For less complex buildings, PAS 24 is used as a baseline for security engagement and risk measurement, and for buyers wanting more in-depth detail behind the certification, there are two more schemes to understand: LPS 1175 and Secured by Design.
LPS 1175 — the scale for attack resistance
LPS 1175 is Loss Prevention Standard, and is controlled by the Loss Prevention Certification Board/LPCB. Unlike PAS 24, which is a simplistic Pass or Fail system, LPS 1175 assigns an attack resistance rating in a range: A, B, C, D and E and SR1 to SR6, where SR6 is the most resistant. The attack resistance rating is based on a testing protocol that defines the number of tools, the duration allowed, and the level of assistance available to an attacker.
If the highest value items you plan to store in your domestic garage are vehicles or equipment, you probably won’t need anything beyond SR1 or SR2. SR1 signifies a door that withstands a casual, one-minute attacker with basic tools. SR2 doors withstand up to three minutes of attack with an extended set of tools. Most break-ins are quick and/or opportunistic. An SR1 door in your home would be considered an upgrade from what most home insurers need.
The ratings outline exactly what failing looks like. In the lower ratings, failing means a person inside can be reached from behind the door and then operate the door. In the higher ratings, the criteria are even more restrictive. If you are interested, the full protocol can be obtained from the LPCB to see what is tested at each level in detail.
What Secured by Design Adds
Through the Police Crime Prevention Initiatives charity that collaborates with UK police forces, the Police Preferred Specification is Secured by Design. A Secured by Design-approved product goes beyond meeting PAS 24 and adds specific requirements regarding locking system details, cylinder standards, and sometimes, electronically controlled door systems.
Apart from issues purely related to security, the scheme is relevant for two reasons. Firstly, Secured by Design compliance is often a planning condition from some local planning authorities and housing developers, which is essential to know if you are looking at a new-build or a development with planning constraints. Secondly, Secured by Design products are eligible for premium discounts with some home insurers, which offsets the usually high purchase price.
Gap between certification and installation
Both schemes test products, not installations. A door with an LPS 1175 SR2 certification is unlikely to perform to its rated level if it is installed in a frame that is misaligned, or if the locking points are not configured to engage correctly. The auditing of installations falls to the LPCB and Secured by Design schemes, and that includes your installer and, in the end, you the customer.
Make sure you are present when the installer tests that the door is flush at all sides, that every locking point is covered and that the bottom seal closes directly against the threshold. These are the fundamental checks that will help the certification to mean anything in practice.
Which rating do you really need?
For most domestic properties, the right benchmark is PAS 24:2022, as it is what most UK insurers use as their benchmark, and it is what Secured by Design accepts as a minimum. LPS 1175 ratings become pertinent when you are insuring high value contents, your insurer requires it, and/or the property has a history of targeted burglaries. To avoid unnecessary expense, ask your insurer what they need before determining a rating — purchasing to SR4 when your policy requires only PAS 24 is spent without measurable benefit.