Window security

Good window security comes down to three things. The locks hold the sash at several points, the glass resists breaking through, and the frame sits firmly in the wall. Modern double glazed windows usually have all three. In fact, a lab has attacked windows tested to the PAS 24 standard to prove it.

What good window security looks like

• Multipoint locking. One handle drives bolts into the frame at several points, so nobody can lever the sash open at one corner.
• Key-locking handles. A locked handle won’t turn even if someone breaks a small pane to reach it.
• Internal beading. The beads that hold the glass belong on the inside, so nobody can take the glass out from outside.
• Laminated glass. Two panes bonded to a plastic layer, which holds together when struck. It’s slower and noisier to get through than toughened glass.
• Secure fixing. The fitter screws the frame into the wall at regular points rather than just foaming it in.

Window security standards

PAS 24 is the British test for windows and doors. A lab tries to force them open with tools and times how long they last. Secured by Design is the police-backed scheme that recognises products meeting it. Ask whether the exact windows you are buying are tested, not just the brand. In addition, new homes have to meet these standards, so they’re a sensible benchmark for any replacement.

Ground-floor and easy-to-reach windows

Burglars look for the easiest way in, which is usually a ground-floor window at the back or a first-floor window above a flat roof or a porch. Give those the best locks and laminated glass first. Fit window restrictors in children’s rooms, but choose ones that release easily from inside, so the window still works as a fire escape.

Checking your existing windows

1. Try each handle with the key removed: does it lock?
2. Look at the glazing beads. If they’re outside, someone could take the glass out from outside.
3. Push and pull a closed sash: if it moves, the locking points or hinges need adjusting.
4. Check hinges for wear, especially on upstairs windows that are hard to reach.

Often a window repairer can fit new locking handles or adjust the keeps, so you keep the window. If the frame is old or the hinges and locks are worn throughout, replacement is better value; see repairing or replacing windows.

Doors matter more

Most break-ins through the front or back of a house use the door. A modern composite door with a multipoint lock and an anti-snap cylinder is the single biggest security upgrade most homes can make. The Secured by Design site explains what to look for.

Before you buy

Ask each installer which security standard the windows meet, whether the beads are internal, and whether laminated glass is available for ground-floor panes. Then compare quotes on the same specification.