We all want to feel safe in our own four walls. So what elements should we pay special attention to in order to make possible theft as difficult (or ideally impossible) as possible? Home security is increased primarily through the monitoring and anti-theft protection of windows and doors. Then we give you tips for choosing a secure front door for your house or apartment.
What is an armored door?
The term burglar-resistant doors is a more colloquial term, implying that they prevent attempted break-ins. However, the truth is that no door is 100% burglar-proof. An experienced burglar with the right tools and time can break through most doors.
From our point of view, the most important question is: How long will it take? Sure, the more the better. If the door doesn’t give way immediately, the thief may flee, discouraged, or caught red-handed.
For this reason, in connection with doors and carpentry in general, we speak of « more security against theft ». Doors with appropriate security elements that make opening more difficult and increase the opening time have a documented burglary resistance class.
safety course
The burglary resistance classes indicate how long and with which tools a door can effectively withstand an attempted break-in. In the summary below you will find the characteristics of each resistance class RC (abbreviation of resistance class) according to the applicable standard EN 1627, whose full name is: « Doors, windows, curtain walls, grilles and shutters ». . resistance to thieves. Requirements and Ranking”.
Resistance class vs. intended method and intent of access
class 1
Opportunists will try to use small, simple tools and physical force, such as B. digging, shrugging, lifting or pulling on the door to gain entry. The thief tries to seize the opportunity, he has no special information about the durability of the construction product and is interested in both weather and noise.
Special knowledge of possible benefits is not expected and the thief’s willingness to take risks is low.
2nd Class
In addition, the casual thief tries to get at them with simple tools such as screwdrivers, pliers, wedges and, if the rods and hinges are exposed, with a small handsaw. Drills are not associated with this altitude due to the use of puncture proof cylinders.
The thief tries to seize the opportunity, has little idea of the level of resistance to be expected, and is interested in both weather and noise. Special knowledge of possible benefits is not expected and the thief’s willingness to take risks is low.
Class 3
The thief attempts to gain entry with a steel pry bar, an extra screwdriver, and tools including a small hammer, pins, and a power drill. By using the steel lever, the thief can apply greater force.
A drill can be used by a thief to attack loose locking devices. The thief tries to seize the opportunity, knows the likely resistance, and is interested in both weather and noise. Precise knowledge of the probable benefit cannot be expected and the thief’s willingness to take risks is medium.
class 4
A skilled thief will also use a heavy hammer, an axe, scissors and a portable cordless drill. The heavy hammer, ax and drill offer the thief additional attack methods. A thief expects tangible benefits and may be determined to gain access to them.
He’s also less worried about the noise level he’s generating and is willing to take more risks.
Class 5
The experienced thief also uses power tools such as drills, jigsaws, hand saws and angle grinders with a maximum disc diameter of 125 mm. The use of an angle grinder increases the range of attack methods and the probability of success.
The thief expects tangible benefits, is determined to get them, and is well organized. He’s also unfazed by the amount he produces and is willing to take big risks.
class 6
The experienced thief also uses a jackhammer, heavy power tools such as drills, jigsaws and hand saws, and angle grinders with a maximum blade diameter of 230 mm. These tools can be used by one person, have high levels of productivity, and are potentially very effective.
The thief expects big profits, is determined to gain access to them, and is very organized. He’s also unfazed by the amount he produces and is willing to take big risks.
Doors up to class RC3 are most commonly used to secure houses. Partition walls with increased burglary protection are used in buildings with a high risk of burglary.
Anti-theft doors – prices
Doors with increased protection against burglary have a special design that depends on a number of conditions:
- the material from which the door is made,
- the burglary resistance class of the door,
- the paneling of the doors (e.g. glass doors),
- the purpose of the product, etc.
On the other hand, hinges are important components of a burglar-resistant door: the number and type of hinges depend on the properties of the door system. It is important that the hinge has proven suitability for anti-theft protection.
To secure the door on the hinge side, the security bolts that carry the hinges are essential and carry with them in the event of an attempted break-in.
Also, do not forget to choose a suitable lock: the more locks there are, the more resistant the door is to pressure. The most effective solution is multi-point locking, which not only provides high protection against theft, but also improves the tightness and stability of the closed door.
It is recommended to choose a cylinder suitable for the lock, ie one that has a classification according to the guidelines of EN 1627:2012. This classification must of course be confirmed with the relevant documents. The door lock should have a secure hold, ie fastening screws that are not visible from the outside and a reinforced outer sheet.
Remember that a door with a burglary resistance class confirmed by a test certificate is a significantly more expensive product than standard solutions. However, it should be noted that cheaper doors usually do not have the appropriate papers and their quality and security against theft can be questionable.
Anti-theft doors: installation
When installing anti-theft doors, it is extremely important that the paneling is properly and securely attached. As a rule, the door manufacturer specifies in the assembly instructions how the product is to be assembled, the type and dimensions of the fasteners and the distances.
Installing a front door yourself is not the easiest task. The weight of the door leaf alone (depending on the size and manufacturing technology) makes correct alignment and installation in the frame more difficult.
We recommend that you leave the installation of anti-theft doors to a specialist company with the necessary equipment and experience.
Which security products to choose for home protection?
To protect your home or business, the most important thing is to choose woodwork that will stand up to intruders. If you need more information about the types of entrances available on the market, read one of our articles where we talk about the differences between armored and armored doors.
In addition, we help to select a suitable housing according to the customer’s requirements. We are talking about openings made of PVC, wood and aluminium.
And if you are interested in prices and are looking for an individual solution, visit our PVC window and door configurator, where you can choose the ideal opening variant for your home. Choose the panels, the locking system, the designs and the colors.
You can create an offer or proceed directly to the payment for the purchase. We will send you an email with payment details and a setup confirmation for the selected fence products.
Burglar-resistant doors: an overview
The range of possible technical solutions for theft-proof doors is already really impressive. The more elegant the packaging, the higher the price, of course. However, consider whether it is worth choosing the most expensive product on offer.
Security experts and police statistics show that burglars are much more likely to enter homes through additional front-facing doors or windows. The main entrance door, by its location (usually on the street side), is an effective deterrent to burglars attempting to break in.
It is therefore important to remember that a good front door is an essential part of a secure home which, when combined with the right joinery, can be effective in preventing theft and loss of property.