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Doorsets that are ‘certificated’ to PAS 24:2016 are available in a wide variety of styles in timber, PVC-U, aluminium, steel or as a composite construction with facings made from glass reinforced plastic, PVC-U, aluminium, steel and fibreglass.  PAS 24 doorsets are designed to resist various types of attack on the door, frame and locks, including shoulder barging, kicking, levering and lock manipulation, which could be the picking or destruction of the lock and or handle to access the inside of the lock and open the door.  The doorsets incorporate either a multipoint locking system (the most common form of locking) or, for a front door, a combination of a mortice deadlock and a rim lock, usually at one third spacing. 

Multipoint locks come in various designs, but generally include a deadbolt and a live bolt (latch) in the centre of the door edge, at least two hook bolts and possibly a pair of compression bolts.  The bolts are normally operated by lifting the door handle from either side of the door leaf and are locked in place by the turn of a key from either face of the door or, if the door is the only means of escape, by an internal thumbturn.  The compression bolts, if fitted, and or the hook bolts pull the door tightly into the weather seals in the frame to keep out the draughts.  The doors should use 6.4mm laminated glass in any glazed panels (See  Glazing for domestic security ), but do check with the supplier.

Doors that are certificated to the enhanced security standard will also have undergone general performance testing referencing the following standards:

BS 6375-1:2009 Performance of windows and doors. Classification for weathertightness and guidance on selection and specification

BS 6375-2:2009 Performance of windows and doors. Classification for operation and strength characteristics and guidance on selection and specification

BS 6375-3:2009 Performance of windows and doors. Classification for additional performance characteristics and guidance on selection and specification

The testing under these performance standards will ensure that the door does what a door is supposed to do, such as keeping the wind and rain out and opening and closing without falling off its hinges.  In other words, these extra tests ensure that the door is not only very secure, but also fit for purpose.   The number of tests that are conducted on the door will be determined by where the door is going to be used.  For example, you would want to be satisfied that your new front door overlooking the sea at Exmouth would keep out the gales and the rain, but if the door was being used as a private entrance door inside a block of flats then these attributes wouldn’t be required.

So actually then you are getting something pretty good for your money and they aren’t that much more expensive than a door that is not certificated to these standards.