Doors, windows and shutters that can withstand break-in attempts for at least five minutes will receive official recognition as effective crime deterrents, a government panel said Monday.
The move is part of a drive to stem the rise in break-ins over recent years. Experts claim that about 70 percent of break-in attempts are aborted when burglars cannot get into a home within five minutes.
The panel is made up of representatives from the National Police Agency, the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Ministry, and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. Representatives of relevant industries are also members.
NPA officials hope the move to unify assessment standards for doors and windows will encourage development of better products and make them more popular among the public.
Assessment tests will be conducted on products that manufacturers have already released or plan to release on the market. Tests will involve measuring the length of time it takes examiners to break into a house using tools such as crowbars, screwdrivers, electric drills and glass-cutters.
Details of the tests will be set by October, with a list of items that clear the five-minute benchmark scheduled to be made public by next March as an aide to homeowners.
They added that prospective homeowners will be able to use the list when arranging security for their homes.
According to the NPA, the number of reported break-ins has increased by some 30 percent over the past decade.