In the UK, purchasing a garage door means considering the security, thermal, and fire regulations before you get to the style and finish options. Most supplier websites provide no details on this. This section covers it.

The articles here cover the details of certifications and standards. No star-rating systems and no top-ten lists. The goal is to provide you the information you need to make a fully informed choice and to pursue a supplier if their claims don’t measure up.

The Important Standards for Garage Doors
Before delving into the detailed articles, a primer on the main marks is highly advisable.

Standard What it tests Who issues it
PAS 24:2022 Physical attack resistance — door set including frame, locks and hardware UKAS-accredited test bodies (BM Trada, Exova, BBA)
LPS 1175 Attack resistance on a graded scale — A through SR6. SR1–SR2 covers most domestic use Loss Prevention Certification Board (LPCB)
Secured by Design Police-preferred specification. Requires PAS 24 as minimum plus additional locking and hardware criteria Police Crime Prevention Initiatives
U-value (W/m²K) Thermal transmittance — how quickly heat passes through the door. Lower is better. Building Regs maximum for integral garages: 1.4 W/m²K Tested to BS EN ISO 10077
FD30 30-minute fire resistance for the door set — leaf, frame, seals, ironmongery, and self-closer Certifire, BM Trada Q-mark
CE marking Conformity with the Construction Products Regulation Manufacturer declaration against harmonised standard

These standards are independent of each other. A door can hold PAS 24 certification without meeting Part L insulation requirements. An FD30 fire door between your garage and house is a separate requirement from the main garage door’s security rating. Getting one right does not cover the others.

Articles in this section

What does PAS 24 mean for garage doors — and why does it matter for home insurance PAS 24:2022 is the most UK home insurers underwrite. This article looks at what the standard tests and what it omits; how certification has tightened since the 2016 edition; and how one convinces a supplier to back up their claim prior to purchase.

Garage door security ratings explained — LPS 1175 and Secured by Design For purchasers wanting to go a little deeper than PAS 24. This addresses the LPS 1175 rating scale in simple terms; what Secured by Design adds onto that; the difference between product certification and installation standard; and what rating most residential premises realistically require.

U-values and insulation ratings — how to choose a thermally efficient garage door This covers what U-values mean in the real world; when Building Regulations Part L becomes relevant; differences between polyurethane and polystyrene in the insulation core; as well as the need to approach manufacturer figures with caution before making comparisons.

If the garage is attached to the house

An attached garage has more restrictions and requirements than a detached garage. The main garage door must achieve your insurer’s level of security, and if the garage is heated, the door must comply with the U-value requirements of Part L. If the house has been built anytime from the 1960’s to the present, the internal door from the garage to the house is a fire door and in the Building Regs is classified as self-closing. This is discussed in detail in the above articles.

Considerations relating to compliance are more complex when it comes to converting a garage. Building Regulations for the entire conversion will need to be considered, as will the requirements for fire doors and insulation. While this is outside the scope of this section, I would raise it with Building Control before the work starts.