BYTNAR - TALKS
EPISODE 033 - APPROVED DOCUMENT Q - SECURITY IN DWELLINGS
This episode is for people who want to know more about Approved Document Part Q – Security in Dwellings.
You should like this episode if you ask yourself questions like:
What is Part Q of the Building Regulations concerning security for new dwellings?
What requirements must doors meet to comply with Part Q for securing access to dwellings?
How are secure door sets defined under Part Q, and what standards must they meet?
What types of locking systems are acceptable for main doors according to Part Q?
What are the specifications for hinges and letter plates to ensure security in accordance with Part Q?
What guidelines are provided for glazing in doors to prevent unauthorized access?
How should windows be designed and secured under Part Q requirements?
What does the term "easily accessible" mean in the context of window security for Part Q?
Where can I find additional resources or guidance on security measures for buildings in line with Part Q?
This is Bytnar Talks the Engineer Takes on Construction Episode 33 hi I'm Piotr Bytnar each day I help my clients plan and design building projects through Bytnar Limited a Consulting Charter Structural Engineers practice my biggest passion and the cornerstone on which I've built my business is finding clever solutions for construction projects I am a chartered structural engineer and a buddying software developer so you can rest assured that I will strive to talk about the best practices and the use of new technologies in the industry and if you're embarking on a construction project or are involved in planning designing and building the world around us you'll find this podcast useful approv document Q security IND [Music] dwellings hi guys and welcome to bitar talks your favorite podcast on all matters of architecture engineering and construction it is Thursday the 31st of October 20124 and I'm here back with you with the very F episode and information on approved document Q Security in dwellings some of you are already post the halterm we are in the middle of it and it is it is a great one especially that it is my first one and it is the Halloween week so we have a lot of fun living on the spooky side of life but to make it more palatable we are well stocked with sweets ready for little monsters but let's get back to the Merit of this recording and as ever let's start with a small recap of the last episode in the last episode I talked about the approved document p electrical safety the part P of the building regulations promotes electrical safety in dwellings by setting standards for the design and installation of low and extra low voltage systems to prevent fire and injury it applies to homes Flats out buildings shared areas anything connected to the dwelling meter really things to consider within the document are indeed the design and installation where it should follow British standard 7671 for safety focusing on preventing mechanical and thermal damage rather than just considering functionality operation of the circuit should be made accessible especially in new buildings and safety maintainable or alterable existing installations will need evaluation during upgrades or extensions of the system Part B covers electrical systems in homes and Sh space places but not separately mitted business units or lifts in Flats work like doing a new circuit doing a cust consumer unit changes all tasks in special locations like buff rooms is notifiable and requires building control approval while all other work must still meet safety standards installations need inspection testing and certification under bs7671 a competent individual can self- certify over verification can come from a third party or building control but you can rest assur that if you go with the building control they will go to the third party to check it anyhow compliance is required with enforcement actions for any non-compliance so no surpris is there really is there in this episode I will move to the approved document Q Security in dwellings so without further Ado let's dive straight into [Music] this in this episode I'll talk about the statutory guidance contained within the approved document Q Security in dwellings the document covers the requirements of part q and is contained within two short sections covering doors and windows it applies to new dwellings only including those created by the material change of use so let's get into the nitty-gritty of this approved [Music] document all right guys starting with the text of the legislation first part Q security unauthorized access requirement q1 reasonable provision must be made to resist an unauthorized access to a any dwelling and B any part of a building from which access can be gained to a flat within the building requirement q1 applies only in relation to new dwellings that's that the require the requirement is simple and by the view of the Secretary of State it is met as long as access to easily accessible doors and windows whether from outside or from the common parts in the building is sufficiently protected from the attack of a casual or OPP opportunist burglar meaning sufficiently robust fitted with appropriate Hardware now section one deals with doors which should be secure those sets when they provide access to the dwelling communal space or garage in the case of garage this may not need to be the case if there are interconnecting doors that are considered secure door sets secure doors sets are either manufactured by the design that by test was verified to pass pretty standard publication past 24 or designed and manufactured to appendix B of this document appendix B tells us that typical doors of 1 M wide to 2 m height of solid or laminated Timber of a density at least 600 kg per me cubed will be fine larger doors may need special considerations as there will be weaker in respect to the further specifications as you will hear in a second the rebated framing of door needs to be at least 32 mm or thicker and all the rails Styles and mountains at least 44 mm thick panels should not be thinner than 50 mm and beaing should be glued and nailed the smaller dimension of the panel should be 230 mm or less main doors should be fitted with a multi-locking system as ever to either pass 