keys for a lock without taking the lock apart.
• Jimmy Proof locks feature a bolt which interlocks with the strike.
• Key Retaining Locks feature a mechanism which only allows the user to remove their key once the lock has been closed.
• Lock Stile is the vertical edge of a door where a lock or latch is fitted.
• Master Code is the default code for an electronic lock before the user selects their own.
• NFS stands for non fail safe and indicates a security system does not feature fail safe features.
• Override Code is a code for an electronic lock that will override the users own code in case of emergency.
• Panic Buttons are featured in some alarm systems and allow the alarm to be activated instantly in event of an emergency.
• Record Safes are designed to protect important documents and papers from fire.
• Silent Signal alarms send a signal to an alarm receiving centre instead of sounding an audible alarm.
• Tamper Resistant Fastenings are screws without threads that need special tools to be removed.
• Unibolt is a single sheet of steel used as an alternative to multiple bolts in a safe door.
• Ward is the name given to a block in a locking system that prevents the wrong key from being used to open it.