What is PAS 24?
Worried someone could force a back door or lever open a window? PAS 24 is the UK security standard that tests for exactly that. Here is what it means for your home.
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Why choose AWR
Independently tested products
Products are tested by an independent testing company accredited by UKAS.
Pass or fail
PAS 24 has no grades. A window or door either meets the standard or it does not.
Ongoing factory checks
The testing house revisits manufacturers to check and re-test products.
Required for new builds
Building Regulations require PAS 24 or an equivalent standard on new build homes in England.
What PAS 24 means
PAS stands for Publicly Available Specification. It is a BSI (British Standards Institution) standard set by industry so that products meet an agreed benchmark. PAS 24 sets the minimum security performance for windows and doorsets in UK homes.
PAS 24:2022 came into effect on 20 September 2022, replacing PAS 24:2016, which has been withdrawn. It was developed with input from groups including the Association of Chief Police Officers, the Glass and Glazing Federation, the Master Locksmiths Association and the Door and Hardware Federation.
In plain terms, PAS 24 tells you a window or door has been tested to resist an opportunistic burglar using tools to try to force it open. It is the baseline you should expect from any new window or door you fit to your home.
How windows and doors are tested
To gain PAS 24:2022 certification, a manufacturer sends its products to an independent testing company accredited by UKAS, the UK's accreditation body. The tests look at two main areas.
- Security: how long the window or door can stop someone forcing their way into your home.
- Weather resistance: how well it stands up to cold and rain and keeps draughts out.
Testing does not stop at a pass
Certification also checks that the manufacturing process keeps meeting the standard. The testing house visits the manufacturer regularly to check and re-test products. If components change, the product may need to be tested again.
Because PAS 24 is a minimum standard, there is no grading system. A window or door either achieves the criteria and earns accreditation, or it does not.
PAS 24, Building Regulations and Secured by Design
Approved Document Q: Security, Dwellings came into effect in England in October 2015. It requires new build homes to resist unauthorised access, and windows and doors must meet PAS 24:2022 or an equivalent standard.
Secured by Design is a separate police initiative with its own Police Preferred Specification. The two are independent, but most Secured by Design products must meet PAS 24 at a minimum as well as other requirements.
Other standards that can count as equivalent under Approved Document Q include STS 201 and LPS 1175 for doors, and STS 204 and LPS 1175 for windows. If you see these on product details, they are also recognised security tests.
What to look for when you buy
Look for the BSI logo and the PAS 24:2022 mark when you choose new windows and doors. Our windows are PAS 24 security rated, and our doors feature triple-lock security. Ask your surveyor to show you the security details of any product you are considering.
How a visit works
You pick the time
We call you back at a time that suits you and book your free survey. Morning, afternoon or evening.
We bring our showroom to your home
A local AWR surveyor brings samples of the doors, windows, colours and handles to you, measures up and talks through the options. No pressure.
Written quote on the day
You get a clear written quote before the surveyor leaves. No hard sell: take your time and decide when you are ready. Ask your surveyor about group installs too.
Our own team fits it
Made to measure, with doors built in our Doncaster factory. Fitted by our own installers, never subcontractors.
Questions people ask
Is PAS 24 a legal requirement?
For new build homes in England, yes. Approved Document Q of the Building Regulations requires windows and doors on new builds to meet PAS 24:2022 or an equivalent standard. For replacement windows and doors in an existing home it is not a legal requirement. We still recommend it, because it is the simplest proof a product has been tested against a break-in.
What is the difference between PAS 24 and Secured by Design?
PAS 24 is a BSI security standard for windows and doors. Secured by Design is a police initiative that accredits products against a Police Preferred Specification, and manufacturers need a licence to make approved products. They run independently, but most Secured by Design products must meet PAS 24 at a minimum as well as other requirements.
Does PAS 24 have grades or ratings?
No. PAS 24 is a minimum standard with no grading system. A window or door either meets all the criteria and earns accreditation, or it does not. That makes it simple to check: look for the BSI logo and the PAS 24:2022 mark on the product details.
What does a PAS 24 test check?
The test covers two main areas. Security looks at how long a window or door can stop someone forcing entry. Weather resistance looks at how well it keeps out cold, rain and draughts. Testing is carried out by an independent testing house accredited by UKAS, with regular follow-up visits and re-tests.
Which version of PAS 24 is current?
PAS 24:2022 has been in effect since 20 September 2022. It replaced PAS 24:2016, which has been officially withdrawn. When you compare windows and doors, check that the paperwork refers to the 2022 version, and look for the BSI logo alongside the PAS 24:2022 mark.
Ready to make your home a castle?
Book a free, no-pressure survey. A local AWR surveyor measures up and leaves you a written quote on the day.
- We bring our showroom to your home
- Written quote on the day
- Our own fitters, never subcontractors
- Doors made in our Doncaster factory
- No hard sell