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BS EN 1627 RC4 Residential Steel Doors

BS EN 1627:2011 RC4 Residential Steel Door. SteelR's Standard Tier

BS EN 1627:2011 RC4. SteelR's Standard tier on every door

What BS EN 1627:2011 RC4 single leaf, unglazed actually means on the front door of a UK home

BS EN 1627:2011 RC4 is the first tier in SteelR's four-tier residential security ladder. It is the Standard specification on every bespoke door we manufacture, with no upgrade fee and no flagship-only restriction. RC4 is Resistance Class 4 under the European standard for the burglar resistance of doors and windows, certifying the complete door assembly against a sustained attack by a trained tester using heavy-duty hand tools and battery-operated power tools. The single-leaf, unglazed methodology is the conservative test specification within RC4: no glazing weak points, no inactive leaf reducing the attack surface.

This page explains what RC4 actually tests, why SteelR includes it as Standard rather than as an upgrade, how it differs from the PAS 24:2022 regulatory minimum mandated for new-build dwellings, how the European BS EN 1627 framework relates to the parallel LPCB LPS 1175 scheme, and where the LPS 1175 SR3 Enhanced upgrade and SR4 Commercial-grade upgrade sit in relation to it.

The test itself

Sustained attack with heavy hand tools and battery power tools, full assembly

BS EN 1627:2011 RC4 testing is conducted at a UKAS-accredited laboratory against the complete door assembly. The door is installed into a test frame replicating the real fixing conditions it will face on site. A trained tester then attacks the assembly with the tool set specified for RC4, including drills (rotary and battery-operated), jigsaws, oscillating saws, larger crowbars and prying equipment.
The test methodology assesses the complete door system: frame, leaf, locking mechanism, hinges and hardware. Individual component certifications are not sufficient; the whole assembly must pass. The single-leaf, unglazed methodology is the conservative test specification within RC4, the most demanding because it removes the glazing-cut weak point and the inactive-leaf attack surface that softer specifications include. SteelR certifies every bespoke door at this conservative methodology rather than the more permissive double-leaf or glazed specifications some manufacturers use.
Multi-point chrome locking mechanism on a BS EN 1627 RC4 certified residential steel front door

How RC4 compares to PAS 24

PAS 24 is the legal minimum. RC4 is a different tier

PAS 24:2022 is the UK security performance standard published by the British Standards Institution. It is mandated by Approved Document Q of the Building Regulations for all new-build dwellings in England and Wales. PAS 24 testing simulates a one-to-three-minute casual forced-entry attack using basic hand tools, plus a cut test against glazing and a cylinder attack against the locking mechanism. It is the regulatory minimum and meets the legal threshold to install a door on a new-build property.
BS EN 1627:2011 RC4 is a different tier of certification entirely. The attack duration is materially longer. The tool set adds heavy-duty hand tools and battery-operated power tools that PAS 24 does not include. The test methodology assesses the complete door assembly under sustained attack rather than a casual hardware probe. Every SteelR door meets both standards: PAS 24:2022 as the regulatory baseline plus RC4 as the Standard tier. For the side-by-side specification comparison, see the security specification page.
  • PAS 24:2022 hardware-only test, one-to-three-minute casual attack, basic hand tools
  • BS EN 1627:2011 RC2: three minutes, screwdrivers, pliers, wedges
  • BS EN 1627:2011 RC3: heavier hand tools and longer duration than RC2
  • BS EN 1627:2011 RC4 (SteelR Standard): sustained attack, heavy-duty hand tools and battery-operated power tools, full assembly tested

