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Security Shutter or Security Grille?
Which is best for my application? A security roller shutter or a retractable or fixed steel grille, we explain a bit about each.
When it comes to deciding on the best physical security for either a door or a window you have the choice of several products and it is not a problem mixing them up of course based on some simple logic in usage.
Security Shutters
If you have doors or windows that you want to protect from the outside world in all ways - vandalism, or attempted forced entry by casual or organised thieves then the solid curtain security shutter will be the best to conceal the door or window completely and protect the glass from being broken.
There are a wide choice of different slats used for the actual curtain in the security shutter and these slats combined with different side guides, endplates and hood covers all affect the levels of security achieved by the shutter system.
We offer low, medium or high security shutters and some with optional "Secured by Design" certifications meaning they have already been tested in a controlled attack to determine the likely amount of time to physically break the shutter and gain entry.
Security shutters are made from steel or aluminium slats and up until quite recently most people were only really aware of steel shutters as there have been so many small companies making a simple steel shutter in many parts of the UK with no desire to entertain aluminium shutter slats. The aluminium security shutters offer a far more attractive slat and aesthetic appeal and also generally have a better surface finish ensuring they look like new for far longer than steel shutters.
They are of course in many cases lighter and put a lot less stress on internal components during operation. They are generally far more reliable and look better with a smaller hood cover to be more discreet when fitted outside.
Shutters can also be fitted with perforated or open punched holes of varying sizes to give varying degrees of light and vision, they don't have to be a solid curtain and more and more shutters now are being thought about carefully or scrutinised by local authorities more so as to keep a level of standards within a high street or retail area.
On commercial premises it is often required to have a security solution but also maintain vision into the shop in the evenings and weekends, especially if you have products you want people to see when walking past. The vision type shutters are numerous with the ultimate option being a shutter grille which is a curtain produced from steel or aluminium sections with the sole purpose of maximum vision. The right kind of model and suitable installation of any of these will provide excellent levels of security and also probably look a lot better with a softer presence over the entire shop window.
See our security shutter overview here >
Security Grilles
If you have a window or door to protect and it is more about peace if mind from a break in from a casual thief or even if you like to have windows open for long periods of time in the summer or at night and want security then the Security Grille is the answer. You can choose from fixed or retractable security grilles and all the security grilles are manufactured from steel with the best ones all having galvanised components and a high quality paint finish to tone in with colour schemes in the home or commercial environment.
The retractable or fixed security grille can be installed inside or outside the door or window although it is usual to install them internally. Retractable grilles can be easily opened up when required and fixed grilles can be designed to allow access to window handles if the window still needs to be opened. Of course you donÂÂÂÂt put a fixed grille over a doorway and quite often a retractable grille over a door opening will also have the optional lift up bottom track and hinge aside facility to allow the best walk through sizes with no trip hazard.
A retractable grille is usually installed into the window recess but on something like a patio door opening the grille is often best face fitted internally with the "bunch" of the grille when opened then sitting to one side and maybe even behind curtains. You can of course have the grilles bi parting to spread the size of the grille bunch to either side of the opening.
It is possible to install retractable grilles externally when required but not usually practical or aesthetically pleasing.
We offer some tips on how to measure up for a security grille - click here >
Retractable grilles do come in various designs and careful attention should be given if you are concerned about the aesthetics because there are some nasty looking grilles on the UK market made simply to be functional but with little regard to construction methods and final visual appearance. The Seceuroguard range is a well balanced retractable security grille with an option between an X lattice or S lattice design and different bottom track designs too depending whether it is a doorway or a window sill the grille is sitting on top of.
Retractable grilles are more often than not left closed as the levels of light and vision are so good that for most of the year round and if access is not required to thewindows, then it is fine to leave them closed.
Fixed steel grilles are a good option when there is no need for the grille to ever be opened. It is possible to design the installation to allow access to any window handles and locks and this is normally a simple cut out section. There are various grille designs using square, oblong, triangular or even rounded designs for there main central section and of course a whole choice of finished colours to choose from.
A combination of all three options is quite often a good idea, especially on a commercial or industrial premises where functionality often overrides aesthetics and it is a simple task of identifying the windows and doors and their varying security risks and accessibility requirements.
