With smart home technology now firmly established among UK consumers, Universal Trade Frames explains why trust could be key to driving uptake in the window and door market.

Smart home technology has truly moved into the mainstream. According to research from NIQ and GfK, 80% of UK consumers now own at least one smart home product, while almost 40% own more than three.

When it comes to windows and doors, however, connected technology is still in its infancy.

Examining the reasons behind the relatively modest uptake in the sector, despite a series of high-profile product launches, Richard Hammond, sales director at Universal Trade Frames, believes a combination of factors are at play.

“Some installers remain reticent about selling a smart product because they lack confidence or believe that specialist knowledge is required,” Richard says. “There’s an educational piece there.

“But ultimately, it’s about consumer confidence and trust in smart products. That’s where a trusted brand comes into its own,” he adds.

It was this reason that strongly influenced Universal’s decision to offer SensCheck from household name Yale.

SensCheck allows homeowners to check whether compatible doors are open, closed, locked or unlocked, and whether windows are open, closed or in the vented position.

Universal was the first fabricator to combine the technology with the Residence Collection open-in Timber-Alternative Door, which was launched at the FIT Show in 2025. SensCheck is also available across selected flush casement windows from Universal.

“Combining Yale SensCheck with the new Residence Door gave our customers something genuinely different to take to homeowners,” Richard continues.

“It brings together a recognised security brand and a premium window and door system, with a benefit that is simple to understand. Homeowners can quickly check the status of their windows and doors, wherever they are.”

SensCheck uses discreet sensors fitted within compatible windows and doors to relay real-time status information through the Yale Alarm app. A Yale Sync Hub is required to connect the sensors to the home network.

The system also works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, allowing homeowners to check the status of their home using voice commands. Additional accessories can be connected to the Yale Sync Hub to create a wider smart alarm system.

“You are not asking homeowners to take a chance on an unfamiliar piece of technology,” Richard says. “Yale is a name that people already associate with security, and that familiarity gives installers a much stronger starting point.

“When somebody is considering smart security for the first time, knowing the product is backed by an established brand provides valuable reassurance.”

SensCheck and the Yale Sync range have also achieved Secured by Design Secure Connected Device accreditation, recognising that they meet established physical and cyber security requirements.

Richard argues that this combination of brand recognition, practical functionality and independent accreditation gives SensCheck an advantage in an increasingly competitive market.

“Yale has a long history in home security and understands what homeowners need from these products,” he says.

“SensCheck is not about adding technology for the sake of it. It addresses a familiar concern: leaving home and wondering whether a door has been locked or a window left open.”

Universal’s Residence Timber-Alternative Door can also be specified with Yale multi-point locking and an Ultion ALPS three-star cylinder, providing robust physical security alongside the option of smart monitoring.

The ALPS cylinder is designed to resist snapping, picking, drilling, bumping, thermal manipulation and twist attacks, and is certified to the SS312:2024 Diamond standard.

“It is about how people live and what they now expect from their homes,” Richard concludes. “Security, appearance and convenience are no longer separate considerations.

“By combining the Residence Door with SensCheck and high-performance locking hardware, we can give installers a premium product with a clear and easily understood story to take to the homeowner.”