Slamming doors, rowdy behaviour and vandalism – things get pretty rough in the ASSA ABLOY test laboratory in Albstadt. Here, locks are not only tested according to standards, but also for everyday use. And that can sometimes be quite unpleasant.

A metallic clacking sound, followed by a loud bang. Then silence. Shortly afterwards, a dull thud against metal, rhythmic, almost aggressive. What at first glance sounds like the noise level of a particularly lively school corridor is actually everyday life in the ASSA ABLOY test laboratory. Here, they test what has to hold in an emergency: locks and security components. And not just on paper – but for real life.

‘Bang test’, ‘rowdy test’, ‘rattle test’ – standards meet reality

The names of the tests give it away: this is not about dry figures or mere guidelines. It’s about scenarios that everyone knows from real life – and which don’t even appear in many standards. What happens to a lock when a door in a school slams shut with force? Or when a student inside holds the handle up while someone outside pushes against it with all their strength?

These everyday scenarios are simulated in the so-called ‘rabble test’. The lock is subjected to double mechanical stress – from the inside upwards and from the outside downwards. With the newly developed Solution Locks, the handle nut can easily withstand this counterforce of up to 700 kilograms. This value far exceeds the standard requirements.

The ‘bang test’, on the other hand, is all about speed: doors that are not simply closed, but slammed shut with force. The forces generated in this process act directly on the lock mechanism. While many test standards do not take this into account, ASSA ABLOY faces up to this scenario and ensures that full functionality is maintained even at high closing speeds.

When vibrations could allow access

The ‘rattle test’ is also tough. Here, the external handle is deliberately subjected to blows and vibrations. The aim is to ensure that the mechanism does not engage unintentionally – for example, if pressure is accidentally or deliberately applied to the lever handle nut from the outside. This is a potential weak point, particularly in locks with a split lever handle function, where the outside is first activated mechanically or electronically – but it is systematically ruled out here.

Vandalism as a test programme

Of course, things get tougher in the laboratory. In the ‘vandalism test’, the lock is blocked and at the same time an attempt is made to overcome the lock via the handle or profile cylinder. The load here is up to 40 Nm – equivalent to around 400 kilograms of pressure – and the Solution Locks also pass this test without damage.

Another example is the ‘pressure test’: when a lock is installed, the fitting may press heavily against the lock case. If this pressure becomes too great, it can impair the mechanism. In the laboratory, a pressure load of 50 kilograms per square centimetre is therefore simulated – and the locks tested can withstand this without any problems.

More than just a standard: when experience and practice come together

In addition to mechanical stress tests, long-term tests are also carried out in the laboratory – such as opening and closing cycles over the entire life cycle. In combination with in-house production controls, this provides a comprehensive picture of product quality. The test laboratory in Albstadt is audited by the Material Testing Office of North Rhine-Westphalia – further proof of the high standards according to which work is carried out here.

And this is precisely where the difference lies: two products may formally meet the same standard, but only additional, realistic tests reveal which lock will function reliably in the long term and under adverse conditions. Whether in schools, public authorities or industry – wherever security counts, it is worth taking a close look at the type and depth of product testing.

Conclusion: standards are mandatory – everyday tests are optional

With its Solution Locks, ASSA ABLOY shows that security does not have to stop at standards. Especially in times of growing demands – for example, due to areas prone to vandalism or high user frequency – it is crucial how a product proves itself in everyday use. The tests in Albstadt make it clear: security begins where standards end – and where the ‘hooligan’ becomes the best tester.