Read the test certificate, not the brochure
Security claims mean nothing without a test report behind them. Ask the supplier for the PAS 24 certificate and the test report number, then check the date. PAS 24:2022 was published in September 2022 and superseded the 2016 version, so a certificate referencing the older standard is dated.
Match the certificate to the actual product. A report covering a single-leaf entrance door does not cover a multi-pane bifold or a sliding configuration. Confirm the tested leaf size, frame depth and glazing build match what is on your quote.
For new dwellings, doors and windows must meet the security requirement under the building regulations, which points to PAS 24 testing. On a new build or change of use, the certificate is not optional. See our aluminium entrance doors and bifold doors for tested options.
Check the cylinder, handle and locking points
Most forced entries target the cylinder, so the lock specification carries the weight. Ask for a TS007 3-star cylinder, or a 1-star cylinder paired with 2-star security hardware. Get the star rating written on the quote, not described verbally.
Count the locking points and check what they engage. A hook bolt or mushroom cam locking into a steel keep resists levering far better than a single deadbolt. On bifolds and sliders, confirm the shootbolts engage at head and cill, not just the side jamb.
Anti-snap, anti-bump and anti-drill features should be named on the cylinder datasheet. If the supplier cannot name the cylinder brand and rating, treat the security claim as unproven.
Glazing, beading and hinge protection
Glass is only as secure as how it is held in. Specify internal glazing beads so the unit cannot be removed from outside, or a mechanically retained bead system if external beading is unavoidable. This is checked under PAS 24 and is a common weak point on cheaper imported frames.
Hinges on outward-opening doors should be bolt-through or fitted with hinge bolts so the leaf cannot be lifted off if the pins are attacked. Ask whether hinges accessible from outside have fixed or removable pins.
For large glazed openings, a laminated glass build resists sustained attack longer than toughened alone. Discuss the glass build against the exposure of the opening rather than defaulting to standard spec.
Get the security spec written into the order
A verbal assurance is not a specification. The order should state the standard, the lock rating, the glazing retention method and the hinge protection in plain text, so what arrives on site can be checked against it.
Cross-check security against thermal and weather performance. Aluminium windows and doors carry CE or UKCA marking to BS EN 14351-1, and a good supplier balances both rather than trading one off against the other. See our security page and energy efficiency for how the two sit together.
Keep the test report, the cylinder datasheet and the Declaration of Performance with the project file. They are what you produce if Building Control, an insurer or a client ever asks. Trade buyers can price a tested specification through our quote page; homeowners should use find an installer to reach a vetted fitter.