The long talked about Document Q regulation updates are coming into effect on Thursday of this week. To those that don’t yet know, these changes will affect windows and door installed into NEW dwellings, not existing. As far as regulation changes go, these are important ones, so these are the things you need to know, as written by Government in their latest online documentation.

Doors:

PAS 24:2012

Secure doorsets should be either: (text taken from online PDF)

a. manufactured to a design that has been shown by test to meet the security requirements of British Standards publication PAS 24:2012 or

b. designed and manufactured in accordance with Appendix B. – if you click the link, jump to page 15 for Appendix B.

NOTE: Doorsets satisfying other standards that provide similar or better performance are also acceptable. These standards include:

  • STS 201 Issue 5:2013
  • LPS 1175 Issue 7:2010 security rating 2
  • STS 202 Issue 3:2011 burglary rating 2
  • LPS 2081 Issue 1:2015 security rating B

Letter boxes

In short, letter boxes should have a maximum aperture of 260mm x 40mm. No bigger. They also need to be fitted in a place where would-be burglars wouldn’t be able to remove keys from inside the dwelling using hands, sticks etc. Features designed to restrict that sort of access would be required if the letter box cannot be put in such a location.

Worth noting, letter boxes that meet the TS 008:2012 would tick the box

Door viewers

According to the 2015 revisions:

The main doors for entering a dwelling (usually the front door) should have a door viewer unless other means exists to see callers, such as clear glass within the door or a window next to the doorset. The same doorset should also have a door chain or a door limiter.

NOTE: in some situations a door chain or limiter is not appropriate, for example where a warden may need emergency access to residents in sheltered housing. Alternative caller-identification measures, such as electronic audio-visual door entry systems, can be used to identify visitors.

Windows:

PAS 24:2012

(text taken from online PDF)

Windows should be made to a design that has been shown by test to meet the security requirements of British Standards publication PAS 24:2012.

NOTE: Windows satisfying other standards that provide similar or better performance are also acceptable. These include:

  • STS 204 Issue 3:2012
  • LPS 1175 Issue 7:2010 security rating 1
  • LPS 2081 Issue 1:2015 security rating A

As well as these details, there are instructions on the way windows and door should be installed. Click here to view the Government PDF and catch yourself up on everything you need to know.

The big detail here is the PAS 24:2012 test. If your windows and doors do not pass this, or similar requirements as mentioned above, fitting those products into new dwellings is going to cause a problem.

There was a question posed on Twitter about the scenario, should it crop up, of if a home owner decides that they don’t want some of the aforementioned features on the door. I think it might be a simple case of tough s**t. If they want their new extension or new home to be passed in the end, they’re going to have to put up with a door chain and spy hole.

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