Arson attacks on domestic property are a common problem in the UK. They represent one in five of all arson attacks in the UK. The number of arson offences in  domestic premises recorded by the police between 2006 and 2007 was 43,103, while between 2007 and 2008 it was 39,315 (Crime in England and Wales 2009/2010 Table 2.04). On average domestic arsons result in 400 deaths and 14,000 injuries annually. Police service reports that arson, when accelerants are introduced through letterplates, constitutes 95% of all offences in dwellings. Innocent people including young children have been burned to death. These statistics are shocking. People in their homes should be safe from the risk of letter box arson.

The letterplate (letter box) is the only part of a property, which is open 24 hours, and it is a security risk. Police service reports that apart from letter box arson other key crime problems associated with letterplates are as following:

It is estimated that up to 35% of the heat from the dwelling can be lost through the walls and up to a further 25% through the roof. In contrast to the solid wall and roof, the aperture of the open letterplate creates no such barrier. Imagine how much heat from the dwelling can be lost through the open letterplate!

According to the estimate of this heat loss based on January 2011 natural gas and electricity prices, this may cost a medium user of natural gas and electricity around £75 per year and result in extra 300kg of CO₂ per year.

It is fair to say that the problem of this significant heat loss affects even properties with the draught protected letterplate. 

Therefore, eliminating this source of air leakage by a retrofit is much more effective than trying to carry out other post construction tightening of the so called "hidden" air leakage paths, which are often very difficult, if not impossible, to trace and seal effectively.

What is the point of spending on expensive energy saving eqUipment and materials, such as Double glazing, a new boiler, cavity wall and loft insulation, when the heat of a house or a room can gush out into a colder space through an open letterplate?

The letterplate has further drawbacks. It lets someone to peep through, mail to fall on the floor, pets to destroy your mail. In the summer it brings in heat. Uncontrollable air flow through the letterplate brings in polluted air, noise, dust, street odours, dirt particles, soot and pollen and contaminates air inside. It affects the amount of condensation on walls and windows and affects mould build up in the property. These issues adversely affect a property and the health and comfort of the occupants. Mould is classed to pose the same level of threat to health as asbestos.

Still, eliminating the letterplate would be inappropriate. It may mean replacing the whole door, nuisance with getting your mail and there is a certain heritage issue here. Therefore, an all-embracing technical innovation had to be found.

A new brand IdealGuard™ is a new generation of letter box, which delivered a ground-breaking all-in-one solution to all letterplate related problems, while door appearance remains traditional with the letterplate.

This unprecedented total solution became possible by merging the letterplate with an innovative patented letter box, which is based on a revolutionary new concept.

With regard to fire safety, the Fire Safety Order does not cover domestic premises. However, in domestic premises like flats, each external fire door is there to protect the common areas. If the external door of the flat fails to provide fire protection to the common areas then it is very likely to be covered by the regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

If your letter box is not properly protected, it does not make sense to carry on with taking risk and there is absolutely no need to base your existence on luck. Especially now, when there is an easily achievable and cost-effective solution provided by IdealGuard™.

Fitting IdealGuard™ gives an ideal cost-effective opportunity to facilitate compliance with a number of the enforceable legislations, such as Building Regulations and HHSRS System without imposing any additional demands on door manufacturer and without disruption to mail delivery. 

Building Regulations

The Building Regulations are brief descriptions of the standards which must be met by new building projects. They have the force of law and failure to comply with them is an offence. External doors may be affected by Part L (Conservation of fuel and power), Part B (Fire Safety) and Part E (Resistance to sound) of the Building Regulations.

Part L of the Building Regulations 2010 covers the requirements with respect to Conservation of fuel and power and it demands doors to be energy efficient. The U-value is a measure of heat flow through a building element. The lower U-value the better. It is mandatory that doors U-values must meet the strict U-value heat loss standards of the Building Regulations 2010 Part L: all doors have to adhere to a door U-value rating of 1.8W/m2K or less. However, U-values for doors are usually misleading as presently quoted by door manufacturers. This is because the effect of the letter plate, which in real life often stays open for hours, is not taken into consideration.

There are different U-values for doors that can be quoted by the manufacturers to make a better impression and this can be misleading. They can quote U-value for centre panel, or for door without a mail slot, or for door with the letterplate flap closed, etc. In reality in the UK the door is usually installed with a letterplate that often stays open for hours plus there can be thermal bridges around the frame. So, in reality the whole door U-value will be higher than quoted, which undermines the energy efficiency of the property and compliance with the Building Regulations Part L.

Part L of the Building Regulations 2010 also sets challenging targets for the reduction of CO₂ emissions for all new buildings and dwellings. An acceptable CO₂ emissions rate referred to as DER (Design Emissions Rate) and it is measured after completion of the construction work to determine if DER matches the actual leakage of air from the building. Clearly, the door with the unprotected letterplate will be a source of the uncontrolled air leakage that adversely affects DER.

Doors should also satisfy the requirements of Building Regulations 2010 Part E - Resistance to the passage of sound. This demands that any door has a minimum mass per unit area of 25kg/m2 or a minimum sound reduction index of 29 dB RW. The letterplate interferes with door minimum mass per unit area, so it undermines door compliance with Part E of the Building Regulations 2010.

External doors leading to common areas of flats and HMO's (Houses in Multiple Occupation) must be fire doors and they must be in compliance with the standards for fire doors, Part B (Fire Safety) of the Building Regulations and also, with The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) regulations 1992 if people, such as cleaners, wardens and caretakers are employed to work in these common parts.

The Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS)

HHSRS is the Government's risk based evaluation tool to help local authorities identify and protect against potential risks and hazards to health and safety from any deficiencies identified in dwellings.

The Rating System is primarily concerned with those matters which can properly be considered the responsibility of the owner (or landlord) even where the dwelling is occupied by the owner.

For the purposes of the HHSRS, the assessment is solely about the risks to health and safety. The underlying principle of the HHSRS is that - Any residential premises should provide a safe and healthy environment for any potential occupier or visitor.

To satisfy this principle, a dwelling should be free from both unnecessary and avoidable hazards and secure against unauthorised entry, which will make the occupants feel safer. Hazard is any risk of harm to the health or safety of an actual or potential occupier that arises from a deficiency. Both fear of crime as well as the risk of any actual crime should be considered.