There is some conjecture when it comes to answering this question but it can be answered in a few parts and will depend on door types, building types and the different lock types available.
Residential free standing homes;
Definitely yes, you can install a dead lock on any or all of your entry/exit doors in your home also any other doors such as laundry doors, storeroom doors, garage doors, sheds or gates to secure your property. In fact your insurer will probably insist on having dead locks and window locks before they will insure you.
In a residential free standing home there is a dead lock available for most types of doors. Timber, glass or aluminium doors can all have a dead lock(s) installed to secure the property, speak to your security provider for recommendations and different lock alternatives that will suite the application.
Residential apartments or flats;
There are a few things to be aware of in apartment buildings. Are the doors solid core timber doors, is the door frame made of timber or steel, is the door a tagged fire rated door and if so was it made prior to 1985 ?
If a fire rated door has a certified tag dated before 1985 “the door could contain asbestos”. Old locks and any new holes for locks or any other door fittings should NOT be drilled in that door.
- In a modern building managed by a strata, the main entry door lock should already have a dead lock installed. If you are looking to install a secondary dead lock you will first need to seek approval from strata management as “technically” the entry door belongs to the strata owners plan and not you. Any changes need to be approved but this can vary from building to building so you should still seek approval before you conduct any work.
- In a modern apartment building your door may be a fire rated door. It is critical that ONLY an approved secondary lock be installed. If it is a fire rated door ONLY the Lockwood 001 dead lock is approved as a secondary lock. You cannot put ANY other lock on this door such as dead bolts or locking bolts, you will void the fire rating of that door and door frame.
- In some older buildings and if you have a fire rated door and generally speaking, there will be a metal tag on the hinged side of the door and on the door frame certifying the door and frame as fire rated. If the date on the tag is before 1985 you should use caution as “the door could contain asbestos”. To be safe, no further work should be done on that door and certainly no further holes should be drilled in to the door to fit a new dead lock due to the potential hazard of asbestos dust contamination. There are asbestos test kits on the market, you could possibly get strata to organise the doors to be tested to confirm the presence of asbestos or not before you proceed with any work.
Commercial shops and buildings;
There are a few things to be aware of in commercial buildings which include smaller shops, warehouses and general commercial type buildings.
In general terms the entry/exit doors of commercial buildings need to have a free escape from the inside at all times in the case of an emergency such as a fire.
In most cases this does mean it can be difficult to fully secure a property but the BCA stipulates this is for safe and reasonable egress from the building… Other security measures can be installed such as monitored alarms and CCTV for additional security if required.
There is also a provision in what we call the 200 square meter rule. If a commercial property which includes retail shops, smaller warehouses and has less than 200 square meters of floor area you can secure the entry/exit doors with suitable dead lock(s). This rule can also apply to residential apartments where required.
Please note: In some older buildings and if you have a fire rated door and generally speaking, there will be a metal tag on the hinged side of the door and on the door frame certifying the door and frame as fire rated. If the date on the tag is before 1985 you should use caution as “the door could contain asbestos”. To be safe, no further work should be done on that door and certainly no further holes should be drilled in to the door to fit a new dead lock due to the potential hazard of asbestos dust contamination. There are asbestos test kits on the market, you could possibly organise the doors to be tested to confirm the presence of asbestos or not before you proceed with any work.
Should you have any questions our team at Olympic Locksmiths Pty Limited will be happy to discuss options or assist you.
Unit 28, 56 Buffalo Road, Gladesville. NSW. 2111
NSW Police Security Master Licence: 408 355 059
Phone: 1300 30 30 45
+ E-mail: service@olympiclocksmiths.com.au