Fire Regulation Locks

Thumb turn exit lock - Fire Regulation Locks

Thumb turn exit – Fire Regulation Locks

Fire Regulation Locks

Last week I quoted a customer for multiple locks within a building of flats in Cromer. I was expecting to wait a while for the confirmation of the job as three of the flats are holiday lets and all four have different owners. In fact, my point of contact phoned to give the job the go ahead very quickly as the neighbouring building had a fire and everyone had to be evacuated for safety. Thankfully, no one was hurt, but guests in the holiday lets did have issues trying to find keys they had placed away from the doors in properties they were not used to.

A thumb turn, keyless escape can be a reduction in security and goes against every bit of best security advice. However, in the event of a fire, your guests are probably going to be sleepy and panicked, the seconds it takes to find the place they have put the keys could be the difference between life and death.

The fire regulations have been in place for a year at time of writing. While a grey area on time was given to get the various jobs done, I doubt any insurance company will pay out after so long should the worst happen. That means those involved in any incidents can chase you, the owner for negligence and your letting agent as well. You could even face criminal charges.

Link to Gov guidance here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/64257cff2fa8480013ec0fec/A_guide_to_making_your_small_paying-guest-accommodation_safe_from_fire.pdf

If you have multiple doors, you might think just the front door and back door are adequate to change, but you must look at every room and think to your self if there were a fire the other side of that room’s inner door, how will someone in a panic get out? If there is a big room with two or more outer doors, will changing one be enough? Is it possible a fire in the middle of that room could cut off access to escape? I know it can be expensive, but nowhere near as expensive as a court battle, even if you win.

If you own a holiday let property or run a property let business, it is now past time for you to have your exit doors converted to fire regulation keyless escape.

Please call me for a no obligation quote.

admin August 4, 2024

Price increases 2022

Price Increases 2022

Here at AC Locksmiths Norfolk, I have always been proud to offer my customers first rate work at competitive prices. Unlike most locksmiths, I display my prices on my website, I do not raise my prices if you call me out at 3am, at the weekend or on a bank holiday.  On top of this, I have also kept under the VAT threshold to ensure the price I quote, is the price you get. Despite Brexit and Covid, I have not changed my labour rates in over four years.

Unfortunately, this now must change. I have looked at adjusting the prices of my products. I have looked at smaller changes to products and labour. But in the end, I think it fairer to all my customers to put the change on labour rates only.

If I need to make a second visit though, I will not charge labour when I come back to you. I will still offer free security checks with no obligation quotes, and if I do a door adjustment on UPVC doors, I will still give you a free recall if your door needs it within the next 6 months. No other locksmith I know of will do that for you.

So as of today 07/03/2022, my labour rates will be going up to £75 for all new business.

Please see my prices page for more information

This announcement supersedes all previous blog references to pricing.

Should you have any queries regarding the above, please do not hesitate to get in contact with me.

Alan  07846 643176

admin March 10, 2022

Locksmith Norfolk prices 2022 / Locksmith prices / Prices 2022 /

UPVC window valeting service

New Service!

Window recesses before cleaning & servicing

Clean window frame

Hope you are all safe and well in these strange times.

Most of my customers know that I am far from an average locksmith. In addition to emergency call outs for domestic and commercial properties, I offer security upgrades, Smart alarm and CCTV sysytems, video doorbells, car key production, locked car entry, and free security checks. In some cases, I even do light house clearance jobs
And now, I am offering something more. As soon as this lockdown is over, I will be offering a UPVC window valeting service. This is not intended to compete with or be anything like your normal window cleaner who might turn up and give your glass a quick shine. No, this is making the whole window look great again.

There will be three levels of service:

Bronze level;

This will clean the outside of your windows, including frames. It will start with getting rid of all those old cobwebs that gather dust where the frame meets the brickwork. The window frame is then thoroughly cleaned. You will need to leave the window open as this service will include cleaning out the inner recess of all opening windows, getting rid of more webs and any other creepy crawly evidence. Everything will be done to clean all accessible areas from outside the property.

Before

 

After

 

Mildew removed – before

Mildew removed – after

Silver level;

This picks up where Bronze left off. I now come inside your property and clean the insides of your windows, double checking any parts of the inner recess and window itself that I might not have been able to see from the outside. Your windows will be a sparkling frame you want to look out of again.

