Understanding Security Screens & Door Grades

Let’s run through the different security screen grades on the market to show you where some other manufacturers or installers cut corners.  Too often, we’ll hear how a customer thought they were buying a security door or screen but when it got ripped apart in a home burglary realised too late that they only purchased safety screens.

This page will help you make true apples-to-apples comparisons by giving you a detailed understanding of the Security Screen & Door grades Starline Security offers.  On the other hand, if you need help deciding which grade is best matched to your needs, go here.

With over 25 years of experience manufacturing and installing security screens and doors, you can rely on Starline Security to recommend the best screen suited to your budget, lifestyle and surroundings.

Our doors and screens are available in the following safety or security ratings:

• Safety grade
• Barrier grade
• Security grade

We like to emphasise the critical differences between these grades when we come around for an inspection and quote.  We want our customers to know what they are buying.  When comparing quotes, we recommend our customers review the specifications of each before deciding.

Give us a call on 07 3272 2974 to learn more about why a higher security screen rating matters.

Safety Grade

Safety grade screens and doors are arguably the most popular grade of screen or door sold in Australia.  They are designed to economically keep the insects out and your pets and children safe.  Builders love them because they comply with the AS5203 “Protection of Openable Windows / Fall Prevention” building regulation.  Consumers love them because they are less expensive than the higher grades and this grade is often all they require.  Our Basix, Diamond Grille, Xceed and SecureView screens and doors will all meet this standard easily.

Identification:

Safety grade window screens can be identified where there is a minimum of fixings holding the screen to the window frame.  Usually less than 8 fixings for the whole window screen and depending upon the size as well.  The minimum requirement to comply with a Safety window screen is two fixings.  Safety grade hinged doors typically have two hinges and a single lock.  Safety grade sliding doors often only have two wheels and a single lock.

Barrier Grade

The next most popular grade is the Barrier grade of screen or door.  We believe most window screens and triple lock doors sold in Australia are Barrier grade.  The majority of screens and doors are manufactured to pass “AS5039-2008 Security screen doors and security window grilles” but they are too often not installed to pass “AS5040-2003 Installation of security screen door and window grilles” or have not been installed in the same or an “equivalently similar way” to that with which their “as tested” sample was installed when they tested their screen or door as per “AS5041-2003 Methods of test – Security screen doors and window grilles requirements“.  In other words: If a company tests a door one way, and it passes, then that is the way that you need to install it to your customer house.  Not some other “cheaper” or “easier” way.

This may seem like we are splitting hairs, but where installation method compromises are made or standards not adhered to then the screen or door cannot be called a Security grade screen or door.  We feel that it must be called and sold as a Barrier grade door even if in most situations it still passes all the security screen and door standards.  So that is what we do.  If we cannot be absolutely certain that our screen or door is going to pass all the Security grade standards easily then we defer to conservatism and sell our screens and doors as Barrier grade.

Identification:

Identifying the difference between a Safety screen and Barrier screen is easy.

• Window screens will have many more fixings than safety screens. Fixings every 300mm or so around the perimeter of the window screen is typical.
• Hinged doors will have a minimum of 3 hinges and will have a triple lock mechanism.
• Sliding doors should be a 4-wheel door, have a triple lock and will have a back interlock fixed with screws spaced at the approximate 300mm interval again.

Identifying the difference between a Barrier screen and a Security screen is much more difficult.  So, instead of trying to do that, we have made it easier for you to identify a Security grade screen or door sold and installed by Starline Security.

Security Grade:

Security grade screens and doors must pass all three Australian standards mentioned in the Barrier grade description to be called a Security screen or Security door.  But we go much further than just passing these standards. With all Security Grade products, we take a holistic approach and consider your Security grade screen or door from all perspectives.  We think:

1. “What is the best, most secure way possible that we can manufacture and install this product?”
2. “What is the best hardware and accessories we can use in the manufacture and installation to make this product ‘best in category’?”
3. This screen and door must have a total no compromises focus on strength, security and functionality.
4. “Is the door jamb or whatever it is we are installing our Security Grade screen or door to strong enough?” If we think it is not, then we add strengthening adaptors or other various methods of upgrading the strength of your windows or doors to match the strength of our Security Grade screens and doors.

A security window screen must include the following to be classified as ‘Security Grade’:

• Manufactured to pass AS5039-2008. Starline achieves this by:
  • Ensuring construction strengths and hardware complies
• Tested to pass AS5041-2003
  • Testing our products, the same way we install them
• Installed to comply with AS5040-2003. Starline achieves this by:
  • Fixing a window screen on all 4 sides wherever possible
  • The first fixing no more than 100mm in from each corner
  • No more than 250mm between fixings &
  • Using our own tamper resistant fixings wherever possible.

A security hinged door must include the following to be classified as ‘Security Grade’:

• Manufactured to pass AS5039-2008. Starline achieves this by:
  • Ensuring construction strengths and hardware complies
• Tested to pass AS5041-2003
  • Testing our products, the same way we install them
• Installed to comply with AS5040-2003. Starline achieves this by:
  • Having a minimum of 4 security pin hinges

TIP: Here is something for you to tell if you have purchased a Safety, Barrier or Security Grade hinged door from Starline Security.

• 2 hinges = Safety door
• 3 hinges = Barrier door
• 4 hinges = Security door

A security sliding door must include the following to be classified as ‘Security Grade’:

• Manufactured to pass AS5039-2008. Starline achieves this by
  • Ensuring construction strengths and hardware selection complies
• Tested to pass AS5041-2003
  • Testing our products, the same way we install them
• Installed to comply with AS5040-2003. Starline achieves this by:
  • Using 25mm back interlocks
  • Adding additional back interlock receivers when required to achieve a minimum of 20mm of back interlock overlap when the sliding door is closed.
  • A quality Triple lock with a 5 pin cylinder
  • Ensuring that the door has limited opportunity to misalign by adding track guides etc.

IN CONCLUSION

Ok.  So, I hope it is clear that Starline Security goes to extreme lengths to ensure that if you buy a Security Grade screen or door from us then you are actually getting installed a very strong Security screen or door.  We will never sell you a Security grade door that does not use the best possible construction strength and installation method possible.

They are more expensive than Safety or Barrier Grades but what price do you put on the security of your family?  Selecting a Security Grade screen or door from Starline Security says that you have purchased the best of the best and you did all that you could to make your home as safe and secure as it possibly can be.