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What to look for in a high security door?
What to look for in a high security door?
★ Key Takeaways
- Hidden Differences: Cheap doors often lack internal reinforcement, making them vulnerable to basic tools.
- The Gold Standard: Look for Part Q compliance and PAS 24 testing to ensure your door can withstand physical attack.
- Cylinders Matter: Ensure your lock is “Anti-Snap” (3-Star TS007) to prevent the most common method of forced entry.
- SBD Upgrade: Secured by Design (Police Preferred Specification) offers the highest level of certified security.
Table of Contents
When you look at two different doors side-by-side, they often appear identical. Yet, under the surface, the difference in performance can be massive. One might be a “fortress” capable of withstanding a sledgehammer, while the other could fail in seconds against a simple screwdriver.
Whether you are looking for a new Composite Front Door or a robust uPVC Back Door, security is usually the number one priority for homeowners in Hampshire. But without x-ray vision, how do you spot the difference?
What Actually Makes a Door Secure?
Door security isn’t just about one heavy lock; it is the product of several factors working together:
- The Frame: Is it fully reinforced with steel or aluminium to prevent bowing during an attack?
- The Sash (The opening part): Does it have a tough, impact-resistant skin and a solid core?
- The Glass: Is it laminated? Security glass features an inter-layer that holds the pane together even if shattered.
- The Fixings: Are the frames thickened locally to provide an extra-strong grip for hinges and locks?
🔒 Interactive Guide: Assess Your Current Door
Click the boxes below that apply to your current door to see immediate feedback.
⚠ High Risk Warning: If the metal circle where you put your key sticks out, it is highly vulnerable to “lock snapping.” Burglars can grip it with tools and snap the lock in under 10 seconds. You should upgrade to a 3-Star cylinder immediately.
✔ Good Sign: This indicates you have a multi-point locking system. This is much more secure than a single central deadbolt, as it secures the entire height of the door against being crowbarred open.
⚠ Security Concern: Older, foam-filled uPVC panels can sometimes be kicked through or cut. Modern high-security doors use solid timber cores or reinforced composite materials to prevent this type of forced entry.
The “Invisible” Law: Part Q
You might be surprised to find out that there are no regulations currently in place governing the security of replacement doors in older homes—only for new builds. This means the quality of replacement doors on the market varies wildly.
Expert Advice: If you are offered a front or back door that is half the price of any others, alarm bells should ring. A cheap door is often a weak door. To guarantee your safety, you should look for the same standards used in new builds: Part Q Compliance.
Introduced in 2015, Part Q aims to lock out opportunist burglars. To comply, a door must pass the rigorous PAS 24:2016 test.
The “Torture Test”: PAS 24 Explained
PAS 24 is designed to emulate the brutal methods used by burglars. Independent laboratories (audited by UKAS) subject the doors to the following assaults:
Inside the PAS 24 Test Lab
| Soft Body Impact | A 30kg sandbag is launched at the door leaf three times to replicate a herculean shoulder charge. |
| Hard Body Impact | A 50kg steel impactor is used to batter the door corners and lock points, simulating a sledgehammer attack. |
| Mechanical Loading | Hydraulic rams apply 4.5kN of force to pull the hinges and locks apart in two directions at once for 10 seconds. |
| Hardware Attack | Testers attack the handle and cylinder with crowbars, screwdrivers, mole grips, and knives for 3 minutes. |
Lock Snapping – Things to Look Out For
A door is only as secure as its weakest point. “Lock Snapping” is a technique where burglars grab the protruding cylinder with mole grips and snap it to expose the mechanism.
To prevent this, ensure your door is fitted with a 3-Star Cylinder. Look for the TS007 3-Star Kitemark (Accredited by BSI) or the Sold Secure Diamond Standard (SS312). These cylinders have a sacrificial “snap line,” ensuring the central bolt remains locked even if the front of the cylinder is broken off.
A Note on Low Thresholds
Customers often ask if choosing a “Low Threshold” (the metal strip at the bottom of the door) compromises security. The answer is no.
Modern low aluminium thresholds are robust, thermally broken (to stop cold transfer), and fully integrated into the locking system. They provide easy access for wheelchairs and pushchairs without offering a weak point for intruders to pry open.
High Security Options from KJM
At KJM Group, we take the guesswork out of security. Our front and back doors are supplied with a PAS 24 / Part Q approved rating as standard.
For the ultimate security, consider a Solidor Composite Door. Featuring a solid timber core (rather than foam) and the industry’s largest deadbolt, they are notoriously difficult to cut through. Coupled with the Ultion 3-Star cylinder, they are among the most impregnable doors on the market.
Frequently Asked Questions
Currently, no. Part Q regulations only legally apply to new build homes. However, reputable installers like KJM Group recommend using Part Q compliant doors for renovations to ensure maximum security.
PAS 24 is the minimum security test standard required by Building Regulations. Secured by Design (SBD) is a Police initiative that requires doors to meet PAS 24 standards but also undergo additional independent testing and certification. SBD is effectively a ‘higher tier’ of proven security.
Lock snapping is a burglary technique where the door cylinder is grabbed with tools and snapped in half to expose the mechanism. It is prevented by installing 3-Star TS007 or Sold Secure Diamond cylinders.
Mark Pearce is a highly experienced specialist in the double glazing industry, having built his knowledge from the ground up through hands-on experience in installation, manufacturing, sales, and business management. Beyond his role at KJM, Mark is a keen blogger, writer, and traveller, often sharing insights on the latest innovations in the home improvement industry.
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