Offering Technical Assistance on Doc Q
May 2015

Titon is offering expert advice to its customers on the recently published Approved Document Q, which sees security of dwellings incorporated into the Building Regulations for the first time. Effective from October 2015, Part Q stipulates all accessible windows and doors installed in new properties in England must meet certain requirements to resist unauthorised access.

The Approved Document sets out reasonable standards for doors and windows to resist physical attack by a casual or opportunist burglar. This requires units to be sufficiently robust and fitted with appropriate hardware. To meet the requirements, reasonable provision must be made to resist unauthorised access to any dwelling, including access points to flats within a building.

Commenting on the implications of the new legislation, Tyson Anderson, Sales & Marketing Director at Titon, said: “As Approved Document Q is new, there will clearly be a lot of questions that require answering, especially around which products are compliant and which are not.  Unfortunately, Part Q is very general in its terminology, while it alludes to other already recognised systems and Standards – such as PAS 24, which already covers security performance requirements for doorsets and windows in the UK – as compliance levels.”

Approved Document Q takes effect on 1 October 2015. It does not apply to work started before this date, or work subject to a building notice, full planning application(s) or initial notice submitted before that date, provided the work is started on site before 1 October 2016.

Anderson added: “Some of the implications will require guidance and Titon is here to help. Our technical department can offer advice and recommend a wide range of high security window and door products for dwellings. Plus, they’ll also be able to apply the correct product to each specification, for use on PVCu, timber or aluminium windows and doors.”

technical@titon.co.uk