Secured by Design for Doors & Windows with IDM Doors

At IDM Doors, we pride ourselves on collaborating with housing associations and councils. Our unwavering mission is to provide cutting-edge solutions for planned maintenance projects, always with an absolute focus on safety, security, and resident well-being. A cornerstone of this focus, and a topic of increasing importance in the social housing sector, is Secured by Design (SBD), particularly as it applies to the critical entry and exit points of a property: doors and windows.

You might be familiar with the distinctive SBD logo or have heard the term, but let’s delve deeper into what Secured by Design truly represents for door and window products, why its principles are paramount, and how IDM Doors integrates these standards into our comprehensive offerings.

What is Secured by Design (SBD)? A Focus on Door and Window Security

Secured by Design is the official police security initiative for the UK, spearheaded by the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC). Established in 1989, its fundamental objective is to reduce crime through the use of robust and intelligently designed product solutions, specifically focusing on physical security elements like doors and windows. It’s a proactive, preventative approach: by making these crucial components inherently more resilient, SBD aims to design out crime from the very beginning.

For doors and windows, SBD means creating a formidable physical barrier against criminal activity, making properties inherently more secure and less attractive targets.

The Tangible Benefits of SBD Accreditation: Why It Matters for Your Doors & Windows

The positive impact of specifying SBD-accredited doors and windows is both significant and extensively proven. Numerous studies, including those by the UK police themselves, consistently demonstrate that properties fitted with SBD-compliant products experience a dramatic reduction in crime rates – up to 75% on new developments and as much as 60% on refurbished properties.

This translates into a multitude of benefits for housing associations and councils, and most importantly, for their residents:

• Significant Crime Reduction & Enhanced Peace of Mind: By making doors and windows formidable deterrents, SBD-certified products directly lead to fewer burglaries and break-ins. This tangible reduction in crime fosters a genuine sense of safety and significantly diminishes the fear of crime among residents, contributing to stronger, more stable communities.
• Superior Security Performance: Products bearing the SBD “Police Preferred Specification” have not merely been tested; they have undergone a series of rigorous, independent examinations and certifications specifically for their resistance to forced entry. This involves intense physical testing designed to simulate common attack methods, ensuring that every component – from the strength of the door frame and the integrity of the glazing to the resilience of multi-point locking systems – can withstand determined attempts.
• Unwavering Quality Assurance & Consistency: SBD accreditation isn’t a one-off achievement. Manufacturers, including IDM Doors as an SBD license holder, are subject to continuous scrutiny. This includes regular re-testing of products and annual inspections of our manufacturing facilities. This stringent oversight guarantees consistent quality and performance across our entire SBD-compliant range, providing absolute confidence to specifiers, procurement teams, and, ultimately, the end-users.
• Increased Durability, Longevity, and Reduced Maintenance: The robust engineering and high-quality materials required to meet SBD standards often result in doors and windows that are inherently more durable and designed for a longer service life. This translates into reduced maintenance costs and fewer replacements over time, offering a more economically sound long-term investment for social housing providers.
• Compliance and Exceeding Building Regulations: SBD standards frequently meet, and often exceed, the requirements of relevant building regulations for security, such as Approved Document Q (Security – Dwellings). Specifying SBD doors and windows helps ensure regulatory compliance while simultaneously elevating security provisions beyond the basic minimums.
• Positive Social Impact: More secure homes lead to greater resident satisfaction, reduced tenant turnover, and a more positive living environment. This aligns perfectly with the social welfare goals of housing associations and councils.

The IDM Doors Approach: Securing Your Assets with SBD Doors & Windows

At IDM Doors, our commitment to Secured by Design is fundamental to our product development and manufacturing processes. When we talk about an SBD-accredited composite fire door, composite door, timber fire door, or PVC-U window, we’re not just referring to a single component. We mean the entire doorset or window unit – a complete, independently tested and certified system.

This comprehensive approach for our SBD-compliant products typically involves:

• Robust Resistance to Manual Attack: Our SBD-compliant doors and windows are subjected to rigorous testing against common forced-entry methods, including kicking, jemmying, and drilling. This ensures the integrity of the entire structure of the unit.
• Advanced Locking Mechanisms: We incorporate state-of-the-art multi-point locking systems, high-security cylinders, and robust hardware, all of which meet or exceed the relevant British Standards (e.g., BS EN 1670 for corrosion resistance, PAS 24 for enhanced security).
• Enhanced Glazing Solutions: Where glazing is incorporated into our doors or windows, it is often laminated glass or other security glazing options designed to withstand impact and prevent easy access, specified in accordance with SBD guidelines.
• Structural Integrity: The overall design and construction of the door frames, window sashes, and associated components are meticulously engineered to eliminate weak points and provide maximum resistance to attack.
• Hinge and Hardware Security: Even seemingly small components like hinges are crucial. Our SBD doors and windows often feature anti-jemmy features to prevent their removal from the frame.

Investing in a Secure Future, Together

At IDM Doors, we firmly believe that investing in SBD-accredited doors and windows is not merely a cost; it’s an investment in safety, peace of mind, and the long-term well-being of residents. It’s about proactive prevention, reducing the burden on emergency services, and fostering thriving communities.

We are proud to offer a comprehensive range of SBD-compliant replacement composite fire doors, composite doors, timber fire doors, and PVC-U windows. IDM Doors is dedicated to partnering with housing associations and councils to understand their unique security challenges and provide tailored, high-performance door and window solutions that meet and exceed SBD requirements.

Contact us today to discuss your upcoming projects and discover how IDM Doors can help you achieve your security objectives with our SBD-certified products.