Prowler Proof ForceField Security Screen Performance Tests
ForceField® security doors & window screens have passed every imaginable test
Security
Cyclone
Fire Safety
Energy & UV Light
Corrosion
Insect Protection
Access Control
Fall Prevention
ForceField® Security
ForceField has been through every security test in the book – and passed them all with flying colours. The Australian Standards test consists of six separate tests that all have to be passed by the same test sample…so it adds up to quite severe punishment. Have a look at the results below – presented in the sequence in which the tests were carried out.
Dynamic impact test
The Test
The dynamic impact test is designed to simulate an intruder trying to kick through a security screen. The test is performed with a bag full of lead shot and sand, weighing more than 40 kg. The bag is smashed into the screen with a force of either 100 (SL100) or 200 (SL200) joules. The test is repeated 5 times.
The Result
Passed. ForceField® passed at Security Level 200 (SL200). In fact, the test posed little challenge—during cyclone testing, ForceField® withstood more than 16 times that force.
Your Benefit
You will always feel secure behind a ForceField® security screen. It passes the Australian Standard for dynamic impact Security Level 200 (SL200) with ease.
Pull test
The Test
Imagine an intruder trying to pull out your security screen…that’s what the pull test is all about. The security door or window must be able to withstand pulling forces of up to 2 kN (200 kg) for 20 seconds at various positions.
The Result
Passed. The mesh in a ForceField® security screen is so fine that there is nothing to grab. Even after the dynamic impact test and the jemmy test, there is no gap between mesh and frame. The test lab has nowhere to pull so the test is over before it begins.
Your Benefit
Good luck with trying to pull out a ForceField® security door or window. If the test lab can’t find anywhere to pull, a potential intruder has no hope.
Knife shear test
The Test
The knife shear test simulates a knife attack on your security screen. A heavy duty trimming knife is dragged along a 250 mm line with a force of 150 N (15 kg) vertically and up to 350 N (35 kg) horizontally. The test is repeated 3 times – each time with a new blade – along the same line.
The Result
Passed. To pass this Australian Standards test, continuous penetration of less than 150 mm is required. The knife shear test hardly leaves a scratch in a ForceField® security door or window.
Your Benefit
Even a strong burglar with a heavy duty trimming knife and 3 fresh blades won’t stand a chance of getting past a ForceField® security door or window.
Jemmy test
The Test
The jemmy test is designed to simulate an intruder using a lever to get past the security screen. The test is performed with a large screwdriver at all locking, hinging and fastening points. The force applied is up to 450 N (45 kg) for 20 seconds – way beyond the capability of most potential intruders.
The Result
Passed. All ForceField® security doors and window screens passed the jemmy test easily – all locking and hinging points were secure after the test.
Your Benefit
Even armed with a large screwdriver or similar, potential intruders won’t get past a ForceField® security door or window.
Probe test
The Test
The probe test simulates an intruder having created a gap and trying to get their hand inside to unlock. A deflecting force of 1.5 kN (150 kg) is applied to each opposite side of the opening to increase the space enough to get a hand through.
The Result
Passed. The probe test simply cannot be performed on a ForceField® security door or window screen because of the fact that the aperture in the mesh is less than 2 mm x 2 mm, which is far less than the test requirement of a 213 mm diameter probe.
Your Benefit
The mesh in ForceField® security doors and windows won’t allow an intruder to get his hand inside to unlock a door or a window.
Corrosion test
The Test
The Neutral Salt Spray Test requires the product to survive a 240hrs neutral salt spray test. This test is an accelerated corrosion process that takes place in an enclosed chamber. The spray is saltier than sea water and the temperature is maintained at +35º C with almost 100% humidity.
The Result
Passed. Even when the Neutral Salt Spray Test went well beyond the minimum 240 hours required – lasting 1,000 hours in total – there was still no visible corrosion on the Prowler Proof product.
Your Benefit
Prowler Proof security screens are among the most corrosion-resistant on the market. With proper care, they will remain looking as good as new for years to come.
