Back Door Security Rating: PAS 24, Part Q and Secured by Design Explained

A back door that fails PAS 24 testing will not meet Building Regulations Part Q in England — and any new-build or extension that installs a non-compliant door will not receive a completion certificate. That single fact makes understanding security ratings the starting point for any back door purchase, not an afterthought.

The three security tiers you need to know

UK door security operates on a hierarchy. Each tier builds on the last:

Standard	What it tests	Typical door cost	Who demands it
BS EN 1627	Basic resistance to manual attack	£400-£700 fitted	Insurance benchmarks
PAS 24	Enhanced resistance including tools and bodily force	£600-£1,400 fitted	Building Regs Part Q
Secured by Design (SBD)	PAS 24 + factory audit + installation standard	£800-£2,200 fitted	Police, housing associations

BS EN 1627: the baseline

This European standard classifies doors from RC1 to RC6. Most UK residential back doors achieve RC2 at minimum. The test involves a tester attempting to break through the door with a set of tools within a time limit. RC2 is the level most insurers expect as standard, though few homeowners are aware of it.

PAS 24: the regulatory minimum

PAS 24 is the British Standard that the UK government chose as the benchmark for Part Q of the Building Regulations (England, 2015). It is a far tougher test than BS EN 1627. The tester uses a wider range of tools — including crowbars, screwdrivers, and knives — and applies increasing levels of bodily force over a longer period.

To pass PAS 24, a door must resist forced entry for a minimum period under repeated attack. The test also checks:

• Locking points: Multi-point locks with at least three hook or mushroom bolts
• Cylinder security: Resistance to cylinder snapping, drilling, and bumping
• Hinge strength: The door must resist being levered off its hinges
• Glazing security: Any glazed panels must resist being smashed and reached through

Since June 2022, PAS 24:2022 supersedes the older PAS 24:2016. Doors tested to the 2016 standard remain valid for existing installations, but new products should meet the 2022 version.

Secured by Design: the gold standard

Secured by Design is the official police security initiative, owned by the Police Crime Prevention Initiatives (PCPI). An SBD-accredited door does not just pass PAS 24 — it must also be manufactured in a factory that undergoes regular audits, and installed by a trained operative following a documented method statement.

Housing associations and many local authorities require SBD on all new builds and replacement doors in social housing. If you own a rental property, SBD can reduce insurance premiums by 5-15% with some providers.

Building Regulations Part Q: when it applies

Part Q of Schedule 1 to the Building Regulations (England) came into force on 1 October 2015. It states that any door that provides access to a dwelling — including back doors, side doors, and any door linking a conservatory to the main house — must be sufficiently secure against burglary.

When Part Q applies

• New dwellings: All access doors must meet PAS 24
• Extensions: Any new door created as part of an extension
• Change of use: Converting a building into a dwelling
• Replacement doors in existing homes: Not strictly required by Part Q, but many local authorities enforce it as good practice

When Part Q does not apply

• Repairs: Replacing a broken lock or a damaged panel in an existing door does not trigger Part Q
• Listed buildings and conservation areas: Exempt if compliance would harm the historic character, though you should still seek the most secure option the conservation officer will accept
• Internal doors: Part Q only covers doors between a dwelling and the outside

Part Q in Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland

Part Q applies only in England. The equivalent provisions are:

• Wales: Part Q applies under the same rules as England
• Scotland: Building Standards Technical Handbook Section 4 (Safety) covers door security, with similar PAS 24 requirements
• Northern Ireland: Technical Booklet E (Conservation of Fuel and Power) and Technical Booklet K (Ventilation) — security is covered under general building control rather than a dedicated Part Q equivalent

Lock types and cylinder grades

Even with a PAS 24 door, the lock cylinder is the most vulnerable point. The two standards to check are:

TS 007: Cylinder security

TS 007 grades cylinders from 1-star to 3-star. A 3-star cylinder resists snapping, drilling, picking, and bumping on its own. A 1-star cylinder needs a cylinder guard (an anti-snap escutcheon) to reach the equivalent protection.

