When choosing doors for residential properties, you may come across two commonly mentioned terms: PAS 24 and Secured by Design. It’s easy to assume that both are essential – or even interchangeable – when it comes to compliance with building regulations. But that’s not the case.
In this blog, we clarify key differences between the two, explain exactly what is required, and, most importantly, offer reassurance: if you’re using PAS 24 certified doors, you’re doing exactly what you need to meet the regulations and to ensure a secure, compliant product.
PAS 24 (Publicly Available Specification 24) is a UK security standard developed by the British Standards Institution (BSI) that defines enhanced security performance for doors and windows. Its aim? To ensure these products can stand up to common burglary techniques such as levering, force, or impact.
The most current version, PAS 24:2022, involves stringent testing, simulating real-world attacks. Door sets are subjected to manual intervention (think chisel or knife), mechanical loading, and glazing attacks to verify their strength and resistance. There are no half-measures – a product either passes or fails.
For manufacturers like us, it’s not just about passing a one-off test. A certified door set must go through an auditing process to ensure ongoing consistency in production. That way, every door made to the PAS 24 specification lives up to the same high security benchmark.
PAS 24 certification is not just a ‘nice-to-have’ – it is based on a legal requirement for residential security as set out in Approved Document Q of the Building Regulations (applicable in England and Wales). This document defines legal requirements for doors and windows to resist unauthorised access in new dwellings. Its aim is to improve the baseline security of homes to reduce burglary and unauthorised entry.
PAS 24 is one of the key compliant standards listed in this document. Ensuring you opt for door sets tested and certified to PAS 24 is a straightforward way to meet the regulation and demonstrate that the product offers proven, tested protection against burglary.
Whether you’re a developer, contractor, or homeowner, if you’re choosing products that carry this certification, you’re meeting your obligations. More than that – you’re ensuring that a minimum, proven standard of resistance to forced entry has been achieved.
Secured by Design (SBD) is a police initiative that promotes crime prevention through design, covering everything from products to layout and landscaping. While this sounds comprehensive – and for some large-scale developments may have its place – it is not a regulatory requirement.
While PAS 24 is a technical product standard which focuses specifically on the security performance of products (like doors and windows), Secured by Design looks at the overall design of buildings and developments to reduce opportunities for crime. It covers site layout, lighting, surveillance, access control, landscaping, and the placement of physical security features.
While it is often associated with social housing or residential developments with a higher risk of crime, unless SBD is a specific requirement from a local planning authority, housing association, or commercial contract, it is optional. For many projects, it could be considered surplus to requirements.
If you’re working on a residential project, PAS 24 is the security standard you need to meet. It’s robust, proven, and recognised in law.
At Stairways, we’ve chosen to focus on delivering PAS 24 excellence. Our PAS 24 certified doors offer everything required for compliance with building regulations – tested, accredited, and dependable. Our customers can be confident they’re choosing quality and compliance – without paying for extras they don’t need.
If you’d like to know more about our PAS 24 certified door sets and how we can support your project, get in touch with our team here.
High-value engineering delivering staircases and door solutions to national house builders, architects and contractors
Head Office, Southam Drive, Kineton Road Industrial Estate, Southam, Warwickshire CV47 0FA
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