Anti-burglary classes are essential to determine a window’s security level. Understanding security classes allows you to identify the best solution for your needs among the many available on the market today.
In one of our previous articles, we explained why anti-burglary windows effectively respond to the growing need for security in residential and professional spaces. However, suppose security in a broad sense could be interpreted as a subjective concept. In that case, it must be able to offer concrete and clear answers when it applies to passive solutions such as doors and windows: the standards that regulate windows and doors have precisely this function.
We start from the assumption that armored doors and windows are architectural and design components specially designed to protect private spaces, both residential and professional, from theft, burglary and break-in attempts. Depending on the fixtures’ single anti-burglary class, we will face exponentially increasing levels of security and, more specifically, different degrees of resistance during a burglary or unwanted entry attempt.
In practical terms, a burglar-proof window can primarily slow down – for a more or less prolonged time – the attacker’s entry into the rooms, even if he uses manual or automatic tools to force the window. On average, a thief takes from two to five minutes to force open a standard window but this time can increase up to twenty minutes when the burglar is faced with, for example, an armored window. And since time is a crucial factor for thieves, increasing it allows you to drastically reduce the chances of successful break-ins.
Anti-burglary classes for windows are specific categories regulated by the European Community through a series of parameters and are based on static and dynamic load tests and manual attacks, which simulate actual burglary attempts.
RC anti-burglary classes for windows
We refer to a window’s anti-burglary characteristics when discussing RC security classes. Therefore, those looking for an armored window will have to pay the utmost attention to this code on the product’s technical data sheet, as it precisely identifies the ability of the window to resist burglary attempts with different types of tools: from classic screwdrivers to more aggressive electric devices.
Six RC classes refer to windows and doors:
- Class RC1: relates to an attempted physical burglary without the use of special tools.
- Class RC2: simulates a break-in attempt using simple hand tools like knives or screwdrivers.
- Class RC3: refers to an attempted burglary with the aid of tools such as drills and crowbars.
- Class RC4: is effective if you want protection against break-in attempts with cordless drills and saws. It is considered a very high anti-burglary class.
- Class RC5: requires that the window also effectively resist attacks with electric tools such as specific drills and saws, as well as with all manual tools.
- Class RC6: is the highest anti-burglary class ever and provides for the frame’s resistance against complex and prolonged attacks, even with very aggressive electric tools.
The window class is defined according to objective and unambiguous criteria, as established by the UNI EN 1627-1628-1629-1630 standards of the European Community.
How to choose the right anti-burglary class for windows and doors?
This question has no general answer, as every setting and person has different security needs. These requirements are connected to multiple factors, such as the geographical area, the type of space to be protected, the goods to be protected, etc.
As a rule of thumb, it is always advisable to rely on the experience of highly qualified producers like GINKO, which, by analyzing every parameter, will always be able to offer the most appropriate answer based on objective evaluation criteria.
In general terms, remember that the average duration of a break-in attempt is not exceptionally high: after a few minutes of fruitless efforts, the criminal will almost always tend to walk away.
The lowest class, RC1, is recommended only for environments with no particular value, while RC3 and RC4 ensure very high levels of protection. An isolated house located in a peaceful setting could benefit from RC3 class anti-burglary windows, while houses in a higher risk area should opt for RC4 security class windows.
The two higher classes, RC5 and RC6, are rarely employed in residential settings – although, even then, individual circumstances should still be considered.
GINKO is a leading company in designing and manufacturing excellent anti-burglary doors and windows in which the highest level of security meets extraordinary design. Our comprehensive and varied collection includes armored shutters and burglar-proof fixtures, including sliding ones, armored doors and even bulletproof windows to ensure total protection in every situation.
You can contact our specialists to identify the most suitable solution for your spaces.