Burglar-proof doors – is it worth investing in them?

When we watch a good action movie, we wonder if the home burglary scene that lasts for a few seconds is just a shortcut of the script, but is the door really that easy to break through for a criminal equipped with a crowbar or office clip? Fortunately, life is not a movie and breaking in through a door can be much more difficult, and if you invest in an anti-burglary door – even impossible. So let’s take a look at what to look for and how to wisely choose security features to discourage burglars.

What are the key features of burglar-proof doors?

The first important piece of information about the door is the burglary resistance class, using a six-point scale – those belonging to at least class three or four are considered burglar-proof. As for the design, a solid burglar-proof door must have hinges that prevent the leaf from being removed from the frame. A good quality door is made up of several layers plus thermal insulation filling, which makes it heavy – as the structure itself, as well as the number of bolts significantly increases the weight, the door is set on three or even four hinges. The solid frame is reinforced with vertical or transverse supports, forming a truss.

An indispensable element is the anti-theft bolts or anti-theft hooks, which additionally block the removal of the door leaf if the hinges are cut. Of course, also very important is the lock, which should activate four or more bolts, located in the door, extending in three directions. It must also be well protected with hard steel covers, which will prevent it from being drilled through. It is customary to install two locks in the door – a lower and an upper one, of which only the first is responsible for extending the bolts, but the security of the house is increased by modern doors with multi-point locks, which use a system consisting of several bolts, activated by one central key.

Note that an excessive number of locks is not advisable. It’s better to bet on two sturdy Class B or C locks, which take three to six minutes to force through.

Can a burglar-proof door be stylish?

And do burglar-proof doors have aesthetic advantages? In modern design and quality workmanship as much as possible – they can be, for example, with embossing or applications in the form of vertical or horizontal slats, visually breaking up the uniform block of a rectangle. With their minimalism and conservative style, they are well suited to modern construction, but nevertheless the rich palette of colors and finishes makes it possible to match them also to classic, traditional houses. The offers sometimes include burglar-proof doors with P4 or P5 class glass, which can lightly illuminate dark vestibules and hallways, but keep in mind that such a glass panel is potentially the weakest point of the door.

What security certifications should burglar-proof doors have?

Burglar-proof doors undergo the appropriate tests to officially obtain the relevant certificates – the security features must be confirmed, for example, by a Certificate of the Institute of Precision Mechanics or other research unit, which provides a guarantee of the effectiveness of the solutions used and the quality of the materials. Certified burglar-proof doors are those that cannot be opened and balanced in 5 to 20 minutes, and considering that it takes burglars barely a dozen seconds to open an unprotected door, the difference is incomparable.

The design of burglar-proof doors is characterized by a wide variety depending on their purpose and requirements, but locks, hinges, handle hardware and anti-theft pivots must together guarantee the required degree of resistance to attempted break-ins. Among the most commonly chosen doors are models in RC2, RC3 and RC4 classes, which guarantee protection against burglary with tools such as a screwdriver or crowbar, for example, and in RC4 class – an axe and a drill.

Declaring the class of burglary resistance is possible on the basis of tests carried out by an accredited body. Each door can be classified according to one of six RC classes, according to the PN-EN 1627 standard, which replaced the old PN-B-92270 standard. It defines resistance to burglary as resisting attempts to forcibly enter a room or area using physical force and specific tools. Nevertheless, meeting these standards is one thing, while proper installation by professionals is another, and here you need to pay close attention to whether everything is done with attention to detail.

What is the cost of installing a security door?

Certainly much lower than the potential damage caused by thieves to our property or looted valuables. Security should not be spared, and burglar-proof doors are recommended by both insurance agents and dealers themselves as one of the primary barriers against burglars, as important as an alarm system or monitoring.

The cost of the installation depends on the extent of the changes made, for example, the need to remove the old doorframes or form the door opening – while it should not exceed about PLN 1000 – 1500. This is definitely a fraction of the value of goods that can be appropriated by thieves, who will force the entrance to our home in a dozen seconds. So when it comes to burglar-proof doors, the price of their installation and the door leaf itself should not be the determining factor – instead, pay special attention to the certificates and the guaranteed level of protection.

Burglar-proof doors – is it worth investing in them?