What is Secured by Design?

The name may seem self-explanatory, but Secured by Design is much more than just a general principle. It's an official police initiative that aims to encourage better security for building residents, shoppers, and workers.

Helping you to know how secure your building is, Secured by Design accreditation based on police preferred specifications points toward products police love and criminals hate.

The requirements for certification transcend the basics set out in Part Q of the Building Regulations of England and require independent testing by an accredited body. Products are thoroughly tested, and visits to production facilities ensure that actual product quality is consistent with that of items submitted for certification.

Secured by Design certification is achieved through bodies accredited by a third party body: the United Kingdom Accreditation Service. It is therefore not a purely commercial “paid” certification that anyone can earn, but one that focuses on impartial assessment.

Why is Secured by Design Important?

The police force isn’t just there to respond to incidents and apprehend criminals. Its mission includes deterring criminals and preventing crime. As such, Secured by Design (SBD) certification indicates that products fulfil these two crime-prevention criteria.

Any company can offer security products, but SBD certification shows that their claims are rooted in realities. Thanks to ongoing diligence, SBD certification has become a trusted, police-backed brand.

Not all security products are sufficiently robust to achieve SBD recognition. Its presence helps consumers to identify tested products that really will improve security as opposed to those that come with claims that are only substantiated by opinion.

Secured by Design Security Features for Doors

It’s interesting to note that SBD certification serves the dual purpose of enhanced fire safety and security. Secured by Design doors are evaluated based on the entire door set: the frame, door leaves, locking mechanisms, and associated glazing all form part of the evaluation.

SBD examines additional features beyond fire safety and security. For example, the durability of doors in normal use forms part of the assessment as does energy efficiency and resistance to weathering.

Although the design features of SBD-approved doors range across every type of door you might be interested in from wood to aluminium and glass to composites, there are specific features they have in common. These include a shielded door and frame, tamper-proof hinges, and the minimum requirement of a three-point locking system.

However, the real strength of security doors depends on their ability to withstand attacks, and this is demonstrated in rigorous third-party testing by accredited organisations. For example, Stronghold Security Doors has achieved Secured by Design recognition after passing LPCB tests.

Our doors’ security was evaluated based on very real, extremely determined attacks using a variety of tools and tool sets, achieving the rare LPS 1175 certification. Having met the requirement for independent, accredited testing, we qualified for Secured by Design recognition.

How Effective Are Secured by Design Products in Crime Prevention?

Does Secured by Design accreditation really mean your property is more secure? Research shows that it is. When SBD approved doors and windows are installed in a residential area, burglaries can fall by as much as 42 percent.

The police have gone to a great deal of effort to ensure that the Secured by Design Brand remains strong and deserving of public trust. And with SBD certified companies being subject to regular inspections to ensure continued compliance with standards, you can be sure that your SBD approved security doors and windows continue to meet security standards.

Secured by Design Guidance

It should be noted that SBD requirements align with building industry laws and regulations while surpassing them in terms of security. To clarify all the elements that should be considered in designing for security, SBD has produced a series of guides. They cover the secure design principles that should be implemented in and around homes, commercial premises, schools, hospitals and so on.

Secured by design guidance for homes addresses aspects ranging from the design of footpaths, lighting, landscaping and fencing to doors and windows. Although much of this guidance is highly technical and is intended for planning authorities and developers, certain parts provide detailed information that will benefit homeowners striving to enhance security.

Of particular interest, the recommendations pertaining to doors cover every type of door imaginable, from entrance doors to garage doors. In a highly actionable point, Secured by Design guidance reminds readers that multipoint locking systems only realise their full security potential when all locks are engaged.

Door Design: Certified Security Meets Beauty at Stronghold Security Doors

Home and building owners have a very natural desire for beautiful, welcoming exteriors and entrances. However, your desire for aesthetically-pleasing building features need not equate to slackened security.

With Stronghold Security Doors, you can enjoy impressive entrances, garage doors that become a visual asset, and light and airy windows. Your home or commercial building can be beautiful without offering a welcome to criminals, and our SBD certification proves the point.