1.1 This specification contains environmental, functional, operational, and security requirements for padlocks. Included are function descriptions, cycle tests, operational tests, environmental tests, forcing tests, and surreptitious entry tests. No effort has been made to include criteria for specially made padlocks used by the Department of Defense or others in highly sensitive locations.

1.2 This specification describes and grades various levels of performance to provide users of the standard with criteria upon which to select suitable padlocks.

1.3 Tests described are laboratory tests and although they simulate field conditions as to attacks or the environment, they do not duplicate these conditions. Tests described are repeatable in the laboratory.

1.4 Some users of this standard may wish to use padlocks that have special attributes not related to security. These are found in 4.3.

1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The inch-pound units given in parentheses are provided for information only.

1.6 The following precautionary caveat pertains only to the test method portions, Sections 8 through 11, of this specification: This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.