Resources
Test Reports
Links
ASSA ABLOY Australia: www.assaabloy.com.au
NATA (National Association of Testing Authorities): www.nata.asn.au
ForceField® Cyclone
Whether or not you live in a cyclone-prone area, cyclone testing tells you a lot about a security screen. It’s the toughest test a security screen can go through and most security screens have not been cyclone tested at all. Those that have been tested, often skip the ballistics test and only pass the missile test at the relatively low impact speed of 54 km/h. ForceField has passed the missile test at impact speeds of up to 104 km/h as well as the ballistics test at impact speeds of up to 178 km/h. Have a look at the results below…
Australian Standards test (AS/NZS 1170)
The Test
The cyclone test consists of a missile test and a ballistics test. In the missile test, a 4 kg timber block is smashed at the security screen. View video. In the ballistics test, 5 steel balls with a diameter of 8 mm weighing two grams each are fired at the security screen.
The Result
Passed. During the missile test, ForceField® withstood a 65 km/h corner impact and centre impacts at speeds of up to 104 km/h. The force of the centre impacts reached 1,659 joules – 16 times more than what is required to pass the Australian Standards dynamic impact test! The steel balls in the ballistics test reached speeds of up to 178 km/h without penetrating the mesh.
Your Benefit
The results of the cyclone test gives you confidence that the ForceField® security screen is the strongest residential security screen on the market. Few if any other standard residential security screens have passed this gruelling test.
US Hurricane & pressure cycle test (AAMA 506-06/ASTM E1996/ASTM E1886)
The Test
The US Hurricane & pressure cycle test consists of a missile test and a pressure cycle test. The missile test (Level D) smashes a 4.1 kg piece of timber at the security screen at an impact speed of 54 km/h. The same security screen is then air pressure cycled – simulating various wind directions and wind speeds – 9,000 times at intervals of less than 5 seconds.
The Result
Passed. Neither test caused any problems for ForceField®. The missile test is less gruelling than the Australian Standards test, which was passed easily. The pressure cycle test report simply states that ‘the specimen showed no resultant failure or duress after cycle testing’.
Your Benefit
The US Hurricane & pressure cycle test adds further evidence to the fact that the ForceField® security screen is the strongest residential security screen on the market.
Resources
Test Reports
Links
James Cook University Australia – Cyclone Testing Station: www.jcu.edu.au/cts
NCTL (National Certified Testing Laboratories): www.nctlinc.com
ForceField® Fire Safe Security Screens
ForceField screens are suitable for bushfire prone areas. With stainless steel mesh, ForceField screens are approved up to the extreme Bushfire Attack Level BAL-40. The Australian Standard for construction of homes in bushfire prone zones (AS 3959) simply states that openable windows must be screened with corrosion-resistant steel, bronze or aluminium mesh with an opening of less than 2 mm x 2 mm. You can rely on Prowler Proof ForceField designs – even in a bushfire. Prowler Proof ForceField® are also Fire Attenuation compliant and are designed to protect window openings that are less than 3m from a property boundary or within 6m of another building in the same allotment.
Bushfire
The Test
The Australian Standard for construction of homes in bushfire prone zones (AS 3959) simply states that openable windows must be screened with corrosion-resistant steel, bronze or aluminium mesh with an opening of less than 2 mm x 2 mm
The Result
With stainless steel mesh, ForceField screens are approved up to the extreme Bushfire Attack Level BAL 40.
Your Benefit
ForceField screens are suitable for bushfire prone areas.
Fire Attenuation
The Test
Prowler Proof asked CSIRO to expose a ForceField® window screen to a radiant heat flux level of 60 kw/m2 for a minimum of 60 minutes.
The Result
The screen was exposed to nominally 60 kw/m2 radiant heat. The screen achieved an attenuation of at least 46%, with no failure for 60 minutes.
Your Benefit
Even during a fire ForceField® will protect you. It will not only stay in place. Just one metre inside your home, the heat will be reduced by approximately 54% compared to the heat outside at the surface of the screen.
Resources
Test Reports
ForceField® Energy & UV light
There are many advantages of having a ForceField® security screen. Ventilation is one of them – the 1.5 mm x 1.6 mm mesh openings let plenty of fresh air in. But did you know that the ForceField® mesh also keeps solar heat and UV light out during summer and reduces heat loss during winter? Few people would have thought that a security screen could make much difference so we decided to prove our point…
Window Energy Rating Scheme
The Test
ForceField® is one of very few Australian security screens that has been WERS tested for both residential and commercial applications.
The Result
Depending on application, ForceField® reduced solar heat gain and UV light by up to 67% (WERS rating 5 stars). Reduced heat loss was up to 28%, resulting in a 3 star WERS rating.
