PAS 24 steel windows: Meeting Part Q and Secured By Design

• 25 September 2025
• News

Architects, specifiers and developers know from long experience that compliance is often as critical as aesthetics. Accordingly, PAS 24 steel windows from Crittall provide the security assurance needed to satisfy both Approved Document Q of the Building Regulations and the UK police-backed Secured by Design initiative.

What is PAS 24?

PAS 24 is a British Standards Institution (BSI) specification that sets out the minimum standard of testing for the security performance of windows and doorsets. It measures how well a product can resist unauthorised access through a series of rigorous testing methods. These include attempts to force entry using the most common lock manipulation techniques, applying solid impact to the frame and glazing, and exposing the product to a jet of water and other weather resistance tests in line with wider BSI performance criteria.

Any product carrying a PAS 24:2022 certificate has been tested to a recognised British standard under the oversight of the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS). For specifiers, this means proven, certified products that meet the security standards expected across new build properties.

What is Approved Document Q?

Approved Document Q (known as Part Q) was introduced into the Building Regulations in 2015. It requires that all entrance doors and accessible windows in new residential buildings must resist forced entry and deter opportunistic burglars.

Part Q compliance applies to:

• Front and rear entrance doors
• Patio doors
• Accessible windows, including ground floor and basement windows
• Doors between communal and private areas in flats

Document Q makes clear that products should meet or exceed the PAS 24 security standard. In practice, this means that PAS 24 steel windows and steel doors are essential for achieving building control approval on new build housing projects.

Secured by Design accreditation

Alongside Part Q, many projects also require products that are Secured by Design (SBD) accredited. SBD is a police security initiative run on behalf of the UK police service. It promotes products and designs that have been proven, through product assessment specification and independent testing, to reduce crime.

For housing associations, developers and local authorities, pairing PAS 24 certification with SBD accreditation is often a key requirement at tender stage. By specifying Crittall’s PAS 24 steel windows and doors that carry Secured by Design approval, specifiers can be confident of meeting both regulatory and planning demands.

Crittall’s tested and certified products

Crittall offers a wide range of products, from steel windows to metal doors, that combine strength of the profile pieces with the strength of the lock to deliver the highest standards of security. Our residential windows and steel doorsets undergo rigorous testing and meet PAS 24 as well as Part Q requirements.

These certified products are available in a full choice of colours, with durable hot-dip galvanising and powder coating for long service life. Security features such as multi-point locking systems, robust frames and tested glazing provide both compliance and peace of mind.

Why this matters for specifiers

At pre-tender stage, specifiers and developers are under pressure to ensure security compliance without compromising design intent. By choosing PAS 24 steel windows that also carry Secured by Design accreditation, it is possible to achieve a consistent level of security across key areas such as entrance doors, patio doors and accessible windows.

With burglary prevention a national priority, meeting these standards is more than a box-ticking exercise. It provides tested assurance that buildings are being constructed to the highest standards of security, safety and performance.

• For more information about our secure windows and doors, contact us here.