Protecting Side Entrances: Secure Your Home from Burglary and Fire.

(May 17, 2023) To prevent a fire from spreading immediately in the house, fire-retardant doors are even required by law in some places, for example as connecting doors between the garage and the living room. However, they are not suitable for outdoor use. “Fire doors are usually made of steel and therefore appear very solid. That’s why homeowners like to use them for side entrances,” explains expert Christine Gilles from R+V Versicherung. But the impression is deceptive: the door leaf is stable, but the lock and especially the locking plate and the door frame are usually very simple. Professionals can crack them in seconds.

Secure side entrances against burglary

Anyone who is building or renovating should therefore install a door that protects against burglary. If that is not possible, retrofitting a cross bar lock can help. However, this should then be installed by skilled craftsmen who know how to secure a side entrance sensibly. In addition, residents should be meticulous about always locking the front and side entrance doors – even when running short errands. “Anyone who fails to do so may have to reckon with the fact that household contents insurance only pays part of a possible burglary damage,” warns Christine Gilles.

Further tips from the R+V Info Center on the subject:

• Anyone who buys a burglar-resistant door should make sure that it has been tested and certified.
• Cellar doors are often concealed so that burglars can “work” while being protected from view. They should therefore be particularly well secured.
• In addition, outdoor lighting with a motion detector near the side entrance can act as a deterrent.
• Some doors protect against burglary and fire – so-called “multifunctional doors”. From case to case, it must be checked whether this rather expensive variant is necessary or whether a burglar-resistant door is sufficient.