Before

After


Gold level;

Here you get everything in Bronze and Silver, but now we remove the opening window so that we can see and get to every nook and cranny that might have been missed before. We will then service the window mechanism, checking for signs damage. Where possible, we will re-align problem windows so that they work more easily and if new mechanisms are needed, these can be ordered and fitted with no labour fee on the date of fitting (ie just the cost of the materials). Finally, where needed, anti-mildew spray will be applied to sills and areas that are prone.

Window shuts, mechanism cleaned & serviced

As with all my work, I want to make pricing fair and even for all my customers. This is not a quick splash the window with soapy water and wipe it away type service. And while I do not waste time while working and will certainly not charge time spent chatting if you happen to make me a cup of tea, the most transparent way to price this work, is to charge my standard labour rate of £65 per hour. Obviously this will mean you get more windows completed in an hour of Bronze level than you would at Silver or Gold. This will also give you, the customer, flexibility. You might tell me to only do certain windows to certain levels, mixing what you need to suite you. Alternatively, you might tell me to work for three hours this week and then come back and do another three hours next week or even next month, depending on budget capabilities.

In the first instance, this work will only be available for easily accessible ground floor windows. All inner window sills should be cleared of any decoration and any hanging window decorations should also be taken down to avoid accidental damage or possible dirt spatter.

If you have an interest in this service once the current lockdown has been lifted, please let me know via any of the methods on my contact page. In the meantime, my standard services are still available whilst observing social distancing, using anti-bacterial cleaners and wearing PPE where possible.

Thanks for reading.

admin May 3, 2020

Car Key Replacement FAQs

AC locksmiths Auto

  1. What is the difference between getting my replacement key from the manufacturer and an auto locksmith?

The manufacturer will usually be able to have your key replaced just from knowing your vehicle ID. You usually get your replacement key within the week. You know your manufacturer will have the key type you require.

The auto locksmith will have the ability to generate a new key on the spot. While it might not be a genuine brand replacement, your new key will be just as good (if not better) than the manufacturer key. The auto locksmith can reprogram your vehicle on the spot, so that any lost/stolen keys are unable to start the vehicle. The auto locksmith comes to you, meaning you can still go to work on time. Most of the time, you will pay a lot less for the convenience of an auto locksmith.

  1. What is cut to copy?

This is where the key is cut using the existing key as a template.

  1. What is cut to code?

Some vehicle keys can be cut using codes taken from the vehicle VIN number or from other sources.

  1. What is key cloning?

This is where the key is completely copied including the data on the transponder that talks to the car. While there may be two keys, the car will believe there is only one. This is important to know because some vehicles must have two separate keys programmed.

  1. What is a vehicle PIN?

This is a code that works like the pin number on your cash card. Without your pin, you can’t draw out cash. Without a vehicle PIN, you can’t extract the information needed to program new keys.

  1. Can I buy replacement keys on line?

Yes, and they can be quite cheap. But often, there are hidden extras, like programming the remotes to your car.

  1. Can I call my breakdown service company if I lock my keys in my car?

Yes you can, but they often call an auto locksmith and you then have to pay. As an example, I was called by a breakdown service provider recently. The breakdown engineer took an hour to get to them, spent two hours trying to fish the keys out of the vehicle with the top of the door wedged slightly open and failed. He called me. Within 45 minutes, I had arrived, opened the vehicle and was on my way home.

  1. What are the most common mistakes people make?

In no particular order; shutting keys in the boot without having the main doors unlocked, leaving the spare key 200 miles away at home when going on holiday, letting children play with the car keys, letting the remotes go way past their best condition, treating remotes poorly, letting batteries die, losing keys on the beach, not getting a replacement when the first key is lost, buying a vehicle with only one key (who has the other, and do they know your address?

  1. Why should I get new keys when buying a second hand car?

How well do you know the seller? Most of us buy cars from someone we don’t know. We often give over our address if the vehicle is being delivered, or if we are taking finance, etc. But we don’t know if the seller has already had extra keys made. If you are paying out thousands of pounds to have a car, is it not wise to pay a little more and make sure the vehicle will only drive away from your driveway with keys you possess?

