6 Things to look for in a Quality Security Screen

Security screen doors are an important addition to your home. Along with enhancing the safety feature, they also prevent insects from making their way in.

Of course, they're visible deterrents making your residence seem better protected than the rest around you. Now you can safely assume all of the above if the one you have installed is a quality standard one.

So the real question is how do you navigate through your options and what do you look for to select a premium quality security screen.

Here are 6 Questions to Ask Yourself When Considering the Options:

1. Does your security screen meet the prescribed Australian standards?

   A screen is categorised as a security screen only once it meets the Australian standards (AS5039-2008) criteria. This means you need to ensure that the product shown to you is certified to be called a security screen rather than just being called one by the person pitching it to you.

   Here is some added information on the various tests carried out to verify the Australian safety standards:

   • Knife shear test
   • Dynamic impact test
   • Anti-jemmy test
   • Salt spray test
   • Pull test
   • Probe test

   These tests are carried out to ensure the security screen can survive various forms of forced entry. It is also mandatory for the security screen to be installed at the hands of a licensed technician.

2. What material is your security screen made from?

   When reviewing your options, here are some features your security screen should include:

   • A 3 point lock system that helps distributes the force of an attack and prevents it from being pulled off.

   • 3 recessed hinges at the very least. This is to ensure the pins cannot be removed easily.

   • It should be sturdily fixed to the door and in accordance with Australian standards. If it is wedged or welded, that's even better.

   • A construction wherein the frame is made of aluminium (corrosion-resistant) or steel, the corners are reinforced and the receiver channel is deep enough to prevent the screen from being pushed out of the frame easily.

   • An innovative screen construction that ensures durability, security as well as visibility.

3. Do the dimensions fit your home's requirement?

   Let's be clear, there can be no compromise here. It is imperative that the specifications of your desired security screen meet that of the space it's going to be installed in.

   Should there be any gaps or force-fitting, it could lead to a lapse in the functionality. And that's something you most certainly don't expect or want from this investment.

4. Will it help or hinder you in case you need to make a hurried exit during an emergency?

   Although we don't like to consider hazardous instances like a fire or burglary that needs us to make an emergency exit, it is important that we do. Because when you select a security screen you're also adding one more barrier to hurry through during an emergency.

   Yes, bars, grilles, and security screens will amp up the standard of safety however, in case of an emergency these same elements will prevent you from quickly getting to safety.

   Do remember this point when deciding if your premises should have a security screen.

5. Is it going to be installed by a certified technician?

   It may seem tempting to attempt a DIY or probably not even ask about the installation. However, if executed wrong, the security screen won't be able to serve its purpose.

   More importantly, as per the Australian standards, it is supposed to be installed at the hand of a licensed professional to ensure that the said piece can perform as per everything it has been tested to withstand.

6. Is the cost aligning with your budget?

   Like every other addition to your home, you're naturally going about this with a budget in mind. Discerning when to stick to the budget and analysing if you can overspend will obviously involve careful consideration of the options in front of you.

   Aluminium, steel, perforated aluminium, and stainless steel mesh options tend to dominate the range of security screens the technicians will show you.

   However, keep in mind that the difference in materials will equal to a difference in costs. If you're on a tight budget aluminium is a cost-effective option to look at. But apart from being a visible deterrent, it does not offer the sense of safety a steel security screen offers.

   Although priced on the higher end, steel will give your premises the safety uplift you're looking for without affecting the view.

Arriving at the right option for you is made of a series of questions relating to the cost, materials, installation, functionality, specifications, and most importantly its compliance with Australian safety standards.

While you may take your time to navigate through the other points, the one you absolutely must not compromise on is the certification that it meets Australian standards (AS5039-2008) because it validates your purchase.