Security Articles
Exterior doors are often constructed of soft-wood products filled with insulating material and covered by veneer or metal sheeting. To improve security, it is extremely important for all exterior doors be solid-core and include a method to protect the door's susceptibility to door edge splitting. (see photo below)
All exterior doors should be solid. Steel doors should be a minimum of 24 gauge. Regardless of their type, most residential doors have wood-framed edges, which need to be protected from splitting at the deadbolt. To counter door splitting during an attack, the door should be equipped with an escutcheon plate, or door reinforcer. Escutcheon plates are found in most hardware stores and are easy to install. An escutcheon plate significantly increases the rigidity of the door edge and reduces the chance of the door splitting about the deadbolt area. Some steel-edge doors are adequately protected without an escutcheon plate.
The Door Frame
The door frame is often referred to as the door jamb, and it is inherently weak. In most cases, the door frame is weakest component of the door assembly. Door frames are usually constructed of soft wood and offer little or no resistance to splitting. The most important point of any door security system is the place where the deadbolt lock meets the frame.
This is the point "where the rubber meets the road," so to speak. Listed below are some simple but effective ways to substantially increase door-frame security.
Adequately anchor the strike plate to the wall structure of the house. A strike plate is a piece of metal, usually brass or steel, that attaches to the door frame and receives the bolt. Standard strike plates are secured with two screws, which offer little or no protection against door-frame failure. It is recommended that all exterior door frames be fitted with high-security strike plates. Available in a variety of designs, high-security strike plates utilize four or six offset screws and are usually constructed of heavy gauge brass or steel. It is further recommended the strike plate be secured with at least 3" screws with a solid-wood filler inserted between the door jamb and wall structure (studs). The solid-wood filler should extend a minimum of 12" above and below the strike plate. Security products exist for metal or aluminum plates to be installed behind the door frame and out of sight. This type of reinforcement method has proven to be very effective while maintaining aesthetics.
For an added measure of security, it is recommended that all door hinges be secured with at least3" screws. While less likely an occurrence, the possibility exists a burglar could attack the door from its hinge side.
Prevalent in residential subdivisions are entryways with side lights on one or both sides of the exterior door. While these types of doors are aesthetically pleasing, without proper security, they offer a minimal level of protection. The Crime Prevention Unit, working in cooperation with two homebuilders, tested a product which reinforces the door frames for side-light units. A "jamb brace" can be installed in an existing door frame, or ordered with new doors from local millwork companies in the Kansas City metropolitan area.
To view the videos you will need to have a viewer capable of displaying AVI files. You can get the Windows Media Player by clicking here. (MacIntosh version available, as well.)
To see how a standard door installation stands up to an attack by clicking here.
To see how a reinforced door assembly holds up to an kicking attack click here.
To see how a reinforced door assembly holds up to an prying attack click here.
To see how a reinforced door assembly holds up to an kicking and prying attack click here.