A focus on Part Q of the Building Regulation has put security features at the forefront of construction. SFS share how their hinges help prevent crime
Building envelope specialist and high-performance hinge manufacturer, SFS, has been working with the national crime prevention initiative, Secured by Design (SBD), for several years. SFS shares SBD’s ethos of designing out crime by incorporating security features into the design and development stage rather than being an add-on to the finished product.
Nigel Wood, Fenestration Business Development Manager at SFS, explains; “We have always been proud to work in partnership with Secured By Design, OEMs and fabricators to develop products with security features being integral to the design. In our view, the coveted SBD ‘Police Preferred Specification’ accreditation is a clear indication for specifiers and developers of our commitment to this initiative”.
The importance of security
Security has increased in relevance over the past few years due mostly to Part Q of the Building Regulations and PAS 024 testing standards. Prevention against burglaries also remains a concern across the country. Industry reports clearly show that SBD developments are much less likely to be burgled compared to non-SBD sites. And while better quality SBD-accredited products may increase the average home costs slightly, the Association of British Insurers estimate the long-term payoff far outweighs any initial building costs. The added security and durability of products also add to the sustainability and longevity of the building. Increasingly, specifiers are researching security-enhanced products and systems, and with the development of BIM, an SBD requirement for new builds may become part of the specification process in the future. SBD-accreditation is now a key USP for any manufacturer’s product portfolio.
Design in practise
Nigel Wood comments further; “When expanding our Dynamic 2D range to provide a hinge for composite doors for the commercial, new build and residential sectors, we worked closely with SBD and customers. Security was a prerequisite for our new Dynamic 2D-C hinge, but this didn’t impact on the other qualities we wanted to incorporate. This slim line hinge has the aesthetics, adjustability, security and durable performance customers can expect from an SFS hinge. It’s CE certified and easily complies with current PAS 024 door testing with the addition of a fire resistance assessment. The hinge is available in 6 standard colours answering the growing trend for coloured profiles and is adjustable to cater for the increased use of low thresholds. Incorporating security features hasn’t meant we’ve had to neglect the other product attributes we wanted to include.”
Testimonial
Select Windows, an award-winning family-run business in Walsall, West Midlands, has changed the specification of their composite doors to feature the Dynamic 2D-C due to its operational reliability and excellent visual appeal with built-in strength and security. Nigel Court, Operations Manager at Select Windows, comments; “As a company, we have always championed quality and performance. That’s why we don’t cut corners and trust only reliable hardware manufacturers like SFS intec. We know that SFS intec’s hinge range has passed all PAS 024 testing requirements and enhances the technical performance and styling of our doors. But it’s also a more secure fix, and the adjustment process is simple and makes our installers’ lives easier. Knowing that SFS intec are SBD-accredited gives us and our customers piece of mind that they are protected against break-ins.”
SFS Limited
Tel: +44 (0)113 2085 500
uk.info@sfsintec.biz