  1. How do I know I am paying the right price?

Get quotes. Two or three at least. A good auto locksmith will advertise prices on their website, but these will be guidance only as the cost of parts and software packages vary a lot between manufacturers. Some work is simple, other work might involve having to get behind your dashboard and removal of computer chips. A difference of just one year can make a particular vehicle much harder to deal with. In rare cases, the auto locksmith might have to walk away unable to do anything. If he is any good, he will not charge you when this happens, unless you have made some prior agreement. If you get three quotes, and one is much less than the other two, investigate further before accepting the cheapest quote. Has he quoted the full job, or been a bit vague? People who quote too little are often not properly trained and are more likely to do something that harms the computer in your vehicle. If that problem takes a while to arise, they will not be around when you go after them for damages.

If you have any questions you would like answered, please contact through any method on the contacts page.

Thanks for reading.

admin August 31, 2017

Car keys cut / car keys lost / lock replacement / reprogrammed car keys /

Scandinavian Locks

All about Scandinavian locks

All abount Scandanavian locks

While Scandinavian multi-point locking mechanisms are not very common in Norfolk, there are enough of them to warrant a mention.

The locks look something like this :

Scandanavian locks
These locks operate with a mechanism that typically employs two hooks that come out from the door and fit into specially cut spaces within the door frame, just like many upvc doors. They are always fitted to wooden doors, which is where the problems start.

In Scandinavian countries they are geared up for cold, damp weather and treat woods accordingly. Here in the UK, we seem to use any wood going and think a coat of paint or varnish will be adequate. That works okay for standard locks where all the working parts are protected within a lock case, but locking mechanisms have exposed moving parts which get pinched and moved by doors that expand and contract in wet weather. The untreated inside of UK doors holds water like a sponge, right next to the metal of these mechanisms which quickly become prone to rust. The problem is compounded by the fact that there used to be several variants of these mechanisms available, but now all but one design have been discontinued, meaning that if your mechanism does go wrong, the replacement is likely to be different. An example being a job I have recently done where everything looked identical, but the door needed much chisel work to accept the replacement.

Scandanavian locks 2

The next problem is cost. These units are extremely expensive.  A complete set up can cost between £250 and £400 depending on who you use to fit the device with labour and VAT to be added to that figure.

Finally, these locks are not particularly secure. While many insurance companies will accept them as adequate, they do not get the British Standard 3621 rating I would recommend to feel properly protected.

If you think you might have Scandinavian locks and they have not been serviced recently, it might well be worth contacting your local locksmith to have a look at them, especially if they are hard to lock, or the handles have gone floppy. A little maintenance now, might save a lot of cost later, or at least alert you to the likely cost of replacement, rather than have it all come as a shock when you can least afford it.

Should you have any questions regarding the above information, please feel free to get in touch via any of the methods on my contacts page.

Thanks for reading.

admin August 20, 2016

insurance standard locks / What are Scandinavian locks /

Multi-point lock problems

Lock maintenance




In previous blogs I have mentioned the importance of regular lock maintenance. This has been highlighted recently, as I seem to be going through a series of cases where doors with multi-point locking systems seem to be causing problems. This is especially true when the doors have shoot bolts at the top and bottom of the doors.

The bolts themselves are never particularly strong, so if the system is engaged without the door being properly closed first, it is very easy to push these bolts out of shape, which then causes them to wear as they do not fit properly into the holes in the frame. I do see this happening a lot with French doors. UPVC doors are usually easier to correct as there are often adjustments that can be made, but wooden doors that warp, expand and contract with the weather, can be very tricky.

If your door handles are hard to raise, or you need to hold them up to turn the key, then there is likely to be a problem. Stand back and look to see if the doors are straight and even. Check they fit into the frame properly. Look for signs of wear caused by bolts scraping woodwork. If there are signs of damage, call your local locksmith while there is a chance the problem can be rectified.

Should you have any questions regarding this or any other issues mentioned in my blogs, please get in touch via any of the methods on my contacts page.

