Moving on from PAS 24

Ash Pearson, sales manager at Jack Aluminium, discusses the development of security testing standards for commercial doors and the rising demand for more stringent options.

When it comes to commercial buildings, security is perhaps the most important aspect. Whether it’s office buildings or small shops, the safety of the building is always a top priority and often people will turn to measures such as alarm systems for extra reassurance.

These deterrents don’t stop potential attacks though, which makes the need for reliable and proven security measures as critical as ever.

For all the complex security systems that commercial buildings have in place, one thing which can often be neglected is the entrance door and having one which is secure is crucial to upholding the building’s security, as 34% of break-ins are through the front door, according to security specialists ADT.

There has been a clear increase in demand for more secure commercial door options that don’t compromise on performance, which means they must pass the most stringent security tests.

Throughout most of the 20th century there was no specific security test for doors in the UK, which meant it was often left up to the buyer to make a judgement on whether they thought the door was secure or not.

In the latter part of the 1990s PAS 24 security testing was introduced – known then as PAS 24:1999, it has now been adapted to PAS 24:2016, the security standard for doors which tests the resistance of attacks on several parts of the frame and locks.

Since its introduction, PAS 24 has been the accepted industry standard for door security. For all the benefits that come with PAS 24, there are some flaws, especially in commercial settings which has driven a demand for more robust testing standards.

PAS 24 is a minimum standard and you can’t get higher or lower scores as it is simply pass or fail, and there is no differentiation between commercial and domestic doors. For commercial properties, that often house high values of IT equipment, retail stock, learning, leisure or healthcare equipment, specifiers need a door which is much tougher and resistant to attack. For commercial doors, being certified to PAS 24 means there is no way to tell that it is more secure than a standard PVC-U door in a domestic property.

So, although PAS 24 is still an absolutely necessary standard for the industry, the demand for more stringent security testing is increasing. Higher certification standards such as STS 202 and LPS 1175 have a much more aggressive testing process, for products designed to beat opportunist thieves.

While PAS 24 focuses on stealthy, opportunist break-ins, LPS 1175 and STS 202 are better measurements of the security of the entire door, as they test against a broader range of attacks. They account for organised break-ins, including attacks on the glass, which isn’t considered in PAS 24 and provide a much more relevant test against what a door would be subjected to in the real world. These planned attacks are much more common in commercial settings, which makes the need for higher certification absolutely crucial.

As commercial doors often have large, glazed areas, these higher security standards are vital for providing reassurance that buildings are safe from potential attacks on the glass. LPS 1175 and STS 202 certification prove that the entire door offers incredible security.

The testing includes brutal attacks on all the components of the doors, including the glazed area. So, a pass on the STS 202 or LPS 1775 test is a true measure of how a glazed door product will perform during a planned break-in.

Glazed door and shopfronts that have great aesthetics are robust and durable enough for high traffic areas. When they’re backed up with STS 202 and LPS 1175 testing to give the higher levels of security necessary for commercial buildings, it means there is no compromise on projects, and PAS 24 standards can stay at home.

Jack Aluminium Systems Ltd
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