12.04.2021
Prevent burglaries in garages with burglar resistant doors
Many burglaries can be prevented in advance through correct behaviour and the right technology. In doing so, it is important to also think about burglar resistance for gates. "You should not neglect burglary protection for gates," says Stephan Schmidt, Managing Director of the Quality Assurance Association Locks and Hardware (Gütegemeinschaft Schlösser und Beschläge e. V.). The testing of burglar resistant gates according to DIN/TS 18194 is carried out by the Testing Institute Locks and Hardware Velbert [Prüfinstitut Schlösser und Beschläge Velbert (PIV)]. The standard is largely based on the EN 1627 - 1630 series of standards used for windows and doors.
Valuables such as bicycles, tools or gardening equipment are usually stored in the garage and must be protected against theft. In addition, the garage often provides direct access to the house through connecting doors. This means that the garage door promises easier access for a burglar than would be the case with the front door, for example. "To make burglary more difficult or, in the best case, to prevent it altogether, it is worth investing in burglar resistant doors," says Stephan Schmidt. When purchasing windows and doors, but also gates, it is therefore important to ensure that they are burglar resistant. According to the technical specification DIN/TS 18194, doors are classified in one of the resistance classes (RC). Just as with burglar resistant doors and windows, gates must also have been tested by an accredited testing institute such as the Testing Institute Locks and Hardware Velbert [Prüfinstitut Schlösser und Beschläge Velbert (PIV)]. The standard specifies the requirements, test procedures and classification systems of the burglar resistant properties of gates according to the product standard DIN EN 13241. According to this, the doors are classified in one of the resistance classes RC 1 N to RC 6 depending on the requirements they meet in the test. As with windows and doors in the private sector, at least resistance class RC 2 is recommended for gates.
As with the burglar resistance test for windows and doors according to the EN 1627 - 1630 series of standards, DIN/TS 18194 tests resistance to static and dynamic loads as well as to manual burglary attempts. The tester attempts to create an opening that can be passed through. For the manual break-in test, the tests are carried out according to DIN EN 1630. Here, gaps on the door leaf and locking points are attacked. In addition to the static and dynamic load, the manual attack also includes an attack on the guide rail and a surface attack on the door leaf.
If certification, i.e. testing and inspection by PIV, is desired, this can be obtained through the respective PIV CERT certification programme. The PIV CERT certification association issues a certificate for individual components once they have successfully passed the test and the initial production site inspection has run smoothly.
The Commission for Crime Prevention (KPK) regularly publishes lists of tested and certified burglar resistant products, as only these products are recommended by police departments. In this way, consumers can get an overview. Testing and product certification according to DIN/TS 18194 by the PIV also enables the manufacturer to be included in the KPK list of "Tested and certified burglar resistant doors/gates" of the police.
If you want to invest in burglar resistance, you should check whether a subsidy is available. In order to do something about burglary protection, the KfW Bankengruppe offers, among other things, the programme "Burglary Protection - Investment Grant 455-E". Anyone who wants to improve burglary protection in flats and houses as well as garages can receive a grant under this programme. The prerequisite for the subsidy for garages is that the door must be at least resistance class RC 2 and the garage must be directly adjacent to the residential building. To be eligible for the grant, the application must be submitted to KfW before the conversion begins.
