More than 75 percent of Americans are concerned about the security of their home, yet few think about door hardware when it comes to added protection.

In fact, out of those who have purchased a new lockset or dead bolt, only 19 percent have done so with the safety of their home in mind, according to a Harris Poll conducted on behalf of Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association (BHMA). However, when it comes to protecting your home, the right lockset or dead bolt can provide the best first line of defense.

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When purchasing new locks, it isn’t simply “one size fits all.” Choosing the right lock or dead bolt for your specific needs can sometimes seem overwhelming. Two in five Americans polled don’t even know what factors to look into when buying. While many of today’s locks deliver improved security for your home, be sure to follow these easy steps to ensure you’re properly selecting and installing the product that best suits your needs.

The hardware industry has strict standards when it comes to the quality of locks and dead bolts, and BHMA is the only organization accredited by American National Standards Institute (ANSI) to develop and maintain these standards, so be sure to look for the BHMA Certified Secure Home label.

Each lock or dead bolt that features the BHMA Certified Secure Home label on its packaging has been tested to these stringent standards, the highest performance standards for residential hardware. The label also indicates that the product has been certified in three different areas: security, durability and finish. Products without the Secure Home label are not test-assured and certified by a third-party laboratory.

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Once a lock or dead bolt is tested to these standards, it is given a rating, defined by progressive levels of performance, based on its performance during testing.

Be sure to select the lock or dead bolt that is rated highly in the area(s) most important to you. After purchasing the lock(s) best suited for your home needs, consult the installation instructions provided by the manufacturer for proper application. A BHMA-certified lock, or any lock, cannot function to its expectations if it isn’t installed correctly.

By fitting your doors, both interior and exterior, with certified hardware, using proper installation techniques and being diligent about using your locks, you can greatly reduce the likelihood of unwanted company.

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This article is courtesy of Brandpoint.