3621 pass 8621 or pass 10621 meaning meaning key locking on both sides non-key locking on internal phas and non key locking internally but with an external lockin override facility but there is a choice if we do not want to install the multi-lock system we can use a surface mounted Rim lock with the multis is locked to the standards just mentioned the distance between them should be between 400 and 600 mm the requirements for non primary doors is similar but if we do not want to use the multi-lock system we can use a mortis lock with two mortises bolts hinges accessible from the outside should incorporate hinge bolts letter plates aperture should be at least 260x 40 mm and it should incorporate a flap or other feature designed to hinder reach for the keys or lock operation from The Other Side Door and Hardware Federation technical specification TS 008 is considered a good guide in this regard the main doors should have also have a way to see the color and have a door chain or limiter chains or limits may not need to be installed in Assistant Living housing where emergency access may need to be may need to be done glazing that could be broken to G access should be of at least p1a class to BS 356 double or triple glaze units need only one pane of glass of this designation but nothing can stop you from having a p8b designation although that may be only applicable to presidential Suites there are other standards that meet requirement like SDS 2011 issue5 LPS 1175 Issue 7 security rating 2 SDS 202 issue 3 bulary rating 2 LPS 2081 issue one security rating B the excellent point of reference here are secured by Design guides published by the police initiative the frame of the doors should be mechanically fixed to the structure of the building in line with the manufacturer specification and if the wall is of lightweight construction it should have a resilient layer Incorporated within it to prevent breaking in through the wall the resilient layer is as little a 600 mm wide strip of 9 mm sheathing on both sides of the doors and this is it for the doors now moving on to Windows in section two which should be secure Windows if they are easily accessible which means basically within the reach of vertically of 2 m from the accessible surface whether pavement basement roof or balcony if the roof is less than 30° in Peach and 3 and 1 half M from the ground this will also constitute a flat surface for the access purposes and if you imagine that those roofs are stepped up well you got to think about the windows all the way up as they they are accessible Windows as doors need to be need to follow the pass 24 or in or be in line with other standards like STS 204 issue3 lps1 175 isue 7 security rating 1 or LPS 2081 issue1 security rating a the secured by Design guidance is highly recommended here also here also the frame should be secured to the structure in line with the manufacturer's requirements [Music] so this is it folks the approved document queue Security in dwellings let's sum it up to meet security standards doors and windows that are accessible or offer access to a dwelling or communal area must be sufficiently robust to deter casual or opportunist burglar doors that access a dwelling shed space or a garage need to be a secure door sets unless the garage connects through another secure door meeting past 24 standards or appendix B specs a multi-point Locking System per pass standard is required or a surface mounted Rim lock and a mortis lock combo spaced 400 to 600 mm apart hinge bolts are necessary for accessible hinges letter plates should measure at least 2 60x 40 mm in aperature with features to prevent tampering door frames should be mechanically fixed per manufacturer specs with lightweight wall in reinforcement by a 600 mm to wide stripe resilient layer on both sides if they're set in the lightweight light well wall lightweight wall I got it this time Windows within 2 m of accessible surface must meet past 24 or equivalent security standard window frame should be fixed securely as per manufacturer's requirements similar to door frame guidelines in the next episode we will we will move to approv document R infrastructure for electronic [Music] communications I hope you enjoyed this episode and that the considerations of the approved document Q Security in dwellings are a bit clearer for you now I will definitely cover the secured by Design Homes guide at some point in future so if you are interested in it then stay inut if you have any questions reach out to me on Linkin or send me an email I'm more than happy to help you out in BNA we deal with planning designing and managing of your projects and we are always glad to facilitate a free initial consultation to steer you in the right direction visit www.b now.co and reach out to us whether your question is if we can help you with your project or what should I do we will be there for you and give you a piece of non obligatory advice at Bitner we help our clients design and execute their dream homes or Investments if your building is f in apart though we can help out investigate the reasons behind it and to provide with an appropriate strategy designed and specifications for the repair thank you again for listening please voice up your opinions I'm waiting for you on LinkedIn and I want to hear from you see you next week Bytnar Designs The World Around You, Toodloo!
Piotr Bytnar BEng (Hons) MSc CEng MIStructE
Chartered Structural Engineer who deals with the Architecture of buildings. His Master's Studies led him to an in-depth understanding of risk and contract arrangements in construction as well as specialist knowledge in soil mechanics.
He and his team help homeowners and property developers to design and deliver construction projects reducing waste in time and the cost. He believes that the construction project is an iterative process that can be well managed and it is best managed if all the aspects of the project definition and management are dealt with in-house or coordinated by one organisation. His team works to all stages of RIBA and ISTRUCTE stages of work and enables contractors to deliver projects on-site providing risk evaluations, methodologies for execution of works and temporary works designs.
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