Our guide to uPVC window locks

The safety of your home and family are probably the most important thing to you as a homeowner. We, at Landmark Window Systems, understand the importance of this and, with our background in fabrication, we never comprise on the security of our products. We have sourced the locks for our uPVC windows and they have undergone stringent testing to make sure they offer optimal protection for your home.

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oak upvc flush sash

Windows for homes across Devon and Cornwall backed by Yale Locks

Our window locks are made by the ever-reliable and trusted lock brand Yale. With over 175 years of experience, Yale is one of the world’s oldest international brands and has been dubbed the “the world’s favourite lock”. The locks in our windows are ‘Secured by Design’ certified and compliant to PAS 24 and BS EN 1670 standards.

What is ‘Secured by Design’?

Between the 1960s and 1980s, various factors caused a surge in building demand throughout the UK. As a result, many houses and estates were hastily built with developers looking to keep costs down; affecting the quality and security of the properties. Police reported that burglars found windows and doors relatively easy to enter, in some cases simply lifting the glass out of the frame!

The Police Service set up the ‘Secured by Design’ (SBD) scheme in 1989 in an attempt to curb the rise in burglary. Working with manufacturers and industry bodies, the SBD sought to improve the production standards of products like doors and windows resulting in the creation of more test and certification facilities. More than a million homes have been built to the high SBD standards to date, and the UK has seen a 60% drop in overall property crime since its inception in 1989.

uPVC flush sash casement window on a sunny day
double glazed casement windows

What does being certified to PAS 24 mean?

PAS 24 is one of the standards specified by the SBD and is a minimum British standard for the security performance of a window or door. A product needs to be submitted to an independent UKAS accredited test house for it to be certified, where they perform a series of tests on the product.

For example: various points of a window will be tested, including the vertical and horizontal pivot and parallel opening. The manufacturing process and factory are also inspected by the third-party test house, which will then certify that the products meet the PAS 24.

What does it mean to be certified to BS EN 1670?

BS EN 1670 are a set of standards detailed by European law to test a product’s resistance to corrosion. There are 5 grades of testing for products each, with their own unique testing time and service conditions.

For a product to meet the standards of BS EN 1670, an independent test house exposes its components to a neutral salt spray under controlled laboratory conditions. It’s important to make sure that our quality windows exceed this standard to ensure they have a long lifespan in seaside homes throughout Devon and Cornwall.

Home improvement experts in Plymouth

Landmark Window Systems is a family-run business with a wealth of knowledge about the glazing industry, including the all-important subject of security, always striving to find you the perfect product every time.

We offer a wide range of window styles including casement, flush sash and vertical sliding, in an array of colours, such as timber effect, to complement any home. Specific areas we serve include Plymouth, Exeter, Okehampton, Launceston, Kingsbridge, Looe, Wembury, Salcombe, Noss Mayo, Paignton and Torquay. Be inspired by our extensive gallery, contact us online or visit our showroom to see what we could do for you.

White uPVC Flush Sash