AS 4145 (mechanical locks): the star-rating standard
AS 4145.2:2008 is the test standard behind the 1-star to 6-star security rating on mechanical door locks. Affects insurance and external-entry door selection.
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AS 4145.2:2008, Mechanical locks for doors in buildings, Part 2: Mechanical locksets, is the test standard behind the 1-star to 6-star security rating stamped on the back of mechanical door locks sold in Australia. The rating reflects how the lock performed under three lab tests: a cycle-life durability test (a robot operating the lock thousands or tens of thousands of times), a forced-entry resistance test (sustained attack with hand tools), and a key-cycle resistance test (key insertion and rotation cycles). Higher star count means longer service life, more attack resistance, more key cycles before key-end failure (verified 2026-05-16).
Builders meet AS 4145 in two situations:
- External-entry door lockset selection. Volume insurers and Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) auditors specify minimum star ratings for entry doors. Below a certain rating, the lockset doesn’t satisfy the insurance or accreditation gate.
- Renovating an older property with sub-standard hardware. Pre-2008 hardware (and many imported low-cost sets even today) carry no AS 4145 stamp at all. Standard residential warranty insurance may exclude theft claims if the entry hardware is below 3 or 4 star.
What it requires
For the lock manufacturer:
- Submit each lock model for testing to an accredited test laboratory.
- Three test suites, each producing a separate star contribution:
- Cycle-life durability (mechanical operation under load).
- Forced-entry resistance (tools attack the lock case and bolt).
- Key-cycle resistance (key insertion-and-rotation cycles, key bow durability).
- Combined star rating is the lower of the three test outcomes. A lock that passes 6-star durability but only 3-star forced-entry carries a 3-star rating.
- Stamp the case on the visible back face with the star count and the AS 4145.2 reference.
Typical residential star ratings:
| Star rating | Use case |
|---|---|
| 1 to 2 star | Internal doors, low-security applications |
| 3 star | Minimum for entry doors on standard residential |
| 4 star | Insurance-preferred for entry doors on standard residential |
| 5 to 6 star | Commercial entry, high-security residential, SDA accommodation |
What it doesn’t cover
- Electronic locks. Smart locks, electromechanical locks, and keypad locks have their own test standards (AS 4145.5 for electronic mechanical; AS/NZS 5128 for some categories). The 1-6 star rating applies only to mechanical locksets.
- Padlocks. AS 4145.4 covers padlocks separately.
- Hardware finishes and corrosion. AS 4145 is performance-focused; finish-durability is product-specific.
- Disability-access compliance for the lock’s operation. That’s covered by AS 1428.1 (operating force, no grip required).
Practical implications
- Read the back-face stamp before installing. Many wholesalers carry unmarked or 2-star locks at low price. They are fine for internal use but inadequate for entries. Volume builders sometimes substitute the lower-cost lock on a tight margin job, creating a defect at handover.
- Insurance language is the contractual trigger. Home contents and home building policies routinely require that “entry doors are fitted with locks complying with AS 4145.2 to a minimum of 4 star”. Below that the theft-cover exclusion bites.
- Star rating is per-product, not per-brand. A reputable brand (Lockwood, Whitco, Gainsborough) produces ranges across the star spectrum. Specifying “Lockwood entry lock” is not specification enough; specify the product model and the AS 4145.2 star rating.
- Lever combo with lock is a separate compliance dimension. The lever must satisfy AS 1428.1 (lever handle, operable by wrist alone); the underlying lock must satisfy AS 4145.2. A 6-star lock with a non-AS 1428.1 knob is non-compliant on regulated accommodation.
- Re-keying scope. Some products are re-keyable (the same lock body accepts a different key); the AS 4145 star rating is per-mechanism, not per-key, so re-keying does not change the star count.
Source link
- AS 4145.2:2008 product page, Standards Australia (verified 2026-05-16)
- AS 4145.4:2002 (Padlocks), Standards Australia (verified 2026-05-16)
References
- AS 4145.2:2008, Mechanical locks for doors, Part 2 (verified 2026-05-16)
- AS 4145.4:2002, Mechanical locks for doors, Part 4 (Padlocks) (verified 2026-05-16)
Related
See also
Last updated: 2026-05-16. Verified: 2026-05-16. Quarterly review for currency.