The term window security may refer to any of a range of measures used to avoid unauthorized access through windows, and prevent crimes such as burglary and home invasions. Window security is used in commercial and government buildings, as well as in residential settings.
In ancient Greek and Roman houses grilles were rarely used and had simple designs, rectangular or diamond-shaped, as it appears in 1st and 2nd-century wall paintings. In medieval times some castles, prisons and convents were protected by rudimentary iron grilles. From the 11th century to 15th, in France, Spain, Germany and Italy the blacksmiths started to take care of beauty of their products, so the grilles started to be characterized by iron and bronze decorative motifs. While French blacksmiths approached the highest perfection in the execution of Gothic and Baroque grilles, Italian ones maintained the sobriety of design. After attempts to imitate stylistically these grilles in the 19th century, the simplicity of design has taken over, and particular importance is given to the materials and the execution. Openable bars have been introduced to the market. [1]
In Britain, in the middle of the 1800s glass started to be used in the ordinary shops, but wooden shutters were retained to protect the goods exposed. At about this time metal grilles started to be used at night to allow passersby to view the goods on display. Metal roller shutters were introduced in the late 1970s and early 1980s as a response to street riots throughout the United Kingdom, but now there are alternative solutions for the security of shops. [2]
According to the European standards (EN 1627, EN 1628, EN 1629 and EN 1630), the resistance of a closing system can be classified in six levels, for which it has to be tested in standardized modalities for its ability to resist to different tools in different time intervals. [3] [4]
| Class | Tools and perpetrator profile | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Occasional burglar with physical violence | N/A |
| 2 | Occasional burglar with simple tools such as screwdrivers, pliers, wedges | 3 minutes |
| 3 | Occasional or experienced burglar with additional lever tool, such as crowbars | 5 minutes |
| 4 | Experienced burglar with cutting and hammering tool | 10 minutes |
| 5 | Experienced burglar with electrical equipment | 15 minutes |
| 6 | Experienced burglar with large-size electrical equipment | 20 minutes |
Window locks may be difficult to use for elderly or disabled people, but easier to use locks have become available. In addition, during a fire or a similar emergency situation in which it is necessary to escape, lockable windows, window shutters or grilles (especially fixed ones) may become dangerous obstacles, so it is necessary to ensure that the keys are as close to the windows as is practical or, if a window is an important emergency exit, that it can be opened from the inside without the use of a key. [9] [10]
Security management is the identification of an organization's assets, followed by the development, documentation, and implementation of policies and procedures for protecting assets.
Physical security describes security measures that are designed to deny unauthorized access to facilities, equipment, and resources and to protect personnel and property from damage or harm. Physical security involves the use of multiple layers of interdependent systems that can include CCTV surveillance, security guards, protective barriers, locks, access control, perimeter intrusion detection, deterrent systems, fire protection, and other systems designed to protect persons and property.
Motor vehicle theft is the criminal act of stealing or attempting to steal a motor vehicle. Nationwide in the United States in 2020, there were 810,400 vehicles reported stolen, up from 724,872 in 2019. Property losses due to motor vehicle theft in 2020 were estimated at $7.4 billion. There were 505,100 car thefts in the EU in 2019, a 43% decrease from 2008.
A bank vault is a secure space where money, valuables, records, and documents are stored. It is intended to protect their contents from theft, unauthorized use, fire, natural disasters, and other threats, much like a safe. Unlike safes, vaults are an integral part of the building within which they are built, using armored walls and a tightly fashioned door closed with a complex lock.
A security alarm is a system designed to detect intrusions, such as unauthorized entry, into a building or other areas, such as a home or school. Security alarms protect against burglary (theft) or property damage, as well as against intruders. Examples include personal systems, neighborhood security alerts, car alarms, and prisons.
A false alarm, also called a nuisance alarm, is the deceptive or erroneous report of an emergency, causing unnecessary panic and/or bringing resources to a place where they are not needed. False alarms may occur with residential burglary alarms, smoke detectors, industrial alarms, and in signal detection theory. False alarms have the potential to divert emergency responders away from legitimate emergencies, which could ultimately lead to loss of life. In some cases, repeated false alarms in a certain area may cause occupants to develop alarm fatigue and to start ignoring most alarms, knowing that each time it will probably be false. Intentionally falsely activating alarms in businesses and schools can lead to serious disciplinary actions, and criminal penalties such as fines and jail time.
