Security Standards Explained
Standards. All good security products have them, but what do they mean?
Security standards can seem like a whole other language and can be off-putting when trying to decide what security products/devices you should have. But while you don’t need to learn all the ins and outs, it’s important to have a basic understanding to know if your home security products comply and what to look out for. Taking a practical approach to home security will minimise risks, meet regulatory requirements and could even reduce home insurance premiums.
Here’s what you need to know…
British Standards
The British Standards Institution (BSI) oversees security testing and certification services for doors, windows and locks. A product certified by the BSI will have the British Kitemark™
branded on the packaging and product itself. This mark of approval acts as an excellent visual deterrent and is recognised worldwide as a symbol of quality, trust and safety. The marking also proves that the product has been manufactured and tested over and above the minimum legal requirements for quality.
BS 3621 – the most common lock standard relating to mortice and cylinder rim locks. As a result of the rigorous testing, you will find that when comparing insurance providers a Kitemark™lock can result in lower insurance premiums for you.
PAS 24 – the standard for door and window security. This standard differs because it is an independent test carried out on a whole doorset or window. Individually, components cannot be tested to PAS 24. The standard is a minimum requirement and doesn’t include higher or lower grades for security and so doors and windows that are tested either pass or fail.
All of this means peace of mind with increased security of your home and protection against burglary.*
*Tested against all weather and common attack methods and subjected to high levels of force up to 1.5 tonnes.
Technical Specifications
A technical specification is a document that outlines and defines a set of requirements that a product must meet or exceed. In regard to home security, TS007 and TS008 are the common specifications referenced.
TS007 is a security standard for replacement cylinders and protective door furniture and was introduced amid concerns over the growth in lock-snapping crimes.
The specification is aimed at protecting cylinder locks against all known methods of forced entry, including picking, manipulation, bumping and snapping, and sets out to provide a way of upgrading the cylinder security of your door.
TS007 standard uses a three-star system, in which the cylinder or a combination of security hardware must have an accumulative three stars to meet the minimum-security requirements. The star rating will be indicated above the KitemarkÔ on the packaging and the product itself.
TS008 refers to the security of letterplates and is in response to lock manipulation and key fishing attacks.
CE
You may recognise the CE symbol on security products.
The CE marking is required for many products as it:
- Shows that the manufacturer has checked that these products meet EU fire and safety, health or environmental requirements
- Is an indicator of a product’s compliance with EU legislation
- Allows the free movement of products within the European market
Document Q
The Government’s new legislation ensures that greater levels of security are in place to protect new homes, regulating against poor quality doors, windows and associated hardware.
Under Document Q, all new doors (including garage doors) and windows should be made to meet the security requirements of PAS24, or other standards that exceed or meet this. This is important to consider if you are thinking of building your own property or looking at moving into a new build.
Secured by Design
Secured by Design is the official UK Police initiative supporting the principles of ‘designing out crime’.
The scheme promotes the use of security standards and products which receive the stamp of approval once they have met Secured by Design’s rigorous testing guidelines. Research has indicated that homes using products and materials that meet Secured by Design’s standard are up to 75% less likely to be burgled and show a reduction of 25% in criminal damage.
FENSA
FENSA stands for the Fenestration Self-Assessment Scheme.
FENSA provides a method for door and window installers to demonstrate their compliance with building regulations for replacement windows and doors.
