Do Your Kent Windows Need PAS24? Security Guide

A window’s location and project type can matter more than the fact that it’s a window. So, Does Every Window Need PAS24? No. In England, Approved Document Q applies to easily accessible windows and doors in new dwellings, including some buildings converted to dwellings. It requires them to meet PAS 24 or an equivalent standard. Replacement windows in existing homes aren’t automatically subject to the same requirement, although a client, project specification or insurer may set one.

If you’re specifying windows for a Kent or East Sussex project, it’s sensible to establish the requirement before placing an order. Distinguish a general preference for better security from a requirement tied to the building, the work or the insurance conditions.

This guide explains when PAS 24 may apply and what to check in the project documents. It also explains why certification must cover the specific window configuration, not just an individual lock or component. The current standard is PAS 24:2022+A1:2024. Before ordering, confirm the required standard and supporting evidence with your supplier, installer or project team, including which products and configurations any stated certification covers.

Does every window need PAS 24? The direct answer

No. Don’t assume every window needs PAS 24. Whether it’s required depends on the building, the work being carried out, the window’s location and the project specification. In England, Approved Document Q is relevant to security in new dwellings, but replacement work and other project types may have different requirements. A client, insurer or project brief may also set a PAS 24 requirement. Confirm what applies before specifying or ordering.

PAS 24 is a security testing standard for doorsets and windows. The current edition is PAS 24:2022+A1:2024. It is part of the wider body of British Standards, which includes Publicly Available Specifications. A PAS 24 claim should be supported by evidence for the relevant product, not just a general description of its security features.

What does PAS 24 mean for a window?

Assessment applies to a defined product and tested configuration. The evidence should therefore match the window being specified, including its relevant design and components. A secure-looking handle or upgraded lock may be a useful feature, but it doesn’t show by itself that the complete window has been tested to PAS 24. Nor should you assume certification for one design covers another, such as a different opening style or configuration. Ask the supplier for documentation that identifies the product and standard edition covered.

Why the answer is not simply yes or no

A regulatory requirement and a project specification are different things. Applicable guidance may set requirements for certain building types or work, while a client, designer or insurer can add requirements in the project documents. The window’s position and accessibility may also affect the specification. A blanket answer can therefore lead to the wrong choice, even for projects with similar-looking windows.

Before placing an order, check the drawings, specification, relevant Building Regulations guidance and any insurance requirements. If the documents conflict or don’t identify the standard clearly, ask the project team to confirm what evidence they’ll accept. For trade projects in Kent and East Sussex, you can also review TradeTech’s uPVC and aluminium windows for trade and ask for evidence covering the specific configuration under consideration.

When can PAS 24 apply to windows under UK requirements?

The regulatory position depends on where the project is and what work is being done. For projects in England, check the current Building Regulations guidance and the scope of the work before specifying windows. Approved Document Q covers security provisions for new dwellings. It refers to doors and windows that are easily accessible, with PAS 24 or an equivalent standard used as evidence of security performance.

Accessibility can depend on a window’s position. The guidance describes easily accessible openings as those within 2 metres vertically of the ground, a balcony, or a flat roof that is within 3.5 metres of the ground. Check the current document and how it applies to the building in question. A material change of use to a dwelling, such as a conversion, may also require different consideration from ordinary replacement work.

New dwellings, replacement windows and project briefs

Don’t apply one rule to every project. Check new dwellings and buildings converted to dwellings against Approved Document Q. PAS 24 isn’t a general legal requirement for replacement windows in existing homes, but other Building Regulations provisions may still apply. A project specification may require PAS 24 even when the regulatory brief doesn’t. Confirm the project type, window locations and applicable guidance with the person responsible for compliance.

Project context	Requirement source to check	Evidence to request
New dwelling	Current Approved Document Q and project specification	Evidence for the specified window configuration and the standard edition stated
Existing home, replacement windows	Applicable Building Regulations guidance, written brief and insurance requirements	Confirmation of any stated PAS 24 requirement and matching product evidence
Conversion or other project type	Building-control advice, project documents and relevant guidance	Written confirmation of the requirement and acceptable compliance evidence

How client and insurance requirements affect specification

Keep statutory requirements separate from client preferences and insurer conditions. A client or designer may specify PAS 24 as a project standard. An insurer may set its own conditions, but don’t assume every policy requires PAS 24. Check the current policy wording and project documents, then ask the relevant party to clarify any uncertainty in writing.

So, Does Every Window Need PAS24? No single answer covers every project. Confirm the requirement and acceptable evidence before ordering. For a Kent or East Sussex new-build scheme, use the project documents and applicable guidance to establish the specification before discussing suitable windows with your supplier.

