Are you ready for Document Q?

17 June 2015

 

Are you ready for Document Q?

The government has approved a new series of documents intended to help builders and contractors meet the requirements of the Building Regulations 2010 for England. Of particular interest to the door and window industry is Document Q, which is focused on “easily accessible doors and windows”. As it says in the document, “if you follow the guidance [in Document Q], there will be a presumption of compliance with the requirements covered by the guidance.” In short, so long as you abide by Document Q’s guidelines, you can more or less rest assured that your practices meet all relevant legal regulations.

Document Q – Everything You Need to Know

Document Q mandates that any easily accessible door or window should be able to resist physical attacks from casual or opportunistic burglars. “Easily accessible” doors and windows are defined as:

 Doors – Any door that provides access to a dwelling, or any door that provides access from which a dwelling can be accessed. Also covered are doors that allow access from a garage to the interior of the property.

 Windows – Any ground floor window, or any that is easily accessible, such as a skylight or a basement window. Document Q is due to take effect on October 1, 2015. This means that it applies to all building work that’s commenced after this date. It does not apply to:

 Work started before October 1, 2015

 Work subject to a building notice, full plans application, or initial notice submitted before October 1, 2015 – so long as the work is started onsite before October 1, 2015.

How to Make Sure You Comply With Document Q

In order to comply with Document Q – and, by extension, Building Regulations 2010 – you need the right hardware. Doors Document Q stipulates that door sets should be manufactured to a design that has been shown, by test, to meet the security requirements of PAS24:2012.

Failing this, main doors should be fitting with a multipoint door locking system that meets the following requirements:

 PAS3621 – Key locking on both sides, or

 PAS8621 – Non-key locking on the internal face, or

 PAS10621 – Non-key locking on the internal face, but with an external locking override facility

On top of this, Document Q stipulates that main entrance and front doors should provide a means of identifying callers – either with a door viewer, or with clear glass within the door or the side lights. Door chains and limiters are also recommended as a means of vetting callers before letting them in. If a chain cannot be fitted – if 24 hour emergency access it required, for example – then alternative caller identification means should be used, such as electronic AV entry systems.

Most burglars gain entry from the rear entrance, because many burglars assume that the rear entrance won’t be as secure as the front entrance. As a result, when it comes to back doors and garage interconnecting doors, Document Q recommends a multipoint locking system that meets exactly the same requirements as the front door. For all doors, front and back, any hinges that are accessible from the outside should incorporate hinge bolts. Finally, where required, letter plates should have a minimum aperture of 260 x 40mm, and a feature that’s designed to hinder any attempts to remove keys using sticks or hands.

Windows

Document Q isn’t nearly so detailed when it comes to windows. In short, it stipulates that windows should be made to a design that has been shown, by test, to meet the security requirements of PAS24:2012. This essentially means that the frames should be mechanically fixed to the structure as per the manufacturer’s installation instructions.

Window Ware – Your One-Stop-Shop for All Document Q-Compliant Hardware

Here’s a handy guide to the hardware from our range that meets the Document Q requirements:

Door Locks

 Yale Lockmaster Door Locks;

 2 Hook (Composite Door)

 2 Hook, 2 roller with centre deadbolt

 2 Hook, 4 roller with centre hook Hinges

 Yale 3D flag hinge – HIN17000 (White), HIN17002 (Brown), HIN17005 (Chrome), HIN17009 (Gold)

 Kore 3D Flag Hinge – HIN23050 (White), HIN23051 (Satin), HIN23052 (Chrome), HIN23053 (Smokey Chrome), HIN23054 (Tan), HIN23055 (Brown), HIN23058 (PVD Gold) Letterplates  Hoppe Letterplate – LBX90000 (White), LBX90002 (Chrome), LBX90005 (Black), LBX90008 (Polished Brass). This letterplate has been PAS24 tested & passed. Cylinders

 Eurospec 3 Star TS007 Kitemarked Cylinder (CYL2******)

 Eurospec MPX6 1 Star TS007 Kitemarked Cylinder (CYL4******)

 Yale Superior 1 Star TS007 Kitemarked Cylinder (CYL8*****) Ancillary Items

 UAP & Trojan knockers & Spy Holes (KNK***** & SPY*****)

 Yale TS003 Door Chain & Bolt (YDC*****) – Also Secured by Design approved

 Yale Security Letterplate Security Cowl – LBX59990 (White), LBX59991 (Silver) Window High Security Espagnolettes

 Yale Blade (YBL*****)

 Yale Encloser Twin Cam (YEN*****)

 Maco R.A.I.L Twin Cam (MAC202***)

 Trojan Reverse Action Twin Cam (TRA*****) Shoot Bolt Systems

 Yale Shoot Bolt (YSB*****)  Maco MK1 Shoot Bolt (MAC*****)

 Maco MK2 Shoot Bolt (MAC*****)

 Maco MSPAG Telescopic Shoot Bolt (MAC21****)

 Trojan Stallion (TRO*****) Ancillary Items

 Hinge Protectors (HIN990**) Tilt & Turn

 Maco i.S Trend High Security Tilt & Turn (MAC******)  Maco i.S Invisible High Security Tilt & Turn (MAC******)

For more information on Document Q – or the hardware you need to become compliant, you can download our guide to Document Q, or alternatively please get in touch, and one of our home security experts would be more than happy to advise. Call us now on 01234 242 724, or email [email protected]. Robert Vaughan Head of Technical at Window Ware

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