Advice on how to meet the new security requirements within the English Building Regulations has been published by the Door & Hardware Federation, which represents the UK's leading manufacturers of door and window hardware and locks. For the first time, the Building Regulations requires new homes to incorporate measures to resist unauthorised entry by casual or opportunist burglars. The DHF Guide to Approved Document Q of the Building Regulations advises architects, specifiers and house builders how the new provisions of Document Q can be met, specifically by choosing doors and window hardware that meets the required standards. The guide also gives comprehensive information on how the performance of doors and windows can be checked and assessed. The new security obligation under Document Q covers main entrance doors, windows and interlinked doors to integral garages in houses. It also covers external entrance doors to apartment blocks and to individual apartment doors that open into common areas. In particular, the guide describes how all easily accessible doorsets providing access should comply with PAS 24:2012 or other standards that provide similar or better performance to ensure they are secure.