TS 008: Locking handle sets

TS 008 covers the handle and lock furniture as a complete set. If your back door has a 1-star cylinder with a TS 008-compatible handle and cylinder guard, the combined assembly can meet PAS 24.

Practical advice: Always specify at least a 3-star cylinder or a TS 008 handle set. Replacing a cylinder after installation costs £40-£80 plus a locksmith call-out; specifying it upfront adds roughly £20-£40 to the door cost.

Material comparison for secure back doors

Material	PAS 24 achievable?	Typical security features	Cost (fitted)
Solid composite	Yes — best pass rate	48mm timber core, multi-point lock, ABS cylinder	£900-£2,200
uPVC multi-point	Yes — with reinforcement	Steel-reinforced frame, multi-point lock	£600-£1,200
Timber	Yes — specialist only	Hardwood, mortice lock + deadbolt, high-spec cylinder	£1,200-£2,500
Aluminium	Yes — inherent strength	Thick extrusion, multi-point lock, anti-jemmy features	£1,400-£2,800

Solid composite doors (such as Solidor and Endurance) are the most straightforward route to PAS 24. Their 48mm solid timber core provides rigidity that hollow-core uPVC or thin-skinned composites cannot match. See our composite front door brands guide for a brand-by-brand comparison of security features.

Glazing and security: the weak point

Any glazed panel in a back door is a potential entry point. PAS 24 requires that any glazing within 800mm of the lock be either:

1. Laminated glass: A PVB interlayer holds the glass together when smashed, delaying entry
2. Toughened glass with an anti-bandit film: The glass shatters but the film holds the pieces in place

Laminated glass is the default on PAS 24 doors. If you are retro-fitting security to an existing door with a glazed panel, an anti-bandit film applied by a specialist glazier costs £50-£120 per pane — a fraction of a door replacement.

Patiolite and French door security

Back doors that open onto a garden are often not single-leaf doors but French doors or sliding patio doors. These present additional security challenges:

• French doors: The active leaf (the one that opens first) must have a flush bolt on the passive leaf, and both must have multi-point locks. PAS 24 French doors are available from most composite and aluminium manufacturers. See our French doors UK guide for pricing and security by material.

• Sliding patio doors: These cannot use conventional multi-point locks. Instead, they rely on anti-lift blocks and hook bolt locks. PAS 24 compliance is harder to achieve; check specifically for a PAS 24 certificate before purchase.

Insurance considerations

Most UK home insurance policies require “adequate locks” on external doors. The Association of British Insurers (ABI) defines this as:

• A five-lever mortice lock (BS 3621) on timber doors
• A multi-point locking system on uPVC and composite doors
• Key-operated locks on all windows within reach of the door

If your back door does not meet these requirements and you are burgled, your insurer may refuse to pay or reduce the settlement. Upgrading to a PAS 24 / SBD door guarantees compliance with any insurer’s definition of “adequate.”

How to verify a door’s security rating

Unscrupulous suppliers have been known to claim PAS 24 compliance without a certificate. To verify:

1. Ask for the certificate number: Every PAS 24-certified product has a unique certificate issued by a UKAS-accredited body (such as BSI, BRE, or BBA)
2. Check the Secured by Design product search: The SBD website lists all accredited products at www.securedbydesign.com
3. Look for the Kitemark: BSI’s Kitemark alongside PAS 24 means BSI tested the door themselves andaudit the factory

Summary checklist

• Confirm Part Q applies to your project (new build, extension, or replacement)
• Choose a PAS 24:2022-certified door — do not accept verbal assurances
• Specify at least a 3-star cylinder (TS 007) or a TS 008 handle set
• Ensure glazed panels use laminated glass
• If insurance reduction is a goal, check the door is also Secured by Design
• For French or sliding doors, confirm PAS 24 certification specifically — these are harder to secure than single-leaf doors

For broader guidance on composite door options, see our composite front door brands guide. For new-build window pricing that also must meet Part Q, see cost of new build windows UK.