What is LPS 1175 Rating?

When specifying physical security for a building project, you need more than a manufacturer’s assurance that a product will hold up under attack. You need independent, measurable proof. That is precisely what LPS 1175 provides: a rigorously tested, third-party certified standard that quantifies exactly how long a security product will resist forced entry attempts using real-world tools and attack methods.

Whether you are an architect specifying doors for a commercial development, a facilities manager upgrading building security, or a contractor working on a high-risk installation, understanding how LPS 1175 ratings work is essential for making informed decisions. We explain what the standard covers, how the ratings are structured, how they compare to other standards, and how to determine which rating your project requires.

What Is LPS 1175?

LPS stands for Loss Prevention Standard, and LPS 1175 is one of many standards published by the Loss Prevention Certification Board (LPCB). First published in 2006, the standard focuses specifically on the physical security of intruder-resistant building components, including doors, shutters, fencing, security enclosures, free-standing barriers, and other products designed to delay forced entry.

The standard emerged in response to shortcomings in previous security ratings, which created ambiguity about how well products would perform against determined attackers using hand tools, battery-powered equipment, or brute force. LPS 1175 addresses this directly by testing products against timed assaults using defined toolkits that reflect common criminal methods. Products that successfully withstand these simulated attacks are classified according to security ratings from SR1 through to SR8.

Simply put, LPS 1175 is an independent accreditation that indicates how effectively a security door, window, or barrier will resist a real-world forced entry attempt. It sits within the broader framework of physical security, which concerns four key areas: deterring intruders, detecting attackers, delaying attacks, and responding to incidents. LPS 1175 specifically measures how effective a product is at delaying an attack.

Who Administers the LPS 1175 Standard?

Two central bodies oversee the standard: BRE and LPCB.

BRE (Building Research Establishment)

At the top level of building product certification sits the Building Research Establishment, known as BRE. They are an independent, impartial, research-based consultancy group offering testing and training across built environment disciplines. BRE publishes the LPS 1175 standard, though it does so in close consultation with government, insurers, the police, risk consultants, architects, and other industry experts to ensure the standard remains relevant to the current physical security landscape.

LPCB (Loss Prevention Certification Board)

LPCB is part of the BRE Group and is the certification board specifically responsible for accrediting security systems and products that meet the strict LPS test requirements. It is currently the leading centre for fire and security product testing and approvals internationally, with nearly 70 Loss Prevention Standards in effect. 

The LPCB’s grading structures are developed over time and built on proven crime science, recognising the increased investment criminals make when targeting higher-value assets.

How Are LPS 1175 Security Ratings Measured?

The testing process is designed to replicate real-world attack scenarios as closely as possible. Products are installed in a testing facility exactly as they would be in an actual building. A team of testers then launches a series of sustained attacks using the specified toolkit for that security rating level.

The standard uses different toolkits and different attack durations to categorise each security rating. As each rating level increases, both the sophistication of the tools and the duration of the attack change. The rationale is straightforward: if an attacker is likely to use more severe tools, they are also more committed to the attack and will spend longer attempting to defeat the product before abandoning the effort.

What LPS 1175 specifically measures is the time required to breach the barrier using various forced entry techniques within each rating category. Testing is not limited to a single point of attack; doors must withstand assault regardless of whether the panel, locks, hinges, or glazing bear the brunt of the effort. Attackers are permitted breaks between attack periods, with a maximum total attack duration defined for each level.

In order to retain certification after initial testing, manufacturers must undergo ongoing auditing to ensure thorough and effective quality control procedures remain in place throughout their manufacturing processes. This means the LPCB mark guarantees not only a proven security resistance but also consistent manufacturing quality.

What Are the LPS 1175 Security Ratings?

LPS 1175 defines eight security ratings, from SR1 through to SR8. Each represents a distinct threat scenario, with progressively more capable toolkits and longer attack times. The performance ratings SR2 through to SR8 are the most relevant for commercial and high-security applications.

