Home gets ‘X’ factor
Thursday, 28 August 2008 00:00
Keeping your home safe and secure is a primary concern for most people, so when Woodford Green couple Colin and Melanie came to select their new front door, its protective qualities were just as important as any aesthetic considerations. They decided on the ‘Fibre Gold X’, a brand new GRP composite door offering discreet natural surveillance with a range of elegant designs, after visiting the Secured by Design (SBD) website. Described as ‘a revolution in domestic security provision’, it incorporates the unique advantages of the new ‘X’ vision panel from pioneering UK company VISTAMATIC within a high-security doorset from specialist manufacturer Benchmark Doors to offer increased safety and protection and reduce the potential for doorstep crime.
Specifically created for the domestic and residential market, the VISTAMATIC ‘X’ vision panel is specified as an alternative recommendation to spy-holes by SBD, which is the UK Police flagship initiative supporting the principles of "designing out crime" by use of effective crime prevention and security standards for a range of applications. The panel is pre-fitted into the tough new door range, which is also fitted with the latest high security, multi-bolt hook locks. Providing privacy as well as safety, the patented VISTAMATIC ‘X’ panel is easily operated from within the home to allow a clearer view of doorstep callers than either spy-holes or fish-eye apertures, and then, with a simple turn of a knob, through-vision can again be blocked. The innovative 3-ply glass system meets British Standard BS EN ISO 9002: 1994 as well as BS 6206 for Tempered Safety Glass Class ‘A’. As with the Benchmark range of doors, all VISTAMATIC Vision Panels are Police preferred specification.
Homeowners Colin and Melanie settled on the ‘Fibre Gold X’ door after investigating other ‘secure’ front doors on the internet. Colin explains: “Unfortunately we have suffered 2 break-ins in the past, so we decided that it was necessary to take extra precautions as regards home security. In addition to this, our old wooden front door had begun to warp in its frame, so that with enough force a single kick or shoulder-barge would prove sufficient to allow intruders to gain entry. It needed replacing, but the problem we faced was sourcing a new front door that offered security and reliability without looking like a prison door!”
Melanie concurs: “Like most people, we are quite house-proud and have spent several years making our home our own. It was originally built in the 1930s, and features period glass windows in the hall, so we wanted to find a robust replacement door that would also complement the style of the house. With its integral vision panel, the ‘Fibre Gold X’ provides an attractive feature that has the practical benefit of allowing us to clearly check a visitor’s identity before deciding whether to open the door or not.”
The ‘Fibre Gold X’ range is available directly from Benchmark Doors Ltd, and comes complete with door furniture and architectural ironmongery. Each door can be individually created to meet specific requirements and complies with the Code for Sustainable Homes. For more information on VISTAMATIC Vision Panels, please visit www.vistamatic.com. To find out more about the ‘Fibre Gold X’ range of secure front doors, please see www.benchmarkdoors.co.uk.