Approved Document Q: Security Standards for New Dwellings — PAS 24:2022 Doors, Secured by Design and Anti-Snap Cylinders

Summary

Approved Document Q (Security — dwellings) was introduced in 2015 and has been updated subsequently to align with PAS 24. It is the first time residential security has been a Building Regulations requirement in England. Before ADQ, security was purely a matter for individual homeowners; now builders of new dwellings must demonstrate that easily accessible doors and windows meet minimum performance standards.

ADQ is specifically about physical security — resistance to forced entry. It does not cover electronic security systems (alarms, CCTV), access control, or security lighting. Those are addressed separately through Secured by Design (SBD), the police-backed design initiative that goes further than ADQ across a broad range of security measures including layout, landscape design, and communal access controls.

For builders and developers, ADQ compliance is non-negotiable on new-build residential projects in England. The specification route is simple: specify PAS 24:2022-tested and -certified door sets and windows, and TS 007 3-star anti-snap cylinders or equivalent. This approach means compliance without the need for additional testing. For extensions and conversions, ADQ does not apply (it covers new dwellings only) — but Secured by Design accreditation can be pursued as a marketing differentiator on any project.

Key Facts

• Approved Document Q (ADQ): Building Regulation Q1, England — applies to new dwellings
• Scope: easily accessible doors and windows (ground floor, and any floor accessible from a balcony, flat roof, or adjacent structure)
• Not in scope: doors and windows more than 2 storeys above any accessible surface
• PAS 24:2022: Enhanced security performance requirements for door and window assemblies; the primary compliance route
• Alternative standards: STS 201, LPS 1175 (Issue 8), or STS 202 (attack resistant) — all provide compliance routes
• Door requirements (PAS 24): door set must resist mechanical attack, drilling, picking, and bump attacks
• Window requirements (PAS 24): windows (and rooflights) must resist manual attack for the test duration
• Euro cylinder: must be TS 007 3-star rated (or equivalent LPS 1621 or STS 202) — anti-snap, anti-drill, anti-pick
• Hinge requirements: must include security hinge (dog bolt or interlocking hinge) on hinged doors
• Letterplate: must not allow manipulation of lock, handle, or key from outside; letterplate cage or internal flap required
• New dwellings only: ADQ applies at first occupation of a new dwelling; replacement windows/doors in existing dwellings not covered
• Wales: Technical Guidance Note Part Q equivalent requirements apply

Quick Reference Table

Detailed Guidance

What is PAS 24:2022?

PAS 24 (Publicly Available Specification) is published by BSI and sets out enhanced security requirements for door and window assemblies. It specifies tests for:

• Manual attack resistance: applying lever, wedge, and manual force to doors and frames for a defined duration
• Mechanical attack: using hand tools (drills, saws, bolt cutters) to attempt forced entry
• Lock manipulation: picking, bumping, and drilling attacks on the locking system
• Glazing attack: attempts to break through any glazing in the door leaf or sidelights

PAS 24:2022 is the current edition (updated from 2016). Key changes from 2016: updated attack sequences, inclusion of multi-fold, bifold, and composite systems in the test scope, and revised pass/fail criteria for glazing.

Compliance route for builders:

• Specify products with a current PAS 24:2022 test certificate from a UKAS-accredited test laboratory
• The certificate covers the door set as tested — including frame, leaf, hardware, glazing, and cylinder brand/type
• Substituting a different cylinder brand from the one tested may invalidate the certificate — check with the manufacturer

TS 007 and Anti-Snap Cylinders

Euro profile cylinders (used in multi-point lock door sets) are vulnerable to 'snapping' — applying side-force to break the cylinder at its narrowest point, exposing the cam mechanism that operates the lock. Cylinder snapping is the predominant method of burglary in the UK, responsible for a significant proportion of residential burglaries.

TS 007 3-star (Sold Secure standard) is the most widely specified anti-snap cylinder in the UK. A TS 007 3-star cylinder:

• Has an anti-snap line: when force is applied, the sacrificial outer section breaks off, leaving the inner mechanism protected
• Includes anti-pick pin tumbler with security pins
• Includes anti-drill hardened steel inserts
• Includes anti-bump pins

Alternative standards:

• LPS 1621 Grade 2 (LPCB): equivalent security standard, different test house
• STS 202 (TSSA/NSI): another equivalent; used in some commercial specifications

Common mistake: door manufacturers often supply a standard (non-anti-snap) euro cylinder with an otherwise PAS 24-tested door set. The supplied cylinder must be replaced with a TS 007 3-star cylinder to achieve Building Regulations compliance. This is one of the most common ADQ compliance failures on new-build sites.

Cylinder sizing: a cylinder that protrudes more than 3mm from the door face is vulnerable to snapping with a standard wrench. Use a cylinder gauge to confirm the correct size — the cylinder should be flush with or slightly recessed below the door furniture faceplate.

