| The
National Locksmith Testing Lab, recently did a
series of comprehensive examinations on deadbolts
and door knobs that not only proved informative, but
also fun.
First,
the stars of this article consist of the hardware
used on the door that weathered our violent attacks.
The
surviving hardware consisted of the following:
1.
The new Schlage B660P series of deadbolts that have
a beefier bolt assembly and stronger holding screws
than that of the standard 400 and 100 series.
2.
A MAG High Security Box Strike (Which states on the
box that it will stop kick-ins it does and
should be used with all deadbolts).
3.
A Don-Jo classic wrap around door reinforcer that
fits on the door under the deadbolt and door knob to
stop the door from splitting it does, too.
These
three items can be seen in Photograph
1. And while they appear a little abused,
they did work. So well, in fact, that despite the
assault the deadbolt still operated.
The
doors and framing construction used for the test
were standard for residential applications. The
rough frame was built to standard residential
construction, except the header, which played little
part in a security installation, using building
grade 2x4. The doors were standard residential steel
clad doors with wood rails or edges.
On
the first door I installed a ŗFaultless˛ deadbolt
and door knob purchased from a local Builderšs
Square store.
In
the package the $12 deadbolt was nicely displayed
and it certainly looked good, at least to the
uninformed public.
Photograph
2,
shows the installed Faultless door knob and
deadbolt. The good looks are only skin deep. The
tools used in the torture test was limited to those
any homeowner or burglar would have around. After
only a couple of hits with the hammer, the deadbolt
was moved downward exposing the inner workings (see Photograph
3.)
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2. Faultless lock
and door knob on test door.
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3. The first assault was a hammer attack
on the Faultless deadbolt.
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At
this point, the deadbolt is actually circumvented
and compromised. This took about five seconds and
two blows of the hammer. Photograph
4, shows our thug sticking a screwdriver into
the hole to pull the bolt back.
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4. A couple of quick blows provided an
opening large enough to reach in and to
open the deadbolt.
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Despite
being able to open the door rather easily and
quickly, we went a little further. Photograph
5, shows what happened after using the
screwdriver and hammer to beat on the deadbolt a
little longer. Still, it was decided not to open the
door in this manner. Instead, I selected brute
force, I got to kick the door open (I have always
wanted to do this).
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5. Next came a simple screw driver attack.
The lock was easily ripped off the door.
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Backing
up a little, I leaned back and gently kicked the
locked door. It literally sprung open. The strike
went flying as my size 13-1/2 shoe lightly touched
the deadbolt.
The
deadbolt strike screws functioned to help split the
door frame, and that was all (see Photograph
6).
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6. The kick-in - Easy! And the door
remnants - good fire wood.
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Now
we proceed on to the real test, the reinforced door
and strike plate.
The
old battered door was removed and a new one rehung.
After truing the door with shim stock, it was
drilled and the guard plate was installed on the
door.
The
reinforcement plate was also installed in the jamb. Photograph
7, shows the Schlage B600 series deadbolt
being installed on the door. Photograph
8, shows the MAG 747 strike installed with
two cover screws and two strike screws located on
the inside of the box itself. All four screws are 2˛
in length giving excellent penetration of the jamb
and frame (see Photograph 9).
The
Don-Jo wrap around plate was then installed along
with the deadbolt and a doorknob. For the next test
we locked and attacked the door knob. As expected,
the knob was circumvented with a pipe wrench in
about eight seconds (see Photograph
10). After twisting the doorknob open with
the wrench, it was hammered off. This was adding
insult to injury. Nothing was really accomplished,
except to prove the non-protective feature of the
average door knob during a force attack.
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10. Using a wrench on the door knob posed
little challenge.
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The
real test followed. The deadbolt was beat for about
two minutes with the claw hammer. The results?
Despite the marring and a few indentations, there is
no circumvention here as before (see Photograph
11).
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11. Battered but not defeated. Even after
repeated hammer blows there is no defeat.
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This
deadbolt is designed with a bolt cover or guard and
is seated into the face bore hole, preventing the
lock from being knocked out of place. Even if a
small opening was made, the bolt cover does not
allow access to the bolt.
The
Don-Jo wrap around plate added further protection by
not allowing the hammer to pierce the sheet metal of
the door, allowing the lock to loosen or be exposed.
The Don-Jo wrap around and the Schlage B600
withstood the first in a series of assaults.
Not
succeeding at knocking the lock off the door, it was
then attacked with a screwdriver and hammer. This
attack resulted in an unsuccessful attempt to punch
the lock cylinder through the back of the lock
resulted (see Photograph 12.)
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12. Trying to knock the cylinder out the
back of the lock didnšt work either.
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Photograph
13,
shows an attack with a pry bar. This had no effect
on the security of the door, except to bend, mar,
and disfigure the installation. It was now time to
again, kick the door in.
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13. Pry Bar attack - No Good.
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The
first kick was at the same force as that used
earlier on the non-reinforced door with the
Faultless deadbolt and knob. Despite a level 4
reading on the Richter Kick Scale, nothing happened.
The
kick force was increased to a level 7. While the
door didnšt move, a couple of the supports for the
door broke free. Nothing like having the house come
down around the door!
After
replacing the door supports, the door was given one
last gigantic, all-out effort kick, (level 9).
Still, NO results. Not wanting to miss out on any of
the self-abuse, several others in the testing lab
added their own kicks, but none were so great as a
300 pound locksmith/safecracker could give.
One
torture tester backed up 20 feet and rushed the door
yelling, ŗI have steel toed boots on.˛ He jumped
up and kicked the door with a Karate kick that would
have crushed most any door. Nothing happened.
Then
he turned around and backed up 30 feet.
He
concentrated, focused, and like a professional
athlete he approached the door at warp speed,
jumped, and gave that deadbolt a double diabolical
Shudo-Kahn death kick.
Again,
the door withstood the competent attack that a
lesser prepared door would have easily acquiesced to
(see Photograph 14).
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14. The kicking attack after reinforcement
of the door.
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Unsuccessful,
a strange smile crossed this torture testers
frustrated face, slightly reminiscent of the Grinch
before he burgled Who Village. Vaulting to a nearby
YALE forklift, he stated that it was time for the
door to DIE.
Not
wanting to crush the wall of the Testing Lab,
he
decided not to ram the door, and instead placed the
forklift blades up against the door, putting gradual
pressure against our reinforced locking system (see Photograph
15).
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15. Man the battering rams and full speed
ahead!
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Once
touching the door, he stepped on the gas.
The
wheels started turning, but the door and its
hardware held. After increasing the speed, the door
still did not open (see Photograph
16). At maximum speed the wheels burned
through the floor tile and into the cement.
Suddenly, and finally, the door crashed open.
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16. With wheels spinning, the door and its
hardware withheld the forklift assault
(not considered a UL standard).
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The
result! The strike plate split, the frame was
slightly cracked and, except for two large dents
from the forklift blades, the door remained
unscathed (see Photograph 17).
An incredible display of what some rather
inexpensive additions to a deadbolt installation can
do.
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17. To think it took a forklift at full
speed to open this door.
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After
viewing the damage, it was evident that the eventual
strike box failure was due to the extensive twisting
and bowing of both the door jamb and the framework.
In a home, drywall and other wall components may
make for an even more rigid framework, better
supporting the strike, and making the entry even
harder!
So,
while the forklift assault has not yet been added to
the UL Standards Test, The National Locksmith Test
Lab and demolition crew has provided you iron clad
proof that you are safer when using the right
equipment. These products really do work!
The
products used in this test are just a sampling of
available products that can greatly increase door
security. For more information consult with a
professional locksmith in your area. 
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