A burglar using a crowbar to break into a home through the front door.

LPS 1175 Security Ratings Explained

Stronghold Security Doors holds LPS 1175 - S3 ratings and has achieved two related certifications. In this article, we celebrate our achievement and show you how security ratings work and what consumers can infer from them. Staying safe with us? You’ll have all the confidence that comes with approval from the Loss Prevention Certification Board (LPCB). According to testing facilities, 95 percent of products submitted for testing fail, but Stronghold Security Doors stood firm, proudly living up to their name.

What is LPS 1175?

The LPCB tests security products, rating them according to their capacity to withstand attempts at forced entry. The Board assigns a security rating based on the level of attack a product (usually a door, window or barrier such as fencing) will be able to withstand.

It’s not just a paperwork-based exercise. To achieve LPS 1175 certification, an accredited testing facility is used to put products through their paces. The results of what can only be described as a rigorous testing process are then analysed and a security rating is assigned. Thereafter, the LPCB conducts periodic reviews, ensuring that products continue to uphold the standards against which they were initially tested.

Simply put, LPS 1175 is an independent accreditation that indicates how well your security doors or windows will withstand an attack by a potential intruder armed with commonly available tools. It is supported by periodic checks and is a trusted indicator of the level of security afforded. LPS 1175 is seen as a reliable benchmark of quality, and although it is a UK standard, it can be compared to the European standards stipulated in EN 1627.

How are LPS 1175 Security Ratings Measured?

Working at an LPCB-approved testing facility seems like a lot of fun, but on a serious note, what they do represents the ultimate in destructive testing - and all in the cause of consumer safety and security.

To begin the process, doors or windows are installed just as they would be in a real-world scenario. Now, it’s time to pass the test as a range of attacks, designed to equal anything that may happen in real life, are launched by a team of people with seemingly boundless energy and untiring determination to break and enter.

Our beautiful security doors were first subjected to onslaughts using hand tools: screwdrivers, hammers, and crowbars were in evidence. Next, the testers brought out the power tools, including drills and disc grinders. In short, they pried, they cut (or attempted to cut) and they exerted impacts that all-but shook the facility.

It’s not just force or tool use that matters in determining a rating, however. The duration of the attack is also an important consideration in determining a security rating. Test scenarios matter too. For example, what happens if a door panel is attacked, versus the results when locks or security glass bear the brunt of an attack are all relevant considerations. To achieve a security rating, a door must withstand attack for the required time, regardless of the part of the door being targeted.

LPS 1175 Security Ratings Categories

Based on the battering it received, the tools used, and how well the door stood up to attacks spanning specified time durations, a product is assigned a security rating (SR) level.

  • An LPS 1175 SR1 door will handle attacks using physical force or simple hand tools such as screwdrivers, knives, and pliers for up to a minute. This is considered sufficient for a basic security door.

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  • An LPS 1175 SR2 door will stand against an attack using more powerful tools like claw hammers, drills or bolt cutters for up to three minutes. A door such as this would be classed as offering enhanced security.

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  • To achieve LPS 1175 SR3, a door must be able to withstand attacks from all the tool-types mentioned so far with the addition of short axes, chisels, crowbars, and even gas torches and disc grinders. It must stand firm for up to ten minutes.

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Beyond this level, security doors are no longer intended for domestic use. Indeed, an SR3 door would be unusual in most single-dwelling domestic contexts. They are commonly used to protect residential complexes, commercial enterprises, and healthcare facilities.

Of course, an SR4 door is even more resilient. It would be considered suitable for banks, data centres, and power stations. SR5 doors have an even narrower range of applications. For example, they may be used to protect military bases or embassies. SR6 doors are exclusively for extremely high-security environments such as top-secret government institutions.

Stronghold Security Doors’ LPS 1175 SR3 rating provides an excellent balance between enhanced security and affordability. Your doors appear elegant and welcoming but can withstand determined (and noisy) onslaughts from intruders with an extensive toolkit for up to ten minutes.

LPS 1175 Vs EN 1627

As noted, LPS 1175 is a UK standard. Here’s how it stacks up against the European EN 1627 standard.

Compared to EN 1627, LPS 1175 tests doors using a much wider range of tools and tool sets. The European test limits attacks to glazing to avoid noise while the UK’s testing process doesn’t treat glass differently from the rest of a door assembly and allows for noisier attacks.

Besides this, the European testing process tests only the door, while the UK testing process allows for attacks on associated electronic components. In addition, EU testing assumes a night time attack and tests doors when they are in full locking mode while the UK tests both day and night lock configurations.

Despite these differences it is possible to draw parallels between the different forms of certification. For example, a door rated as RC3 under the EU’s EN1627 standard is equivalent to a door rated as SR2 under the UK’s LPS1175 and an RC4-rated door would be comparable to a door with an SR3 rating.

The rather more stringent testing environment used in the UK is partially attributable to the type of threat being evaluated. The EU’s certification is based on typical burglary attacks, while the UK extends the types of attacks to include terrorism and rioting.

Certifications to be Proud Of

Having withstood testing by independent assessors, Stronghold Security Doors has achieved two certifications to be proud of.

Secured by Design (SBD) is an accreditation scheme developed and overseen as an official police initiative. Achieving our SR3 rating demonstrates that our products align with police-preferred specifications.

Along with this certification, we hold LPCB certification administered by the Building Research Establishment (BRE). British Loss Prevention Standards are highly regarded around the world, and Stronghold Security Doors have demonstrated their ability to meet them.

Security by Design; Beauty by Choice

Not all LPS 1175 SR3 steel doors exude charm and elegance. Our steel-reinforced doors, on the other hand, combine your desire for security with your taste for the finer things in life. View our premium security front doors, and your first impression will be that they are beautifully made. But, if an intruder were to attempt forced entry, they will soon discover that gaining access is no easy matter. Enjoy a secure welcome home with Stronghold Security Doors. Security has never been so beautiful. Contact us today to find out more about our security doors.