Thanks for reading.

admin May 29, 2016

double glazed door problems / Double Glazed Wooden Doors / multi-point locking mechanisms /

Post Winter Lock Maintenance

Damaged doors & lock maintenance

Spring is finally upon us and now is the time when we need to think about all the damage the wet weather has been doing to our doors and locks.
Spring house

Wooden doors will start contracting, as the moisture dries out of them and they may start to bang around in the breeze. Taking note of the problems of a recent customer, please be aware of the potential pitfalls of buying a draft excluding weather strip. If the weather strip is too thick, it can put strain on a mortice (chubb) lock and if you are having to push or pull the door when you turn the key, this will put undue pressure on the levers inside, which will inevitably break, locking you out at the worst possible time. A simple re-positioning of the lock keep in the door frame can alleviate the problem.

Wooden doors with multi-point locking mechanisms need extra attention. Over the winter, the swollen door will have been squeezing all the working parts and holding moisture around the metal, leading to rust. At the very minimum, these mechanisms should be oiled, however, calling your local locksmith to take the whole thing out of the door for a thorough examination might cost his call out fee, but could save you a lot more if the need for a complete new mechanism can be averted.

And with multi-point mechanisms in mind, many of us will be starting to use our patio doors now that things are warming up. These too, should be oiled now and at the end of summer. As a rule of thumb, double glazed doors where you have to lift the handles before turning key, should be as easy to operate with the door closed as they are when the door is open. So open the door and lock it, then close the door and lock it. If it is significantly more difficult to lock when the door is closed, you need to call your local locksmith to make the necessary adjustments. Again, a labour cost now is far better than the cost of a new mechanism.

If you own a holiday let property, now is the best time to have your locks looked at as the last thing you want is to have your locks fail when paying customers are using it. At best, you have to compensate the customer. At worst, you lose the business of that customer and all the potential recommendations they provide. What’s more, this is a business cost, so can be offset against your tax bill at the end of the financial year. What’s best – paying the tax man or having something to show for your money?

Experience has taught me that another time locks seem destined to fail is when pet owners go on holiday, leaving a friend or family member to come in daily to feed Tiddles, or water the plants. Most of us already feel we are burdening our neighbours when we ask them to do this, so how much worse will you feel if your lock breaks while they are in charge. Can they afford to pay for a locksmith in your absence? Will they have to take time off work waiting for a locksmith to come? While maintenance is not a guarantee that this will not happen, it certainly reduces the risk. Age of the lock and badly cut spare keys are the biggest contributors here, but poor maintenance is very high on the list of problems.

Should you have any questions regarding the above, please feel free to get in touch via any of the methods on my contacts page.

Thanks for reading.  

admin April 14, 2016

Door & lock maintenance /

Different locks explained Part 4

Having looked at the locking barrels for double glazed doors in my previous blog, this blog is dedicated to the actual locking mechanisms themselves. There are several different ways in which they work.

The first and most basic is called a roller;

A C Locksmiths










When the door closes and you lift the handles, it simply rolls into position behind a keep that sits on your door frame and looks like this.
Roller














Very few doors only have rollers on their own nowadays as they are incredibly easy to bypass. Their main purpose is to hold the door a bit tighter when closed to stop draughts and they might be the only option on small doors. They are harder to bypass on smaller doors. Without giving the reader tips on how to break into a home, I can only suggest that if you have a double glazed door and it only has these rollers holding it in place, you might want to seek advice from your local locksmith to see if alternatives are available.

Over time, these rollers can shift a little in position, making the door difficult to lock and unlock. You can see from this next image that the correct sized allen key (hex key) can be inserted to rotate the roller. A quarter turn should be tried before attempting to lock the door again and if that does not work, then a further quarter turn and so on until you have established the problem is not with the roller or the problem is fixed.
Different locks explained
If this does not rectify the problem, it might mean the door has dropped a little and simply moving the keep up or down a few millimetres might do the job, but at this point, I would suggest calling your local locksmith as there could be more serious problems to contend with.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………

A step up from the roller is the mushroom;
Mushroom mechanism

It is more secure than the roller because it slides into a slotted keep where it holds tight. There is nothing to adjust on these mushrooms, so if it causes trouble, and the door cannot be adjusted, the only option is to move the keep accordingly.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………
Next we have hooks and bolts that come out of the mechanism like this:
Door mechanisms














The hooks and bolts themselves do not adjust, but again if the door is out of position, there are adjustments that can be made, this time to the keeps, that look something like this.
Double glazed door lock mechanisms
You can see from the picture that an allen key will allow you to adjust this keep. Some only allow backwards and forwards movement, so again, if you are unsure, please call your local locksmith.






