Is It BHMA Certified?

We’ve all been there—looking for a reliable lock to solve a client’s problem.

The packaging might claim;

“Meets Grade 1”,

“Built to comply with…”, or

But does it really? How can we know for sure?

While manufacturers may conduct internal tests, actual certification requires independent testing. Intertek is the official testing lab for BHMA, and they have built the specialized equipment necessary to perform the full range of tests specified in each BHMA standard. Additionally, certified products undergo periodic sample testing to ensure continued compliance.

A key distinction: a manufacturer might source products from an offshore supplier that obtained BHMA certification—but that doesn’t mean the final product is certified. The only way to be sure is to request proof of testing. 

For example, take the Master Lock SLC0126 entry function lever. The description states “Meets ANSI/BHMA 156.2, Grade 2 Standards.” However, that is not the same as “ANSI/BHMA Certified Grade 2.”

This lock, the “Master Lock No. SLC0126DKA4” is described as having a 3 hr UL listing and that “meets ANSI/BHMA A156.2, Grade 2 Standards.”

So, if we take them at their word, we should be able to find a listing for this lock in the BHMA Certified Products Directory, right? Let’s go and see.

This is a screenshot of a portion of the main page.

Next we will use the “Select a Brand. . . ” dropdown box and find Master Lock in the list of manufacturers who have ANY certified products.

 Master Lock is not in the list at all! It looks like they have zero certified products.

So there are two conclusions we can draw:

Here is a quick exercise for you: Follow the same process and look for “TownSteel” or Schlage, or Yale. You should see a long list of certified products, including lever locks.

February 04, 2025

Update – May 2025.

I was admonished to “do my research” when I pointed out in an online discussion group that Lockly and LocklyPro did not have any BHMA Certified products. While LocklyPro displays a BHMA logo next to one of its twenty locking products, it is not listed in the BHMA CPD. This means they do not have a valid current listing. Only BHMA members with current active listings appear in the directory. In order for a manufacturer to use the BHMA Certified logo they must have a current certification with BHMA. Products must be re-tested and re-certified every 4 years to maintain its certification. We can assume that they tested the lock at some point and earned a certification, but the certification lapsed for some reason. One reason might be that they failed to comply with the periodic testing requirement to maintain the certification. So, one could argue that the continued use of the “BHMA Certified” logo next to the product is fraudulent, and it is certainly not permitted by BHMA.