Introducing Our 2.5 Metre Door Security Bar

We’ve expanded our popular range of door security bars to include a new, 2.5 metre wide bar. Read more about this latest product addition to our store.

We’ve previously highlighted the need to pay attention to shed, garage and outbuilding security in various posts.

• Why You Need to Secure Your Sheds and Garages
• Time to Winterise Your Sheds and Garages
• Layered Security for Sheds, Garages and Outbuildings

Police forces throughout the UK point out how many people fail to pay adequate attention to the security of their sheds and garages. They warn the public that thieves know that shed and garage security is often weak and opportunistic burglars will attempt to access a shed or garage first because they know they can find tools that will enable them to break into the main house, inside.

Another important consideration that people overlook is the value of what’s stored in their shed or garage. UK insurance companies advise the public to be aware of what it would cost to replace everything stored in a shed or outbuilding, if it was all lost to theft or fire. When you add up the value of the bicycles, barbecues, outdoor furniture, lawnmowers, tools and equipment that’s typically stored in sheds and garages it can easily reach many hundreds or even thousands of pounds. This is why shed and outbuilding security is vitally important.

Need for Robust Shed and Outbuilding Security

Data, derived from national surveys, has shown that 27% of those surveyed have experienced an actual or attempted burglary from their sheds or outbuildings. Remarkably, 44% of those affected were at home when criminals broke into their property. And, as noted by the police, 63% reported that burglars also attempted to break into their homes as well as their sheds or garages.

Thefts from sheds and outbuildings are increasingly common for two key reasons: these structures are often entirely separate from the main home and owners fail to secure them adequately. Criminals are also known to target properties where they know exactly what they will find in the shed or garage. Bikes, mowers, sports equipment and power tools are amongst the most commonly stolen valuables from outbuildings.

Ensure You Have Adequate Insurance

People are encouraged to be highly aware of what their home insurance policies cover and what levels of security their insurers require. Combined home insurance policies usually cover outbuildings, such as sheds and garages, as long as they are permanent structures, fixed in one place. And contents insurance may cover theft from a shed or outbuilding, but the value limits on insurance cover can vary enormously so it makes sense to remain aware of the valuables stored in outbuildings and making certain they are covered by the insurance policy.

If you are sadly the victim of burglary, from your shed or outbuilding, your insurer will ask for details of exactly how the structure was secured and how the burglars gained entry. This is why its always worth taking advantage of security recommendations and advice provided by insurers and verifying that insurance cover for your outbuildings and contents is adequate and your security measures comply with requirements.

Bar Locks and Drawbars

The need for robust, reliable door security has a long history. Before the invention of locking devices property security presented a significant challenge. Historical records show how Viking, Norse and Danish marauders discovered that churches in the British Isles were relatively easy to access. The absence of locks and keys meant that churches, monasteries and other buildings were often secured, from the inside, by means of thick, robust wooden bars, called ‘bar locks’. The ability to secure strong church doors and shuttered windows, from the inside, was an important security capability that enabled local people to gain sanctuary after fleeing from their more fragile dwellings, when under attack.

The term ‘drawbar’ is also commonly used in reference to this valuable, effective security defence. The basic principle is that when this bar is drawn across the full width of a door or window shutter the door or shutter is prevented from opening. Drawbars would be pushed into drawbar slots in structure walls which can still be seen today, in surviving mediaeval buildings and ruins.

Our Door Security Bar Range

Our popular shed door security bars employ the same basic principle as these early bar lock and drawbar security systems. Key differences are that the shed door security bar is installed on the outside of the door and secured in place using a high quality padlock - which wasn’t available in mediaeval Britain.

The latest addition to our range of shed door security bars is the new, extra-long 2.5 metre version. This bar will comfortably fit across a door aperture of up to 2.35 metres, so its easily wide enough to secure a pair of double shed doors.

Our door security bar is made from 10mm thick steel so its beefy enough to deter any attempted shed invasion. The shed door bar design features a convenient hook-end design that makes it simple to insert the bar from either end. This feature also enables the shed door security bar to be used in situations where lateral space is restricted. The bar is supported by two 40mm steel brackets which are securely bolted in place using 100mm through bolts (coach bolts), supplied in the fixing pack. Our new 2500mm shed door security bar weighs 9kg and additional support brackets might therefore be considered. But its important to be aware of the lateral space necessary to insert and extract the security bar when additional brackets are used.

Here’s a summary of our door security bar range.

The shed door security bar and all support brackets are fully galvanised to provide reliable weather protection for up to 25 years.

Shed Door Security Bar Installation

If you read our shed door locking bar reviews you will see how people consistently remark on how easy it is to install this valuable security enhancement. Its important to pay attention to the lateral, side-to-side space requirements, especially if additional, centrally located support brackets are being used. But installation basically involves drilling holes through the door frame or structure, for the coach bolts that hold the support brackets in place, and then securely bolting the brackets in place. The support brackets should be attached wherever a secure mounting can be established. That’s all there is to it.

The unique hook bar design means that its not necessary for the bar to be slid through the brackets from one end enabling this door protection to be installed in confined spaces. But if additional support brackets are installed in the middle of the bar then space is needed to allow the bar to be slid through.

Choosing the Best Padlock for Shed Door Security

Unlike the previously mentioned bar locks and drawbars, used to secure mediaeval churches and castle doors and gates from the inside, our shed door locking bar system takes full advantage of modern, robust padlocks and keys. Padlocks commonly used with the door bar system include Discus and Shutterlock padlocks. Follow this link to see our full range of high quality padlocks.  

Master Discus Padlock

Shed Door Locking Bar Reviews

The best way to assess the quality, efficacy and suitability of any product is to examine reviews left by people who’ve already used them. Here are just a small selection of the many excellent reviews our valued customers have submitted for our range of reliable shed door locking bars.

For more information on Introducing Our 2.5 Metre Door Security Bar talk to Insight Security