Padlocks and Chains

Padlocks come in all shapes, sizes, costs and security levels. Don’t be fooled into thinking any old padlock will do! The purpose of the lock determines the type of padlock you need. There are two main varieties of padlock; open and closed shackles. Open Shackle Padlocks are designed with the shackle fully exposed, whereas Closed Shackle Padlocks are designed with limited access to the shackle in order to provide a higher security level.

Quality padlocks are classified in accordance with The British Standard, (BS EN12320) and European Standard (CEN EN 12320), which details performance requirements, security grading and test methods such as corrosion resistance and the level of security provided. Learning the padlock rating ensures you’ve got the correct padlock for the job.

In addition to individual padlocks being used for ‘one off’ applications, we are able to advise and supply padlocks keyed alike, or under a master key which allows one key to open all the padlocks in your system. This provides convenience and security at the same time. A range of padlock accessories are available such as chain cut to any length, pad-bars, hasp and staple etc.

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Combining a Padlock With a Chain

When combining a padlock with a chain, the most important thing to do is consider that the if the chain is the equivalent size to the shackle of the padlock eg. 8mm chain used on an 8mm shackle padlock.

By using a smaller chain or padlock with its opposite counterpart you are only providing a weak point to either the chain or shackle. This will make your purchase more expensive but it will give you more security and protection of your motorbike, bicycle etc.

When choosing your combination of padlock and chain always aim for the strongest possible combination and take into consideration what the chain is going to be used against. For instance, if you’re looking at securing a motorbike it would be best to aim for a chain that has a protective cover surrounding it so as the chain does not scratch or damage the paintwork on your motorbike, while if you’re using the chain against a gate, the protective cover would not be needed.

All padlocks and chains come with a security rating and if mixed and matched, the security rating will fall to the lowest rating.

By using a padlock with a restricted key you not only ensure that keys can’t be copied but if you were to ever lose your key you know that you would be able to get a replacement key quickly and securely ensuring that you wouldn’t have to cut off your own padlock or chain!

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CEN Ratings

GRADE 6 – Maximum Security
GRADE 5 – Extra High Security
GRADE 4 – High Security
GRADE 3 – Medium / High Security
GRADE 2 – Standard Security
GRADE 1 – Low Security

For assistance in choosing the correct padlock for your needs, contact Authorized Access where our fully trained staff will guide you through the selection process.