For many years, business owners have continually tried to solve the troublesome issue of how to secure windows and doors, without allowing the business to appear excessively boarded up. It is true that conventional window bars can be a deterrent for possible intruders. However, they also come with many disadvantages of blocking natural daylight and windows looking plain and unattractive. Security window bars have made advancements to modern security window grills.
Grilles let the maximum amount of window light in. While protection window grills are closed, light can come in and they also serve as a protective barrier. Nobody can unlock the windows from the outside or put their hands through large gaps. A mesh window security grill is a great investment in security. On sunny days, natural light that promotes mental stimulation can be kept, improving mental and emotional well-being.
There are different types to be considered. Fixed grilles are immovable and stay in place over windows or doors. Their immobility and installation over ground level windows is why they are popular in commercial real estate in high crime rate areas. If you want flexibility, retractable grilles operate like concertina gates – they fold away in the day and pull across at night. This gives you normal window use flexibility when you are at home or open for business, and gives you that security when you need it.
Materials play into the security and potential for light pass through. The steel grilles offer the most secure protection and are even more protective when they achieve LPS 1175 endurance ratings for physical security. The ratings test the time it takes to breach the grille with various tools, from simple hand tools to power equipment. Higher ratings mean tougher protection, and they tend to come with thicker bars and tighter spacing which affect light levels.
Aluminum grates are popular for residential use due to their lightweight and rustproof qualities. While they are not as secure as steel, they are more protective than many of the alternatives, not to mention easier to handle. If you are looking for retractable options, they also easily slide open. If grates are going to be used, we recommend the powder coated options. Lighter shades will be much more reflective, leading to lighter and brighter rooms.
Another popular alternative are security screens. These are thin sheets of stainless steel mesh that, while mostly translucent, form a solid protective barrier. From the inside, you’d hardly notice they are there. These screens are Secured by Design approved, making them more difficult to break than they look. Plus the added bonus of mesh is that pesky summer insects won’t be able to get through.
When it comes to security grilles and insurance, the spacing between bars becomes even more critical. If the gaps are too wide, it will not contain a security system. If they are too narrow, people will be able to use it to break the system by reaching through. These gaps also remain key to allowing the passage of light and viewing the surrounding area. Most security grilles that meet insurance requirements have spacing of around 100-125mm, which balances all of these considerations.
A difference in installation can have a big impact on security and function. An anchor must be fitted into robust masonry and not just a screw into a window frame. Weak fixing points are the most common failure in break-in attempts – all the strong steel in the world won’t help if the grille isn’t properly unaffected from the building. Find installers that can show you completed projects and understand the requirements in their industry.
For businesses, grilles can have some benefits over shutters in some situations. A closed shopfront can still be visually open. Customers can see the window displays and marketing messages, so it can still work while you’re not there. It can also help keep the street from feeling dead after hours, making it less attractive to some crimes. Criminals prefer dark deserted areas where they can work in safety and not be seen.
Grilles are also common for residential properties on the ground floor windows and patio doors, which pose the most risk and the most light blocking. With retractable grilles, you can close off the patio doors and ground floor windows so that you can sleep peacefully or fully secure the house while quickly leaving. Pulling them across also only takes a second.
Security grilles serve industries with protective barriers, including the psychological. We know that break-ins are often very opportunistic. Most criminals are not premeditating. Oftentimes, they will try a door or window, and if one moves easily, they are in and can steal whatever they want. From the psychological perspective, if someone can easily see a strong security measure, they will know that property will be a hassle to access and will likely not try to break in. Most criminals want easy targets!
From the psychological perspective, most comapnies see they may save money on insurance grilles that meet Sold Secure standards or LPS 1175 ratings. This is especially true if specific security measures are required due to the type of property or location. Approved grilles cover that requirement sans the expense of complete shutters. This also avoids the disruption of having to replace all your windows with high security glass.
Light transmission issues with grilles are also less of a problem in real-life situations than most spectators believe. Yes, they do reduce light levels a little compared to completely unobstructed windows, but the difference is almost always less extreme than they expect when stopping to really consider the issue. In residential properties, people usually adapt to it quickly. With commercial properties, some people may need slightly more overhead light, but that is a small price to pay for the increase in security.
Security grilles used to be big and heavy with the look of prison bars . Now, they have slimmed down and have a more sleek look to match the modern aesthetic of many buildings. Most security grilles have a hard to notice, mesh screen that blends with the property. Those that want to stand out can get a security grille that has a bold and modern design to announce to the world that they take security seriously.
A common concern about security grilles is that they can block light and a bit of a part view into the property. However, in busy and urban areas with valuables, the protection security grilles offer is well worth a bit of blocked light.