Tried and tested, again and again

The Test

The European RC2 test is a comprehensive set of assessments, conducted in a laboratory under controlled settings to fully understand the security offered by a door.

The test simulates a series of controlled stresses and attacks for a prolonged period of time, using a variety of techniques, weapons and tools in order to gain access through the door. It is considered more stringent than those specified within the Australian Standard.

The tests carried out within an RC2 assessment include:

• 12 different static stress tests of 3kN on locking points, hinges, panel edges and bearing points
• 7 different impact stress tests, by dropping a weight of 50kg from a height of 450mm, onto various parts of the door
• Manual attacks with various tools for sustained periods of time, in 8 different locations around the door frame. Each manual attack was an attempt to jemmy the door from its frame, large enough to get a hand through and unlock the door from the inside.

The Results

Crimsafe passed the RC2 test with flying colours. It withstood all tests, keeping the would-be attacker out.

It’s the RC2 testing that sets Crimsafe iQ apart from any other mesh security screen door in Australia. Crimsafe iQ is the only mesh security screen door available to buy in Australia that has passed the RC2 Test (EN1627:2011 RC2).

The Test

The Australian Standard (AS5041-2003) for Security Doors and Window Grilles defines requirements for a Dynamic Impact Test, which simulates the effect of a human impact, measured in ‘joules’ of energy. Established in the Australian Standards for glass (AS1288), it was later adopted by the security industry.

The Test requires a security screen to withstand five single impacts of 100 joules each. The average Australian male, weighing 86kg, can easily exert more than 100 Joules of force in a single impact.

That’s why Crimsafe has been designed to exceed the minimum requirement of Australian Standards. Simply passing the standard is not enough.

The Results

Independent research conducted by The University of Queensland tested Crimsafe and competitor products for their ability to withstand single and multiple impacts.

The test screens were initially impacted to the level required by Australian Standards, after which they were subjected to increasing impact levels. Many competitor products could not meet the recommended Australian Standard, failing to withstand five impacts of 100 joules each.

Crimsafe withstood the multiple impacts required by Australian Standards and withstood single impacts of 550 joules (Crimsafe Regular), 750 joules (Crimsafe Ultimate) and 1200 joules (Crimsafe Heavy-Duty).

The Test

Home intruders often slash security screens with a blade.

The Knife Shear Test is designed to simulate a knife attack on a screen, using the kind of small-to-medium blade favoured by home intruders.

A test screen is mounted horizontally in a rigid frame, and a heavy-duty trimming knife is pulled along the mesh with a force of up to 350N (35kg). A constant downward pressure of 150N (15kg) is applied for a distance of 250mm. This action is performed three times, along the same line, with a new blade fitted each time. In order to achieve a pass, the mesh must not be penetrated in a continuous line for more than 150mm.

The Results

With our industry-leading 0.9mm 304 structural grade Tensile-Tuff® stainless steel mesh, all Crimsafe screens pass this test.

*The specifications for the mesh and other products we supply are our target specifications. The actual specifications for items supplied may differ slightly, taking into account reasonable manufacturing tolerances.

The Test

The Lever Attack Test requires a rotational force of up to 450N (45kg) to be applied and held for 20 seconds at all locking, hinging and fastening points around the security screen in order to meet the Australian Standard.

A large screwdriver is inserted at these points and mechanically rotated until either the force required, or an 80° rotation, has been achieved. To pass, a security screen door must remain securely locked, and a window security screen must remain securely fastened to the window that it is covering.

The test panel fails if the edge of the security door or window has deflected to make a gap wider than 15cm, or if all the locking points or fastening points (screws holding a window section onto the wall), or the hinges, fail.

The Results

Passing this test easily, Crimsafe meets the Australian Standard requirements. Our ongoing research in this area has enabled us to develop Crimsafe Ultimate and Crimsafe iQ, products with true lever-defiant design, to give you ultimate protection.

The Test

If they can’t use brute force to smash through a security screen, criminals will try to attack the edges and pull it from its housing.

The Australian Standard Pull Test is designed to simulate an attack by an intruder attempting to pull at the security screen — either at the bottom, middle, side or top of the screen. The test also assesses the integrity and fixing of the mesh into the screen frame.

