Lock bumping merits ASTM Standard revision and Master Lock Company leads the way in meeting it

New Standard establishes basis for measuring locks’ ability to withstand bumping.
Master Lock Company’s BumpStop^® technology surpasses highest-level lock bump criteria.

 

Taking steps to combat a security problem that has increasingly touched the lives of homeowners, tenants, property managers, security directors as well as businesses nationwide, ASTM International (www.astm.org) has developed testing criteria under its Standard F883-09 for determining a cylinder’s ability to effectively resist break-ins using lock bumping techniques.  The revised Standard can be used to test and compare pin tumbler cylinders commonly used in padlocks and door hardware.

 

“In order to quickly assess the impact this Standard could have, tests on 13 brands of lock cylinders using new ASTM criteria have been conducted by professional locksmiths at the request of Master Lock Company,” said senior marketing manager David Kearns. 

 

In these series of tests, locks from only two manufacturers attained the highest level of protection - Grade 6 - as specified in the Standard.  However, locks from only one manufacturer of both door hardware and padlocks - Master Lock Company - exceeded Grade 6 lock bump test criteria, thanks to patent-pending, BumpStop^® Advanced Cylinder Technology (www.bumpstopsecurity.com).

 

“The development of these testing criteria by ASTM International recognizes the importance of lock bumping as a broad-scale security issue, and emphasizes the need for industry standards with which to measure performance of specific lock products,” said Master Lock Company’s Billy B. Edwards Jr., Certified Master Locksmith.

 

 

During the past few years, Edwards pointed out, extensive media publicity and internet “bump key” sales have turned what once was a little-known (and legitimately used) locksmith technique into a mass-market problem.  Bump keys are readily available and the bumping procedure is so easy “an 11-year-old can do it.”  According to safety experts, 90 percent of American homes are at risk of having a lock bumped, enabling unauthorized entry.  Untold numbers of businesses multiply potential bump-caused security and property loss problems.

 

“With this revised ASTM Standard in place, security professionals and end users alike can cut through the confusing barrage of claims for ‘high security’ locks,” Edwards emphasized.  “They can simply ask for a lock that provides Grade 6 lock bumping protection.”

 

Kearns said this simplifies life for locksmiths when it comes to inventorying bump-resistant security hardware.  The Master Lock Company offers a wide range of door lock options with BumpStop^® technology, as well as padlocks exceeding ASTM Grade 6 lock bumping criteria.

 

“Although ASTM F883-09 is a padlock Standard, the testing criteria in section 9.6 is specific to pin tumbler cylinders and may provide guidance to assessing bump risk in not just padlocks, but also door hardware,” remarked Kearns.  “Our door locks are very cost effective, with BumpStop® protection starting at only $30. Our broad offering of commercial and high security padlocks with BumpStop® range from $10-$90.  Across the board, they offer peace of mind at an affordable price.”

 

Compared to alarm systems and similar security measures, locks such as these provide the most affordable lock bumping solution available today.

 

Builders and home improvement contractors can now offer BumpStop® door hardware to customers as an inexpensive, added security feature.  Apartment and other multi-unit facility owners can do likewise and condominium property managers can recommend it.  Architects and specifiers can spec it in and insurance companies can offer rate advantages for ASTM Grade 6 bump protection.

 

Master Lock’s extensive range of padlock options with BumpStop® technology could play a more prominent role along with door hardware across a broad spectrum of businesses and industries. 

 

Security managers and directors in logistics and transportation, construction, utilities, manufacturing plants and corporate offices can strengthen perimeter protection while hardening security throughout their facilities by integrating padlocks and security hardware in a strategic security platform. From material theft and vandalism to terrorist intrusion, BumpStop® technology exceeds ASTM F883-09 Grade 6 lock bump test criteria and provides affordable protection that could prove to be invaluable.

 

Lock expert Mark Tobias, in his book “LSS+,” notes that various manufacturers “have designed preventive measures (for lock bumping), but conventional pin tumbler locks are still inherently insecure,” whereas “Master Lock now integrates a special pin set in all of its locks to prevent bypass by this technique.”  Tobias goes on to say the approach Master Lock Company has taken “would appear to virtually eliminate the use of bumping as a bypass technique.”

 

Results of testing based on the new ASTM F883-09 Standard bear this out.

 

“It only takes one,” summed up Kearns.  “Just one bump can pop a lock, putting people and property at risk.  Professional locksmiths couldn’t bump our locks after hundreds of attempts.”

 

For more details, contact Bob Wolff of The Drucker Group (bob@druckergroup.com) at 224-532-1808, or visit www.bumpstopsecurity.com.

About Master Lock Company

Master Lock Company is the largest global manufacturer and marketer of padlocks, door hardware and related security products. Master Lock Company offers a breadth of quality, innovative security solutions through expanding product lines for commercial, industrial, government, school and institutional, home and yard, automotive and recreational security markets.  Master Lock Company LLC is part of Fortune Brands, Inc. (NYSE: FO), a leading consumer brands company.

Simple tools, simple technique. Strike a bump key with any handy bump tool, and only one “bump” can pop most locks. But with BumpStop® technology on Master Lock Company locks, professional locksmiths could not open a single lock — even after 360 tries.

Bump … Stopped
A sharp hit on the bump key pops-up the lock pins — then the bottom pins bounce back down (1st illus.), causing a separation between top and bottom pins. As the separation crosses the shear line, the key can turn the cylinder (2nd illus.), unlocking the lock. Master Lock Company’s BumpStop® technology, features a unique top pin (3rd illus.) used with a bottom “spool” pin that is not driven above the shear line. The cylinder cannot be rotated and the lock stays locked.

 

Setting the standard. The highest level of protection (Grade 6) using the new ASTM F883-09 criteria for measuring lock bumping resistance, is exceeded only by door locks and padlocks from Master Lock Company, with patent-pending BumpStop® technology.

 

Besting the New Test in ASTM Standard (F883-09)

Professional locksmiths attack the locks in this test using the new ASTM Standard criteria, which requires that five locks be tested by each of three locksmiths using both a “Pull” and a “Push” bump key. Both types of keys have uniform steeples between cuts and, when struck, are forced further into the lock. A “Push” bump key, however, centers itself after each impact, whereas a “Pull” bump key must be pulled back from the lock one space position after being struck, before another attempt.

Standard F883-09, section 9.6, establishes six Grade Levels, each of which calls for 20 bump attempts by each locksmith, 10 with each type of key for a total of 60 bump attempts in order to attain one level of security. If all 60 attempts fail to bump the lock, it is deemed to have passed that grade level. If only one lock fails or opens from just one bump attempt, all locks are deemed to have failed at that level.