Roller garage door security ratings explained

Quick answer

Security ratings such as LPS 1175, STS 202 and Secured by Design product approval belong to specific manufacturer door models that have been attack-tested. An LPS 1175 rating like B3 combines a letter for the attacker's toolkit with a number for the minutes the door resisted. Always ask for the certificate for the exact model, and don't assume a rating changes your insurance.

What is LPS 1175?

LPS 1175 is a security standard from the Loss Prevention Certification Board that grades how long a door, shutter or other barrier resists a forced attack with a defined set of tools.

Under the standard, trained testers attack samples of a product with a specified toolkit and time how long it takes to make an opening big enough to get through. A product that passes is certificated at that grade, and the certificate names the manufacturer, the model and the configuration that was tested. Issue 8 of the standard uses a letter and a number for each grade, while certificates issued under earlier issues used SR ratings, so you may still see both.

How do I read an LPS 1175 rating like A1, B3 or C5?

The letter in an LPS 1175 Issue 8 rating shows the threat level, meaning the toolkit used in the test, and the number shows the minutes of delay the door achieved.

Part of the rating	What it means	Range
Letter	Threat level: the size and power of the toolkit used in the attack test. Later letters mean a larger, more capable toolkit.	A to H
Number	Minutes of delay: how long the door held out against that toolkit before an opening was made.	1, 3, 5, 10, 15 or 20

So A1 means the door resisted the threat level A toolkit for at least one minute, B3 means threat level B for three minutes, and C5 means threat level C for five minutes. A higher letter or a longer time means more resistance, and both matter. For a home garage the grade worth paying for depends on what's inside and your own view of the risk.

What are STS 202 and Secured by Design?

STS 202 is another burglary-resistance standard with its own classes, and Secured by Design product approval is the police-backed scheme's recognition of products that meet recognised security standards.

STS 202 also tests products against attack and certificates specific models, so treat it the same way as LPS 1175: check the class, the model and the certificate. Secured by Design is the official police security initiative, and products it approves have shown they meet relevant security standards. A door can hold more than one of these at once. None of them is a rating for the company that fits the door.

Who does a security rating belong to?

A security rating belongs to a specific manufacturer's door model, tested in a defined configuration, and not to the installer or to roller doors in general.

That means a door is only rated if it is the certificated model, built with the specified laths, guides, bottom rail and locking parts, and fitted the way the certificate describes. A similar-looking door from the same range may not carry the rating, and a door altered with parts or fixings that aren't in the tested specification may no longer match its certificate. When we quote a security-rated door, we'll show you the certificate for that exact model and its grade. Our security roller doors page shows the doors we can supply, and a security-rated insulated electric door for a single opening is £2,295–£3,495 inc VAT.

What other security features should I look for?

Beyond a tested rating, look for rolling-code remotes, an auto-locking or anti-lift device on the motor, sturdy guides and, on manual doors, a bottom-rail lock.

Rolling-code remotes. The code changes each time you press the button, which makes copying the signal much harder.
Auto-locking or anti-lift devices. Some motors include a device that resists the curtain being forced upwards from outside when it's closed.
Bottom-rail locks. On a manual door, locks on the bottom rail secure the curtain to the floor or guides.
Alarm contacts. A contact on the door can be linked to a house alarm by your alarm installer, so opening the door triggers it.
A secure override. Keep any external override key and the internal winding handle where only you can find them.

Will a security-rated garage door lower my insurance?

We can't promise that a security-rated door will change your insurance premium or terms, because that's for your insurer to decide.

Some insurers ask about garage security, especially if you keep valuable bikes, tools or a car in the garage, and some ask for particular standards. Check with your own insurer before you choose, and keep the certificate and your written quote so you can show exactly which model was fitted. See our cost guide for how security-rated doors compare in price.

Questions

Is LPS 1175 A1 good enough for a home garage?

An A1 rating shows the door resisted the lowest threat level toolkit for at least one minute, which is meaningful protection against opportunist attack compared with an unrated door. Whether it's enough depends on what you keep in the garage, whether it links to the house, and your insurer's requirements. Higher grades cost more, so weigh the risk before choosing.

How can I check a garage door's security certificate is genuine?

Ask for the certificate for the exact model being quoted and check that the manufacturer, model name, size range and grade match the door in your written quote. Certification bodies publish lists of certificated products, so you can look the model up independently. If the paperwork names a different model or has no grade, ask the supplier to explain before you agree.

Are roller garage doors secure without a rating?

An unrated roller door can still be reasonably secure for many garages, especially an electric door with rolling-code remotes and an anti-lift device on the motor. It simply hasn't been through an independent attack test, so there's no certified figure for how long it resists. If you want that assurance, choose a model certificated to LPS 1175 or STS 202.