SR1

Based on low domestic and low commercial risk. Products certified to SR1 provide resistance to opportunist attempts at forced entry using bodily physical force and a limited range of hand tools, including those that create noise. 

Maximum attack time: 1 minute | Maximum total attack duration: 10 minutes.

SR2

Based on medium domestic risk and lower commercial risk. Products certified to SR2 provide resistance to opportunist attempts at forced entry using bodily physical force and a broader range of hand tools, including those that create noise. 

Maximum attack time: 3 minutes | Maximum total attack duration: 15 minutes.

SR3

Based on low commercial risk. Products certified to SR3 provide moderate resistance to determined attempts at forced entry using physical force and a wide range of hand tools with greater mechanical advantage, including those that create noise.

Maximum attack time: 5 minutes | Maximum total attack duration: 20 minutes.

SR4

Based on medium commercial risk. Products certified to SR4 provide resistance to experienced, determined attempts at forced entry using a wide range of hand tools and battery-powered tools, with a disregard for noise created. 

Maximum attack time: 10 minutes | Maximum total attack duration: 30 minutes.

SR5

Based on high commercial and mission-critical risk. Products certified to SR5 provide resistance to experienced, determined attempts at forced entry for extended periods using a range of powerful battery tools. 

Maximum attack time: 10 minutes | Maximum total attack duration: 30 minutes.

SR6

Addresses professional attempts at forced entry using highly specialist power tools. 

Maximum attack time: 10 minutes | Maximum total attack duration: 30 minutes.

SR7

Covers professional means of attempting forced entry into higher-value storage areas, generally after penetrating the building facade. 

Maximum attack time: 10 minutes | Maximum total attack duration: 30 minutes.

SR8

Addresses extreme means of attempting forced entry into higher-value storage areas before resorting to vehicles, firearms, or explosives. 

Maximum attack time: 20 minutes | Maximum total attack duration: 60 minutes.

How Do I Verify LPS 1175 Certification?

Every security product certified to LPS 1175 is entered onto RedBook Live, a database owned and controlled by the LPCB. RedBook Live contains a live listing for every product certified by the LPCB to LPS 1175, meaning that as a specifier, you can be fully confident that any product listed on the database meets the required criteria. This provides an accessible, authoritative way to verify any manufacturer’s claims before committing to a specification.

How Do I Know Which LPS 1175 Security Rating I Need?

Selecting the appropriate security rating requires consideration of several factors:

• What are you protecting? Securing physical assets requires a different approach to protecting people. The nature of what sits behind the door influences the level of resistance required.
• What sector does your application fall under? Different sectors carry different operational, aesthetic, and regulatory requirements alongside the need for security.
• What threat are you protecting against? Clarity on whether you face opportunist, determined, or professional attack scenarios is essential for appropriate specification.
• Where is the building located? Both geographical location and the surrounding environment affect the threat level and, consequently, the security rating needed.
• What is the likely attack frequency and severity? Understanding whether threats are opportunist or professional, and how frequently they may occur, helps determine the right balance between protection and investment.

Documented toolsets paired with minimum breach times for each security rating allow building designers to strategically layer external through to internal perimeters, knowing how long LPS 1175 rated defences can be expected to withstand an attack. This enables an integrated approach combining physical barriers with detection and response systems.

Bradbury Group’s LPS 1175 Certified Steel Doors

At Bradbury Group, we offer fully bespoke, security-rated steel doors designed, tested, and manufactured in-house to meet LPS 1175 requirements. Both our M2M2, M2M3, and M2M4 steel security doors are certified by the LPCB to LPS 1175 SR2 through to SR4 standards, having undergone stringent evaluation including timed attacks from sledgehammers, rams, and cutting equipment.

Our dedicated technical team can help you match the right LPS 1175-rated steel door to your specific risk profile, performance expectations, and project requirements. Contact us today to discuss your security specification.