PAS 24 windows: what changes between products and project scenarios?

The same window material can be used in products with different opening styles, hardware and tested configurations. Those details matter when a project specifies PAS 24. If there’s an explicit requirement, request evidence that matches the window being ordered. If the brief doesn’t specify PAS 24, check applicable guidance, project documents and any security requirements rather than assuming the material or a particular feature settles the question.

PAS 24 certification applies to the product configuration covered by the supporting evidence, not automatically to every window made from the same material. The current edition is PAS 24:2022+A1:2024. Confirm the edition and scope of the evidence before accepting a compliance claim.

Does a uPVC or aluminium window automatically meet PAS 24?

No. “uPVC window” and “aluminium window” describe the frame material, not PAS 24 compliance. Opening type, hardware and tested configuration may differ between products. Ask for documentation that identifies the relevant product and shows whether the supplied configuration falls within its certification or test evidence. TradeTech supplies uPVC and aluminium windows. Review its trade uPVC and aluminium windows and ask which specific configurations have supporting PAS 24 evidence.

What does the project location or window position change?

Check each opening against the project brief and applicable guidance. Its position and accessibility, intended use and building context may affect the security requirement. Don’t infer compliance from a floor level or room name alone. For example, assess a refurbishment in Kent and a new dwelling in East Sussex against their own project scope and documents. The geographic location doesn’t create a separate local PAS 24 rule.

Where the specification names a security standard, verify that the product evidence meets the stated requirement. Secured by Design is a separate police initiative; its guidance explains how PAS 24 relates to its Police Preferred Specification for doors. See the Secured by Design standards and check whether any additional project criteria apply. A general security feature or a claim about another product isn’t a substitute for evidence covering the window you’re specifying.

How to verify PAS 24 compliance before specifying or ordering

Check the requirement before finalising the window schedule. A broad statement such as “PAS 24 windows” doesn’t confirm that a proposed product meets your project brief. Use this sequence to connect the requirement, product and supporting evidence.

1. Review the project documents. Check the specification, drawings, applicable guidance and client requirements. Note which openings need to meet a security standard and whether PAS 24 or an equivalent is named.
2. Confirm the project context. If you’re unsure how the guidance applies to the building or work scope, ask the designer or building control contact responsible for the project. Don’t assume the requirement based on the window alone.
3. Request product-specific evidence. Ask your supplier for documentation covering the exact window type and configuration being quoted. A general product range or frame material doesn’t confirm the scope of certification.
4. Check the standard edition. The document should identify the PAS 24 edition it refers to. The current edition is PAS 24:2022+A1:2024. If your specification names a different edition, ask the project team whether the submitted evidence is acceptable.
5. Resolve and record gaps before ordering. If the evidence doesn’t clearly match the specification, request clarification from the supplier and, where needed, the designer or building control contact. Keep the response and supporting documents with your project records.

A pre-order checklist for installers and specifiers

Before releasing the order, make sure the brief and evidence align. Record the required standard, specified window type and configuration, the edition cited in the documents, and any open compliance questions. This gives the project team a clear basis for checking the proposed product instead of relying on an unqualified claim.

Questions to put to your window supplier

Be specific. Ask: “Which window configuration does this PAS 24 evidence cover?” and “Which standard edition is stated in the documentation?” Confirm whether the evidence applies to the exact opening style and specification you’re ordering. If any detail is unclear, don’t infer coverage from a wider product category. Ask the appointed professional to confirm what evidence the project requires and will accept.

For projects in Kent or East Sussex, make the same checks before ordering. Discuss project-specific requirements with your designer, building control contact or supplier. TradeTech supplies and installs uPVC and aluminium glazing, and can be a point of contact for discussing product documentation and asking which configurations its stated PAS credentials cover.

How Trade Tech Windows & Doors can help you confirm a window specification

Once you’ve checked the project brief and identified the evidence required, speak with your window supplier before ordering. TradeTech supplies and installs uPVC and aluminium glazing in Kent and East Sussex. A specification discussion can help identify the product configuration under consideration and establish what documentation relates to it.

TradeTech’s materials list PAS24:2016 certification and PAS 24:2022 security compliance. These references don’t, by themselves, confirm that a particular window or configuration is covered. The current edition is PAS 24:2022+A1:2024, so check the edition and product-level scope stated in the evidence before relying on a claim for your project.

