- London Roller Shutter Ltd., Unit 3A, 34-35 Hatton Garden, Holborn, London, EC1DX
The Loss Prevention Certification Board (LPCB) stands at the forefront of international Certification Bodies for security and fire protection. Widely acknowledged and respected, LPCB approval carries significant weight with governments and regulatory authorities worldwide, particularly in the Asia-Pacific, Middle East, and Europe regions.
The LPCB approval process entails a rigorous evaluation and testing of products to ensure they meet stringent quality standards. This evaluation is carried out by a team of experts, which may include regulators, insurers, designers, manufacturers, installers, engineers, and scientists. Typically, product approval relies on testing conducted at LPCB’s renowned testing laboratories. To maintain the approval status, regular audits are conducted to verify that the product continually adheres to the rigorous approval criteria.
CE marking holds significant importance as it serves as a vital indicator of a product’s compliance with EU legislation, facilitating seamless product movement within the European market. When a product bears the CE marking, the manufacturer declares its adherence to all the legal requirements essential to obtain CE marking, thus ensuring its validity for sale across the EEA (European Economic Area), including the 27 EU member states and European Free Trade Association countries.
It’s important to note that CE marking doesn’t imply that a product was manufactured within the EEA; rather, it signifies that the product has undergone assessment and meets the required legislative standards, including rigorous safety measures, allowing it to be sold within the region. The manufacturer attests that the product fulfils all essential requirements, such as health and safety standards, as outlined in the applicable directive(s), and may have undergone evaluation by a notified conformity assessment body if stipulated in the directive(s).
LPS 1175 is a crucial testing standard that evaluates the resistance of building materials, such as plasterboard, brick, block, and steel cladding, against forcible entry attempts. The test defines the permissible toolset and minimum time required at each security rating level to prevent unauthorized access through a building element.
For modular buildings, the test assesses the time it takes to create an opening large enough for a person to pass through (minimum of an elliptical shape measuring 400mm x 225mm). Additionally, the test scrutinizes all joints and fixings to the building environment as relevant. These evaluations are conducted by the Building Research Establishment (BRE), ensuring their expertise in understanding the product and its construction. Numerous preliminary trials determine the most effective tools to use from the allowable toolset.
The resulting ratings, usually denoted as SR1-5, are indicated in the ‘as built’ drawings, and certified through an independent LPCB ISO9001 audit process.
Here’s a breakdown of what each rating protects against:
SR1: Guards against opportunistic attacks using basic tools like screwdrivers, knives, and pliers.
SR2: Provides resistance to more determined opportunistic attacks with tools of higher mechanical advantage, such as bolt cutters, claw hammers, and drills.
SR3: Ensures deliberate forced entry attempts using bodily force and an array of attack options, including short axes, chisels, crowbars, and gas torches.
SR4: Withstands experienced attempts at forced entry using higher tool levels, like felling axes, sledgehammers, steel wedges, disc grinders, and jigsaws.
SR5: Offers robust protection against serious forced entry attempts using top-end battery-powered tools, commonly utilized by fire and rescue teams. These tools may include circular saws and powerful 750W reciprocating saws with specialized blades.
The STS202 test sets the standard for assessing the resistance of various building materials, such as plasterboard, brick, block, and steel cladding, against forcible entry attempts. This test specifies the permissible toolset and minimum time required at each security rating level to prevent unauthorized access through a building element.
For modular buildings, the test measures the time it takes to create an opening large enough for a person to pass through. Additionally, it scrutinizes all joints and fixings in the building environment as needed. Exova, a reputable organization with comprehensive knowledge of the product and its construction, conducts these tests. Numerous initial trials are conducted to determine the most effective tools from the allowable toolset.
The resulting ratings are generally categorized as BR1-6, each providing specific levels of protection against burglary attempts:
Resistance Classes (BR) Explained
BR1 – Method to gain entry: At this level, casual burglars attempt entry using small, simple tools and physical violence, such as kicking, shoulder charging, lifting, or tearing. They take advantage of opportunities and have no knowledge of the construction’s resistance or potential rewards. (Lower Risk)
BR2 – Method to gain entry: Casual burglars at this level use small tools like screwdrivers, pliers, and wedges, and may utilize a small handsaw with grilles and exposed hardware. Power tools are not employed at this stage. They are concerned with time and noise and are willing to take low risk. (Lower Risk)
BR3 – Method to gain entry: Burglars at this level use a crowbar, an additional screwdriver, and hand tools such as a hammer, punches, and mechanical drilling tools. They aim to increase the force applied to gain entry, and the drilling tool allows them to attack vulnerable locking devices. They have some knowledge of the likely resistance but remain concerned with both time and noise. (Medium Risk)
BR4 – Method to gain entry: Practiced burglars add heavy hammers, axes, chisels, and a portable battery-powered drill at this level. These tools allow them to employ multiple attack methods. They have knowledge of the likely reward and are resolute in their efforts to gain entry, showing less concern about time and noise, and prepared to take a medium level of risk. (Medium Risk)
BR5 – Method to gain entry: Experienced burglars utilize electric tools, drills, jig and sabre blades, and angle grinders, further increasing their attack methods. They anticipate a reasonable reward, are resolute in their efforts, well-organized, and show little concern for time or noise, prepared to take a high level of risk. (High Risk)
BR6 – Method to gain entry: At the highest level, experienced burglars use spalling hammers, powerful electric tools like drills, jig and sabre blades, and angle grinders. These tools, operated by a single person, have a high level of performance and effectiveness. Burglars anticipate a good level of reward, are resolute, well-organized, and show no concern for time or noise, prepared to take a high level of risk. (High Risk)
The distinction between LPS1175 and SRS202 lies in the testing agencies involved (BRE & Exova). Both are reputable third-party organizations conducting tests using similar methods and against comparable strains. The primary difference might be in pricing, but both certifications are well-recognized and reliable for evaluating product security.