Hopefully, you will never have to see behind the scenes of one of these mechanisms, so here is what goes on in the hook case itself.
Door mechanisms
You can see this one has a hook and bolt. These parts do not often go wrong by themselves, but when they do, the door is extremely difficult to open without damage to either the door itself or the door frame. Therefore basic maintenance is vital and any signs of stiffness when lifting the handles should be dealt with by a professional.




We can now take a look at the gearbox, or centre case, where all main action takes place. There are many brands of these each with differing sizes and shapes within the brand, so this picture is just one example;
Different locks














This example is called a double spindle and can be set up in two ways. The standard way is to have both handles operating through this hole.
Door mechanisms














In this case, the door will only be secure when the handles are lifted and the key is turned. However you can have handles where the inside handle operates through the top hole, but the outer handle is slightly lower and goes through this hole
Door keeps





In this case, everything operates exactly the same, but the lower hole does not allow the latch to pull back, meaning that you need the key to get back in. of course, if you are going further than the end of the garden, you should engage the locking mechanism completely as normal, but with this configuration, the door is at least technically secure.


These next two pictures show the hole that the locking barrel slides through and the barrel in place.
Differents locks part 4More locks













This is the simplest part of the lock. Everything inside above that, however is a minefield of cogs, levers and other moving parts. Please don’t expect your locksmith to be able to open these up and replace inner parts as with so many products around, knowledge of every one would be amazing and the locksmith would need an extra trailer to carry the spares, which would only be second hand as our suppliers do not provide anything other than complete products.

The centre keep for this part, looks something like this.
Locking mechanisms
And again, we can adjust certain parts like the latch keep on this one. Loosening these screws, allows the keep to move forwards and backwards.
Locks
I have come across many problems where simply adjusting this part, which may have moved when someone slammed the door, has rectified the situation. Quite often, the locking mechanism will not operate if the latch is still being pushed in, which it can if this part is in the wrong position.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………
Now, in this blog, I have mentioned doors dropping, which they often do. A sudden gust of wind, stroppy teens slamming, or even direct sunlight warping can all affect how the door sits in the frame.
Most modern upvc doors have hinges that are adjustable. If you have a door with hinges like this;
UPVC doors
Then there is a good chance the door can be adjusted. The picture shows the one type of hinge that can be a little awkward because you have to prize it apart gently but firmly to get at the adjuster inside. Most actually have a plastic plug easily visible, which when removed, allow access to another allen key adjuster inside. If you are in any doubt, call your local locksmith. But if you feel like taking the job on yourself, half a turn of the adjuster should be all you move before trying to lock the door again. That should be enough to tell you if the door is easier or harder to lock. If harder, then you need to turn the opposite way. Remember, there are anything from two to four hinges that may be adjusted, so this is not an easy job.

Should you have any questions regarding the above information, please do not hesitate to contact me through any of the methods on my contacts page.
Thanks for reading

admin February 3, 2016

Different locks explained / Lock mechanisms /

New Year – New Jeans v New Locks!

New Year – New Locks!

Christmas is over and the New Year is here. The sales are already in full swing and many credit cards are taking a full on battering! Somehow, we are even starting to think about holidays! This time of year seems to bring out the spend monster in many of us.

So if we can go all out to buy that new telly, or furniture, or computer, or washing machine, and save hundreds of pounds, why not seriously consider putting the savings to good use and making sure your home is secure? This morning I have transformed a property from one I could get into within seconds, to one that a burglar will look at from a distance and instantly look to the next property as a potential target  – and all for well under £200.

Many people live in homes that very often have old and out dated locks. But most information is online. Without stereotyping, many older people do not have/want access to the internet, so please if you know someone elderly or infirm, check their locks for them. Especially look for kite marked locks and if they don’t have them, help them look up the number of a local locksmith. So many homes that should have 5 lever mortice locks – the generally accepted insurance standard, only have three lever locks or even just two lever. These can be replaced for little over £100. And remember we are not talking about double glazed doors here which have multi-point locking systems.

