In short:
- A euro cylinder is the part of many modern locks that takes the key. It can usually be replaced on its own, which makes it one of the simplest security upgrades on a door.
- "Anti-snap" is a design feature, not a rating. To compare cylinders, look for an independent test mark: TS 007 3-star (with the BSI Kitemark) or Sold Secure SS312 Diamond. Both are UK standards.
- EN 1303 is a useful European grading, but meeting it doesn't by itself tell you a cylinder has been tested for snap resistance.
- Fit matters as much as the cylinder: the right length, little or no projection past the handle, and sound handles or an escutcheon around it.
What a euro cylinder is, and where you'll find one
A euro-profile cylinder is the brass or nickel body with a keyway that passes right through the door. Its cross-section looks like a circle with a narrower tail underneath. It drives the bolt mechanism inside the lock case through a cam in its middle, and it's held in place by a single long screw through the faceplate on the door edge. Wikipedia notes that this design lets the cylinder be changed without altering the rest of the lock.
You'll find euro cylinders in cylinder sashlocks and locksets on timber doors, in most aluminium and many steel doors, in multipoint locks, and in some security gate and sliding door locks. They come in three common forms:
- Double: a key on both sides.
- Thumbturn: a key outside, a turn knob inside, so you can get out without hunting for a key.
- Single (half): a key on one side only, used on things like garage or store-room doors.
Not every key-in-the-door lock is a cylinder. A key with a flag at the tip belongs to a lever lock, which has no separate cylinder to upgrade. If you're not sure, see deadlocks, nightlatches and mortice locks explained.
What "anti-snap" means (without the how-to)
Snapping is a forced attack on a euro cylinder that targets its weakest point. We won't describe how it's done. What matters for you as a buyer is how manufacturers design against it:
- A sacrificial section. Wikipedia describes cylinders built with a front section designed to break away from the main body, with the locking part staying inside the door. Some makers mark the break line on the outside.
- A protected cam. Mul-T-Lock, for example, describes a concealed cam and a "controlled-break" design intended to keep the lock working from inside after an attack.
- Reinforcement inside the cylinder body, often combined with resistance to drilling, pulling and other forced attacks.
Any maker can print "anti-snap" on a box. The words tell you the design intent, not how well it performed under test. That's why the rating marks below matter.
The ratings to look for, and where they come from
The snap-resistance tests you'll see on packaging come from the UK. They're useful wherever you live because they are independent tests, but they aren't South African standards and nobody here requires them.
| Mark | Who sets it | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| TS 007 1-star | UK (Door & Hardware Federation technical specification, tested by bodies such as BSI) | A basic level of attack resistance. The Master Locksmiths Association notes it isn't tested for snapping on its own. |
| TS 007 2-star (handles) | UK, as above | Applies to security handles and escutcheons, not cylinders. A 1-star cylinder with 2-star furniture adds up to 3-star protection. |
| TS 007 3-star | UK, as above | The cylinder itself has been tested for snap resistance. ASSA ABLOY describes TS 007 3-star as including snapping attack resistance. Look for the BSI Kitemark alongside it. |
| Sold Secure SS312 Diamond | Sold Secure (UK) | An independent cylinder standard built on EN 1303 and the attack assessment used for BS 3621, with extra requirements. The Master Locksmiths Association calls it the highest level of approval for cylinders. |
| EN 1303 grade | European standard | An eight-digit code covering things like durability, key security and attack resistance. ASSA ABLOY notes that compliance with EN 1303 doesn't automatically mean high security. |
TS 007 has been revised over the years. Packaging may refer to the 2014 edition with amendments, or to the 2024 revision; both are TS 007. If a cylinder claims a rating, the Master Locksmiths Association suggests checking the certifier's own list (for SS312 Diamond, the Sold Secure website) rather than relying on the box.
Examples of anti-snap ranges
These are examples from manufacturers' own published information, to show what to look for. They aren't recommendations, and availability in South Africa varies by product and size, so check before you set your heart on a particular model.
| Range | What the maker states |
|---|---|
| Yale Platinum, 3-star version (UK) | TS 007 3-star, BSI Kitemarked; supplied with an ID card carrying the key code |
| Mul-T-Lock MTL300 Break Secure 3XP Pro | TS 007-1:2024 3-star and Sold Secure SS312 Diamond; anti-snap sacrificial end; keys copied only by authorised Mul-T-Lock dealers with the owner's card |
| UNION keyExcellence (ASSA ABLOY) | Tested to EN 1303:2015; "RED LINE" anti-snap feature listed as an option |
| ASSA ABLOY Mzansi CYS00 (sold in South Africa) | Tested to EN 1303:2015 with anti-drill, anti-pull and other attack resistance; anti-snap isn't listed on the product page, so ask if that matters to you |
The pattern to notice: the UK-market products state a snap rating; products that only quote EN 1303 may still be good cylinders, but they aren't making a tested snap-resistance claim.