Your Benefit
Prowler Proof ForceField® security screens will not only help you keep cool in summer, they will also help you stay warm during winter.
European Standard EN 14501
The Test
The solar properties of ForceField® was tested to the European Standard EN 14501 at a testing facility in the UK.
The Result
With a solar and ultraviolet transmittance of only 43%, ForceField® keeps 57% of solar heat and damaging UV light out of your home.
Your Benefit
Decreasing solar heat gain by 57% means that you can keep your home cooler in summer, reducing the need for air conditioning as well as your power bill.
Resources
Test Reports
Links
WERS: www.wers.net
SONNERGY LTD: www.sonnergy.com
ForceField® Corrosion
Whenever two different metals interact there’s a risk of corrosion. So the fact that Prowler Proof is welded instead of being held together by screws or rivets makes it more corrosion-resistant than other security screens.
Acetic acid salt spray test (AS 2331.3.2)
The Test
The 1,000 hour acetic acid salt spray test is pure torture for a security screen. Acetic acid salt spray is not only saltier than sea water, it’s also 10,000 times more acidic. The test takes place in an enclosed chamber at a temperature of +35ºC with almost 100% humidity.
The Result
Passed. ForceField® is one of only two complete security screens on the Australian market to pass the acetic acid salt spray test – Prowler Proof Protec is the other. ForceField’s 316 marine grade stainless steel mesh has survived a 10,000 hour neutral salt spray test as well.
Your Benefit
If you live in a coastal area or near industrial areas, corrosion is your security screen’s worst enemy. Prowler Proof is your safe choice. No other brand of security screen has passed the 1,000 hour acetic acid salt spray test. No other brand is covered by a 10 year replacement warranty.
Neutral salt spray test (AS 2331.3.1)
The Test
ForceField® has been tested to the Australian Standard 2331 which requires the product to survive a 1,000 hour neutral salt spray test. This test is an accelerated corrosion process that takes place in an enclosed chamber. The spray is saltier than sea water and the temperature is maintained at +35ºC with almost 100% humidity.
The Result
With a solar and ultraviolet transmittance of only 43%, ForceField® keeps 57% of solar heat and damaging UV light out of your home.
Your Benefit
Decreasing solar heat gain by 57% means that you can keep your home cooler in summer, reducing the need for air conditioning as well as your power bill.
Resources
Test Reports
Links
Dulux Powder Coatings: www.dulux.com.au/specifier/our-brands/dulux-powder-coatings
Qualicoat website: www.qualicoat.org.au
ForceField® Insect Protection
ForceField is a security screen and insect screen in one. The openings in the mesh measure 1.5 mm x 1.6 mm – big enough for you to enjoy your view, small enough to keep just about all small creatures outside where they belong.
Mosquito protection test
The Test
In the absence of a relevant Australian test, the test was conducted in Thailand with dengue fever mosquitoes – a species native to Australia. The security screen was measured by its ability to keep mosquitoes away from a food source.
The Result
With 600 mosquitoes bred in a small cage, only one (1) managed to get through to the food source within 24 hours. At the completion of the test (72 hours) only two (2) mosquitoes had passed through the ForceField® screen.
Your Benefit
ForceField® security screens keep almost everything out. Even tiny insects like dengue fever mosquitoes can’t find their way through the 1.5 mm x 1.6 mm openings in the mesh.
ForceField® Access Control
Prowler Proof ForceField allows unassisted access for pets or people, through the addition of optional access control accessories, such as keying locks alike, pet doors for family pets and solid panels for easier wheelchair accessibility.
ForceField® Fall Prevention
Prowler Proof ForceField meets the requirements of The National Construction Code (NCC) which requires that screens can resist an outward horizontal action of 250 N.
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I recently went through a warranty claim for existing Prowler Proof security doors. From the moment the job number was located, Nanette handled the matter professionally and proactively. She clarified warranty coverage, coordinated with the dealer, and ensured replacement doors were manufactured and installed properly.
What stood out was her persistence and ownership of the process — particularly when there was confusion at the dealer level. She stepped in, clarified the correct pathway, and saw the matter through to completion.
The new doors have now been installed and I’m extremely happy with the result.
It’s refreshing to deal with a company that stands behind its product and supports its customers properly. Highly recommended.
