Two separate security standards that, together, make a genuine difference to how forced entry-resistant a door actually is.
A common method used by burglars against uPVC and composite doors has historically been lock snapping, where the euro cylinder is attacked and physically snapped to gain access to the mechanism inside. This vulnerability led to the development of anti-snap cylinders and a dedicated star rating scheme so homeowners and installers could clearly identify genuinely resistant hardware.
TS007 rates cylinders and door furniture on a scale using stars, typically shown as one, two or three stars, based on independent testing against known attack methods including snapping, picking, drilling and bumping. A three-star cylinder on its own has passed the highest level of this specific cylinder testing, offering strong resistance to these attack methods.
TS007 also allows for a combined approach, where a one-star cylinder paired with security-rated handles or hardware achieving an equivalent overall rating can reach the same three-star combined standard as a cylinder rated three stars on its own. This is worth understanding when comparing hardware specifications, since a lower star cylinder is not automatically a weaker overall door if paired correctly.
While TS007 focuses specifically on cylinders and hardware, PAS 24 is a broader test standard applied to the entire door set, including the frame, glazing, hinges, locking mechanism and cylinder working together as a complete unit. A door set that has passed PAS 24 testing has been physically attacked under laboratory conditions using methods that mimic real burglary attempts, and has demonstrated it can resist them for a defined period.
A door can have excellent hardware but still be vulnerable if the frame, hinges or glazing beads are weak, which is why PAS 24 testing at the whole door set level provides a more complete picture of real security than cylinder rating alone. Quality composite doors and secure uPVC front doors are typically specified with both TS007 rated hardware and PAS 24 tested door sets working together.
When comparing new front or back doors, ask specifically whether the cylinder carries a TS007 star rating and whether the complete door set has been PAS 24 tested, since these are two distinct but complementary checks that together give a genuine indication of the door's resistance to forced entry.
It means the cylinder, or a combination of cylinder and hardware, has passed independent testing against attack methods including snapping, picking, drilling and bumping to the highest level within the TS007 scheme.
No, PAS 24 tests the entire door set, including frame, hinges, glazing and locking mechanism together, while TS007 specifically rates the cylinder or hardware. Both are complementary and often specified together.
Yes, if paired with security-rated handles or hardware that together achieve a combined three-star equivalent rating under the TS007 scheme, a one-star cylinder is not automatically a weak point.
Many quality composite door ranges are specified to meet PAS 24 as standard, but it is worth confirming this directly on your quote rather than assuming, since specifications can vary between suppliers.
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Book a free survey and we will explain the exact cylinder rating and door set testing included on your chosen door, with security specification confirmed in your fixed written quote.