Fit matters as much as the cylinder
A rated cylinder that's badly fitted loses much of its benefit. The Master Locksmiths Association warns that fitting incorrectly can leave a lock prone to snapping, and Wikipedia's article recommends pairing uprated cylinders with effective door furniture.
- Length: euro cylinders are sold as two measurements from the cam, often written like 40/35. Yale's buying guide describes measuring the "A" and "B" sides from the centre of the fixing screw. Getting this right stops the cylinder sticking out on the outside.
- Projection: on the outside, the cylinder should finish flush with the handle plate or escutcheon, or very nearly. A cylinder that stands well proud of the handle is the classic sign of a poor fit.
- Handles and escutcheons: security handles or a protective escutcheon around the cylinder add protection. Under TS 007, 2-star furniture with a 1-star cylinder reaches the same 3-star level.
- The lock case and door: a new cylinder can't make up for a loose lock case, a worn strike or a weak frame. If those are tired, deal with them at the same time.
A buying checklist
- Confirm the existing lock really takes a euro cylinder, and whether you need double, thumbturn or single.
- Measure A and B from the fixing screw, or let the technician measure on site.
- Look for TS 007 3-star with the Kitemark, or Sold Secure SS312 Diamond. Treat "anti-snap" on its own as a design claim.
- Check the handles or escutcheon. If the cylinder will still stand proud, plan for new furniture.
- Ask how extra keys are obtained. Patented, card-controlled systems restrict copying to authorised dealers; ASSA ABLOY explains that patent protection gives greater control over who can copy keys.
- If several doors should share one key, ask for cylinders ordered keyed alike.
- Check your insurance schedule for any lock requirements before you choose.
Upgrading after a scare, and booking the work
Most people think about cylinders after something goes wrong: lost keys, a neighbour's break-in, or marks on their own lock. If the cylinder already shows signs of tampering, read making doors and gates secure after a burglary first, because SAPS and your insurer may need to see the damage before it's replaced. If the trigger is lost keys, our guide to rekeying or replacing will help you decide how far to go.
Remember that the cylinder is only one part of the picture in most Roodepoort homes. Security gates, burglar bars, sliding doors and the door frame all matter, and an anti-snap cylinder on a front door won't help if the back door is weaker.
We come out to you for lock and cylinder replacement anywhere in Roodepoort. Send a photo of the lock and the door edge on WhatsApp first if you'd like an idea of what's involved. R250 call-out fee. The technician assesses the job on site and gives you the price before any work starts. Nothing is done until you agree. Payment is by EFT, cash or card. We're a mobile locksmith in Roodepoort, open 24/7, with no shop or counter.
Questions
Will an anti-snap cylinder fit my existing lock?
If your lock already takes a euro-profile cylinder, almost always yes: the profile is standardised, and only the length has to match. If your lock uses a lever key or an oval or other profile, it won't, and the lock case would have to change too.
Do I need new handles as well?
Not always. If the new cylinder can be sized to sit flush with your existing handle plate, the cylinder may be enough. If the handles are thin or loose, or the cylinder would still stand proud, security handles or an escutcheon are worth adding.
Can I get extra keys for a high-security cylinder later?
Usually, but how depends on the system. Card-controlled cylinders such as Mul-T-Lock's restrict copies to authorised dealers who see the card. We don't cut or copy keys ourselves, so keep the card and the keys you're given somewhere safe.
Need a locksmith to look at it?
If this hasn't solved the problem, our lock replacement service covers it. We're a mobile locksmith in Roodepoort, so we come to your door.
Sources and further reading
- Secured by Design: Locks and associated hardware standards — TS 007 (DHF technical specification) and Sold Secure SS312 Diamond, based on EN 1303 and the BS 3621 vulnerability assessment
- Master Locksmiths Association: Lock snapping and the most secure cylinders — TS 007 1-, 2- and 3-star levels; 1-star cylinder plus 2-star furniture; SS312 Diamond; Kitemark; checking Sold Secure's list; correct fitting
- ASSA ABLOY: Standards and patent protection for mechanical cylinders — EN 1303 eight-digit code; EN 1303 compliance not automatically high security; TS 007 3-star includes snapping resistance; patents and key control
- Wikipedia: Euro cylinder (pin tumbler lock types) — Profile cylinders replaceable without altering the boltwork; sacrificial front sections; pairing cylinders with effective door furniture
- Yale UK: Platinum 3 Star cylinder — TS 007 3-star with BSI Kitemark; ID card with key code; measuring A and B from the fixing screw
- Mul-T-Lock: MTL300 Break Secure 3XP Pro — TS 007-1:2024 3-star, SS312 Diamond, sacrificial end, concealed cam, card-controlled key copying
- UNION keyExcellence patented cylinders datasheet (ASSA ABLOY) — EN 1303:2015 compliance; RED LINE anti-snap feature as an option
- ASSA ABLOY South Africa: Mzansi CYS00 double euro cylinder — Locally sold cylinder tested to EN 1303:2015 with anti-drill and anti-pull resistance and keyed-alike options