Comparison
All security shutters are roller shutters, but not all roller shutters are security shutters. The difference matters — for cost, for insurance, and for the actual physical protection of your premises. This guide explains what makes a shutter "security-rated", which LPCB ratings exist, what your insurer probably expects, and how to choose the right specification for the premises you're protecting.
A standard commercial roller shutter is a coiled curtain of interlocking aluminium or steel laths that descends from a head box to cover an opening. It's perfectly adequate for keeping weather out, deterring opportunistic intruders, and signalling that a premises is closed. The lath is typically 18–20 gauge aluminium with simple end retainers.
A security shutter is the same form factor — same head box, same guide rails, same controls — but built to resist deliberate physical attack. Differences are in:
The result: a security-rated shutter takes meaningfully longer to defeat with hand tools, power tools or vehicle attack. Whether you need that depends on what's behind it and what your insurer specifies.
The Loss Prevention Certification Board (LPCB) is the UK's most-trusted independent testing body for physical security products. Their LPS 1175 standard defines security ratings as Security Ratings (SR) 1 through 8, each indicating the length of time the product resists a specified attack toolset.
| Rating | Attack time | Tool category | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| SR1 | 1 min | Bodily force, simple tools (screwdrivers, knives) | Domestic / low-risk retail |
| SR2 | 3 min | + small bolt cutters, claw hammer | Most commercial retail, offices |
| SR3 | 5 min | + heavier tools, small cordless drill | Pharmacies, electronics, jewellers (mid) |
| SR4 | 10 min | + larger cordless tools, axes | High-value retail, banks, jewellers (high) |
| SR5–SR8 | 15–60 min | Disc cutters, professional tools | Vaults, ATM, ultra-high-security only |
For commercial shopfronts, SR2 is the most common minimum, SR3 is typical for higher-value retail, and SR4 is reserved for the highest-risk premises. SR5+ is rare outside banks and specialist storage.
Specifying a rating higher than your insurer requires is wasted money — premiums don't reduce above the minimum, and the cost gap between ratings is significant.
Insurance requirements vary widely but most commercial property policies will specify:
The right thing to do is get the requirement in writing from your broker before you specify the shutter. Different insurers interpret "adequate security" differently, and brokers can be surprisingly specific about which manufacturers and installers they'll accept. A 30-minute conversation with the broker is worth it before you commit to a spec.
| Specification (3m × 3m commercial) | Supplied + fitted (typical) |
|---|---|
| Standard manual roller shutter | £1,200–£2,000 |
| Standard electric roller shutter | £1,500–£2,500 |
| LPS 1175 SR1 electric | £1,800–£2,900 |
| LPS 1175 SR2 electric | £2,200–£3,400 |
| LPS 1175 SR3 electric | £2,800–£4,500 |
| LPS 1175 SR4 electric | £3,800–£6,500 |
Bigger openings scale roughly linearly. For larger industrial shutters (4m+ wide) the rating premium is proportionally smaller but absolute cost is higher — see our shutter cost guide for detailed pricing.
Annual servicing for LPCB-rated shutters is also slightly more expensive (£140–£280 per shutter vs £80–£200 for standard) because the test protocol is more involved and certification is required for the insurance.
Rough heuristics by sector:
For sector-specific guidance see our pages for jewellers, pharmacies, banks.
Within both standard and security-rated shutters, the curtain itself can be either solid lath (closed) or perforated lath (punched with holes for visibility through to the shopfront when the shutter is down).
Conservation officers in many town-centre conservation areas require perforated shutters rather than solid ones — closed metal shutters across a high street look industrial and create dead frontages. Perforated keeps the after-hours display visible, which most retailers prefer commercially anyway.
Security trade-off: perforated lath at 30% open area gives ~80% of the security of solid lath. For most retail uses this is the right trade-off. For ultra-high-security premises (jewellers, banks) solid lath is preferred — the visibility loss is acceptable in exchange for the security gain.
Punching pattern matters too — diagonal punches resist forced widening better than vertical slits.
Once the lath and security rating are decided, the controls package is the next consideration:
For multi-shutter installations on the same property, central control via a single controller managing all shutters is cleaner than individual controls — especially for large retail or industrial sites.
Before getting quotes:
Submit the brief and we'll connect you with specialists who'll spec, quote and install to that exact standard.
Get a Free QuoteLPS 1175 SR1 for a standard 3m × 3m commercial opening starts around £1,800 supplied and fitted. Cheaper than that is generally not LPCB-certified.
Sometimes yes for higher-risk premises, but not always — many policies set a minimum but don't discount above it. Get this confirmed with your broker before paying for an upgrade.
No — LPCB and fire ratings are separate. A shutter can be both, but it has to be specifically tested for fire resistance to BS EN 1634-1. See our fire-rated shutters guide.
Limited options — reinforced bottom rails and upgraded end locks can improve a standard shutter, but it won't be LPCB-rated retrospectively. For insurance-grade security, replacement is usually the right answer.