On the subject of double glazed doors, those hooks, bolts rollers, etc, count for nothing if you have a standard locking barrel. These can be snapped and access gained in under a minute, so please make sure your barrel is kite marked and preferably given a three star rating as well; I had to gain access to one of these over Christmas, and the wear on my extra-tough drill bits was incredible. I can say it is possible to gain access through these locks, but the time and effort involved goes way beyond what a burglar would want to use, and as these locks are visibly different, they deter burglars from a distance. The upgrade for these high security locks is well under £100 per lock.

So, if you have waited until now to spend £200 on a pair of jeans because they used to be £300 ask yourself if you really need them? A new kite marked lock might not be as exciting, but it might just save you a future nightmare, not just on a material level. Unless something of particular family value has been stolen, most people get over the loss of replaceable belongings quite quickly. But most victims find it extremely hard to get over the invasion of their private space and almost all agree they would not have been victims if they had had the correct levels of security in place to begin with.

There is a certain feeling that goes with knowing your property is secure. I challenge you to try it. The excitement of wearing that new pair of jeans might diminish when you get your credit card statement or you desperately need cash for something else, but you will never regret upgrading your security.

Thanks for reading and Happy New Year!

admin January 3, 2015

kite marked locks / New Year - New Locks! /

Personal Security

It’s that time of year again. With a great summer and mild autumn, Christmas seems to have crept up on us and many of us are all going to be making a mad dash to get our presents bought. So, with the prospects of larger crowds, it might be a good idea to think about staying safe. For men, the advice is quite simple. When you go out, put your wallet in a pocket you don’t usually use. The slightly different feeling, will help to alert you if unwanted fingers come along looking to relieve you of your hard earned cash. With cash in mind, carry as little as possible. I know it’s easier to keep track of how much you are spending if using cash, but your kids won’t be happy on Christmas day if all you can afford is a tangerine! If you have difficulty remembering the pin to your card, don’t write it down. Put a false entry in your phone and place the pin somewhere in the false phone number. But make it look real! Ladies, make sure your handbag has a zip and preferably a covering flap that can be closed with a clasp of some kind. Make sure you close it completely with all features. If you are pushing a buggy, do not rest your hand bag on top where it is easy to snatch by someone passing. Use the bottom near the ground. It’s harder to snatch something subtly, if they have to bend down. If your bag is carried over your shoulder, wear the strap across your body and have a handbag with a thick strap. This will make it harder for the strap to be cut, no matter how sharp the knife. Do not carry information with your address anywhere you are carrying your keys. Keep the contents of your bag to the essential items you will need for the day. A bulging bag might be more of target as it suggests more to be had. On a similar level, designer bags may be more of a target as they suggest a richer owner with possibly more cash. Use a cheaper one instead if possible. So now we are safely shopping, if it is all in one go, there are inevitably going to be trips to the car to unburden the weight of all those precious new items. Please don’t leave bags of goodies on the seats. It’s an open invite for the window to be smashed and the items taken. Put everything in the boot and make sure it is covered. Don’t leave anything in the passenger area. Car windows have been smashed for such little things as a packet of cigarettes or a few CD’s and once they are in, they can pop the boot. When you are putting things in your boot, check around you to see if anyone seems to be paying you any attention. Similarly, if you are using your card either at the till or cash point machine,look back over your shoulder to make sure no-one is trying to see what numbers you are pressing or how much you are getting out. Don’t be afraid to politely but firmly ask the next person in the queue to give you more space. More often than not, the next person is just in a hurry and/or doesn’t realise they are so close. They will step back. If they don’t, go to a different place to make your transaction. It might take more time, but you will be safer. If the worst happens and your bag or keys are stolen, contact the police and start thinking about changing your locks and contact a locksmith as soon as you are home. It’s also party season, so be just as vigilant when you go out for drinks. Again, only take what you need. I have felt a finger slide across my back pocket looking for a wallet. Luckily, my wallet was in my front pocket and therefore safe. I was naïve at the time but interested and observed a group of five people moving around this particular nightclub. When they did strike it lucky, the wallet had been passed to the end of the line before the victim registered anything. Without going into details, it seemed the staff were in on the whole affair as well, so you can only rely on yourself to stay safe. If you have any questions regarding this topic, please feel free to contact using the details on my contacts page. Also if you have any tips to add, please use the comments section on this page. Thanks for reading!

admin November 30, 2014

Personal security /

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