What PAS 24 actually tests
It tests the doorset, which means the door and the frame as one assembly, since that is how a door is attacked. The tests include manipulation of the lock, mechanical loading at the corners, and repeated impact.
This is why a new slab fitted into an old frame cannot claim the standard. The keeps, the fixings and the frame reinforcement are all part of what was tested, and none of those are being replaced in that scenario.
- Tested as a complete doorset, not as a slab
- Includes lock manipulation, loading and impact
- Referenced by Building Regulations for new dwellings
- Commonly asked about by insurers on a home policy
What 3 star means on a cylinder
Cylinder snapping is the most common way a modern euro profile door is defeated, and it takes seconds with basic tools. A TS007 3 star cylinder is built with sacrificial sections and hardened inserts so that snapping the exposed part leaves the lock still secure.
There is a common variant worth knowing about: a 1 star cylinder combined with a 2 star handle also reaches the same overall level. What you want to avoid is an unrated cylinder behind any handle at all.
| Combination | Level |
|---|---|
| 3 star cylinder, any handle | Full anti snap protection |
| 1 star cylinder plus 2 star handle | Equivalent overall protection |
| Unrated cylinder | Vulnerable to snapping in seconds |
Check your own door in two minutes
Look at the cylinder where it passes through the handle. A 3 star cylinder is normally marked with a kitemark and three stars on the face. If there is nothing there, assume it is unrated.
Then look at how far the cylinder protrudes beyond the handle. Anything sticking out more than a couple of millimetres gives an attacker something to grip, and it is worth correcting even if you do nothing else.
Have your door security checked
We will look at the cylinder, the keeps, the hinges and the glazing and tell you which steps are actually needed on your door.