Security Door: A Simple Guide Of The Australian Standards

What do you do if you want to let in that lovely air from outside the house, without leaving your house susceptible to unwelcome entry? The solution: get a security door that strictly conforms to the Australian Standard AS 5039. You must also ensure that installation of such a door also conforms to the Australian Standard AS 5040.

Here is a simple guide of what the two standards regarding security doors involve:

Australian Standard AS 5039

This standard presents clear guidelines concerning the requirements necessary for all security doors. One of the aspects that is of particular interest is the door lock. Understandably, a strong door with a very vulnerable lock won't be of much use.

The strongest locks must be five-pin cylinders or any similar construction. Moreover, a three-point lock construction will work well in evenly spreading and lessening the force of any attack, or preventing potential wrenching back of either top or bottom parts of the door. On the other hand, wafer locks tend to be more vulnerable hence should be avoided.

The material used in joinery is also a critical aspect, since this can present vulnerable points. In this regard, aluminum rivets shouldn't be used in accessible positions. Stainless steel rivets would offer a suitable alternative.

Hinges present another point of potential vulnerability in your door. Ideally, such a door should have at least 3 hinges, which have fixed hinge pins, not the removable varieties. A single hinge running from top to bottom would be an even better construction. To further prevent access for a jemmy, all the hinges must be recessed. Alternatively, a hinge filling is required between the door and frame.

A 7 mm thickness is necessary for the cords of the grille. Such a grille must also be properly fixed on your door frame. The most reliable construction has the grilles firmly welded to the door frame. Such welding spots must be a maximum of 25 cm apart.

Alternatively, grilles that are riveted to the door frame can provide sufficient security. In this case, such rivets must be a maximum of 25 cm apart, as well as being clinched at the back of the door frame.

Australian Standard AS 5040

Proper installation of your door is just as important as selecting a well-constructed door. Among the aspects to consider during installation include the strength of your door frame.

Only a strong and secure frame can ensure the best security. Assessing this aspect involves checking whether the jamb is firmly fixed and in good condition. If not, you'll need to reinforce it using metal jamb covers.

Specific limitations also apply to the acceptable width of gaps between door and frame. Firstly, such a gap shouldn't exceed 4 mm at the locking points. A similar 4 mm gap limit applies at the hinge points, but varies based on the material used to construct your door (steel doors have a limit of 6 mm). All other points have a slightly higher limit of 5 mm, which may be a bit more at the bottom to compensate for uneven floors.


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Andrew is a well-experienced expert in home renovation. His helpful advice will guide you in achieving your home remodeling goals. Make sure to visit Elite Home Improvements at http://www.ehiaustralia.com.au/security-doors for top quality fixtures.