What to confirm with Trade Tech Windows & Doors before placing an order

Have the relevant drawings or specification to hand. Ask whether the selected window configuration matches the project’s PAS 24 requirement and what documentation is available for that product. Confirm the standard edition shown in the evidence and raise any mismatch with the person responsible for the project specification before finalising the order.

If your schedule calls for a casement window, check the evidence for that product type rather than assuming it applies across a wider range. TradeTech’s casement windows page can help you identify the relevant category to discuss.

Get project-specific support in Kent and East Sussex

Installers, contractors, developers and property owners can all benefit from resolving specification questions early. For a project in Kent or East Sussex, discuss the building context, window locations and required evidence with your appointed professional and supplier. Locality doesn’t change the need to check applicable requirements and product documentation for the individual project.

Check TradeTech’s stated credentials against the exact window configuration being considered. Ask the team to confirm what its PAS documentation covers and whether it matches your project brief. For further information about its trade uPVC and aluminium windows, review the product details alongside your specification. If you’re still asking, “Does Every Window Need PAS24?”, the answer depends on the project. Confirm the requirement and evidence before ordering.

Confirm the evidence before you place your order

Does Every Window Need PAS24? No. The requirement depends on the building, work scope, window position and project documents. Check the applicable guidance, client specification and insurance requirements before ordering. Then make sure the evidence matches the exact product configuration and standard edition required.

TradeTech supplies and installs uPVC and aluminium glazing in Kent and East Sussex. Its materials list PAS24:2016 certification and PAS 24:2022 security compliance, and state that TradeTech is an Assure Certified Installer. These credentials don’t confirm that every window configuration is covered. Ask TradeTech to clarify the current relevance and scope of the PAS evidence for the specific product you’re considering, and confirm the Assure status details relevant to your project.

Clear documentation gives your project team a sound basis for checking the specification. If you’re an installer, contractor, developer or property owner, raise any gaps with the supplier or appointed project professional before finalising the order.

With the requirement and evidence confirmed, you can move forward with a clearer window specification.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does every window in a new build need to meet PAS 24?

No, not necessarily every window. The answer to “Does Every Window Need PAS24?” depends on the applicable requirements and the opening’s location. In England, Approved Document Q covers security in new dwellings and applies to easily accessible windows and doors. These must meet PAS 24 or an equivalent standard. Check the current guidance and project specification to identify which openings are in scope, then confirm what evidence Building Control or the project team will accept.

Is PAS 24 a legal requirement for replacement windows in the UK?

No, PAS 24 isn’t a blanket legal requirement for replacement windows in existing homes. Other Building Regulations requirements may still apply, so check the relevant guidance for your project and location. A client specification or insurer may also ask for PAS 24 independently. Keep these requirements distinct and confirm the applicable standard and evidence with the appointed professional before ordering.

Do all uPVC windows meet PAS 24?

No. uPVC describes the frame material; it doesn’t confirm that a window meets PAS 24. Certification or test evidence relates to a defined product and configuration. Opening style, hardware and other specified components may differ between models. Ask the supplier for documentation that identifies the relevant window and confirms whether the configuration you’re considering falls within the evidence. Don’t assume that a claim for one product covers an entire range.

Can a window be secure without PAS 24 certification?

Yes. A window may include security features without having PAS 24 certification. However, those features alone don’t prove that the complete window has been tested to the standard or meets a project’s compliance requirement. If your brief calls for PAS 24, request evidence for the specific configuration. If it doesn’t, assess security preferences separately from regulatory, client or insurer conditions, and ask the relevant project professional to clarify any uncertainty.

What evidence should I ask for to confirm a window meets PAS 24?

Ask for documentation that identifies the window product, tested configuration and PAS 24 edition covered. Check that the evidence matches the opening style and specification you intend to order, rather than relying on a general product-range statement. If the paperwork is unclear, ask the supplier to explain its scope and confirm with the project team that it meets the stated requirement.

Does PAS 24 apply to windows in flats or commercial buildings?

It depends on the building and project. A new flat may form part of a new dwelling, so check the relevant Approved Document Q provisions and which windows are in scope. Don’t assume the same requirement applies to every opening. Commercial buildings may have different project requirements. In either case, review the applicable guidance and specification, then ask the designer or building control contact to confirm what evidence is needed.

Can an insurer require PAS 24 windows?

An insurer may set security conditions that affect your window specification, but don’t assume PAS 24 is a universal condition across all policies. Check your current policy wording or ask your insurer to confirm its requirements in writing. If PAS 24 is specified, give the supplier the exact wording and ask for evidence covering the proposed window configuration. This helps distinguish policy conditions from Building Regulations or a voluntary security preference.