Protection Conditions for Girlguiding UK Property and Equipment Insurance
Insurance involves the spreading of the claims of the few among the many
participants. Inevitably, if the number of claims increases substantially, the cost of
cover will rise also. It therefore makes sense to take reasonable steps to prevent
or reduce losses, as a few pounds wisely spent now on security could pay
dividends in lower premiums later on. Not to mention the avoidance of the
heartbreak that serious damage or destruction of Your unit’s “Home” would
undoubtedly cause.
FACT Major losses have occurred as a result of entry to Buildings
via inadequately protected Fire Exit Doors.
FACT Girlguiding UK Buildings are likely to be more vulnerable in terms of location and
length of time unoccupied (especially at night).
The protection requirements listed here MUST be complied with by all units
who insure their Buildings, Contents or Equipment under the Girlguiding UK Property and
Equipment Insurance (except where variations are agreed with Us). They are
common sense practical requirements which are not intended to hinder Your
application for cover but are to help You avoid unnecessary losses.
POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVES
Whilst the protection requirements, once implemented, will offer a high degree of
security, some Buildings may be impractical to secure in this way. If You cannot
comply with the requirements but feel that Your alternative is as affective, You
should consult Your local Crime Prevention Officer and submit his comments,
together with photographs of Your building, for Our consideration.
ALARM SYSTEMS
These are becoming a cost effective option in improving security but should be
viewed as ADDITIONAL to physical protection, not instead of it. Premium
discounts may be available, dependant on the Building’s situation and alarm type.
Unity Insurance Services can advise further.
The REQUIREMENTS are shown in bold type, helpful hints are in light type.
A. WHERE THE BUILDINGS ARE OWNED BY, OR ARE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF, THE INSURED
– Testing of electrical circuits every 5 years is advised.
– It is recommended that either the hatches to the roof void are propped
open during the winter months or internal permanent ventilation of this
space is installed.
– It is recommended the current Gas Safe Register of Regulations are adhered to. See: www.gassaferegister.co.uk, Helpline 0800 408 5500.
1. WINDOWS
One of the following conditions must be complied with:
Cover with metal shutters or shutters of wood not less than 1/2" or
1.27cm thick secured in place.
Metal or wooden shutters should be simply hinged onto the window frame on
the inside and be secured with bolts after leaving. A suitable material would be
builders' internal or external plywood, at least 1/2" or 1.27cm thick which can
be purchased cheaply from Do-it-Yourself supermarkets.
or Install iron bars not less than 5/8" or 1.6cm thick either let into brickwork or else secured to the window frame. Bars should be spaced not more than 5" or 12.7cm apart.
Unless Buildings are built of brickwork, this form of protection would normally
have to be screwed to the window frame and will cause permanent disfigurement whilst also being costly. Unless bars ready drilled for screws can be obtained it would be better to consider the shutters described above.
or Fit “Weldmesh”. Weldmesh is the type of welded reinforcement used in reinforced concrete by builders. It can usually be obtained from builders’ merchants quite easily, but You should aim to use a small mesh less than 3" or 7.62cm by 3" or 7.62cm. It should be screwed to the window frame.
or Fit Polycarbonate sheeting (such as “Lexan”, “Makrolon” or “Meshlite”).
or Georgian Wired Glass, with opening windows being fitted with security locks.
These are likely to be more expensive ways of securing windows and would
involve reglazing plus the cost of additional locks for the window frames.
Where windows are being replaced, however, favourable terms for the purchase
and fitting of these two may be obtained locally.
or Sealed double glazed units.
2. EXTERNAL DOORS
One of the following must be complied with:
Wood panel doors having stiles not less than 1¾" or 4.5cm thick.
Wood panel doors refer to the typical front door of a house having a
substantial frame around the outside with cross members (the “stiles”) plus
infill panels of lighter timber.
or Ledged and braced doors having a frame not less than 1¾" or 4.5cm
thick and otherwise made of wood not less than 5/8" or 1.6cm thick.
Ledged and braced doors manufactured with upright timber planks screwed or
nailed to a “Z” shaped frame on the inside. There might sometimes be two “Z”
frames, one above the other. One should ensure that the door is thick enough
doors of this sort are often made with flimsy thicknesses of timber.
or Solid wood doors not less than 1¾" or 4.5cm thick.
These are difficult to obtain except as purpose-made hardwood doors, and they
are likely to be expensive.
or “Flush” doors, or doors “lighter” than the above, should be lined
with metal not less than 1mm thick. Metal should be screwed in
place by screws not more than 6" or 15.24cm apart around the edge.
