In the UK, there are 13 defined national infrastructure sectors: chemicals; civil nuclear; communications; defence; emergency services; energy; finance; food; government; health; space; transport; and water. Within these sectors, there are elements – including facilities and sites – which are deemed to be critical to the ability of the country to function, and on which daily life depends.
Within critical national infrastructure sites, the security of buildings is essential. Consideration must be given to implementing security measures right from the planning stage of any new buildings, or if an existing building begins to play a critical function.
The Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure (CPNI) – which was set up by the UK Government to provide security advice to the UK’s national infrastructure – advises organisations constructing or managing buildings operating within critical national infrastructure to follow a set of key principles.
These are:
- Deter
- Detect
- Delay
- Mitigate
- Response
The ‘delay’ principle is based around utilising the building structure and associated protective security furniture/measures to maximise the delay to an asset, and maximising the time required for an adversary to penetrate through the building and reach critical assets through the use of multiple varied protective security technologies and structures.
ExMesh™ Engineering Securilath™ is an example of a solution which could enable those responsible for buildings falling within critical national infrastructure sites to put the ‘delay principle’ into practice.
Made from flattened steel mesh or raised steel mesh, Securilath™ provides a discreet method of delaying intruders from creating an aperture large enough to gain entry to a premises.
We developed ExMesh™ Engineering Securilath™ security mesh in the 1990s following the Stangeways prison riot in Manchester and the product – sometimes referred to in the market as ‘Expamet’ security mesh – was subsequently employed in reinforcing buildings at risk of ram raiders.
Since then, this steel security mesh has been further developed at our Hartlepool site and is employed in protecting critical national infrastructure throughout the UK.
Why is ExMesh Securilath™ so effective in delaying intruders?
Securilath™ is the only security mesh range to be certified by the Loss Prevention Certification Board (LPCB) when applied to metal stud, timber stud, and block walls.
Security products such as ExMesh Securilath™, which hold LPCB LPS 1175 certification, have been tested to ensure that they can delay forced entry by intruders using a range of tools, in accordance with specified time frames. And the longer an intruder is delayed, the more likely they are to be discovered and apprehended by emergency services – thus preventing a security breach entirely.
The ExMesh™ Engineering Securilath™ range includes LPS 1175 SR1, LPS 1175 SR2, and LPS 1175 SR3 rated options.
- At LPS 1175 SR1 level, security products are tested to resist attacks from intruders using tools such as hexagon wrenches, knives, and pliers.
- To achieve LPS 1175 SR2 certification, security solutions are tested against tools such as claw hammers, bolt cutters, and 3.6V drills.
- To achieve LPS 1175 SR3 certification, security products are tested against attack with tools such as axes, larger bolt cutters, hacksaws and pad saws.
The LPCB ratings are only achieved when installing the Securilath™ mesh onto block and timber/metal stud to fitting instructions. Further information on testing can be found on www.redbooklive.com.
ExMesh™ Engineering Securilath™ gives confidence to contractors and end-users that it cannot only help to delay forced entry into a building but that where relevant, it will hold certification in line with building specifications and insurance requirements.
Want to see the testing process in action? View the video below…
How is Securilath™ installed?
ExMesh™ Engineering Securilath™ can be installed at the time of construction into internal or external walls (either solid or stud), ceilings and roofs.
It can also be retrofit whilst refurbishment is carried out to a building, making it an ideal solution if a site has changed use and needs to be reinforced with more robust security measures.
The Securilath™ range can be finished with dry lining or render and is easily fixed to brickwork, blockwork, stud partitioning, ceiling joists and roofs in metal or timber.
What does the ExMesh™ Engineering Securilath™ range consist of?
ExMesh™ Engineering Securilath™ is available in four options:
- Securilath™ MD1 is an LPCB LPS 1175 SR1* rated product which is a lighter weight option for security in walls and partitions.
- Securilath™ HD1 is an LPCB LPS 1175 SR2* rated product which is a heavyweight option for security in walls and partitions.
- Securilath™ Ultra is an LPCB LPS 1175 SR3* rated product which is a double skinned option for extra security in walls and partitions.
- Securilath™ HDR is an LPCB LPS 1175 SR3* rated product which is used for internal/external brick or block walls and is an excellent key finisher for plaster/ render finishes.
*LPS 1175: Issue 8 Cert No. 731n.
If you would like more information on ExMesh™ Engineering Securilath™ contact our team today on +44 (0)1429 867 388 or email sales@exmesh.co.uk.
ExMesh™ Engineering Securilath™ products are available to purchase through our website, view the range here.
You can also view the full ExMesh™ Engineering security range here, which includes security fencing, gates, anti-climb measures, and cages.