When it comes to protecting your home, it’s easy to assume that any steel door with a mesh screen will do the job. But not all security doors offer the same quality and protection, and in fact real security involves more than just strong materials or how good the door looks. It’s about how that door performs under pressure, and that’s where Australian Standards come in.
Recently, Australia’s regulations for security doors and window screens have undergone some serious upgrades. These updates aren’t just for manufacturers, they’re for you to ensure the door you choose is genuinely capable of keeping intruders out. If you’ve ever wondered what makes one security door stronger or more trustworthy than another, it comes down to how well it handles extreme testing and if it complies with these new national standards. So let’s take a look at what’s changed, what’s required and why it all matters more than ever.
A Tougher Benchmark for Security Doors
The updated Australian Standards have tightened the rules for what a security door must go through before it earns the label. Previously the industry followed a combination of AS 5039-2008 (performance), AS 5040-2003 (installation) and AS 5041-2003 (testing methods). The revised framework has grouped everything under the updated AS 5039 standard, which is now divided into 3 clearer parts:
1. AS 5039.1-2023: Classification and Performance
This part focuses on how screens are classified and what performance levels they need to meet. One of the biggest changes here is the introduction of Security Level 200 (SL200).
- Previously, dynamic impact testing used a force of 100 joules
- Under SL200, this has doubled to 200 joules, meaning the screen has to withstand a far more powerful impact like a heavy, repeated kick or a full-force shoulder charge.
This change raises the bar significantly, ensuring modern screens can resist increasingly aggressive break-in attempts. Also, any compliant screen must now clearly display a label referencing SL200 so there’s no guesswork.
2. AS 5039.2-2024: Installation
This section has introduced something new and that is a dedicated installation label.
- Once a screen is installed, it now needs a separate label attached that shows it was installed in accordance with the standard.
- This helps ensure accountability as it confirms not just the product meets the standards, but that the installation does too.
This makes a lot of sense, because even the strongest screen won’t work if it’s fitted poorly. The label offers traceability so if something’s not right it’s easier to pinpoint where the issue occurred.
3. AS 5039.3-2023: Methods of Test
This section outlines the testing process in more detail, and it’s been tightened up quite a
- Dynamic impact tests now use the new SL200 energy threshold
- The jemmy test, pull test, shear test, and knife shear test have all been reviewed and refined to ensure they’re more realistic and tougher to pass.
What’s important here is that all of these tests are designed to mimic actual break-in attempts. Whether it’s someone trying to lever the door open with a crowbar or slash their way through with a knife, these tests prove the screen can take the punishment and still hold strong.
How Security Doors Are Put to the Ultimate Trial
For a security door to comply with these new standards, it’s got to survive a series of brutal tests. These tests are designed to mimic the kinds of physical force a determined intruder might use to break in. They’re not theoretical, they’re practical, real-world simulations.
The dynamic impact test, for example, now uses a 40kg lead bag launched into the door five times, with the door expected to absorb 200 joules of force without failing. Then there’s the jemmy test, where mechanical winches mimic crowbar attacks at hinges and locks to see if the door gives in. These aren’t soft tests and they’re about as aggressive as it gets.
You’ve also got the pull test, where 200kg of force is applied to the edges of the door, and it has to hold firm without budging. And if that’s not enough, the probe test, knife shear test, and cutting test put screens and frames through their paces to see how they handle everything from sharp objects to bolt cutters.
Each of these tests ensures that no weak point is left unexamined. If a door passes them all, you can be confident it’s built to protect, not just to impress.
Why These Standards Should Matter to You
When shopping for a security door, it’s easy to get caught up in appearance or price tags. But the real value lies in how a door performs when it’s needed most and that’s during a break-in attempt. The Australian Standards are there to give you peace of mind, providing assurance that the product has been tested against extreme threats and come out strong.
Unfortunately, some products on the market might be advertised as “secure” without meeting these standards. That’s why it’s so important to check for compliance. If a door doesn’t come with an installation label or doesn’t mention SL200 compliance, you might want to think twice. At the end of the day, you want something that doesn’t just look tough but actually is then choose one of our high quality security screens and doors.
