Locksmith Bricard

Bricard: the go-to cylinder in Brussels apartment buildings

Bricard is a French lock manufacturer now owned by the Allegion group. In Brussels, Bricard cylinders are fitted in a very large share of apartment front doors, particularly in buildings constructed or renovated between the 1990s and 2010s. We install or replace around 15 to 20 Bricard cylinders per month across the Brussels region, making it one of the brands we handle most frequently.

Chifral S2: the most common Bricard in Brussels

The Chifral S2 is by far the most widespread Bricard model we encounter. It uses a dimple key with a reversible profile, meaning the key works in either orientation. The cylinder offers solid anti-picking protection thanks to its pin configuration, and key duplication requires the proprietary Bricard card. Without this card, no authorised locksmith or Bricard dealer will cut a copy.

The most common issue we see with the Chifral S2 is wear on the cam mechanism after 10 to 12 years. The key still turns, but the rotation no longer fully engages the multipoint bolts. This is often mistaken for a problem with the door or the lock body, but in most cases it is the cylinder cam that needs replacing.

Serial S versus Dual XP: choosing the right upgrade

When a Chifral S2 reaches end of life, tenants and owners face a choice. The Serial S is the direct successor: a solid, mid-range cylinder with anti-bump and anti-drill protection, using the same dimple key format. It fits into the same lock body without modification.

The Dual XP sits a level above. It adds a secondary row of pins and a more complex key profile, which significantly increases pick resistance. We typically recommend the Dual XP for ground-floor apartments or buildings without a secure entrance, where the front door is the only barrier between the street and the home. For upper-floor apartments in buildings with coded entry, the Serial S is usually sufficient.

The Bricard card system: what to do when you lose it

Every Bricard cylinder ships with a numbered ownership card. This card is required for ordering additional keys. Losing it is more common than you might expect, especially in rental properties where it changes hands multiple times. If the card is lost, we have two options:

• Order through Bricard with proof of ownership: this takes 2 to 4 weeks and requires a property deed, rental contract, or syndic authorisation.
• Replace the cylinder entirely: often faster and sometimes more cost-effective, particularly if the cylinder is already over 8 years old. A new cylinder comes with a fresh card and a new set of keys.

Bricard in multi-tenant buildings

Bricard offers master key systems (organigrammes) that are widely used in Brussels co-ownership buildings. A single pass key opens all common doors, while each resident keeps a unique key for their private entrance. We manage these systems for buildings of all sizes and handle the administrative side with Bricard when new keys are needed after a tenant change. Each key is tracked by serial number to maintain building security.

If your Bricard key is becoming hard to turn or you feel resistance when locking, have the cylinder inspected before it fails at the worst possible moment.