Window security standards (PAS 24)

Thermal specs get most of the attention, but a window is also a security barrier. PAS 24 is the benchmark that tells you a window has been tested to resist a determined break-in attempt. Here is what it covers and what backs it up on the quote.

What PAS 24 is

PAS 24 is a British publicly available specification that sets enhanced-security requirements for doors and windows. To pass, a window is subjected to manual attack tests — someone attempting to force, lever, cut or manipulate the unit open using common tools within a set time. A window that meets PAS 24 has demonstrated it can resist that kind of opportunist attempt, rather than simply looking solid.

It matters for new builds and, increasingly, for replacements: PAS 24 underpins the security expectations in Building Regulations Approved Document Q for new dwellings, and it is the standard behind the police-backed Secured by Design accreditation. For a buyer, asking “is it PAS 24?” is a quick way to check a window is engineered for security, not just weather.

The hardware that backs it

A PAS 24 rating is only as good as the components that deliver it. Look for these on the specification:

• Multi-point locking: several locking points engaging around the frame, rather than a single central catch.
• Laminated glass on accessible or vulnerable openings — it holds together when struck, making it far harder to break through.
• Reinforced frames: steel or composite reinforcement in uPVC profiles so the frame resists levering.
• Secure handles and hinges, including hinge-side protection and, on some designs, key-locking handles.

Security and the rest of the spec

Good security choices interact with other specifications. Laminated glass, for example, also improves acoustic performance, which is why it appears in our acoustic glazing guide too. The frame reinforcement that resists levering is part of the same profile engineering covered in frame profiles and chambers. Reading these together shows how a single upgrade can serve more than one purpose.

Accreditation and guarantees

Security specs sit alongside installer credentials. A window fitted by a FENSA- or CERTASS-registered installer should be certified as compliant with Building Regulations, and an insurance-backed guarantee protects the workmanship. These are concepts to look for generally rather than claims about any one firm — always confirm them at survey.

When you gather quotes, make sure security is stated explicitly, not assumed. If you want to see how different window types handle it, you can get double glazing quotes across the UK and compare the hardware each installer specifies. To decode the security line on a written quote, read reading a technical window quote, or return to the full window specifications hub.