What are the safety classes of windows and doors

Public, private and industrial buildings have very distinct characteristics. Let us look at the safety classes of windows and doors, classified according to the intended use.

A complex of attributes defines the doors and windows in 6 classes, that is, six levels of protection against break-ins and breakages.

When we think of private residences, public or industrial buildings located in prestigious architectural contexts, it is essential that windows and doors of the various safety classes are harmoniously integrated into the style of the building, avoiding that the aesthetics have to be subjected to technicalities.

An  example of this ability can be found in the productions of artisans who must meet the needs of safety and style both in medium and high level contracts. We think of Capoferri and its choice of making 316 stainless steel hardware, dimensioned  according to the weight of the doors, with appropriate glass and combined with engineered wall fixing systems to enhance the effectiveness of the window. The set generates UNI EN 356 safety class RC3 certified windows, which can reach the highest levels, up to the 3rd level of the STANAG standard which classifies NATO military weapons. Just think of  the Presidential palace of Tbilisi Georgia, whose window frames have been made by Capoferri.

Now let us look  how the various anti-burglary classes of doors and windows differ and what their use is according to the different classes:

1. 1. offers a minimum resistance for a time of 3 minutes, able to stop the inexperienced and improvised burglar, who forces the barriers with only physical force, sufficient to protect places of little value;
   2. against inexperienced thieves who use common tools such as knives, pliers, suitable for low-value environments;
   3. with a burglary resistance of about 5 minutes, against  an expert criminal, equipped with crowbar, hammers, screwdrivers, in places of medium value;
   4. capable of guaranteeing a good level of safety, acting as a barrier against skilled thieves, equipped with effective tools such as drills and saws, common in houses and apartments;
   5. to resist for 15 min. against  attacks carried out by very experienced burglars, equipped with specialized equipment, including electric ones, angled disk grinders  with 125 mm disc, it is suitable for commercial or industrial activities;
   6. the highest level of endurance, can withstand up to 20 min. attack by professional criminals equipped with all the tools described above, with the addition of angle grinders  with a maximum disc of 230 mm in diameter, perfect for banks, archives and jewelers.

So let’s see which door and window safety classes are better to use in each context.

For windows of a public building

The windows of a public building are its most vulnerable point, the preferential access for burglars and criminals. If this is true for every building, it is even more so for those that hold common goods such as works of art, money, precious objects and documents.

Therefore, banks, public offices and commercial establishments of precious assets must be protected by high-class security doors and windows.

For this purpose the most suitable classes are 5 and 6. The doors and windows belonging to these classes can resist burglary, with professional and highly effective tools for a duration of 15 or 20 minutes. If we think that these buildings are also equipped with alarm systems, we can understand that access is almost impossible.

The art of the window manufacturer lies in ensuring safety without altering the perfection and harmony of shapes, making the structure a protected place with an aesthetic in line with the client’s expectations.

Often the public building also has an historical value, such as the municipal and administrative buildings and numerous bank offices. In this case the windows are part of a public property under the constraint of Fine Arts, which require  an even more delicate and careful intervention by designers and builders.

For home windows

Good home windows represent the safety of those who live there.

Both in  apartments and villas, home doors and windows are a possible access for burglars and criminals. Home environments can become the scene of accidents if the windows and doors are not robust  and glass is fragile. Therefore, during construction or renovation, it is important to choose home windows with anti-intrusion, anti-vandal/anti-crime, but also anti-fall and  anti-injury safety standards.

In common residential contexts a medium security class, level 4, is generally suitable to protect the interiors from organized break-ins.

So, the home window must be an impenetrable surface like any wall, even more so if it is protected by external shutters with strongly engineered wall fixing systems to dissuade the aggressor.

Where blinds or railings harm global aesthetics, there are solutions designed to ensure maximum resistance and protection even for wide glass facade buildings. Just think of Plathéa, the super thin and highly performing solution, chosen for luxury villas: a clear example of how in the facade of every house, safety must match the  aesthetics.

For industrial window frames

The choice of industrial window frames with a suitable safety class is a guarantee of protection and safety for workers and employees and for everything that the building contains.

In fact, industrial buildings are considered vulnerable and require a high level of security, which generally corresponds to class 5.

The window frames of industrial buildings must be able to counteract even long break-in attempts made by very trained burglars who are equipped with all the tools even in the heaviest version.

Added to this is the need to have robust doors and windows to counter impacts and accidental falls, which can cause damage to the operating staff.

Thus, the fixtures of industrial complexes must have important requirements that prevent intrusions and make them resistant to vandalism, but also to possible breakages.

The ability of a great manufacturer lies in wisely combining these characteristics with functionality, without failing in design.