Window security guide

Windows are a common weak point in home security, but modern double glazing can be genuinely tough to force. This guide explains the locks, glass and standards that deter break-ins — and what to specify when you order new windows.

Multipoint locking

The single biggest security upgrade in a modern window is the multipoint locking system. Instead of one central catch, turning the handle drives several locking points around the frame, gripping the sash tightly on multiple sides. Combined with a key-lockable handle, this makes a window far harder to lever open. When comparing quotes, check how many locking points each window has and whether handles are lockable as standard.

Laminated and toughened glass

Glass choice matters as much as the lock. Laminated glass sandwiches a tough plastic interlayer between two panes; even if the outer pane is smashed, the interlayer holds the glass together and resists a person climbing through, buying valuable time and making a lot of noise. Toughened glass is heat-treated to be much stronger and to shatter into blunt fragments for safety. For ground-floor and easily accessible windows, upgrading to laminated glass on the inner or outer pane is a worthwhile step.

Hinges, handles and beading

Good security is in the details. Look for hinge protection or anti-lift devices that stop a closed window being jemmied off its hinges, and internally beaded glazing so the beads holding the glass cannot be prised off from outside. Restrictor stays let you ventilate upstairs windows safely without leaving them wide open. Quality hardware from a reputable maker resists drilling and manipulation far better than budget fittings.

Security standards to look for

PAS 24 is the enhanced security performance standard that windows and doors can be tested and certified against — products that pass have resisted a range of realistic attack tests. Secured by Design is the police-backed accreditation that recognises products meeting these standards. Some home insurers look favourably on certified windows, and new-build regulations increasingly require them. Ask your installer whether the windows they quote are PAS 24 certified; the glazing glossary defines these terms if you meet them in a specification.