A well installed conservatory or orangery is as secure as any other part of your house. But there are key considerations that must be taken into account during the installation process, to ensure that your conservatory doesn’t become the weakest link in your home security.
Quality locking systems. The locks on your conservatory must be of a suitable standard. Our multi-point bolting systems and locking handles are made and fitted to a specification well above the British Standards, and will prevent even the most skilful and committed intruder.
Ensure you remove the keys from the locks, though – leaving the key visible within the lock provides an incentive to try and smash the surrounding glass.
Toughened glass. Ensuring that the installation is carried out with toughened glass will reduce the risk of a security breach in your conservatory or orangery. All our installations are carried out with 4mm toughened safety glass, conforming to BS6206.
High quality installation. If you’re spending money on a luxury orangery or conservatory this is obviously a priority, regardless of your concerns about security.
However, poor build quality and ill-fitting materials and components will create opportunities for intruders to force their way in, so ensuring that your conservatory is well-constructed and secure will help reduce your need for concern.
Keep your internal door. While this isn’t always an option, for smaller installations this can be a viable option to maintain an additional barrier as a further deterrent.
When making structural alterations to the entrances and exits of your home, it’s always a good idea to contact your insurance company too, as you may invalidate your home insurance if the insurance company aren’t notified.
Conservatory–specific burglar alarm sensors. Most domestic burglar alarm systems are installed with Passive Infra-Red (PIR) sensors used as standard. This is a heat sensitive detection system which is triggered by large warm objects.
The problem with using PIRs in a conservatory or orangery is that the amount of light and heat coming through the windows can render standard PIR sensors unreliable and prone to triggering unnecessary alarms.
The solution is to use a dual-tech sensor, which uses a combination of infrared and microwave radar to provide a more precise response, distinguishing clearly between background temperature and specific heat sources. For further information, consult a qualified security expert.
Blinds. Most burglars are opportunistic by nature, and if a luxury item is clearly on display (through the glass of your conservatory), there is a higher probability that someone will attempt to break in and steal it. Including a well-fitted set of blinds in your installation process will lessen the chances of your belongings being noticed by an unprincipled passer-by.
Maintenance. The installation process is critical to reducing any security risk associated with your new conservatory or orangery. But even the highest quality bespoke conservatories will degrade over time if not properly cared for, providing opportunities for intruders to take advantage of the reduced structural integrity.
It also sends a message that the residents responsible for the conservatory are perhaps not quite as on top of maintaining the security and safety of their property as they should be.
If you’re considering a new conservatory or orangery, or wish to upgrade or repair an existing conservatory, get in touch with Foxfurd today.