Richard Morris from door security and hardware specialist , UAP Ltd , discusses the security and safety implications of letterplate specification .

Location , location , location may still be the housebuilder ’ s mantra , but building homes that meet the needs of occupiers relies on the detail of the specification , not just the postcode . Estate agents like to refer to ‘ kerb appeal ’ and attention to detail begins at the front door , including the humble letterplate .

Much of our correspondence may be paperless these days , but homes still need a letterplate where letters , circulars and newspapers can be posted . Located prominently on the front door of a house or an apartment , the wrong choice of letterplate can be an eyesore . More importantly , perhaps , poorly specified letterplates can also present a security risk , fire safety issue or problems with access and Disability Act compliance , which is why it ’ s important to understand the potential specification pitfalls and what to look for when selecting a product .

Overcoming Vulnerabilities

Historically , letterplates have been the most vulnerable part of a door , enabling thieves to ‘ fish ’ through the aperture to retrieve keys from hallways and gain access to properties . This vulnerability not only includes gaining access to the property but has commonly be used to fish for car keys , resulting in car theft while the occupier sleeps . Often , homeowners don ’ t understand the risks of leaving keys conveniently placed on a console table in the hall or a hook near the door until a thief has fished for them .

Stricter compliance for letterplate design has been in place since the TS008 standard was introduced in 2016 , effectively preventing key fishing and manipulation of the thumbturn cylinder , which opens the door from inside the property . TS008 letterplate fixings must also be capable of withstanding 1.2kN ( 122.366kgs ) of force application , held for ten seconds at each end of the letterplate . This helps in preventing an intruder gaining unrestricted access to the aperture .

But security is not the only risk . Fire safety is also an important consideration and , in multi-occupancy buildings , containing a fire within the property where it started , rather than allowing it to spread throughout the building , is just as important as preventing fire from spreading from common areas into individual homes . That ’ s why fire doors are required as the front doors to individual apartments within multi-occupancy buildings , or for doors that lead onto shared balcony walkways . For these environments , not only is TS008 compliance required to ensure security , but the letterplate must also provide a fire rating equal to the rating of the door and , following the Grenfell Tower tragedy , specifiers must be more vigilant than ever in ensuring the chosen letterplate delivers a robust and proven level of fire safety . Alongside these safety and security considerations , of course , the letterplate must also allow items defined in the postal services standard BS EN 13724 : 2013 to completely pass through the aperture without being damaged .

Design Challenges

The challenge for companies developing TS008 compliant letterplates has been that the additional design features required to make letterplates safer and more secure in order to meet the standard have often resulted in practical and aesthetic issues .

Many new build homes have narrow hallways , and the standard response of designing letterplates with a bulky cowl on the interior side of the door sometimes makes it impossible to fully open the door . This causes issues with Equality Act compliance , because it restricts the clear opening and raises safety issues around egress and evacuation . Even when the door can fully open , a bulky cowl may cause damage to wall surfaces due to repeated collisions . This can lead to snagging issues and sometimes results in the cowl being removed , which can compromise security and fire safety .

Compliance with Security and Aesthetics

The need to fit TS008 letterplates for PAS 24:2016 compliance and Document Q approval in many new build homes leaves specifiers with the challenge of finding a compliant solution that is not bulky . A key design feature to look out for is a pivoting stay mechanism , which enables a reduced internal flap projection from the door surface , giving a less intrusive feel to the door and enabling the door to open fully without the risk of any damage to the interior wall . It is also advisable to select a TS008 letterplate with no fixings to the exterior door because this further enhances security by preventing anyone from unscrewing the outer section from the door .

Long-term performance is important , so test data that proves smooth operation over a number of years is also a feature to look out for . And , of course , aesthetics matter too , so a range with a variety of colours and finishes to match the aesthetics of the door is also advisable .

Safer Solutions

Fire safety is an important factor for any letterplate required for use with a fire door . It is now four years since the Grenfell Tower fire , and the tragedy has had far-reaching consequences , including a positive impact on due diligence when selecting building products , particularly for use in residential buildings 18m high or more .

Effective protection from the spread of fire from either side of the door is an essential feature of any letterplate installed in a fire door . Although a letterplate may not seem to be a safety product because safety is not its primary function , as an integral element of a fire door , it should have undergone rigorous in-house and third-party testing . TS008 letter plates designed for use in fire doors are manufactured with intumescent material in their construction , which expands to create a fire barrier equal to the performance of the required fire door . Only Certifire approved TS008 letterplates can be fitted to timber fire doors with no further testing . For composite or steel fire doors , the letterplate must be tested as part of a complete door configuration .

Performance Matters

It ’ s easy to mistake a letterplate as a simple piece of hardware that frames an aperture for post , but it plays a critical role in preventing that aperture from becoming a risk to security and fire safety . Aesthetics are always important , but , when it comes to safety and security , it ’ s performance that really matters .

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