The Results

Every Crimsafe screen meets the requirements for the Australian Standard Pull Test, which investigates how well a security screen can withstand this kind of attack.

Our unique Screw-Clamp™ technology ensures that the mesh can’t be pulled from the frame at all, and the rigid Tensile-Tuff® mesh guarantees no hand hold.

The Test

Security screens aren’t just limited to the inside of your home — they can also be used for balustrades and fences, subject to meeting the industry standard for loading on structures (AS/NZS 1170-2002).

The Balustrade test requires an infill panel to be subjected to a load test, replicating outward and inward pressure onto a balustrade infill panel.

The Results

The Crimsafe panel not only met the test requirement of 1.4 tonnes but exceeded it, withstanding a massive load of 4.2 tonnes. This impressive result was attributed to the unique design of Crimsafe Screw-Clamp™ technology. The Crimsafe infill panel also complies with Building Code of Australia occupancy type C5 for areas susceptible to overcrowding.

As Crimsafe panels have passed these industry-standard tests, they can be used as balustrade screen infills and as fencing, keeping your family protected from falling hazards while continuing the clean Crimsafe aesthetic across your property.

The Test

Over time, some steel security screens can be overcome by the demands of coastal or harsh environments, sacrificing both their protective strength and the aesthetics of your property. Crimsafe screens have passed corrosion tests above and beyond normal industry standards.

This is why we put Crimsafe screens through comprehensive corrosion testing – the Australian Standard Salt Spray Test (AS 2331.3.1) and the even more rigorous Prohesion Accelerated Test (ATSM G85).

Prohesion tests use a method of cyclic accelerated corrosion and are designed to evaluate how well the surface coatings of the Crimsafe screen protect from corrosion.

The Results

In the industry-standard Salt Spray Test, a salt solution is sprayed at the test samples for 1,000 hours, simulating 10 years of exposure to very harsh weathering conditions (AS 2331.3.1). The Crimsafe security screen system tested passed a massive 3,000 hours with no corrosion.

Crimsafe security screens also pass the Prohesion Accelerated test (ATSM G85), which provides a better correlation with real-world outdoor exposure results.

The Test

The Australian Window Association (AWA) estimates that 40% of a home’s heating energy is lost through windows, and up to 87% of a home’s heat is gained through windows — so choosing energy-efficient fittings has never been more important for the environment and saving money on bills.

A major element of determining the WERS (Windows Energy Rating Scheme) rating of a window is its Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) — the measure of how well a window blocks heat caused by sunlight. To test this, a Crimsafe security screen was applied over a glazed window to measure how well the screen blocks heat produced by sunlight entering your home.

The Results

The Window Energy Rating Scheme (WERS) recognises that Crimsafe improves the cooling and heat retention of a building when applied to glass windows and doors, with the type of window glass and glazing also impacting cooling and heat retention.

Crimsafe Security Screens were found to improve the energy efficiency of a window by up to 53%. When Crimsafe is applied over a 3mm generic, single-glazed window, the cooling efficiency of the window increases from zero stars to a 3-Star cooling rating, keeping your home cooler in summer and reducing heat loss in winter.

When Crimsafe is applied over 6.38 Clear Low E glass, the cooling rating increases from a 1.5-Star rating to a 4-Star rating, greatly enhancing the cooling attributes of your glazing investment.

In the winter months, Crimsafe works with your windows to limit the escape of warmth from your home, and heat retention efficiency increases. The heating rating improves from zero stars (no heat retention benefits), to a 1.5-Star WERS rating with Crimsafe applied.

The effects are best seen when security screens are placed over your entire window, not just over the opening portion.

Annual energy performance (stars and % improvements) are calculated using Nationwide House Energy Rating Software according to procedures of WERS 2008, and the results are presented in Standard International Units.

The Test

Australia experiences some of the toughest environmental conditions in the world, with high levels of UV radiation and extreme heat throughout the summer months.

The UV Light Test uses an instrument called a UV spectrophotometer that measures the intensity of light. In this test, the intensity of light from a UV lamp is measured before and after it is passed through a sample of Tensile-Tuff® mesh.

In the Airflow Test, Crimsafe Tensile-Tuff® security mesh was tested in a custom-designed wind tunnel to determine the effect of the screen on airflow. The test measured the flow of the air exiting the screen.