A passive infrared sensor is an electronic sensor that measures infrared (IR) light radiating from objects in its field of view. They are most often used in PIR-based motion detectors. PIR sensors are commonly used in security alarms and automatic lighting applications.
It Takes a Thief is an American reality television series that originally aired on the Discovery Channel from February 2, 2005, to April 13, 2007. The program stars and is hosted by Matt Johnston and Jon Douglas Rainey, two former thieves who use their unique expertise to teach people in an unusual way to protect their properties.
A window shutter is a solid and stable window covering usually consisting of a frame of vertical stiles and horizontal rails. Set within this frame can be louvers, solid panels, fabric, glass and almost any other item that can be mounted within a frame. Shutters may be employed for a variety of reasons, including controlling the amount of sunlight that enters a room, to provide privacy, security, to protect against weather or unwanted intrusion or damage and to enhance the aesthetics of a building.
Chubb Locks is a former brand name of the Mul-T-Lock subsidiary of the Assa Abloy Group, which manufactures locking systems for residential, secure confinement and commercial applications.
Building automation(BAS), also known as building management system (BMS) or building energy management system (BEMS), is the automatic centralized control of a building's HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning), electrical, lighting, shading, access control, security systems, and other interrelated systems. Some objectives of building automation are improved occupant comfort, efficient operation of building systems, reduction in energy consumption, reduced operating and maintaining costs and increased security.
A motion detector is an electrical device that utilizes a sensor to detect nearby motion. Such a device is often integrated as a component of a system that automatically performs a task or alerts a user of motion in an area. They form a vital component of security, automated lighting control, home control, energy efficiency, and other useful systems.
A glass break detector is a sensor that detects if a pane of glass has been shattered or broken. These sensors are commonly used near glass doors or glass storefront windows. They are widely used in electronic burglar-alarm systems.
Home security includes both the security hardware placed on a property and individuals' personal security practices. Security hardware includes doors, locks, alarm systems, lighting, motion detectors, and security camera systems. Personal security involves practices like ensuring doors are locked, alarms are activated, owning a Dog, windows are closed, and extra keys are not hidden outside.
A prison escape is the act of an inmate leaving prison through unofficial or illegal ways. Normally, when this occurs, an effort is made on the part of authorities to recapture them and return them to their original detainers. Escaping from prison is also a criminal offense in some countries, such as the United States and Canada, and it is highly likely to result in time being added to the inmate's sentence, as well as the inmate being placed under increased security that is most likely a maximum security prison or supermax prison. In Germany, and a number of other countries, it is considered human nature to want to escape from a prison and it is considered as a violation of the right of freedom, so escape is not penalized in itself.
The term door security or door security gate may refer to any of a range of measures used to strengthen doors against door breaching, ram-raiding and lock picking, and prevent crimes such as burglary and home invasions. Door security is used in commercial and government buildings, as well as in residential settings.
A gun safe is a safe designed for storing one or more firearms and/or ammunitions. Gun safes are primarily used to prevent access by unauthorized or unqualified persons, for burglary protection and, in more capable safes, to protect the contents from damage by flood, fire or other natural disasters.
Yale is among the world's most venerable lock manufacturers and is a subsidiary of Assa Abloy, its parent company. With a rich history spanning decades, Yale has been granted patents for numerous innovative products, and the company has distributed its wares to over 120 countries, including Australia, Greece, India, Kuwait, and more. Yale is headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden.
A roller shutter, security shutter, coiling door, roller door or sectional overhead door is a type of door or window shutter consisting of many horizontal slats hinged together. The door is raised to open it and lowered to close it. On large doors, the action may be motorized. It provides protection against wind, rain, fire and theft. In shutter form, it is used in front of a window and protects the window from vandalism and burglary attempts.
Banham Group is a family owned security company. Established in 1926, Banham Group is now the largest supplier of burglary and fire prevention systems in London.