3
PRO INSTALLER MARCH 2015
PRO NEWS
@proinstaller1
A STEP FORWARD IN THE FIGHT
AGAINST LOCK-SNAPPING
Avocet Hardware has welcomed the RISCAuthority’s decision to incorporate an explanation of lock-snapping
and the importance of TS007 and SS312 in the fight against it in its latest “Guidance to Occupiers”.
Avocet, which manufactures ABS
snap-secure locks, has long campaigned for the insurance industry
to play an active role in helping to
curtail the rise in lock-snapping
and is delighted with what it describes as a major step forward.
“Lock-snapping is a significant issue
across large swathes of the country and
what makes it so frustrating is that it’s
easily preventable,” said Rythm Jain Saigal, CEO of Avocet. “All we need in order
to stamp it out is for insurance companies to add TS007 3-star BSI Kitemark
or SS312 Diamond accredited locks to
their list of Minimum Security Standard
products and maybe take the customer
friendly step of compensating those who
have to upgrade by offering a reduced
premium.”
“But to date they have maintained the
preposterous stance of insisting on likefor-like replacements for snapped locks,
meaning homeowners are doing nothing
to prevent a repeat attack.”
“We are extremely hopeful that the
RISCAuthority’s publication is the first
sign of a change in attitude, one that will
benefit not just the British public, but
the insurers themselves as a result of the
significant decrease in break-ins such a
measure would deliver.”
Avocet uses Leeds as an example of the
impact TS007 3-star and SS312 Diamond
accredited locks can have on crime figures.
In 2012, Leeds City Council fitted over
10,000 of Avocet’s ABS snap secure locks
in the east of the city. Alongside other initiatives this led to a 36% decrease in burglaries in the area in the year to October
2012, which equated to 3,200 less victims
in just one year.
In addition, locksmiths across the country have been quick to praise the safety
of such locks. Most recently, Bob Callard
OBE, a director of Sheffield-based Callard
Security, said:
“I specified them (ABS) for a client earlier
this year, who sadly was burgled last month,
or rather he wasn’t. His entire street was hit
by a team of ‘snappers’ who made successful entries against a range of properties,
apart from his. The sacrificial element of
the cylinder parted company in accordance
with its design leaving his property safe.
His neighbours have all asked him why they
were unsuccesful, with the resullt that I
have now specified Avocet for them all.”
“There is no doubting the effectiveness
of ABS and other TS007 3-star and SS312
Diamond accredited locks,” added Rythm.
“What has been in doubt is the commitment
of the insurance industry to take the steps
needed to broadcast this message in suitable fashion.”
“I firmly believe that the RISCAuthority’s
publishing decision signals the beginning of
the end for the lock-snappers.”
UK Infrastructure Needs To Focus On Energy Efficiency
The Glass and Glazing
Federation (GGF) attended the UK Infrastructure Conference
last month at the Institute of Civil Engineers
in Westminster and
called for politicians
and policy makers to
put more emphasis on
energy efficiency with
regards to UK infrastructure construction
projects.
Nigel Rees, GGF Group
Chief Executive, was part
of the delegation that
heard key speakers Rt.
Hon Ed Balls MP, Lord
Andrew Adonis and Sir
John Armitt present the
Armitt Review of Infrastructure Planning as set
up by the Labour Party in
2012. Sir John was asked
to examine whether a new
institutional structure can
be established that better
enables the long term
decision making necessary
for strategic infrastructure
planning and how political
consensus can be forged
around these decisions.
The National Infrastructure Commission is the key
recommendation which
has emerged from the
Review, both Ed Miliband
MP, Shadow Prime Minister and Ed Balls, Shadow
Chancellor, announced
in July 2014 that Labour
would implement this recommendation.
As part of this, the Commission is to report across
all of the key sectors of
economic infrastructure.
This should be done in
light of the National Infrastructure Goals for the UK,
namely:
1. The infrastructure is
to help deliver more
good jobs, stronger and
more balanced growth
and rising standards
for all
2. The most connected
and open trading nation in the world
3. The best place in the
world to do scientific
research
4. A decarbonised power
sector and infrastructure
that meets the challenge
of climate change
5. A transport network
which spreads growth
and prosperity to every
part of the UK
6. The most advanced
telecommunications
economy in the world
7. The most resource
efficient economy in the
world
8. A secure, sustainable
energy system
9. Five cities in the European Top 20 for growth
between now and 2045
10.
The infrastructure, new
towns and urban extensions that will ensure
200,000 new homes a
year are built by 2020
and meet the housing
requirements by 2025
Nigel Rees, GGF Group
Chief Executive commented, “It was an interesting
conference but there was
perhaps too much focus on
energy and not enough on
energy efficiency. We will
continue to push our energy
efficiency glazing campaigns
to Shadow Ministers as well
as to the Government in the
run up to the General Election and beyond. It’s vital
that Government and policy
makers are made aware of
the advantages of energy
efficient glass and glazing
and that our industry gets
treated equally with all
the other energy efficient
measures that are used in
construction and home
improvement.”