Pro Installer December 2015 - Issue 33 | Page 17

17 PRO INSTALLER DECEMBER 2015 PRO NEWS @proinstaller1 Association welcomes insurance sector’s tough stance on house burglary MICHAEL SKELDING, GENERAL manager and secretary of the Door and Hardware Federation, talks to Pro Installer about the insurance sector’s latest moves on security. As the trade association representing the UK’s leading lock makers, we welcome the insurance sector’s early acceptance of a new domestic door security standard designed to defeat a wave of house burglaries. A leading UK insurance company is now advising its domestic insurance policy holders to choose TS 007-rated security for their entrance doors. TS 007 security provides resistance against cylinder snapping and other forms of lock attack which are increasingly being used in domestic break-ins. Now we are sincerely hoping other insurance companies will follow the lead set by this particular insurance company and encourage their policy holders to upgrade their door security. Locksmiths are well aware that cylinder snapping, a technique which allows burglars to break into a home in a matter of seconds, is an increasing problem and that many homes are at risk from this form of lock attack. We developed the TS 007 standard, working with the Glass & Glazing Federation, BSI, Secured by Design, MLA and other industry organisations. We’ve been liaising closely with the RISCAuthority, the insurance-backed organisation that supports best practice in the protection of property and business. ‘We welcome the insurance company’s early adoption of the RISCAuthority guidelines and we’re confident other insurance companies will follow their example’ RISCAuthority referenced TS 007 and other standards developed by the lock industry in their recent Guidance to Occupiers publication. We welcome the insurance company’s early adoption of the RISCAuthority guidelines and we’re confident other insurance companies will follow their example. A wide range of TS 007 lock cylinders and door handles is available which are certified by the BSI Kitemark. Security to the TS 007 standard can be achieved by either a combination of a TS 007 cylinder (marked with one star) and TS 007 security door furniture such as a strengthened door handle (marked with two stars), or a “super cylinder” (marked with three stars) that successfully resists snap attack without the need to fit additional door hardware. In both cases, the same degree of resistance against attack is provided. Locksmiths have long been aware that cylinder snapping exploits a weakness in the eurocylinder typically used in locks found in doors made from PVCu and composite mate- rials, which form the bulk of domestic entrance doors in the UK. The DHF - and now the insurance sector is spreading the message to the general public that they need to take action against the threat of cylinder snapping by uprating their lock cylinders. For more information visit www.dhfonline.org.uk National Plastics launches new app National Plastics, one of the UK’s largest trade counter network has just launched an app to help customers keep up to date with the latest offers. Managing Director Geoff Foster said: “Many of our customers are out and about for much of the day but don’t want to miss out on any special offers or promotions. By downloading our app they can get notifications of our latest offers straight to their phone.” The free National Plastics app is available from Apple’s App Store while Android users can download it via Google Play. The app also has store contact details, a photo gallery of products, a QR scanner and social media links and users can make an enquiry directly through the app. National Plastics’ has added £9 million to its turnover in recent years and plans to take its total number of stores to 50 by the end of 2017. www.nationalplastics.co.uk or call 0800 011 3503