Flush doors are most commonly used these days and are obtainable in both
inside and outside grades. Drilling and screwing 1mm steel is quite an easy
operation and can be carried out with hand tools without any problems. For
many Girlguiding UK units, this is likely to be the most effective way of ensuring an
adequate level of security on the external door.
Or “Single leaf purpose built aluminium or uPVC Doors, which must have a multipoint locking system incorporating a 5 lever deadlock, and manufactured to British Standards BS 7412.”
We do not require Fire Exit Doors to be fitted with locks other than a
panic bar but it is recommended that locks, such as Chubb 3R35X or
equivalent, are fitted to single leaf Fire Exit Doors.
Fire doors have become a major entry point for criminals and You
must consider the security carefully. Many can be sprung simply by
banging on them. Insurers may decline claims arising from entry
through inadequately secured fire doors.
3. DOOR HINGES
One of the following must be fitted:
Butt Hinges
Butt Hinges refer to typical concealed hinges used on most common doors.
or “T” Hinges bolted into place (heads outside).
“T” Hinges are the most common type of fitting hinges commonly fitted to
shed doors and garage doors and the like. In the case of Butt Hinges it is
impossible to remove these without force or without having the door open in
the first place, but “T” Hinges have all the screws exposed and it is, therefore,
necessary to bolt these through the door and frame. Small (1/4" or 5/6mm) coach
bolts should be fitted. They can usually be obtained from a local ironmonger.
4. DOOR LOCKS
Single-leaf final exit doors.
One of the following must be complied with:
(i) Mortice deadlocks marked as complying with British Standard
3621. Door stiles must not be less than 1¾" or 4.5cm thick.
The frame should also be at least 1¾" or 4.5cm thick. If fitted to a lighter
frame than this, it will have little or no strength. If the door frame is
substantial enough, such locks are very difficult to dislodge, particularly if
they are fitted with a striking plate which incorporates a steel box around
the bolt
or (ii) Locking bars made of metal not less than 1¾" or 4.5cm thick
secured by close shackle padlocks.
Only good quality locks or locking bars should be obtained. Most of the cheaper locking bars and padlocks on the market have little or no security value. Good ones are much more expensive but they are necessary for the final exit door.
Two leaf final exit doors.
Requirements as above, but first closing leaf to be secured
by mortice bolts or barrel bolts top and bottom.
Ordinary barrel bolts are much easier to fit than mortice bolts and, in most
doors, unless they are very substantial, they are just as good.
External doors other than final exit doors.
Bolts top and bottom as above should supplement any locks
provided.
This refers to doors which can be locked from the inside before the Premises
are vacated. In these circumstances, bolts are more important than the lock
which might be fitted.
At all times keys should be kept by responsible persons.
5. SECURITY FOR GARAGES AND SIMILAR STORES
In addition to standard locks, “barn” type double doors should be fitted with a
steel bar across the full width secured by quality padlocks. Up and over type
doors should either be similarly protected or should have additional hasp and
staple locks fitted at the sides or bottom.
6. UNDER FLOOR CAVITY
If a hut is raised on piles, wire mesh must be fitted securely to
prevent access.
Weldmesh, or even simple expanded metal reinforcement, should be fitted both
to prevent people gaining access to the under floor cavity and to reduce the
possibility of fire being set underneath the floor.
7. WOODEN HUTS
Check walls regularly for loose or broken panels.
8. WATER-PIPES
It is warranted that water pipes are to be lagged against freezing and if the
Building(s) are left unoccupied for more than 7 days, either:
the water is to be turned off at the mains or the meter and the water drained from the system insofar as possible
or the Building(s) are to be kept at 55 degrees Fahrenheit/13 degrees Celsius
or the Building(s) are to be fitted with a frost stat and inspected at least once a Week and any fault likely to cause loss acted upon.
The most effective way to protect water-pipes is by simple tubes of foam plastic
obtainable from local DIY warehouses. These are slipped over the pipes and
secured with short pieces of string, tape or sellotape. However, if the Buildings
are to be left for quite long periods (longer than say 2 days during winter), the
wisest precaution is to turn the water tap off at the main and, if possible, drain
down or at least open all pipes to relieve all pressure and the possibility of
burst pipes.
B. WHERE THE BUILDINGS ARE NOT OWNED BY, OR THE RESPONSIBILITY OF, THE INSURED UNIT.
All Equipment must be kept in locked cupboards or storage
accommodation when not in use. If the storage accommodation
is a room with windows, then these windows must be protected
as indicated above. Door locks must comply with the protection
conditions above.
Remember – ask local Police to include the Buildings on their rounds.
Consult the Crime Prevention Officer for advice on general security – his advice
will be particularly useful and is usually free!
If You feel that Your Building is vulnerable in any respect, please rectify it.
DON’T WAIT FOR A LOSS!
