ᐅ Questions About Burglar Resistance

Hello everyone,

I asked our builder about the cost of installing appropriate burglar resistance for the windows on the ground floor.

I was given the following options and prices (a total of 10 windows of different sizes):

1. Laminated safety glass (VSG) on all ground floor windows and patio doors: €3,649.24

2. P4A (anti-throw) laminated glass on all ground floor windows and patio doors: €2,154.22

3. WK2 fittings on 6 window sashes on the ground floor: €429.65 (excluding fixed glazing, not technically possible for lift-and-slide doors)

I now have a few questions:

1. What exactly is the difference between laminated safety glass (VSG) and P4A laminated glass? Do I understand correctly that VSG glass is also resistant to throwing attacks?

2. What would you recommend in terms of price-performance? Of course, I do not want to compromise on security.

3. We can also add lockable windows for €139 per window. Are lockable windows worth it? That would be for 10 more windows.

Thanks in advance for your help,
Christian

ONeill schrieb:
We can also add lockable windows for 139€ per window. Are lockable windows worth it? That would be 10 more windows.

You can get them much cheaper if you buy the handles yourself and remove and reinstall the two screws yourself. Then you’d be at 139€ for all 10 windows.

Hello Christian,

ONeill schrieb:

1. What exactly is the difference between laminated safety glass and P4A glazing? Am I correct in thinking that laminated safety glass is also resistant to break-ins?

A glazing is considered "resistant to break-ins" if it prevents thrown or hurled objects from damaging the glass. There are different PA classes available at varying price points.

“Laminated safety glass” (VSG) consists of two panes of glass bonded together with a PVB foil (plastic film). The thicker the bonded foil, the more resistant it becomes to break-in attempts.

ONeill schrieb:

2. What would you recommend in terms of price/performance? Of course, I don’t want to compromise on security.

Item 1 on your list should be certified.

ONeill schrieb:

3. WK2 fitting for 6 window sashes on the ground floor €429.65 (excluding fixed glazing, not technically possible with lift/sliding doors)

You have chosen an older term for your construction partner; WK2 no longer exists and is now called RC2.

What you described under point 3 is not a _true_ RC2 glazing (formerly WK2 and also certified), but the RCN2 variant. By the way, we install RCN2 as a standard for the ground floors of our single-family homes. Since a burglar wants to get inside quickly, this is an effective and—in my subjective opinion—sufficient way to secure your windows. Of course, higher protection is always possible.

ONeill schrieb:

We can also add lockable windows for €139 each. Is it worth having lockable windows? That would mean 10 additional windows.

This feature is usually included in item 3, RCN2.

Regards, Bauexperte

Hello everyone,

Thank you for the responses so far, which I would like to address now.

Mycraft schrieb:
You can get those much cheaper if you buy the handles yourself and unscrew and screw the two screws yourself. That way you’d be at €139 for all 10 windows

I have looked into it again, and the price was indeed only for the lift-and-slide door. I think it’s a bit more complicated here. Lockable windows have, presumably for the reasons you mentioned, not been offered for the time being.

Bauexperte schrieb:
Hello Christian,

Glazing is "impact-resistant" if it prevents damage from thrown or hurled objects. There are different PA classes for this, with varying prices.

"VSG" stands for laminated safety glass – two panes of glass bonded with a PVB film (plastic film). The thicker the bonding layer, the more "impact-resistant" it is.

Item 1 on your list should be certified?

You have chosen an older standard from your construction partner; WK2 no longer exists – it is now called RC2.

What you described under point 3 is not a _true_ RC2 glazing (formerly WK2 and also certified), but the RCN2 variant. By the way, this is what we use as standard on the ground floors of our single-family houses. Since a burglar wants to get inside quickly, this is a practical and—in my subjective view—sufficient way to secure the windows. Of course, more protection is always possible.

This is usually included in item 3: RCN2.

Regards, Bauexperte

Thank you for your explanations. I have read up on this again and am still trying to clarify the difference or connection between points 1 and 2.

I am trying to understand it this way: If I choose the laminated safety glass (VSG), then I get windows with the characteristics of this type of glazing, certified with a corresponding class for attack-resistant glazing, but at P4A (a class between P1A and P3A). For that, I would have to pay €3,649.24. If I want to improve the protection further, I can upgrade to the higher class P5A for €2,154.22. The prices would therefore be additive.

Without asking the builder again, would this be the explanation for these points? If so, is the upgrade to class P5A worth it? It seems to me that the lower classes already provide good protection.

Regarding the fittings, I assume they are correctly certified, but I will of course verify this. I would then want to order them accordingly. I also think, as you said, this should be the minimum requirement for the windows. Would it make sense to ask about a higher resistance class here as well? You mentioned that this class is sufficient; according to Wikipedia, it is also recommended by the police.

Thanks in advance for further answers.

Best regards,
Christian

Mycraft schrieb:
You can get them much cheaper if you buy the handles yourself and screw out and back in the two screws. That way, it costs you 139€ for all 10 windows

At what torque? If you could also link to a specific offer that proves the stated price ...

ONeill schrieb:
What would you recommend in terms of price/performance?

“Fittings according to WK2” or RC2N. If performance is the priority, then RC2.

Hello Christian,

ONeill schrieb:

I’m trying to understand it this way: If I choose the laminated safety glass (VSG), then I get the corresponding windows with the properties for this type of glazing and a class for burglary-resistant glazing under P4A (a class between P1A - P3A). For that, I would now have to pay €3,649.24. If I want to improve the protection further, I can upgrade to the better class P4A for €2,154.22. So the prices would be additive.

I don’t see it as an additive total solution but rather as either/or. That also, in my opinion, explains the price difference between item 1 + 2; the latter simply lacks the laminated safety glass.

ONeill schrieb:

Regarding the fittings, I basically assume proper certification,

If you meant me or my response: I didn’t doubt the certification as such, I was just surprised that item 3 is not included in item 1 (RC2 certified).

ONeill schrieb:

You said that this class is actually sufficient; according to Wikipedia, this class is also recommended by the police.

I wouldn’t necessarily trust Wikipedia, even though the review of posted content has improved.

I attend many trade fairs, again this coming Sunday. At these exhibitions, I always visit the police booth—if they are exhibiting—and maintain my contacts. In my area, there are currently two police representatives whom I see alternately. One insists on only genuine RC2, i.e., certified windows; the other prioritizes RC2N as sufficient protection. So, as always in life: ask two experts and you get three opinions.

I consider RC2N fully sufficient because burglars want to get into the house quickly; they don’t want to struggle with triple glazing. It takes several steps to break through three panes of glass; therefore, they try to gain access through the frame instead. If access is made more difficult according to RC2N, they usually lose interest in spending valuable time; getting caught is not something that makes their “job” comfortable.

In my opinion, it is primarily a very personal decision—if homeowners feel safer/more comfortable with certified windows, they choose RC2 or higher, depending on valuables in the single-family home. If the value is considered “normal” according to the home contents insurance, most homeowners opt for the simpler RC2N variant, consisting of multiple mushroom head locks with security strike plates, drill protection, and handle operation (the number of mushroom heads varies with window size). In both options, I always recommend not limiting protection exclusively to the ground floor but also securing windows on the upper floor or attic, which can be easily accessed via a garage or balcony.

HTH

Best regards, Bauexperte