RC4 vs LPS 1175 SR3 / SR4

Two parallel schemes. Both available on the same door

BS EN 1627:2011 (the European framework, classes RC1 to RC6) and LPS 1175 (the LPCB scheme, ratings SR1 to SR8) are parallel certification schemes. They are not equivalent. The Loss Prevention Certification Board has stated that over 90% of products tested under EN 1627 RC4 fail to achieve LPS 1175 SR2. The two schemes use different tool sets, different attack durations, and different attack objectives. Asking which is "higher" is the wrong frame: they test different threat models.
SteelR offers both. BS EN 1627:2011 RC4 single leaf, unglazed is the Standard tier on every door. LPS 1175 SR3 (the LPCB police-preferred residential specification) is available as the Enhanced upgrade tier. LPS 1175 SR4 (D10 Issue 8, the LPCB commercial-grade certification used in data centres and bank vaults) is available as the Commercial-grade upgrade tier. LPS 1673 attack-resistance is available as the Ultra-high tier by enquiry. All four certifications can be issued against the same door. SR3 / SR4 are not replacements for RC4; they are additional layered accreditations on the same assembly. Detail on the SR3 page and the SR4 page.

Why SteelR includes RC4 as Standard

The genuine baseline, not a flagship-only specification

A recurring pattern in this category is manufacturers advertising high security ratings as available on the flagship design, then shipping lower-spec doors on the rest of the range. Most UK steel door manufacturers cap their standard residential offering at PAS 24:2022 (the regulatory minimum) and reserve BS EN 1627 RC4 or LPS 1175 ratings for flagship lines or commercial product. SteelR's position is different: RC4 is the genuine baseline on every bespoke door, with no upgrade fee, no flagship-only restriction, and no exception.
The standard residential specification on every SteelR door is BS EN 1627:2011 RC4 single leaf, unglazed plus PAS 24:2022 plus Secured by Design plus FD30S fire and smoke rating plus ISO 9001 + ISO 14001 UK manufacturing plus Made in Britain certified. Upgrade tiers (LPS 1175 SR3 Enhanced, LPS 1175 SR4 Commercial-grade, LPS 1673 Ultra-high) are available on every door for briefs that justify the additional certification. The collection is browsable on the collection page. Every door shown ships with RC4 as Standard.

Continue Reading

Related reading

PAS 24 steel entrance doors

The Approved Document Q regulatory minimum, what PAS 24 actually tests, why it sits below RC4 in the SteelR ladder.

LPS 1175 SR3 (Enhanced upgrade)

The LPCB police-preferred residential specification. SteelR's Enhanced upgrade tier above the BS EN 1627 RC4 Standard.

LPS 1175 SR4 (Commercial-grade upgrade)

The LPCB Commercial-grade certification used on data centres and bank vaults. Available on residential specification by upgrade.

LPS 1673 attack-resistant steel doors

The LPCB attack-resistance certification beyond forced-entry resistance. Ultra-high tier available by enquiry.

Full security specification page

Side-by-side comparison of every standard a SteelR door meets, including the four-tier ladder.

Bespoke steel front doors UK

Hub page covering the full SteelR model, design process and regional coverage.

Common Questions

Frequently asked questions

What does BS EN 1627:2011 RC4 single leaf, unglazed mean on a residential steel door?

RC4 is Resistance Class 4 under BS EN 1627:2011, the European standard for the burglar resistance of doors and windows. RC4 certifies that the complete door assembly has been independently tested at a UKAS-accredited laboratory against a sustained attack by an experienced intruder using heavy-duty hand tools and battery-operated power tools. The single-leaf, unglazed methodology is the conservative test specification within RC4: no glazing weak points, no inactive leaf reducing the attack surface. RC4 is materially above the PAS 24:2022 hardware-only test mandated for new-build dwellings, and is rarely offered as a residential standard in the UK. SteelR includes BS EN 1627:2011 RC4 single leaf, unglazed as the Standard tier on every bespoke door, with LPS 1175 SR3, SR4 and LPS 1673 available as upgrade tiers on the same door.

How does BS EN 1627:2011 RC4 differ from PAS 24:2022?

