3 minute read
Trade News
ENHANCING WINDOWS THROUGH SECURITY CERTIFICATION
Home burglaries continue to be a concern for homeowners, with an estimated 65,000 incidents reported between July and September 2021.1 This has understandably led to a leading to greater consumer focus on security accreditations for all aspects of the home, especially windows. Russell Hand, Head of Product Management and Technical at REHAU Windows, discusses the opportunities for fenestration professionals, including what can be done to help householders feel more secure.
A recent survey found that over a third of Brits feel a greater need to protect the security of their homes, compared to before the pandemic.2 These are concerns which are not unfounded, given that three quarters of police forces reported a rise in burglaries over the last three months.3 Adding fuel to the fire, the latest robbery barometer from Churchill Home Insurance4 found there to be an average of 712 robbery cases per day from July and September 2021. These statistics demonstrate genuine consumer need for better home security.
SECURITY ON THE AGENDA
Focus on enhanced security for all aspects of the home is important in line with statistics. However, fenestration professionals have additional responsibility to help people feel more secure in their home given that the ONS found that one in five burglars will enter a property via a window.5 For homeowners looking to make their property more secure, quality windows will be a key safeguard against burglars. With this in mind, a frame’s security credentials are becoming increasingly important for safety-conscious homeowners. Currently, easily accessible windows used in new English dwellings must comply with Approved Document Q (ADQ) of the Building Regulations concerning the PAS24:2016 security standard. This involves passing a test that factors in break-ins via different methods, including physical force. Worryingly, not all windows need to meet the standards laid out in ADQ. Among these are those that are not easily accessible, any windows fitted as replacements, or those installed before the regulations came into effect on October 2015. Consumer concerns about home security are therefore well-placed, and installers should take this into account when organising projects. Making it clear a portfolio includes frames that meet PAS24:2016 could be vital for ensuring peace-of-mind and generating new business.
ENHANCING SECURITY
Despite PAS24:2016 being a key security standard for fenestration, it is increasingly being regarded as the bare minimum for properties. To provide enhanced products, it is vital to look to exceed current regulations. This is also important for installers and fabricators to stand out in a competitive market and win over vigilant homeowners. One potential way of demonstrating highly secure windows is to look for designs from manufacturers that have joined Secured By Design, or SBD. As the official police security initiative owned by the UK Police Service, SBD was developed to improve the physical security of buildings by holding products such as windows to higher security standards.
For window frames to be given SBD accreditation, they must exceed the standards set out in ADQ, which requires manufacturers to test their products in accordance with PAS24:2016. The product must also receive independent third-party certification from a United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) – a benchmark that again exceeds current regulations.
A SAFE SPACE
With statistics previously mentioned showing that more than a third of Brits feel a greater need to protect the security of their homes6, it is sensible for fenestration professionals to consider higher-level standards. They should not only seek out manufacturers that strongly emphasise their products are tested against all fenestration industry requirements, but also look for those that exceed current regulations. Suppliers such as REHAU have joined the SBD initiative with these higher standards in mind. By taking this added level of security into consideration, window professionals will be able to tap into current safety trends and provide potential customers with the best possible solutions for securing their home. With concerns over burglaries not unjustified, there is a real opportunity for fenestration professionals – especially as burglars regard windows as a key point of entry. As such, offering effective solutions that reduce the risk of intrusions and allow homeowners to feel more secure both in and outside their homes is key. For more information on REHAU Windows, see here.
