LPS 1175 C5 (SR3) Security Rating: Certified Curtain Walling, Doorsets and Gates

LPS 1175 C5, the Issue 8 rating commonly compared with SR3, certifies that a complete product has resisted a deliberate, planned attack with Category C tools, including an axe, crowbar and gas torch, for at least five minutes. It is a common step up from SR2 for commercial premises, schools, healthcare and retail. Premier Security Ballistic & Blast Ltd manufactures LPCB certified C5 curtain walling doorsets, screens and fixed windows, Ultimate High Security Curtain Walling and Kraken 3 sliding gates, all listed on LPCB Red Book Live.

What Does LPS 1175 C5 Mean?

LPS 1175 is the Loss Prevention Standard for intruder resistant building components, published by the Loss Prevention Certification Board (LPCB), part of BRE Global. Every Issue 8 rating has two parts: the letter sets the tools the attacker can use, and the number sets the minimum delay in minutes the product must achieve.

At C5, the test team attacks the locked product with Category C tools and must not create a 400 mm x 225 mm opening, the minimum size a person can climb through, within five minutes of working time. Any part of the assembly can be targeted, including the leaf, frame, glazing, infill panels, hinges, locks and fixings, so the whole product has to perform.

The Category C tool set

Category C assumes a planned attack by someone who has come prepared and is not concerned about noise. The kit includes everything in Categories A and B plus heavier leverage, impact and cutting tools:

• Category A tools: screwdrivers, pliers, knives, small spanners, fishing line and traction screws
• Added at Category B: bolt cutters, a claw hammer (up to 1 kg), a cordless drill, steel tube and shears
• Added at Category C: an axe (up to 900 mm), cold chisels, brick bolsters, a crowbar, a lump hammer and a gas torch

That is a significant step up from SR2. An attacker with an axe, crowbar and lump hammer can apply far more force to frames, hinges and glazing than one with bolt cutters and a claw hammer, and the extra two minutes of delay give a response team more time to arrive.

C5 vs SR3: Issue 8 and Issue 7 Explained

LPS 1175 Issue 8 came into effect in 2019 and was the most substantial revision of the standard to date. It replaced the single SR1 to SR8 scale with a tool category letter (A to H) followed by a minimum delay in minutes (1, 3, 5, 10, 15 or 20). C5 is the Issue 8 classification commonly compared with the old SR3: a deliberate attack with Category C tools, held off for at least five minutes.

All of Premier Security's C5 products are certified under Issue 8, so their certificates show C5 and the products can be described as C5 (SR3) for comparison with older specifications.

Premier Security's C5 Certified Products

Premier Security holds LPCB certification for the following products at C5. Sizes are the certified structural openings shown on each certificate. Openings outside these ranges are not covered by the rating, so our technical team will confirm the certified configuration for every opening.

Where C5 Is Specified

C5 suits buildings where the credible threat is a planned attack with heavy hand tools, or where the assets inside justify more delay than SR2 provides. Typical openings and elevations include:

• Glazed office entrances and reception screens
• Schools and colleges
• Healthcare buildings
• Retail frontages and stockrooms
• Light industrial premises
• Commercial perimeters and service yards

The right rating comes from a security risk assessment that weighs the asset value, the likely capability of an attacker and the time a response needs to arrive. Our technical team can review the assessment and recommend a rating for each opening.

Specifying a C5 Product: Checklist

• Confirm the certificate shows C5 under Issue 8 (both the letter and the number) and check the listing on Red Book Live
• Check the opening size falls within the certified structural opening for the chosen configuration
• Use only the locking systems listed on the certificate; other locks do not carry the rating
• Confirm the glazing and infill panels are within the certified options for that product
• Detail the fixings and substrate, as the frame to structure connection sits outside the certificate
• For screens and curtain walling, design the structural performance separately, as it is outside the scope of LPS 1175
• For Kraken 3 gates, allow for the 2.4 m minimum free-standing height and specify access control with at least 30,000 effective codes
• Remember that resistance of access control systems to non-mechanical attack is outside the scope of LPS 1175

Frequently Asked Questions: LPS 1175 C5 and SR3

Related Premier Security Resources

• LPS 1175 Security Ratings Explained: the full SR1 to SR8 and A1 to H20 guide
• LPS 1175 SR2 / B3 Rating Guide: the rating below C5, for communal and low-risk openings
• Security Curtain Walling: Ultimate High Security Curtain Walling from C5 to E10
• Jansen Security Doors: steel framed glazed door systems
• LPS 1175 Security Windows: C5 (SR3) and D10 (SR4) certified fixed windows
• Vehicle Access Sliding Gates: certified cantilever sliding gates
• Security Gates: LPS 1175 certified gates from B3 (SR2) to E10 (SR5)
• Contact Premier Security: technical consultation and project enquiries