Doors, windows and glazing

6.7

6.7.8Security

Doors, door frames, windows and locks shall be designed and specified to improve their resistance to unauthorised entry. Issues to be taken into account include:

  1. locking functionality of main entrance doors
  2. locking functionality of secondary access doors
  3. opening limitation device
  4. view outside
  5. glazing
  6. framed wall construction
  7. door and frame connections
  8. windows.

Locking functionality – main entrance doors

All homes

Entrance doors of individual homes should be fitted with securely fixed locks or a multi point locking system, which:

  • has at least 1000 differs
  • if burst open, would not pull out without breaking the door or its frame
  • has a hardened steel bolt, or inserts, to prevent sawing
  • has a latch and deadlocking facility.

Locking devices fitted to main entrance doors should permit emergency egress without the use of a key when the home is occupied.

Homes with an alternative means of escape via a door

  • The door should be held closed on a latch.
  • Deadlocking should be operated by a key externally and a handle or thumb turn internally (BS 8621 locks and PAS 8621 multi point locks meet these requirements).
  • Enhanced security can be achieved by providing the facility to deadlock the internal thumb turn when leaving the home unoccupied (BS 10621 locks and PAS 10621 multi point locks meet these requirements).

Homes opening directly to the outside without an alternative means of escape via a door

  • The door should be held closed on a latch.
  • Deadlocking should be operated by a key externally and a handle or thumb turn internally (BS 8621 locks and PAS 8621 multi point locks meet these requirements).

Homes opening onto a communal access without an alternative means of escape

  • The door should be held closed with a roller bolt or a latch operated by a handle internally and externally.
  • Deadlocking should be operated by a key externally and a handle or thumb turn internally (BS 8621 locks and PAS 8621 multi point locks meet these requirements).

Locking functionality – secondary access doors

Side hung doors should:

  • be held closed on a latch operated by a handle both internally and externally
  • have a deadlocking facility which can be operated by a key both internally and externally; alternatively, a thumb turn may be used internally (BS 3621 or BS 8621 (thumb turn) locks and PAS 3621 or PAS 8621 (thumb turn) multi point locks meet these requirements)
  • have bolts securely fixed at both the top and bottom of the door on the internal opening edge (where multi point locking systems are used, bolts may be omitted).

Sliding doors should:

  • be secured by way of a multi point locking system with a minimum of three locking points, incorporating mushroom-headed bolts, hook bolts or shoot bolts that engage into the jamb or head, and sill of the door frame
  • have an anti-lift device fitted so that doors cannot be lifted from their frame from the outside.

Opening limitation device

The main entrance door of individual homes should be fitted with a securely fixed opening limitation device.

In sheltered accommodation, opening limitation devices should not inhibit emergency access. Alternative methods for residents to identify and communicate with visitors without opening their door should be considered.

View outside

There should be a means of giving a wide angle view of the area immediately outside the main entrance door of individual homes. Acceptable methods include:

  • a through-door viewer
  • clear glazing either to part of the door or a convenient window
  • closed-circuit camera and displays (not connected to a TV).

Glazing

Any glazing which, if broken, would permit release of the internal handle or thumb turn by hand or arm entry should be laminated.

Framed wall construction

Lightweight timber or steel framed walls next to doors fitted with locks operated internally with a handle or thumb turn should incorporate either timber sheathing (minimum 9mm thick) or expanded metal, 600mm wide and the full height of the door.

Door and frame connections

Connections between door and/or frame components which can be easily released from the outside should not be used.
This includes accessible screw connections.

Windows

Opening lights on ground floor windows and others which are readily accessible from the outside may be fitted with lockable devices which cannot be released without a key.