Security Direct has worked with the Main Contractor on a Merseyside Police facility. The main contractor was refurbishing an office facility, to the Police requirements. This was a very high security site, so security was paramount.
The product specified was the CS13, which is an Insurance Approved - Level 3 Security Grille. The retractable grilles were fitted to all Ground floor windows and doors.
Due to the strict fixing requirements of the CS13 security grille, the main building contractors had to carry out building works to the window reveals. These grilles cannot be fitted to plasterboard, they have to be fitted direct to the brickwork. In theory, plasterboard could be chiselled out, making the fixing vulnerable. The contractor removed all the plasterboard around the windows and plastered directly to the brick. This ensures that the grilles met the fixings requirements and provided a good strong fixing point.
Merseyside Police were very happy with the product and installation and have specified the product on similar projects for the future. They liked the fact that the grilles were very high security, but also low maintenance and cheaper too purchase, compared to a roller shutter with the same security level.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What security grilles were installed at the Merseyside Police facility?
Security Direct installed CS13 Insurance Approved – Level 3 Security Grilles across the ground-floor windows and doors. The CS13 Retractable Security Grille was specified because the facility required a high level of physical security.
2. What does an Insurance Approved Level 3 Security Grille provide?
The CS13 is designed for applications requiring a high-security physical barrier against forced entry. This made it particularly suitable for the Merseyside Police facility, where security was a key consideration throughout the refurbishment.
3. Can the CS13 security grille be fixed to plasterboard?
No. The CS13 has strict fixing requirements and cannot simply be secured to plasterboard. For this project, the main contractor removed the plasterboard around the window reveals so that suitable strong fixing points could be provided directly into the brickwork.
4. Why are the fixing points so important for a high-security grille?
A high-security product is only as effective as its installation and supporting structure. Fixing a security grille into an unsuitable or weak substrate could create a vulnerable point. At the Merseyside Police facility, building works were therefore completed around the windows to ensure the security grilles met the required fixing requirements.
5. What are the advantages of retractable security grilles compared with roller shutters?
For this project, the client valued the combination of high security, low maintenance and cost-effectiveness offered by the retractable grilles. Unlike a permanent barrier, they can also be retracted when not required. Merseyside Police were pleased with the finished product and installation and subsequently specified the solution for similar future projects.
