The Secured by Design (SBD) badge is frequently mentioned in sales pitches and shown on websites when researching new windows and doors for your home. But what does ‘Secured by Design’ mean for you as the consumer? What benefits will you get? Will your new doors and windows really be secure?
The Secured by Design badge is often misused, and you may be misled into believing all the products shown on the website are SBD accredited. Well, they are not. In this article you will learn about Secured by Design so you know what questions to ask when buying new windows and doors and how to check the product you have installed meets the SBD strict criteria.
What is Secured by Design or SBD?
Secured by Design (SBD) is the official police security initiative that works to improve the security of buildings and their immediate surroundings to provide safe places to live, work, shop and visit.
Secured by Design runs an accreditation scheme called the ‘Police Preferred Specification’. This scheme provides a UK standard for all security building products, not just windows and doors, to deter and reduce crime. SBD’s purpose is for companies selling products in the UK to obtain police recognition for their security-related products.
It’s imperative to know that SBD does not personally test the products; it is a membership organisation. It is not part of the police force; the company behind SBD is Police Crime Prevention Initiatives Ltd.
SBD membership proves that the Secured by Design windows or Secure by Design doors have achieved “Police Preferred Specification”. Independent and third-party testing institutes carry out this specification and testing. There is a page on the SBD website outlining the accredited test and certification facilities.
So, what does this mean for homeowners buying new doors and windows? Of course, you would expect all windows and doors purchased in today’s age to be secure, but SBD gives you that extra peace of mind that the product has been tested to the current highest security standards.
However, it is essential to know that testing is done on a sample product with a specific configuration and specification – do not assume every window or door product is tested, even if it is the same brand. The SBD logo may be displayed on the website as a generic badge on every page, but this does not mean every product on the website has been SBD verified.
What you need to know when you see the Secured by Design badge
First of all, the Secure by Design badge is a registered trademark, and the Police Crime Prevention Initiatives Ltd (SBD) are incredibly strict about the misuse of their badge.
The reality is the door and window industry misuses it a lot. So, just because you see an SBD logo on a glazing company website doesn’t mean they’re allowed to use it.
When they are allowed to use it, it’s not your installer that’s accredited but the product they are selling. It’s the brand manufacturer that organises the testing and the SBD membership. However, installers can become members and use the badge with permission as a component supplier. Therefore, only members (manufacturers) and resellers (installers) can display the logo.
With the SBD logo promoting better security and enhancing the perception of a website or product, it’s understandable that businesses want to display it and that Secured by Design is strict on badge use. Any non-member company displaying the SBD badge must also state the brand and product their logo use relates too.
Secured by Design and IoT
IoT stands for the ‘Internet of Things’, which refers to doors and windows where the locks and sensors are connected to the Internet, often called a smart device, which can expose you to potential cybercrime.
In 2018, the UK Government published a Code of Practice for Consumer IoT Security, which provides guidance and support for companies involved in designing, manufacturing, and retailing products with an internet connection. In 2024, it became law that all businesses involved in the supply chain of these products must comply with the legislation.
Secured by Design provides an accreditation scheme that proves that the smart devices conform to the regulations. The scheme checks the testing has been done and, if the product complies, allows the company to display the SBD badge on their marketing materials.
What are Secured by Design doors and windows?
The security test for doors and windows is called PAS 24:2016 Enhanced security performance requirements for doorsets and windows in the UK.
PAS 24 (Publicly Available Specification) is a widely used and minimum security test within Building Regulations for door and window security. There has to be a minimum standard under which a door or window will pass. And indeed, there are many windows and doors on the market that exceed this minimum requirement.
PAS 24:2016 is the newest standard, you may also see references to older standards PAS 24:2012 or BS7950.
What happens on a PAS24 test?
The test involves various methods of attack on a door or window and using both manipulation and mechanical testing. The test uses various tools attempting to force entry as well as impact tests on the glass.
The manufacturer submits the product for testing to PAS 24. Assuming a pass result, the factory and the manufacturing process are examined by a UKAS accredited Certification Body. Assuming all is in place, a certificate is provided to the manufacturer. Then they can market their products as ‘certified to PAS 24′. SBD may place additional requirements such as using laminated glass and, of course, that the manufacturer holds an SBD licence.
Is PAS 24 the same as Secured by Design?
No, PAS 24 is the test, and Secured by Design is a licensing scheme that uses this test plus its criteria where required. Don’t assume PAS 24 is the only test. There is also LPS 1175, which is a more thorough test that is applied a lot to commercial doors and windows.
Not all doors and windows are Secured by Design accredited
When buying new windows and doors, you’ll see marketing messages such as:
“Our products are tested to Secured by Design”
“Police-backed security”
“SBD accredited” and many other similar terms
These messages don’t mean you’re automatically getting the door or window product that is Secured by Design accredited.
And here’s why. Whatever the security test carried out on a product, it is tested at a particular size, design and specification. So if your new door is tested as an open outwards door with a standard threshold, a specific handle, lock and glass type, then only that product is tested and certified. If you order a door that opens inwards, with a different handle and glass type, it ceases to be an SBD product as it’s not been tested with that configuration.
There are several good examples to illustrate this point.
- Most doors and windows are tested with laminated glass and not toughened
- Some bifolding doors are only tested with opening-out designs
- Sliding doors are tested and certified at specific panel sizes and larger doors may fail the same test
- Many aluminium front doors state in the test ‘no letterplate allowed’
- Doors with side panels aren’t often tested
- The lock and key cylinder brand may be different
The takeaway is that unless your product is provided with the exact specifications tested, it’s unlikely to be a 100% SBD product. Check with your installer, check with the SBD website and ask the right questions.
Is Secured by Design a legal requirement?
A reputable installer will be honest about what the various tests and standards mean or you can get in touch with us for more information.
There’s a lot of confusing information around Secured by Design Doors or windows and some of the marketing literature can be very misleading. Unless your product is exactly as tested, you probably aren’t getting an SBD certified product even though the manufacture and the system generally is.
No. SBD is not a legal requirement. At the moment windows in new builds need PAS 24 and Document Q.
How much does Secured by Design cost?
To the SBD holder, the cost is substantial at the start and ongoing.
For you buying new windows and doors, it depends on many factors. Laminated glass is one component also used in testing. This is more expensive than toughened glass supplied as standard and adds extra weight to your doors and windows. The benefit is a more secure product.
We all have different levels of risk when it comes to our homes, which will depend on the areas we live in; the Police UK website provides access to a crime map where you can check the crime rate by postcode. If your garden is private or secluded, you may want the extra peace of mind of a very secure door with the advantages of laminated glass.
Do you need to have Secured by Design windows and doors?
No. It’s not essential, but it can provide extra peace of mind that the product you are buying has been independently verified.
It’s also worth noting that most modern windows and doors use excellent hardware with excellent security features and are superbly designed. So, while a product may not have SBD, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t consider it. Take a look at the many product reviews on this website.
A good installer will be able to demonstrate the security features, even without an SBD badge attached to it. So don’t discount other products without this accreditation. If you would like some help find a Secured by Design product and installer, please get in touch with us.
