A2P Certification: Understanding the Stars
What do A2P 1, 2 and 3 stars mean? Timed resistance, EN 1303 and SKG standards, insurer requirements and certified brands. A clear guide to choosing the right level.
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"A2P lock required": the phrase appears in most Belgian home insurance contracts — without ever being explained. Behind the label sits a simple test: how many minutes does an equipped burglar need to force your lock. Here is how to read the stars, and which level to choose for your door.
A2P: timed resistance, not a marketing claim
A2P certification is issued by the CNPP (France) after timed break-in tests: picking, bumping, drilling, pulling. The stars correspond to resistance time:
- A2P 1★ — resists at least 5 minutes of equipped attack
- A2P 2★ — resists at least 10 minutes
- A2P 3★ — resists at least 15 minutes
Five minutes sounds short? It is an eternity for a burglar: most give up well before, as the risk of being seen rises with every second.
EN 1303 and SKG: the other standards you will meet in Belgium
- EN 1303 (European standard, CEN) — grades cylinders from 1 to 6 on combined criteria: durability, fire resistance and attack resistance. The DOM ix Twido, for instance, reaches grade 6.
- SKG (Netherlands) — ★★ (3 min) and ★★★ (5 min) of break-in resistance; very common on home locks in Flemish Belgium.
Which level for which door?
- Flat — A2P 1★ or 2★ cylinder: the building door already acts as a first filter
- House — multipoint lock (3 to 5 points) with an A2P 2★ cylinder
- Armoured door — A2P 3★, matching the reinforcement
Among the brands we install: Fichet and Vachette (A2P certified), Picard (Vigie A2P BP1, Présence BP2, Diamant BP3 for armoured doors), and high-security ownership-card cylinders — see our cylinder replacement service.
What about insurance?
Many Belgian insurers make compensation conditional on a minimum lock level — and check it after a claim. Before investing, read your contract and our insurance and locks guide. The right reflex: have a certified cylinder fitted before the burglary, not after. Free quote on 0495 205 400, price announced before the job.
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