Insurance Rated Padlocks

An insurance rated padlock has been independently tested and certified to meet specific performance standards that insurers recognise. The most common systems are CEN (Central European Norm), BSEN (British Standard European Norm), and Sold Secure. These grades assess the lock’s resistance to attack, construction quality, and durability under force.

Most insurers accept a CEN grade of 3 or higher for general security. Grades range from 1 (low security) to 6 (maximum commercial and military-grade protection).

As a guide:
- CEN 3 / Sold Secure Bronze: Sheds, toolboxes, and low-risk storage.
- CEN 4 / Sold Secure Silver: Garages, gates, and moderate-risk areas.
- CEN 5 / Sold Secure Gold: Warehouses, containers, and motorcycles.
- CEN 6: High-risk and specialist industrial or firearms storage.

For most household and business uses, a CEN 3–5 rated padlock is ideal.

Yes. Although the CEN grading system focuses mainly on strength testing, it doesn’t fully account for the padlock’s design. A closed shackle or discus padlock protects more of the shackle from cutting tools, making it significantly harder to attack. For this reason, many insurers prefer closed shackle models, even when other ratings are already met.

CEN (Central European Norm) and BSEN (British Standard European Norm) follow the same testing framework, with grades from 1 to 6. Sold Secure uses a simpler colour-coded system: Bronze, Silver, and Gold, developed for easier consumer understanding, especially in the cycling and automotive markets.

In short:
- CEN 3 ≈ Sold Secure Bronze
- CEN 4 ≈ Sold Secure Silver
- CEN 5 ≈ Sold Secure Gold

Each system helps insurers and customers understand a padlock’s performance level, just in different formats.

Sometimes. If your insurer specifically requests a “5 lever” padlock, then a quality 5 lever lock will meet that requirement. However, if your insurer specifies a CEN or Sold Secure grade, you’ll need a padlock that’s been formally tested under those systems. Always check your policy wording and, if in doubt, choose a CEN 3 or higher closed shackle padlock to cover all scenarios.

There is no universal padlock requirement across the insurance industry.
Some underwriters focus on traditional terms like “5 lever,” while others adopt modern test-based ratings like CEN or Sold Secure. This variation often stems from legacy policy wording rather than practical security differences. Padlocks.co.uk helps customers interpret these requirements to ensure the chosen lock meets or exceeds what their insurer expects.

Padlocks.co.uk is a dedicated padlock specialist, offering a verified range of CEN, BSEN, and Sold Secure certified locks. All products are sourced from trusted manufacturers, held in UK stock, and tested by Nothing But Padlocks for compliance and performance. We clearly label each product’s grade and provide expert support for insurance documentation and security assessments.