are assured they ’ re comparing apples with apples , not apples with bananas .

Standards must be set

When looking at smart windows and doors , the industry still in its infancy . There is a golden opportunity now for us all to commit to industry leading and benchmarked best practice . The Smart Ready ® standard ensures the technology companies behind smart windows and doors are delivering consistency and simplicity . Complying with the Smart Ready ® standard , for our industry , will make sure consumers will not be let down when for example it comes to long battery life , the right chip-sets , reliable System Handshake software , alarms , failproof back-ups and fall-backs and protection from malicious hackers . Smart Ready ® promotes simplicity through a simple set of requirements and works with all certified suppliers to adopt mass market products , not smart tech that has no real credible benefit to

the homeowner . Its conception is based on learning from past experience and crafting fit-for-purpose smart standards that incentivise innovation but still deliver what consumers expect – and more . Like smart alarms for example .

A monumental shift for security

The home security sector is currently made up of disparate elements . It is a combination of how we sell hardware , how we sell windows and doors , and how we sell alarms . And until now , this fragmentation has means nobody has asked the questions about why this is . The door and window sector hasn ’ t really ever thought about it , and why would the alarm market want to change anything that will affect their archaic hefty on-site maintenance contracts ? We are on the brink of a monumental security shift within our industry , and to ensure its success , we have to build on strong foundations and get it right now so that we ’ re

not having to waste time fixing things later down the line . Smart windows and doors are going to significantly disrupt the traditional alarm market , so we need to show credibility at the core . The eyes of the insurance giants , Avia , Axa , AIG around the world will be on us , looking for integrity , modern performance , relevance , and smart functionality that can ’ t be fooled or easily hacked .

Collective responsibility

And because the opportunity is so huge , we collectively need to get it right first time . The dangers of going to market with a product that ’ s not fully formed can be catastrophic and ruin significant market opportunity for an entire industry . Not only does the original brand gets damaged , but potentially also the reputation and robustness of a whole market , like for example when so-called Smart doors and windows are using outdated technology , apps that can be easily hacked , or sensors

with limited features , connectivity or components that don ’ t fit properly or spoil aesthetics . And today ’ s end users are discerning , tech-savy and more than happy to leave reviews that could damage a company ’ s trustworthiness if faults and flaws are highlighted , and if service is less than ideal .

This is why the Smart Ready ® Standard has been introduced , to ensure consistency and technical clarity that will help every hardware design company , fabricator , installer to provide every homeowner with a Smart product that ’ s actually fit for purpose . Talking to business leaders and surveying consumers , one of the key areas of demand is the alarm . In addition to a simple alarm , one of the key features of the Smart Ready ® certified system developed by Smart Ready ® in partnership with Sac ® and Hug ® Technology is an early warning alarm feature that lets homeowners know when a window or door experiences any level of tampering . Sac ® and

Hug ® consider alerting homeowners as an intruder actually enters the property , as too late .

Aiming for simple

By making Smart Ready ® doors and windows clever but simple , everyone gets a stress-free , useful and appealing solution . In-home set-up takes no more than 15 seconds per sensor , and any changes to fabrication and installation must be straight-forward with minimum disruption . Ultimately , the consumer needs to get what they ’ re expecting to get . After all , they probably only replace their doors and windows once every 10 years , so it ’ s a high value , important decision they need to get right . That ’ s why as an industry , we need to get it right too – even if it means it takes a little longer . Any negative result with your customer , needs to be avoided at all costs .

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VBH is among the very first companies to have achieved this certification .

The hardware covered includes products for the manufacture of outward opening , and tilt & turn windows , residential doors , bi-fold doors , lift slide

doors , inline sliding patio doors and the greenteQ Invisifold slide & fold door system . As well as the company ’ s own greenteQ hardware , the Kitemark hardware schedule also covers products from many of VBH ’ s partner brands including AGB , Yale and Roto .

VBH Business Development Manager Rob Norman says : “ Not only is the Kitemark a badge of quality for our products but it also gives added credence to our Q-secure consumer guarantee . Lastly , it also gives the possibility of us helping VBH customers to more easily achieve

their own accreditation . Depending on what steps they take , this can lead to gaining additional business from the new build and commercial sectors .”

www . vbhgb . com