DOOR manufacturer JELD-WEN has published a whitepaper calling for dual certification of doorsets to become a legal requirement within all multi-occupancy developments.
The paper, titled ‘Turning the Key Towards Better Security’ has been published in partnership with Secured by Design (SBD), the UK police initiative designed to deter crime, to explore the role that secure front entrance doorset design can play in helping to keep properties secure and prevent burglars from breaking in.
It sets out the purpose and effectiveness of secure doorset design, assesses current regulations and accreditation, and considers the wider factors impacting levels of crime.
Contents of the whitepaper also address research conducted by JELD-WEN, which explored how secure those living within social housing felt within their homes.
It found tenants believe the level of security offered by their landlord falls short, with a quarter (23%) of those living in multi-occupancy properties having experienced a security breach over the last 12 months.
Almost half of respondents believed crime was increasing in their area, and 24% felt that their front door wasn’t secure.
32% admitted to leaving their front door unlocked overnight, and 57% said they would leave it unlocked during the day – even though this is the most common timeframe of opportunity for thieves.
Glyn Hauser, R&D senior group manager at JELD-WEN, said, “It is worrying that a third of social housing tenants do not feel adequately protected from the risk of a break-in, particularly as the ongoing cost of living crisis presents a potential surge in crime over winter. We’re also concerned that many break-ins can be attributed to entrance doors that have been left open, which is a clear indication that there is a huge awareness task in terms of educating residents about how they can improve the security of their home.”
The research found an overwhelming majority of residents asserted that security from break-ins (80%) and fire protection (48%) are the most important functions of a front door, which JELD-WEN believes supports the growing case for dual-certification as standard practice.
Jon Cole, chief operating officer at Police CPI, who own and administer the Secured by Design (SBD) initiative, added, “Turning the Key Towards Better Security’ is an important whitepaper, which investigates how to elevate standards for door security across the board. Naturally, this aligns with the work that SBD has done and continues to deliver to improve the security of buildings and their immediate surroundings to provide safe places to live, work, shop and visit.”
