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Established in 1989, Secured by Design (SBD) is a Police initiative to guide and encourage those engaged within the specification, design and build of new homes or apartments, to adopt crime prevention measures. Secured By Design is owned by the Police service and is supported by the Home Office and referenced by the Department for Communities and Local Government in Aprroved Document Q.
“Beware! Compliant does not mean secure!” Please let us explain this statement to you.
Many companies today state that their mailboxes, regardless of how they are manufactured, are SBD, when in fact they are only "compliant", "conforming" to the Secured by Design Homes 2019 guide Section 2A Paragraph 32.2: “Communal mail delivery facilities within building entrances should be designed to incorporate the following features:
1- Robust construction,
2- Anti-fishing properties,
3- Maximum aperture size 260x40mm”
So as you can see, to be “compliant”, the mailbox only needs to be made of metal, with a lock and a not too large an aperture to reduce the risk of fishing the mail too easily. But, at no point have any of these post boxes been tested and are certainly not certified to any standard or specification.
As such, ALL mailboxes can claim to be "compliant", but pretty much none of them are secured against mail theft or vandalism. By using a screwdriver or basic picking tool, or even with manual force, it’s simply child’s play to break into. The mailboxes shown on the image were supplied as “Conforming to the Secured by Design Homes 2019 guide”...
TS009:2019 is a technical specification from the Door & Hardware Federation (DHF), backed by SBD, with the purpose to enhance the security and general requirements for freestanding, surface mounted or recessed mailboxes. In this case the letterbox is a proven and tested security product, against both manipulation and attack tests.
Please feel free to Download the SBD Homes 2019 guide and the full TS009:2019 specifications document:
TS009:2019 specifications document
The stringent tests, carried out by Exova Warringtonfire, one of the world's leading independent laboratory-based testing groups, is both trusted by SBD and the DHF. If the box passes the tests successfully, it is then given a certified TS009 grade 1 (Security) or grade 2 (High Security).
To summarize, please be very careful when making your choice of mailbox because certain companies are misleading their clients to increase their sales. When a Secured by Design or TS009 is specified for a project, always ask for the certificate!
The first TS009 Secured by Design certified mailbox on the market
Its reinforced steel body, large volume, patented locking mechanism, high security cylinder and anti-fishing device make this product the strongest mailbox ever manufactured and TS009:2019 (grade 2) certified.
See nowSection 2 of the Secured by Design Homes 2019 guide refers to the physical security of the home. Within it there are guidelines with reference to secured mail delivery to houses, flats, apartments and social & student accommodation.
We have extracted and highlighted the main points to consider when positioning mailboxes, and then have created a useful visual to help you understanding and specifying the correct Secured By Design mailboxes. You will notice that Secured By Design strongly recommend the TS009:2019 Standard as a guarantee that all the attributes required for a SBD letterbox are met
21.27
There are increasing crime problems associated with letter plate apertures, such as identity theft, arson, hate crime, lock manipulation and ‘fishing’ for personal items (which may include post, vehicle and house keys, credit cards, etc). In order to address such problems SBD strongly recommends, where possible, mail delivery via a secure external letter box meeting the requirements of the Door and Hardware Federation standard Technical Standard 009 (TS 009) or delivery ‘through the wall’ into a secure area of the dwelling.
These should be easily accessible i.e. at a suitable height for a range of users.
21.33
Where a surface mounted letter box is to be used it must be robust in construction. TS 009 letter boxes offer reassurance that all of the above attributes have been met. In high crime areas TS 009 provides the safest means by which mail can be delivered whilst eliminating the risks associated with letter plate apertures. The letter box must be securely fixed to the face of the building in accordance with the manufacturers specifications and be located in a position that benefits from natural surveillance.
Suitable DAD mailboxes: Standard – Fire Rated – Shark – DAD 009
21.34
Where there are design constraints that prevent a letter plate with a security cowl being installed within a door e.g. narrow hallway, or where it is undesirable to install a surface mounted secure mail box e.g. in a corridor, it may be preferable to provide ‘through-the-wall’
mail delivery into a secure internal letter box. Such a box must incorporate the same design features as described above for a surface mounted box. Antiarson design features may also be advised if such crime risks are present.
Suitable DAD mailboxes: Sloping telescopic – Side Panels
32.1
There are increasing crime problems associated with the delivery of post to buildings containing multiple dwellings or bedrooms. Therefore mail delivery that compromises the security of residential areas of a multi-occupied building in order to deliver individually to each residence is not permitted. Facilities should be provided that enable mail to be delivered to safe and secure areas such as described below.
32.2
Communal mail delivery facilities within building entrances serving multiple flats or rooms (such as student accommodation) should be designed to incorporate the following:
• Located at the primary entrance/exit point of the building within view, within an internal area covered by CCTV or located within a secure access controlled entrance hall, or externally at the front of the building within view of those using the building;
• Be of robust construction;
• The individual letter boxes shall have a maximum aperture size of 260mm x 40mm;
• Have anti-fishing properties;
• Have fire resistance where considered necessary;
• Installed in accordance with the manufacturers specification.
Suitable DAD mailboxes: Standard – Fire Rated – Shark – DAD 009
32.3
Internal communal mail delivery facilities serving multiple flats or rooms (such as student accommodation) should be designed to incorporate the following:
• Located in view, within a secure area at the primary building entrance point/exit point;
• Be of robust construction;
• The individual letter boxes shall have a maximum aperture size of 260mm x 40mm;
• Have anti-fishing properties;
• Have fire resistance where considered necessary;
• Installed in accordance with the manufacturers specification.
• Building access strategy to account for residents who will rely on others to collect their mail.
32.4
Letter boxes certificated to Door & Hardware Federation Technical Specification 009 (TS 009) offer reassurance that all of the above attributes have been met. In high crime areas TS 009 provides the safest means by which mail can be delivered whilst eliminating the risks associated with letter mail delivery i.e. arson, ‘fishing’ for personal mail.
45.1
There are increasing crime problems associated with the delivery of post to buildings containing multiple dwellings or bedrooms. Communal mail delivery should therefore adhere to the requirements within Section 2a, paragraph 32.
Suitable DAD mailboxes: Standard – Fire Rated – Shark – DAD 009