A safety hinge, as implied from the provided video, is designed to prevent the hinge pins from being easily accessed and removed, thereby improving security. Standard hinges, as shown in the video, have their pins exposed when the door is closed, which makes them vulnerable.
Understanding Standard Hinge Vulnerabilities
Standard hinges are typically installed so that the hinge pins are visible and accessible on the exterior of a door. This creates a security risk. Here's how:
- Exposed Pins: The hinge pins are held in place with screws, as noted in the video. These pins can be removed with a screwdriver or similar tool.
- Easy Removal: Once the pins are removed, the door can be lifted away from the frame, bypassing the lock, as the video explains, and allowing unauthorized entry.
How a Safety Hinge Differs
Safety hinges, also referred to as tamper-proof hinges, address the vulnerability of standard hinges by making the hinge pins difficult to access from the outside.
Here's a breakdown of the core difference:
| Feature | Standard Hinge | Safety Hinge |
|---|---|---|
| Pin Exposure | Pins are exposed on the outside | Pins are not easily accessed from outside |
| Security Level | Lower | Higher |
| Tampering | Easy to tamper with | Difficult to tamper with |
Safety Hinge Mechanics:
- Concealed Pins: The core function of a safety hinge is to conceal the pins. This may be accomplished by:
- Interlocking Design: The design itself can be such that when the door is closed, the hinge pin is covered and cannot be accessed.
- Specialized Fasteners: Use of non-removable fasteners that cannot be unscrewed from the outside.
- Enhanced Material: Safety hinges might also be made from sturdier materials which make forced entry more difficult.
- Added Security Features: In some cases additional security elements are added within the hinge itself.
Conclusion
The video illustrates a clear and straightforward concern regarding traditional exposed hinges. Safety hinges work by preventing easy access to hinge pins from the outside, thus making forced entry more difficult and increasing overall security.
