7321 Victoria Park Ave., unit 20, Markham, Canada​
How to proceed choosing burglar-proof door for residential home?
​
-
At the very beginning, you need to determine the level of risk of burglary. If there are such cases in your area, it is a sign that you need a door with the 3rd anti-burglary class (RC 3). If the risk of burglary in your area is relatively low, a class 2 door (RC 2) is sufficient. The door frame, regardless of the security class, should be made of steel, extruded aluminum alloy or hardwood reinforced by steel plates, and have at least 3 hinges.
-
Multi-point lock will be the first barrier a thief will encounter.
-
The most important part of door structure is a door leaf (slab). We recommend choosing fully rabbeted door leaf which overlapping the frame and threshold creating extra seal around perimeter.
-
If possible, install the door with rabbeted leaf in direction of opening to the outside (out-swing), which will further enhance kick in resistance, thermal insulation and water resistance.
-
In order to keep the door aesthetics and prevent fading of external door surface, the door should not be exposed to direct sunlight (UV radiation) or precipitation. However, it doesn't impact the door anti-burglary properties. Roof/canopy above the door will help to keep the door design for decades.
-
Door with the glass insert must have break in resistant option as well. The best solution - triple glass with 6 mm laminated (car windshield quality) glass from outside. Glass frame must be steel or aluminum. Best choice - frameless glazing system.
-
Make sure the room where the door is installed is well ventilated and heated during the winter. In a poorly heated room with high humidity and insufficient ventilation, condensation of water vapor may occur on inner metal surfaces because of extremely low temperature outside.
Burglary resistance comparison of exterior doors
Conventional Steel Door
Conventional steel door is the most popular in Canada and USA because of low price, low maintenance and easy installation. However, 90% of parts and elements of these doors are fabricated using cheap imported materials and hardware.
We couldn't find more than few improvements in conventional steel door construction preventing forced entry during decades.
Main door parts:
1. Door slab (non-rabbeted) - 45 mm thick wrapped with 26-24 gauges (0.5-0.7 mm) galvanized steel skin. Cheap wood stiles inside can't resist forced entry. Infilled with polystyrene or PUR foam insulation. Threshold rubber sweep will warp or loose in 2-3 years after installation causing air draft.
2. Door frame - Pine wood (finger joint) or cellular PVC jambs 0.75" (20 mm) thick on the lock side breaks under single attempt of forced entry.
3. The most popular lock - single deadbolt which easy collapsing under forced entry. 3-point strip lock is very seldom upgrade for such cheap door.
Easy to break in by single kick.
2 to 5 seconds for forced entry without using tools.
​
Watch this video how easy to do that
Doesn't meet RC-1 requirements.
Conventional steel door - after break in
Fiberglass Door
Fiberglass door became popular in Canada and USA in the last 10 years due to realistic wood appearance, low maintenance and easy installation. Most of door slabs and elements are imported from China.
Stronger than Steel door but still not break in resistant.
Main parts of the door construction:
1. Door slab (non-rabbeted) - 45 mm thick with 2 mm fiberglass skin. Wood or composite stiles inside can't resist forced entry. Can warp depending on weather conditions. Polystyrene or PUR foam insulation inside. Bottom rubber sweep over the threshold will warp or loose in 2-3 years after installation causing air draft.
2. Door frame - composite or cellular PVC jambs 0.75" (20 mm) thick. Stronger than Pine but cracks and loosing under forced entry.
3. Lock - single deadbolt or optional 3-point strip lock.
Possible to break in by kicking and collapsing the door structure.
10 to 20 seconds for forced entry without using tools.
​
Watch this video how easy to do that
Doesn't meet RC 2 requirements.
Fiberglass entry door - after break in
PIRNAR
burglar proof aluminum doors
PIRNAR superior quality European aluminum exterior doors. Maximum value! Carbon Core inside!
The entirely new optimum collection pushes the boundaries of what is possible. Its special construction is made primarily out of carbon fiber. Due to the rigidity of the construction, this is the door with the best sealing and resistance to extreme either conditions. All doors can be upgraded with RC2 standard for burglar resistance. Never before has this class of front doors been so sophisticatedly constructed, with so many superior features.
European steel security doors
72 mm thick leaf with a three-sided rebate, made of 0.6 mm thick galvanized steel laminated sheet, filled with polyurethane foam, equipped with a gasket.
Three anti-theft bolts on the hinge side of the door.
Three 3D hinges with covers, adjustable in three planes.
Multipoint strip-hook lock from Winkhaus.
Latch strike with adjustable pressure.
Steel and wooden thermal break door frame consisting of a galvanized sheet with a thickness of 0.6 - 1.2 mm and pine plywood, laminated in the color of the leaf, equipped with a gasket.
Aluminum threshold integrated with the frame with a thermal break.
