THE MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT PADLOCKS BY ARCHITECTURAL IRONMONGERS

1)  Can padlocks be customised for my project?

Yes! We can customise any padlocks (with a minimum order of course) because we make them ourselves at our factories in Germany. They can be any colour you chose – maybe to suit a corporate environment or to match lockers or differentiate different building zones – engraved with words or logos, or customised in other ways to suit a particular project.

2)  What padlock should I use in a sensitive hygiene rated environment?

 There are a number of considerations for specifying padlocks for use in a hygiene-rated environment – down to the type of lubricant used in the lock which must be FDA-approved. Our Ecolution range offers all this and much more.

3)  Is there a padlock solution for hazardous environments?

 In many areas where the danger of sparking could cause fire or explosion  - paint spray booths, near fuel tanks, in sumps, or places where aerosols, vapours, mists, gases, or dusts exist – it is important to think about the material used for the construction of a padlock. We recommend a padlock with a brass body and shackle like the ABUS Nautic or Safety First ranges With a solid brass body and shackle and non-corrosive inner components these padlocks are anti-static, non-sparking options that have a vinyl casings to provide added protection to the body.

4)  My project is based in a harsh coastal location – what padlock should I choose?

At ABUS we like to say that “rust never sleeps” which is why we offer a full range of padlocks that can withstand the harshest environmental conditions including extreme cold and salt spray and still remain 100% rust-free. Using weather-resistant materials such as stainless steel or with plastic coatings, these padlocks provide effective security no matter what the weather throws at them. For example, the Diskus® padlock ABUS Diskus® 24IB - often referred to as the original marine padlock - offers all-round protection against theft and corrosion with a precision pin cylinder inside for added security.

5)  My client is constantly losing padlock keys – what other access solutions are there?

Lost keys are an absolute nightmare for building managers which is why many have switched to combination locks instead. But there are alternatives to even that – like our new |Touch 57 biometric padlock which can be programmed to open with the user’s fingerprint. It unlocks from any angle, saving hassle, time, and replacement costs. up to 20 fingerprints can be added and deleted at will . This makes the ABUS Touch 57ideal for situations where access is shared by a large group of people.

6)  How much should I spend on a padlock?

How long is a piece of string? But it is as unwise to spend too much on a padlock as too little. Ais are often the main culprits for over-specifying which can lead to problems in situ. Try using our Padlock Configurator tool (link below) to make sure you are choosing the right option. our configurator allows you to put in all the criteria you need to consider – security, environment, size, application, users etc – and the correct option(s) will be selected to match all the requirements of the setting.

 7)  What size padlock shall I use?

Obviously one size doesn’t fit all and once you have chosen the right padlock for the application it’s important to get the sizing right. The key dimensions to consider are: the length and diameter of the shackle and the size of the padlock body. Our padlocks are all available in a wide range of shackle lengths but often nobody considers the shackle diameter which means that it will not fit tough the hasp on site. This can lead to a need to change the hardware or the padlock to get a proper fit.

 8)  Can I add padlocks to a masterkey system?

 Absolutely. Using one of our cylinders systems like Bravus, it is possible to incorporate top-of-the range security padlocks into a master key system.

Additionally our ABUS X60 TS007 3* cylinder range feature lots of different locking devices that can be keyed-alike, the range includes , a rim cylinder version for nightlatches,  euro doubles double cylinder and euro thumbturn  cylinder, several Padlocks, for outbuildings, garages, or other storage areas, we even offer the world first bike lock that can be keyed alike to the same key as your front door lock!  giving AIs the opportunity to sell up and sell on extra products.

If you are in any doubt what padlock to put on your schedule, you could do worse than use our handy ABUS Padlock Configurator a handy online product selector that allows you to use a number of key characteristics to choose the right padlock for the right job.