The purpose of the different levels is to:-

• Simulate various degrees of attack, from the opportunist burglar to break-in attempts by “professionals”, possibly working in teams, and-
• To provide clear security ratings to enable specifiers, consultants etc. to select products that will provide the level of protection required for an individual application.

LPCB approval schemes are all written in conjunction with insurers, professionals from the relevant industries, some trade bodies, end-users and, on occasion, government and police representatives. This process ensures that no one industry or commercial interest can predominate. Specifiers can be assured that products and services listed by the LPCB have reached nationally or internationally recognised standards of performance and reliability.

Currently, products approved to LPS (Loss Prevention Standard) 1175 by the LPCB include roller shutters, security gates, doors and utility access covers but it can also be applied to turnstiles, vents, windows and temporary buildings.

To qualify for the coveted LPS 1175 Security Rating Classification from the Loss Prevention Certification Board. Security Gates, Shutters and other physical products have undergone a series of tests which are both comprehensive and practical.

The stringent testing procedures operated by the LPCB demonstrate the care taken by the industry to ensure that products which successfully gain the certification at the different levels offer genuine protection to the purchasers.

They represent extreme conditions with an ideal scenario for the thief which would rarely be duplicated in the outside world. There are also a number of other factors which would have a bearing on the effectiveness of any would-be assailant.

Using a Combination of Tool
The LPCB engineers can use a number of tools in combination during testing, which may prove the mechanical advantage of individual tools. They are operating in well-lit, dry, warm and comparatively comfortable conditions unlike the dark, possibly wet, cold and windy environment which could be the scenario for a burglar and would-be thief.

Every Opportunity to Discover Any Weak Spots
The stringent testing have the opportunity to study the detailed technical drawings and design documents for months in advance. They then spend up to a week examining the items to be tested, in addition to refining their techniques for attacking the gate or shutter through a series of preliminary tests carried out on an identical item. By the time they launch their final assault they know the item as well as the company which made it or the installer who fitted it, and are guaranteed to find any flaws in design or manufacture.

Experienced Engineering Background
The test is carried out by two experienced engineers with a detailed knowledge of manufacturing and fabrication, so they can be relied upon to use the range of attack tools to maximum effect.

Time to Take Breather
Even within a comparatively limited time span, the testers can take turns in attacking the gate to ensure that the assault is unrelenting and highly concentrated. They can stop the clock for a rest, then set it running when refreshed to continue the attack.

No Looking Over your Shoulder
The testers do not concern themselves with carrying the tools to the target point of entry, or anticipate having to flee with those tools if they are discovered. Moreover the risk element is missing- the tester can be secure in is attack on the gate and does not have to perpetually keep on looking over his shoulder.
Prior to the “manual intervention attacks” products are subjected to “static load tests” to highlight an structural flaws in a product’s design. Moreover a 30kg weight suspended on a pendulum is swung against the product. This “soft body impact test” is designed to simulate shoulder blows and kicking.

Failure or success in the test is determined by the capacity to pass a test block through the barrier after a successful attack, to simulate a person gaining entry to premises. The block as an elliptical cross section (400mm major axis by 225mm minor axis), and is at least 300mm long.)

No Broken Glass
The genuine burglar would almost certainly be attacking a security gate through broken glass, since they are primarily fitted internally.