Are Rehau Windows Secure? A UK Security Guide

Security is one of the first questions homeowners ask when they are choosing between window systems, and Rehau's uPVC range comes up often because it covers such a wide share of the replacement window market. This guide sets out how a Rehau window is actually secured, what that means in real terms, and what to look for before you commit to a system or an installer.

How a Rehau Window Is Secured

Security in a modern uPVC window comes from three things working together: the profile itself, the locking hardware, and the quality of the fit. Rehau's multi-chambered profile gives the frame and sash a rigid structure that resists the kind of forcing an older single-chamber frame would give way to. Inside that profile, steel reinforcement runs through the key sections of the frame and sash, so the locking points have something solid to bite into rather than flexing plastic. On top of that, the window is fitted with multi-point locking hardware, engaging the frame at several positions up and down the sash rather than relying on a single latch, which is what makes a window resistant to being levered open at one point.

What This Means Compared to an Older Window

A window fitted twenty or more years ago typically relies on far fewer locking points and often has little or no internal reinforcement, which is why older uPVC stock is a common weak point that intruders specifically look for. A current Rehau specification closes that gap considerably. The combination of a reinforced multi-chamber profile and hardware distributed around the full perimeter of the sash makes the window a much harder and slower target, which is exactly the effect good security hardware is designed to have: most attempts are opportunistic and move on when a window resists quick, quiet entry.

Glazing and Security

The glass unit itself plays a role too. A laminated inner pane holds together under impact instead of shattering cleanly, which adds a further layer of resistance on ground-floor and other vulnerable openings. Homeowners with particular security concerns, a corner plot, a rear elevation hidden from the street, or a history of attempted break-ins nearby, often ask us to specify laminated glass on those specific windows even where the rest of the property runs standard double glazing. This is a straightforward specification choice confirmed at survey rather than a separate product line.

Does the System (TOTAL70, Rio or Slinova) Make a Difference

Rehau's TOTAL70, Rio and Slinova ranges share the same underlying multi-chamber, multi-point-locking approach to security. The differences between them are mainly about sightline, sash style and whether the profile suits a flush or standard casement look, rather than one system being meaningfully more secure than another. Whichever Rehau range suits your property architecturally, you are working from the same security foundation.

Installation Quality Matters as Much as the Hardware

A well-specified window fitted badly is not a secure window. Gaps around the frame, an out-of-square opening, or hardware that has not been adjusted correctly on site all undermine what the product is capable of on paper. This is why we treat installation as part of the security specification, not a separate step: our teams fit every Rehau window to the opening it is going into, check the locking hardware operates correctly through its full range once fitted, and sign the job off against that rather than against the product spec sheet alone.

What to Check Before You Order

Ask any installer quoting a Rehau system to confirm the locking configuration and whether reinforcement is included as standard on the specific profile quoted, since specification can vary between suppliers even on the same named system. Ask whether laminated glass is available as an upgrade on vulnerable elevations. And check that the installer is FENSA registered, since that registration is your confirmation the installation itself meets current Building Regulations, security included.

We supply, fabricate and install the full Rehau TOTAL70, Rio and Slinova range at our Uxbridge workshop. Every installation is FENSA registered and carries a 10-year CPA insurance-backed guarantee.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Rehau windows secure enough for a ground-floor property?

Yes, a current Rehau specification with its standard multi-chamber profile, internal reinforcement and multi-point locking is built for exactly this kind of exposed opening. Where a property has particular vulnerabilities, we typically recommend adding laminated glass on the affected windows for an extra layer of resistance.

Do older Rehau windows need upgrading for security?

If your Rehau windows are more than fifteen to twenty years old, it is worth having the hardware checked. Locking mechanisms wear over time and older specifications may carry less reinforcement than current profiles, so a survey will tell you whether an upgrade or replacement makes sense.

Does laminated glass cost extra on a Rehau window?

Laminated glass is an upgrade over standard double glazing and the exact difference depends on the size and number of units involved, which we confirm at survey rather than quote generically.

Is one Rehau system, TOTAL70, Rio or Slinova, more secure than another?

No. All three share the same core approach to security through profile reinforcement and multi-point locking. The choice between them is driven mainly by the look you want, flush casement, standard casement or sliding, rather than a security difference.

How do I know an installer has fitted a Rehau window correctly?

Ask for confirmation of FENSA registration, which means the installation is checked against current Building Regulations. A properly fitted window should also have its locking hardware demonstrated to you on handover, so you can see every locking point engage cleanly before the installer leaves site.