Door Industry Journal - Winter 2017

124 THE door industry journal winter 2017 locks and building hardware Also online at: www.dijonline.co.uk IronmongeryDirect’s Guide to Securing a Property A survey of 733 tradespeople by IronmongeryDirect has found that 86% said their customers only asked them to fit security products after a break-in to their property. Also, research by this year’s National Home Security Month1 campaign shows that a home is five times more likely to be burgled if no security measures are in place against those with two or three measures taken. Certain areas of a property are more vulnerable to a break-in than others, with doors and windows obviously being the most susceptible, while dark areas outside provide the ideal cover for intruders. To address these vulnerabilities, there are various products available from IronmongeryDirect to help keep a building safe and secure. Main entry doors - According to a report published by the Office of National Statistics (ONS), forcing locks is the second highest method of entry for burglars (with open or unlocked doors being the primary means). So, it’s no surprise that the IronmongeryDirect survey revealed that 64% of tradespeople scored door locks as the most effective way of securing a building, and 72% saying door locks are the most popular security product they fit for customers. External timber doors are best secured with a mortice lock, and the addition of a nightlatch gives an added measure of protection. Products vary in price, but all should meet British Standard BS3621. uPVC doors are commonly used for front and back entrances on properties, which feature a Euro Profile cylinder that works in conjunction with a multipoint lock. The cylinders should meet British Standard BSEN1303 and feature anti bump, pick, screw and drill protection, making them very difficult to be broken. For maximum security however, cylinders that are T S007 3 star rated, which is the industry approved standard, offer complete door security featuring anti bump, drill, pick, pull and snap protection. Windows - The survey found that 67% of tradespeople said their customers were concerned about window security, with window locks being the second most popular security measure they fit for customers. There’s a wide range of window locks available including locking and non-locking fasteners, locking bolts and pins, and window restrictors, all designed for different applications. External boundaries and dark areas - The two most popular methods of securing external boundaries and dark areas around a property are security lighting and CCTV. In fact, almost a third of tradespeople responding to the IronmongeryDirect survey said that security lighting was the third most popular product they fitted for customers.