EPISODE: 033 - APPROVED DOCUMENT Q - SECURITY IN DWELLINGS
- Piotr Bytnar BEng (Hons) MSc CEng MIStructE
- Nov 5, 2024
- 8 min read
Updated: Jun 26
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 chartered structural engineering 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 budding 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.
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.
Approved Document Q: Security in Dwellings
Hi guys, and welcome to Bytnar Talks, your favorite podcast on all matters of architecture, engineering, and construction. It is Thursday, the 31st of October, 2024, and I'm here back with you with the very first episode and information on Approved Document Q: Security in Dwellings.
Some of you are already past the half-term — we are in the middle of it — and it is a great one, especially as it is my first one, and it is Halloween week, so we're having 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 Approved Document P: Electrical Safety.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, outbuildings, shared areas — anything connected to the dwelling meter, really.
Things to consider within the document include the design and installation, which should follow British Standard 7671 for safety, focusing on preventing mechanical and thermal damage, rather than just considering functionality. The operation of the circuit should be made accessible, especially in new buildings, and safe, maintainable, or alterable.
Existing installations will need evaluation during upgrades or extensions of the system.Part P covers electrical systems in homes and shared spaces, but not separately metered business units or lifts in flats.
Work like doing a new circuit, doing a consumer unit change — all tasks in special locations like bathrooms — is notifiable and requires building control approval. All other work must still meet safety standards.
Installations need inspection, testing, and certification under BS 7671. A competent individual can self-certify, or verification can come from a third party or building control. But you can rest assured that if you go with building control, they will go to a third party to check it anyhow.
Compliance is required, with enforcement actions for any non-compliance. So no surprises there, really.
In this episode, I will move to Approved Document Q: Security in Dwellings.So, without further ado, let's dive straight into it.
In this episode, I'll talk about the statutory guidance contained within 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 a material change of use. So, let's get into the nitty-gritty of this approved document.
Alright guys, starting with the text of the legislation.
First, Part Q – Security: Unauthorized AccessRequirement Q1:Reasonable provision must be made to resist unauthorized access to:A) any dwelling; andB) 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 requirement is simple. And in 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 opportunist burglar. Meaning: sufficiently robust and fitted with appropriate hardware.
Now, Section One deals with doors, which should be secure door sets when they provide access to the dwelling, communal space, or garage. In the case of a garage, this may not need to be the case if there are interconnecting doors that are considered secure.
Secure door sets are either manufactured by the design that by test was verified to pass British Standard publication PAS 24, or designed and manufactured to Appendix B of this document.
Appendix B tells us that typical doors of 1 m width to 2 m height, made of solid or laminated timber of a density at least 600 kg per cubic metre, will be fine. Larger doors may need special considerations, as they will be weaker with respect to the further specifications — as you will hear in a second.
The rebated framing of the door needs to be at least 32 mm or thicker, and all the rails, stiles, and muntins at least 44 mm thick. Panels should not be thinner than 15 mm and beading 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 per PAS 3621, PAS 8621, or PAS 10621 — meaning key locking on both sides, non-key locking on internal faces, or non-key locking internally but with an external locking 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 multi-lock, as long as it is to the standards just mentioned. The distance between them should be between 400 and 600 mm.
The requirements for non-primary doors are similar, but if we do not want to use the multi-lock system, we can use a mortice lock with two mortice bolts.
Hinges accessible from the outside should incorporate hinge bolts. Letter plate apertures should be at least 260 × 40 mm, and they should incorporate a flap or another feature designed to hinder reaching for the keys or operating the lock from the other side.
Door and Hardware Federation technical specification TS 008 is considered a good guide in this regard.
Main doors should also have a way to see the caller — and have a door chain or limiter. Chains or limiters may not need to be installed in assisted living housing, where emergency access may be needed.
Glazing that could be broken to gain access should be of at least P1A class to BS EN 356. Double- or triple-glazed units need only one pane of glass of this designation. But nothing can stop you from going for a P8B designation — although that may only be applicable to presidential suites.
There are other standards that meet the requirement, like:
STS 201 Issue 5
LPS 1175 Issue 7, Security Rating 2
STS 202 Issue 3, Burglary Rating 2
LPS 2081 Issue 1, Security Rating B
An excellent point of reference here is the 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's specification. 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 as a 600 mm wide strip of 9 mm sheathing on both sides of the door.
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. This means basically within vertical reach of 2 m from an accessible surface — whether pavement, basement, roof, or balcony.
If the roof is less than 30° in pitch and 3.5 m from the ground, this will also constitute a flat surface for access purposes. And if you imagine that those roofs are stepped up, well — you’ve got to think about the windows all the way up, as they are accessible.
Windows, like doors, need to follow the PAS 24 standard or be in line with other standards like:
STS 204 Issue 3
LPS 1175 Issue 7, Security Rating 1
LPS 2081 Issue 1, Security Rating A
The Secured by Design guidance is highly recommended here also.
Again, the frame should be secured to the structure in line with the manufacturer's requirements.
So this is it, folks — Approved Document Q: 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 burglars.
Doors that access a dwelling, shared space, or a garage need to be secure door sets, unless the garage connects through another secure door meeting PAS 24 standards or Appendix B specifications.
A multi-point locking system per PAS standard is required — or a surface-mounted rim lock and a mortice lock combo, spaced 400 to 600 mm apart.
Hinge bolts are necessary for accessible hinges.Letter plates should measure at least 260 × 40 mm in aperture, with features to prevent tampering.Door frames should be mechanically fixed per manufacturer specifications with lightweight wall reinforcement by a 600 mm-wide strip resilient layer on both sides — if they're set in the lightweight wall. Lightweight wall — I got it this time!
Windows within 2 m of an accessible surface must meet PAS 24 or an equivalent security standard. The window frame should be fixed securely, as per the manufacturer's requirements — similar to door frame guidelines.
In the next episode, we will move to Approved Document R: Infrastructure for ElectronicCommunications.
I hope you enjoyed this episode and that the considerations of 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 the future — so if you're interested in it, then stay tuned.
If you have any questions, reach out to me on LinkedIn or send me an email. I'm more than happy to help you out.
At Bytnar, we deal with planning, designing, and managing your projects — and we are always glad to facilitate a free initial consultation to steer you in the right direction. Visit www.bytnar.co.uk and reach out to us, whether your question is:“Can you help me with my project?” or “What should I do?”We will be there for you and give you a piece of non-obligatory advice.
At Bytnar, we help our clients design and execute their dream homes or investments.If your building is falling apart, though, we can help investigate the reasons behind it and provide you with an appropriate strategy, design, and specifications for the repair.
Thank you again for listening. Please voice 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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