ᐅ Secure windows and front door for a property in an exposed location
Created on: 18 Jan 2016 10:19
S
sirhc
Hello everyone,
Our plot is located at the edge:
- Last plot at the end of a one-way street
- To the east, a small wooded area
- To the south, directly adjacent to the plot, a railway track, with an industrial area beyond it
Therefore, I am currently focusing on the topic of security.
We were offered "standard" windows. I don’t have detailed knowledge yet, but I can share some key points: PVC, profile depth 70mm (2.8 inches), 5 chambers, Veka profile reinforced to 2mm (0.08 inches), triple glazing (called Veka Topline).
- For an additional cost: profile depth 82mm (3.2 inches), 6 chambers, 3 sealing levels (called Softline).
- For an additional cost: RC1 (4 security locking points).
- For an additional cost: RC2N (6 to 12 security locking points, anti-pry protection, drill protection, lockable handle).
- For an additional cost: magnetic contact for monitoring.
- For an additional cost: insulated aluminum blinds (electric operated).
The offered aluminum front door includes multipoint locking, aluminum panel, and warping-resistant sash.
At this point, I am mainly concerned with the windows. We would choose as follows:
Windows with 82mm (3.2 inches) profile depth without magnetic contacts and with aluminum blinds.
Questions:
1) Do electric blinds automatically provide lift protection?
2) RC2N means the glass is the weak point. Due to the adjacent railway track and the edge location, I consider the glass quite vulnerable as an attack target since breaking it wouldn’t be seen or heard when a train passes by. Therefore, I would prefer glass that is more difficult to break. Full RC2 would provide such glass but would have disadvantages in energy performance (U-value?), correct? How about RC2N combined with an impact-resistant protective film?
Thank you very much for your help.
Our plot is located at the edge:
- Last plot at the end of a one-way street
- To the east, a small wooded area
- To the south, directly adjacent to the plot, a railway track, with an industrial area beyond it
Therefore, I am currently focusing on the topic of security.
We were offered "standard" windows. I don’t have detailed knowledge yet, but I can share some key points: PVC, profile depth 70mm (2.8 inches), 5 chambers, Veka profile reinforced to 2mm (0.08 inches), triple glazing (called Veka Topline).
- For an additional cost: profile depth 82mm (3.2 inches), 6 chambers, 3 sealing levels (called Softline).
- For an additional cost: RC1 (4 security locking points).
- For an additional cost: RC2N (6 to 12 security locking points, anti-pry protection, drill protection, lockable handle).
- For an additional cost: magnetic contact for monitoring.
- For an additional cost: insulated aluminum blinds (electric operated).
The offered aluminum front door includes multipoint locking, aluminum panel, and warping-resistant sash.
At this point, I am mainly concerned with the windows. We would choose as follows:
Windows with 82mm (3.2 inches) profile depth without magnetic contacts and with aluminum blinds.
Questions:
1) Do electric blinds automatically provide lift protection?
2) RC2N means the glass is the weak point. Due to the adjacent railway track and the edge location, I consider the glass quite vulnerable as an attack target since breaking it wouldn’t be seen or heard when a train passes by. Therefore, I would prefer glass that is more difficult to break. Full RC2 would provide such glass but would have disadvantages in energy performance (U-value?), correct? How about RC2N combined with an impact-resistant protective film?
Thank you very much for your help.
P
Peanuts7419 Jan 2016 10:43Of course, it also depends on how remote the house is. In a residential area, a loud alarm system and five 500-watt halogen floodlights are, in my opinion, more likely to deter than simply taking a bit longer to enter the house unnoticed. Probably a combination of both is best. However, in my view, even the best windows won’t help if someone can tamper with them unnoticed for an hour, and a camera won’t be effective if entry and exit can happen in just two seconds...
Police advisory offices generally recommend using genuine RC2-rated windows (not RC2N) for new construction. If you want to save money on the first floor, it is important to ensure that no ladders or similar climbing aids are left lying around in the garden or at the neighbor’s property. A real-life example was given where the homeowner had done everything correctly and secured the ground floor well. However, the owner’s ladder was left unsecured in the carport, and it was used to break a window on the first floor.
In any case, mechanical security measures should always be prioritized; electronic aids are more of an additional option. For example, lights can cost-effectively deter opportunistic intruders. Professionals, however, are rarely stopped by alarm systems.
In any case, mechanical security measures should always be prioritized; electronic aids are more of an additional option. For example, lights can cost-effectively deter opportunistic intruders. Professionals, however, are rarely stopped by alarm systems.
P
Peanuts7419 Jan 2016 10:58Okay, it might depend a lot on the surroundings, but if a siren went off on my house and everything lit up like daylight, even at 3 a.m., some neighbors would be at the window and would call the police and write down license plate numbers, etc.
On the other hand, a colleague of mine lives in the middle of the woods, with the nearest house 2m (1.2 miles) away. If he’s on vacation and someone wants to break in, it doesn’t matter what windows he has, as the intruder can act unnoticed for as long as they want.
Here, cameras that send you a notification would be more helpful; then you could at least call the police immediately yourself and also have photographic evidence right away.
As I said, it always depends on the circumstances...
On the other hand, a colleague of mine lives in the middle of the woods, with the nearest house 2m (1.2 miles) away. If he’s on vacation and someone wants to break in, it doesn’t matter what windows he has, as the intruder can act unnoticed for as long as they want.
Here, cameras that send you a notification would be more helpful; then you could at least call the police immediately yourself and also have photographic evidence right away.
As I said, it always depends on the circumstances...
B
Bauexperte19 Jan 2016 12:14Hello Frank,
I can’t confirm that; I often meet police officers at trade fairs who are present with their advisory booths. It always depends on the environment where the building is located.
Basically, it is important to equip the ground floor windows and those easily accessible via the garage or carport with additional mushroom cams and drill protection. Breaking through triple glazing is not quick or easy and therefore is rarely the preferred option.
Also keep in mind: when certified RC II is installed, the overall window’s U-value worsens.
Best regards, Bauexperte
FrankH schrieb:
Police advisory offices usually recommend genuine RC2 windows (not RC2N) for new builds.
I can’t confirm that; I often meet police officers at trade fairs who are present with their advisory booths. It always depends on the environment where the building is located.
Basically, it is important to equip the ground floor windows and those easily accessible via the garage or carport with additional mushroom cams and drill protection. Breaking through triple glazing is not quick or easy and therefore is rarely the preferred option.
Also keep in mind: when certified RC II is installed, the overall window’s U-value worsens.
Best regards, Bauexperte
Bauexperte schrieb:
Hello Frank,
I can’t confirm that; I often meet police officers at trade shows who have their advisory booths on site. It always depends on the building environment. OK, I was referring to this specific case. I’m not sure if the advice is always the same, you probably have had more contacts in that regard.
Bauexperte schrieb:
Basically, it is important to equip ground floor windows and those that can be quickly accessed via the garage/carport with additional mushroom-head locks and drill protection. It’s not easy to break through triple glazing, so it is rarely the preferred method. That’s correct. I was also told that breaking window glass is rather rare.
Bauexperte schrieb:
Also to consider: when certified RC II (resistance class 2) is installed, the overall U-value of the window deteriorates.
Regards, Bauexperte As far as I know, that wasn’t mentioned, but it’s good to know. Thanks for the information.
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Bieber081519 Jan 2016 15:00There are (still) RC2 windows that are suitable for passive houses. Often, it simply comes down to the budget...
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