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AUGUST 2015 PRO INSTALLER
TOP TIPS UNLEASHED
www.proinstaller.co.uk
5 Ways to Prepare
for Document Q
Document Q is part of a new series of government documents due to come into effect on
October 1, 2015. It features a set of guidelines designed to help builders and contractors to
meet the legal requirements outlined in the Building Regulations 2010 for England.
Document Q is particularly
relevant for the door and
window industry, as it’s focused on “easily accessible
doors and windows”.
According to Building Regulations 2010 for England, all easily
accessible doors and windows
should be able to withstand physical attacks from casual or opportunistic burglars. Document Q sets
out, in clear and concise terms,
how to ensure that every window
and door you install is secure to
the relevant legal standards.
Here are five steps to take to
make sure you’re ready for Document Q.
1. Find Out if Your
Project is Applicable
Document Q is due to take effect
on October 1, 2015, and will apply
to all building work commenced
after that date.
It does not apply to work started
before October 1, 2015. Nor does
it apply to work subject to a building notice, full plans application,
or initial notice submitted before
October 1 2015 – so long as the
work is started before October 1,
2015.
2. Understand Which
Areas of Your Project
are Applicable
So what exactly does Document
Q define as “easily accessible
doors and windows”?
As far as windows are concerned, all ground floor windows
are applicable, as well as those
that can be reached with ease,
such as skylights and basement
windows.
When it comes to doors, obviously any door that provides access to
a dwelling needs to be thoroughly
secured, but Document Q also
covers such doors as those which
allow access from a garage to the
interior of a property, and those
which allow entry into a block of
flats or a hall of residence.
‘you need to be
wise to a burglar’s
way of thinking
in order to make
properties all-but
impregnable’
3. Think Like a Burglar
4. Context Matters
Document Q is thorough, in that
it advises you to consider every
possible means a burglar might
have of forcing entry.
It should go without saying that
the back door of a dwelling needs
to be just as secure as the front
door; as this is where the majority
of break-ins occur. But the devil is
in the detail. Document Q goes so
far as to outline the considerations
you need to take when it comes
to things like locks, hinges, letter
plates, and cylinders.
To be fully compliant, you need
to be wise to every technique a
burglar might deploy. You need
hinge bolts, anti-snap locks, and
devices that make it impossible for
burglars to remove keys through
letter plates.
In short, you need to be wise
to a burglar’s way of thinking in
order to make properties all-but
impregnable.
Though Document Q aims to
offer general tips, it also takes
into consideration that some
dwellings present their own
unique considerations.
For example, one stipulation is
that all front doors should provide a means of identifying callers – either with a door viewer,
or with clear glass within the
door or the side lights. Door
chains and limiters are also
recommended as an additional
means of vetting callers before
letting them in.
However, some doors require
24 hour access. For example,
wardens and carers often need
a round-the-clock means of
gaining easy entry to sheltered accommodation. In these
instances, Document Q suggests that an alternative means
of caller identification should
be used, such as electronic AV
entry systems.
Before you act to implement
Document Q’s guidelines, take
some time to consider whether
your project will present any
similar issues.
5. Get the Right
Equipment
Document Q is highly specific when it comes to the sort of
equipment you need to install
in order to remain compliant. In
short, you need doors and windows that have been shown, by
test, to meet the security requirements of PAS24:2012.
There are additional requirements for locks, hinges, letter
plates, cylinders, and ancillary
items. To help you prepare,
we’ve produced a handy guide
to all the equipment that satisfies
the mandated security requirements.
Conclusion
Given that it’s essentially a
move to make the information
included in the current regulations clearer and more accessible,
it’s likely that your practices are
already compliant with Document Q.
However, it’s always a good idea
to ensure you’re completely up
to date when it comes to home
security, so it’s still essential that
you take some time to familiarise
yourself with Document Q.