What is an A2P high-security cylinder?
A2P certification ("Assurance Prévention Protection") is awarded by the Centre National de Prévention et de Protection (CNPP), the French national prevention and protection centre. It assesses how well a cylinder resists real break-in attempts: picking, drilling, pulling, bumping and unauthorised key duplication.
There are three levels, expressed in stars, each corresponding to a minimum resistance time against an attacker equipped with tools:
| Level | Minimum resistance | Recommended use | Indicative price |
|---|---|---|---|
| A2P 1-star | 5 minutes | Secondary door, cellar, outbuilding | 50 - 90 € |
| A2P 2-star | 10 minutes | Standard front door, residential building | 90 - 180 € |
| A2P 3-star | 15 minutes | Reinforced front door, business premises, required by most home insurers | 180 - 350 € |
Beyond resistance time, A2P certification also covers protection of the key against duplication: certified cylinders come with a secure personal key registration card, which prevents unauthorised copies from being made by just any locksmith.
How do you choose the right A2P cylinder for your door?
The choice of cylinder depends on four factors:
- Use: main front door (A2P 2★ minimum), outbuilding (A2P 1★), business premises (A2P 3★)
- Dimensions: measure the length on the outside (side A) and on the inside (side B) from the centre of the fixing screw. Standard sizes range from 30/30 mm to 45/55 mm.
- Type: standard with a key on both sides, thumbturn (inside knob so you can exit without a key), or with emergency function (can be opened from outside even if a key has been left on the inside).
- Brand: choosing a recognised manufacturer ensures that extra keys remain available for 10 to 15 years.
Our free identification service lets you send a photo of your current cylinder · our experts identify the exact model and suggest compatible options.
High-security cylinder brands distributed by CLEFERM
All our brands are available with their original extra keys, key registration cards and manufacturer warranties (from 5 to 25 years depending on the model).
Installation and compatibility
A standard A2P cylinder fits the vast majority of euro profile locks, which are fitted to more than 95% of residential front doors in France. Installation takes 10 to 15 minutes on average:
- Remove the outside handle to access the existing cylinder
- Unscrew the central fixing screw (typically 8 cm long)
- Pull out the cylinder with the key turned to the 9 o'clock or 3 o'clock position, depending on the direction of the cam
- Insert the new cylinder in the same position
- Screw it back in and test every position
For multipoint armoured doors (Picard, Fichet, Tordjman), it is advisable to call in a locksmith: some configurations require the panel to be partially removed.
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