In the U.S., there is no single comprehensive law against dual-cylinder deadbolts. Individual cities and states have local property and fire codes that may prohibit the use of dual-cylinder deadbolts. The code may prohibit the use of dual-cylinder deadbolts in some buildings and allow them in others.
The major benefit of double cylinder deadbolts is that they are designed to offer high security level. This makes doors that have them more difficult for intruders to pick or unlock. Double cylinder deadbolts are the safest choice for homeowners.
Yes, they're legal
2 of the Residential Building Code, you'll find this: Egress doors shall be readily openable from inside the dwelling without the use of a key or special knowledge or effort. But that's only for new homes. Once a person has taken occupancy of a home, they can do whatever they want with the locks.
There is still no reason to use a double-cylinder lock. If an intruder breaks the glass, they don't need to unlock or open the door. The opening from the broken glass is big enough for them to enter anyway.
The main reason for doing so is enhanced security. This is particularly true for doors that have glass panels or adjacent windows (i.e. an arm's reach). An intruder could unlock the door by breaking the glass and reaching inside. Installing double cylinder locks on exterior doors eliminates this problem.
Another type of lock is the double cylinder deadbolt lock. This deadbolt lock uses a keyhole on both the exterior and interior sides of the door. While these locks provide an added level of safety, they are not permitted in multi-dwelling homes and are considered a risk.
Also in the non-forced entry category, there is no doubt Schlage is better. With a better, more precise manufacturing process and 2 additional security pins than the Kwikset deadbolt, Schlage locks are significantly harder to pick, bump or compromise in non-destructive ways.
The ONLY type of double cylinder deadbolt lock allowed for residential use by the building code of Virginia is a “captured key” lock. Captured key locking devices do not let you remove the key when locking the door from the inside. It becomes a single cylinder deadbolt when locked from the inside.
Double cylinder deadbolts or captive keys are not allowed. Egress door latches and locks must be designed in such a way that a panicked person, including children and persons with disabilities, can exit quickly even in the dark.
While the single-cylinder deadbolt only features a locking mechanism requiring a key on one side, the double-cylinder deadbolt has it on both. This means that a key will be required to turn the lock both on the inside of the door and the outside. This is the main difference between these two types of deadbolts.
Double lock means that all opening handles are released mechanically when locking from the outside, which makes it impossible to open the doors from the inside.
When I checked the Massachusetts One and Two Family Dwelling Code, I found that double-cylinder deadlocks are prohibited. I found the same language in the 2009 edition of the International Residential Code (IRC). Your local code might contain a different requirement, but here's the paragraph from the 2009 IRC: R311.
I recommend as a minimum the Yale Superior cylinder, they are a good quality lock with some interesting features – They are difficult to pick, difficult to drill and very difficult for burglars to snap – combined with good quality handles and fitted correctly they are a burglars worst nightmare.
What are anti snap locks? Anti-snap locks prevent locks from snapping – making it difficult for intruders to break an entry. This type of Euro cylinder lock is the most common profile design – used predominately on UPVC doors throughout Europe, in both commercial and domestic properties.
Yale euro locks help to secure a home or place of work, commonly installed on a uPVC door and operated with a key. Featuring anti-snap, anti-bump and kitemarked properties to provide added protection against cylinder attacks or accidental damage, Yale euro cylinders are insurance approved for peace of mind.
Businesses often use double-cylinder deadbolt locks because they provide more security on exterior doors that have windows. When intruders attempt to break into a building through a window, the key lock on the inside of the door will stop them from entering.
Single cylinder deadbolts have a thumb turn on the inside and a key cylinder on the outside. These are the most commonly used deadbolts. What is a double cylinder deadbolt? Double cylinder deadbolts have a key cylinder on both sides of the door.
Kwikset®, a Black & Decker® company, has been a leader in the lockset industry for 60 years. Kwikset manufactures and markets several full lines of door hardware, including handlesets, knobs, levers, deadbolts, and pocket door accessories, for residential and light commercial markets.
Fire exit doors must not be locked with a key or padlock whilst a building is in use. However, when a building is unoccupied it can be locked as securely as required.
Deadbolts are considered to be secure locks that are difficult to open without a key, especially when compared to a spring-loaded lock, the kind you see in the center of a doorknob. While spring latches can be pushed back manually, deadbolts can't — which is why they're called deadbolts. They're dead, or unmovable.
In most residential settings, a fire door is legally required to be self closing. This means that they have a fire door closer fitted to the top of the door, to ensure they are closed at all times – which is vitally important in the event of a fire.