Most garage door manufacturers will indicate whether a product is insurance company approved. Very few suppliers, however, offer a guide or anything else for verification, leaving the claim without substantiation, creating challenges for buyers when an insurance claim gets filed.
Wording from the Insurers
U.K. home insurance providers will not share an approved products list. What each provider asks for differs. Most often, a minimum requirement is the PAS 24:2022. This is the UK’s standard for improved security performance for door sets. Some guidelines ask for Secured by Design approval, other guidelines reference LPS 1175. Insurance approval is product specific and can vary from one insurance policy approval to another.
The first step is not to ask the supplier, but instead, read the policy document. In the section that describes the policy requirements for security, often found within the protection or security guidelines, should outline the requirements. If it is unclear, then it is best to call. It is best to ask if a PAS 24 certified door is enough, or if they require Secured by Design.
Verifying a claim of certification
Based on the claims of the suppliers, the certification of the PAS 24 is based on the UKAS accredited bodies, which includes the BM Trada, Exova Warringtonfire, and the British Board of Agrément. You can search and see these three companies on the UKAS websites as each of these bodies have a registered public list. If a body is able to give its certification number, the PDP number, and the name of the body, you can check the certifications yourself to obtain the information. This is a very short and easy certification check, as you can see the validity of the certification and also the scope of the product to the certification.
Secured by Design also has their product database at securedbydesign.com. There you can search for a product by type. The database will give you the name of the manufacturer, name of the product, and its approval status. If a product is on the list, the product has approval from Secured by Design. If a product is not on the list, the product does not have approval by Secured by Design no matter what the literature says.
LPS 1175 certification can be checked in the live version of the LPCB Red Book at redbooklive.com. The listing tells you the name of the product, name of the manufacturer, rating of the product, and the expiry date of the certification.
What to ask the supplier in writing
Before you send the order, ask your supplier to clarify in writing the specific certification the product has, the standard and edition it was tested to, the certificate number and issuing body, and if the certification is for the complete door set including frame and hardware. Certificated suppliers usually have this information. If the supplier is reluctant to provide this information, it should be taken as a red flag.
Also, check if the installer has the relevant accreditation. For powered doors, there is a good chance that the member of the Door and Hardware Federation (DHF) knows the relevant and current standards. Some policies state that the installation has to be done by a competent person, who, in this context, is someone who has knowledge of the standards and is not just a door fitter.
After the installation
Keep the certificate documentation in your policy document folder. If you ever need to make a claim that involves the garage, it is a requirement to provide a certificate number and records of installation. This will prove that the door was compliant at the time of installation. If you do not have this document, you could end up in a situation where the insurer will have the last word in the case, and that is a situation you do not want to be in.