Clearview National October 2019 - Issue 215 | Page 76

HOMESECURITY
Lock it down: improvements
for better home security
With October marking National Home Security Month, Jamie Johnson,
Senior Category Manager at IronmongeryDirect, provides guidance on some
of the top security products to keep doors and windows secure…
» » BURGLARY CONTINUES
to be a serious problem in the
UK, with break-in rates spiking
in the autumn and winter months
as the days get shorter . As a
result, it is important to be extra
vigilant with security measures to
ensure that customers, and their
properties, are safe.
In 2015 the Approved
Document Q regulation
came into force for new build
properties which sets high
standards to make sure that easily
accessible doors and windows
withstand physical attacks from
opportunistic burglars. Bringing
existing dwellings up to the same
standards of security is imperative
to deter potential burglars.
KNOCK KNOCK
With 70% of burglars breaking
in through a door , it is essential
that main entry points to a
property are properly secured.
A simple way to add an extra
layer of security to any property
with a wooden or glass panelled
door is by installing a night
latch. A great option is the
BS3621:2007 rated ERA® Double
Locking Night Latch which
features an internal lockable
handle, offering added protection
against forced entry.
A security rated cylinder is
also highly recommended. The
BS3621:2007 rated ERA 1*
Kitemarked Cylinder suits all
Euro type mortice locks and
multi-point lock products and is
TS 007 accredited, meaning it’s
anti-drill, anti-pick and anti-
bump resistant. Look for the
Kitemark when choosing door
furniture to be assured of rigorous
testing and best in class design.
A further way to step up door
security is to fit a good quality
sash lock such as the UNION®
2200S Strongbolt 5 Lever Sash
Lock. This lock has anti-pick,
anti-saw and anti-drill features
for resistance against attack
and is suitable for doors up to
54mm thick. It is also suitable
for use on 30 and 60-minute fire
doors (appropriate intumescent
lock protection should be
used to ensure adherence to
regulations).
When looking for a door lock
it is important to always check
it is compliant with British
Standard 3621 and is CE marked
to conform with health, safety,
and environmental protection
standards for products sold within
the European Economic Area
(EEA).
WINDOW SHOPPING
In a quarter of burglaries, the
method of entry is through a
window . Although this risk is
much lower than doors, securing
windows is very simple and
provides an effective way of
deterring would-be thieves.
The easiest way to secure any
property is to have visible window
locks on all downstairs or easy-
to-reach upstairs windows. Even
smaller windows such as skylights
can provide access and need a
lock.
For properties with traditional
wooden sash windows, there are a
number of specialist products that
can be fitted to improve security.
For example, Rola Wooden
76 » OCT 2019 » CL EARVI E W- UK . C O M
Sash Window Stop can be fitted
to stop the windows opening
past each other, whilst allowing
necessary ventilation.
Another option is a Surface
Mounted Window Restrictor
which is designed to restrict how
far the window opens. Both above
products not only provide security
against illegal entry; they can also
prevent accidents such as small
children climbing or falling out.
LAYERING PROTECTION
A security product worth
considering for interior doors to
low traffic offices and storerooms
is a conventional code lock.
The Arrone® Code Lock is a top
choice for this type of application
– providing a convenient and
cost effective means of security
and access control. This lock also
includes a holdback function
which is ideal for areas which
require the door to be left
unlocked for set periods of time
as required.
It’s also important that any
gates surrounding homes and
offices are secured against break-
ins. Look for a good heavy-duty
option for outdoor use such as
the Squire All Weather Padlock,
which fares well against the
elements. Strong padlocks are also
a good solution for protecting
belongings in sheds, garages or
outbuildings.
IronmongeryDirect is the UK’s
largest specialist ironmongery
supplier, with over 17,500
products in stock. The customer
service team are available from
7am-8pm 7 days a week and can
help with any questions or queries
regarding home security.
For more information, visit
IronmongeryDirect.com or call
their team of specialist advisors
on 0800 168 28 28.