Secured by Design (SBD)

Secured by Design is a police initiative managed by the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC). SBD New Homes 2023 guidance covers:

• Access and movement (layout of roads and paths to encourage natural surveillance)
• Communal entrance security in flats (door entry systems, minimum resistance levels)
• Garage and outbuilding security
• Lighting (minimum lux levels for communal and approach areas)
• Individual dwelling doors and windows (must use SBD-licensed products — all PAS 24:2022 compliant)
• Boundary treatments (fence and wall heights)

SBD accreditation benefits:

• Demonstrates compliance with ADQ (all SBD-licensed products meet ADQ requirements)
• Planning condition requirements in many local authorities specify SBD
• Some mortgage lenders and insurers recognise SBD status
• Reduced risk of forced entry and associated insurance claims

SBD is voluntary but effectively mandatory in many developments because local planning authorities condition it. Check planning conditions carefully before specification.

Composite Doors and ADQ Compliance

Composite doors (GRP skin over polyurethane foam core) dominate the new-build residential market for front doors. Most major composite door manufacturers (Solidor, Rockdoor, Endurance) have obtained PAS 24:2022 certification for their standard door sets.

Key compliance checks for composite doors:

1. Cylinder: confirm TS 007 3-star cylinder is included in the tested door set — or specify separately and confirm compatibility
2. Hardware pack: the tested door set certificate covers specific hardware — door knocker, letterbox, and handles must match the tested configuration
3. Letterbox: must include an anti-manipulation cage or internal deflector plate (to prevent reach-around attacks)
4. Frame: the test certificate covers the whole set including frame and cill — substituting a different frame type from the tested assembly requires a new test or manufacturer confirmation

Windows and Rooflights

Easily accessible windows — within 2 storeys of any accessible surface (ground, flat roof, balcony, or structure) — must also comply with PAS 24:2022 under ADQ.

Window security requirements (PAS 24):

• Lever handle with key lock or integrated lock
• Anti-jemmy provisions (bolts or mushroom head bolts in the frame rebate)
• Glazing that resists manual attack (most double-glazed sealed units meet this if glass is ≥6.4mm or laminated inner pane)
• Hinges with hinge bolts or friction stays with integral restrictor (not a simple casement stay)

Window restrictors (child safety): Any openable window with a drop of more than 4m to a surface below, in a room used for sleeping, must have a restrictor limiting opening to 100mm maximum (Building Regulations Part K). This is separate from ADQ but often specified simultaneously.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does ADQ apply to house extensions and conservatories?

No. ADQ applies to new dwellings only. An extension to an existing dwelling is not a new dwelling, and ADQ does not apply. However, any new external door added as part of an extension should comply with ADQ as best practice — and some local authorities and building control officers request it. Secured by Design accreditation can be applied to extensions voluntarily.

Do replacement windows need to comply with ADQ?

No. ADQ applies to new dwellings only. Replacement windows in existing dwellings are not covered by ADQ. However, they must comply with Building Regulations Part N (glazing safety) and Part L (energy efficiency — U-value of 1.4 W/m²K maximum for windows). Installation must be notified under the Fenestration Self-Assessment Scheme (FENSA) or to building control.

A client's new-build front door was supplied with a standard euro cylinder. Do I need to replace it?

Yes, if the building is subject to ADQ (new dwelling in England). The standard euro cylinder does not meet ADQ requirements — it must be replaced with a TS 007 3-star (or equivalent) anti-snap cylinder before the door is compliant. This is a common oversight by site managers and should be checked by the building control officer at the inspection stage.

Can I use a British Standard 5-lever mortice lock instead of a euro cylinder multi-point lock?

Yes — a BS 3621-compliant 5-lever mortice deadlock on a timber door set that is PAS 24:2022-tested as a complete assembly is a valid compliance route under ADQ. BS 3621 is the anti-pick, anti-drill specification for mortice locks. However, the door set as a whole still needs PAS 24 certification — a BS 3621 lock on a standard non-tested door set does not achieve compliance.

Regulations & Standards

• Approved Document Q (2015, amended) — Building Regulation Q1; security requirements for new dwellings in England

• PAS 24:2022 — Enhanced security performance requirements for door and window assemblies; BSI

• TS 007:2021 — Specification for enhanced security door components; Sold Secure

• BS EN 1303 — building hardware; cylinders for locks; requirements and test methods

• LPS 1621 — LPCB certification scheme for cylinders; loss prevention standard

• SBD New Homes 2023 — Secured by Design guidance document; NPCC/Police UK

• BS 3621 — specification for thief-resistant lock assembly; mortice locks

• Approved Document Q (2015) — MHCLG official guidance

• Secured by Design — SBD product licensing and guidance

• BSI PAS 24:2022 — standard purchase

• MLA (Master Locksmiths Association) Security Guidance — cylinder selection guidance

• building regs overview — overview of all Building Regulations approved documents

• competent person — FENSA and other competent person schemes for window installation

• part b fire — fire safety requirements for new dwellings