PAS 24:2022 is the UK security performance standard published by the British Standards Institution and mandated by Approved Document Q of the Building Regulations for new-build dwellings in England and Wales. It tests resistance to a one-to-three-minute casual forced-entry attack using basic hand tools, plus a cut test against glazing and a cylinder attack against the locking mechanism. BS EN 1627:2011 RC4 is a different scheme entirely: a longer attack, a heavier tool set including battery-operated power tools, and a different test methodology (the complete door assembly tested as a system). PAS 24 is the regulatory minimum; RC4 is materially higher. Every SteelR door meets both standards: PAS 24:2022 as the regulatory baseline plus BS EN 1627:2011 RC4 single leaf, unglazed as the Standard tier on every door.

How does BS EN 1627 RC4 differ from LPS 1175 SR3?

BS EN 1627:2011 (the European framework, classes RC1 to RC6) and LPS 1175 (the LPCB scheme, ratings SR1 to SR8) are parallel certification schemes operating under different methodologies and threat models. They are not equivalent: the Loss Prevention Certification Board has stated that over 90% of products tested under EN 1627 RC4 fail to achieve LPS 1175 SR2. The two schemes use different tool sets, different attack durations and different attack objectives. RC4 tests sustained forced-entry resistance against heavy-duty hand tools and battery-operated power tools; LPS 1175 SR3 (Issue 8) tests a five-minute power-tool attack against a defined Issue 8 tool catalogue and is the LPCB police-preferred residential specification recognised by UK home insurers and Secured by Design. SteelR ships RC4 as the Standard residential specification on every bespoke door, with LPS 1175 SR3 available as the Enhanced upgrade tier above it. SR3 is not a replacement for RC4; it is an additional layered accreditation on the same door.

Why does SteelR include BS EN 1627 RC4 as Standard rather than as an upgrade?

RC4 is the European framework for sustained forced-entry resistance. It is the right baseline for any premium residential steel front door. Most UK manufacturers cap their standard residential offering at PAS 24:2022 (the regulatory minimum) and reserve RC4 or LPS 1175 ratings for flagship lines or commercial product. SteelR includes BS EN 1627:2011 RC4 single leaf, unglazed on every bespoke door, with no upgrade fee, no flagship-only restriction, and no exception. The position is that a homeowner specifying a bespoke steel front door from a UK manufacturer should not have to negotiate up from a PAS 24 baseline to get a serious certification. RC4 is the genuine baseline. Upgrade tiers (LPS 1175 SR3 Enhanced, LPS 1175 SR4 Commercial-grade, LPS 1673 Ultra-high) are available on every door for briefs that justify the additional certification.

What documentation does SteelR provide for the BS EN 1627 RC4 certification?

Every SteelR door is supplied with the BS EN 1627:2011 RC4 single leaf, unglazed test certification documentation as part of the handover pack. The pack also includes the PAS 24:2022 certificate, Secured by Design accreditation, FD30S fire and smoke certification, and ISO 9001 + ISO 14001 manufacturing certifications. Where the door has been specified with an upgrade tier (LPS 1175 SR3, SR4, or LPS 1673), those certifications are included alongside the RC4 baseline. All test reports reference the UKAS-accredited laboratory that conducted the test and are valid for insurer submission, planning authority verification and Building Safety Act compliance documentation.

PAS 24 CertifiedBS EN 1627 RC4 StandardLPS 1175 SR3 / SR4 AvailableLPS 1673 on EnquirySecured by DesignFD30S / FD60 Fire RatedISO 9001 + ISO 14001Made in Britain

Bespoke · UK manufactured · BS EN 1627 RC4 · LPS 1175 SR3 / SR4 available

Enquire about a bespoke SteelR door for BS EN 1627 RC4 Residential Steel Doors

Free consultation with our design team. No obligation. Every door is manufactured in the UK to your specification. Standard residential spec is BS EN 1627:2011 RC4 single leaf, unglazed. LPS 1175 SR3 and SR4 enhanced and commercial-grade certifications are available on request, with LPS 1673 attack-resistance by enquiry. Installed by our in-house fitters.

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