The Results

Crimsafe Tensile-Tuff® security mesh was found to filter 62% of UV radiation. A major factor for the high UV resistance of Crimsafe security screens is the thickness of the wire used for the mesh: the thicker the wire, the less UV will penetrate the aperture of the mesh.

Compared to insect mesh, Crimsafe allows much better airflow through your home and helps maintain a healthier home interior in all seasons, allowing, on average, 53% airflow

The Test

Doors and windows are the hardest part of your home to protect against the violent, debris-carrying winds of cyclones or severe storms. The Crimsafe range helps protect your home against hail and wind-borne debris — we even have specialised cyclone-debris-protection products.

The Cyclone Debris Screens Test (AS1170.2:2011) is conducted in two parts. An air cannon fires a missile at predetermined air pressures to generate the required impact speeds for Cyclone Regions C & D — Australia’s most heavily impacted storm regions — being 36 m/s and 44 m/s.

1. The screen is impacted with a 4kg piece of timber fired from the air cannon
2. The screen is impacted with an 8mm steel ball repeated five times in different areas of the screen.

The Results

A wide range of Crimsafe products are approved for use in Cyclone regions C & D, including Crimsafe doors, windows and Crimsafe Safe-S-Capes®, which all meet the 36 m/s requirements.

Our specially designed Crimsafe Cyclone Debris Screens pass the highest levels for Cyclone Debris Screening required for regions C & D, withstanding impacts up to 44 m/s. They can protect your property from storm-driven debris in wind gusts up to 392kph, while providing security from intruders, superior airflow and outlook.

Our research and development program is continually advancing the limits of Crimsafe Cyclone Debris Screen performance.

The Test

Fire attenuation measures how well building materials reduce radiant heat and the spread of flame — a requirement of many building projects.

In the Fire Attenuation Test, a Crimsafe screen is placed over an opening of a furnace, constructed in accordance with AS 1530.4, and the reduction of radiant heat is measured.

The Results

Crimsafe has achieved up to 59% attenuation of radiant heat. This means a Fire Certifier or Fire Engineer can put Crimsafe forward as an alternative solution for use as a Fire Attenuation screen.

The Fire Certifier or Fire Engineer will base their decision on their assessment of the building, the level of fire risk or potential risk surrounding the building and the information from the Test Report (available for architects and specifiers on request by emailing projects@crimsafe.com.au).

Final approval of the installation of security screens for the purpose of fire attenuation will need to come from the Building Certifier or the fire authority of the state (e.g. Queensland Fire & Rescue).

Crimsafe screens have been tested to meet Australian Standards for heat attenuation and, with consultation from a qualified fire engineer or certifier, can be used as an alternative solution to the fire protection standard. This offers you flexibility in your building designs and savings on cost.

The Test

In recent years, bushfires have caused huge losses of life and property across Australia.
In response, Crimsafe has tested its security screens to meet the highest levels in bushfire protection, recognised as Bushfire Attack Level Flame Zone (BAL FZ).

The Australian Standard (AS3959-2009) requires screens that cover openings to be made of corrosion-resistant steel, with an aperture size that will not allow a circular probe of 2mm diameter to pass through.

The Results

Crimsafe can protect your home across all Bushfire Attack Levels up to, and including, BAL-FZ when used with a compliant window system. Bushfire protection is required on sites where the Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) has been determined as one of the six levels of risk, with BAL-FZ being the highest.

Our screens provide excellent protection from ember attack, reduce radiant heat and protect glass from the impact of burning debris.

The Test

Our reputation has been built on keeping intruders out — even the tiniest ones.

In the Insect Resistance Test, Crimsafe’s Tensile-Tuff® security mesh has been tested for its ability to keep dengue fever mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti) away from a food source in a testing chamber. Hundreds of mosquitoes were trapped in between the mesh, which was then left up to 72 hours before the testing was concluded.

The Results

Crimsafe Tensile-Tuff® security mesh prevented 99% of the mosquitoes from passing through the mesh over the test period. Given recent research about the potential impact of climate change on increasing the dengue mosquito population and distribution within Australia, this is an important factor in selecting your security screens.