Crimsafe Townsville: What Security Screen Ratings Actually Mean (AS5039 Explained)

When you start comparing security screens, it’s easy to feel swamped by product claims and technical terms. Different suppliers highlight different features, and Australian Standards are often mentioned without much explanation. If you’re researching Crimsafe in Townsville, understanding what AS5039 actually covers can help you compare options more confidently and choose a screen system that suits your home and priorities.

AS5039 is the Australian Standard used to assess security screen doors and windows. It sets out how products are tested so there’s a consistent benchmark beyond marketing claims. What matters most is that AS5039 looks at how the entire screen performs once it’s built and installed, because that’s what affects real security outcomes.

AS5039 focuses on how the complete screen system holds up under testing, including:

• The screen, frame and hardware assessed together as one assembled unit.
• Repeatable test methods designed to reflect forced-entry-style pressure on common weak points.
• Clear pass/fail requirements so compliant products can be identified and compared.

Once you understand that AS5039 evaluates the full system, it becomes easier to compare security screens on something more solid than just product descriptions.

People often use the phrase security screen ratings as shorthand for how strong a screen is, but ratings are only meaningful when they’re tied to a recognised testing and classification process. With security screens, that usually means understanding which standard has been used, what was tested and whether you’re looking at a tested system or just a component.

When someone mentions “ratings”, these are the details worth clarifying:

• Has the door or window been tested to AS5039 and labelled accordingly?
• Does the rating relate to the complete screen, frame, fixings and locks?
• Are you being shown test information for the exact configuration you’re buying?

A rating without context can be misleading, so the best approach is to connect it back to the actual standard and the actual product build.

Mesh gets most of the attention because it’s visible, but the security of a screen can be limited by the frame, the way it’s fixed into the opening or the locking hardware. A strong mesh in a weak frame still leaves a weak point. AS5039 testing recognises this by assessing the full assembly.

To judge the system rather than the surface, look at:

• Frame strength and how corners are joined and reinforced.
• Fixing methods used for the opening type, including anchors and screw patterns.
• Locking hardware design, placement and how it resists leverage.

When these elements work together, the screen behaves like a barrier, not just a cover.

Standards-based testing is not about making a screen indestructible. It’s about applying controlled, repeatable forces and attack methods that help indicate how the product performs under pressure. That includes impacts, leverage attempts, cutting attempts and deflection behaviour in specific scenarios.

To make sense of tested performance, it helps to understand that tests examine:

• Resistance to impacts and how the screen and frame respond under load.
• Forced-entry-style attacks that target common weak points and failure modes.
• Whether the assembly maintains integrity under defined conditions.

When a product has been tested, you’re not relying on guesswork about how it might hold up.

Not all security screens on the market are built or supplied the same way, even if they look similar at a glance. Some products focus on a particular component, while others are designed and tested as an integrated system. That difference matters when you’re comparing performance claims side by side.

When comparing Crimsafe with other options, check:

• Has the full door or window system been tested to AS5039, not just the mesh?
• Are the frame, locks and fixings specified and installed in line with the tested system?
• Do the product details relate to the exact screen type, door style and installation method?

This is where doing a like-for-like comparison saves you from choosing based on appearance alone.

Even a well-designed screen can perform poorly if it’s installed incorrectly. Gaps, wrong fixings, poor alignment or unsuitable hardware choices can undermine the system and affect how it behaves under load. AS5039 is closely tied to proper installation because the tested outcome depends on the correct assembly and fit.

A solid installation conversation should cover:

• The condition of the opening, including squareness and structural soundness.
• Fixing choices that suit the wall type, frame type and location of the screen.
• Lock alignment and closure tension so the system engages as designed.

Good installation is what turns a compliant product into a compliant result for your home.

If you’re researching screens online or getting quotes, it’s easy to be overwhelmed by technical terms. A few focused questions can cut through the noise and help you compare products fairly. The goal is not to memorise standards language, but to confirm what you’re actually getting.

To keep the decision simple, ask:

• Is this specific door or window configuration tested to AS5039?
• Is the product supplied and installed as a tested system, including locks and fixings?
• Will I receive documentation or product details that match what’s being installed?

The best answers are clear and specific, because they’re based on the product and installation method you’re actually buying.

Choosing security screens gets easier when you focus on what’s verifiable: the standard, the tested system and the quality of the installation plan. AS5039 gives you a framework to compare options properly and understand what “rated” is meant to represent, without relying on vague claims.

We at Townsville Windows and Screens help homeowners interested in Crimsafe in Townsville by walking through AS5039, explaining how different screen systems are built and recommending a setup that suits your doors, windows and household needs. If you’d like help interpreting security screen information before you commit, contact our team to organise a measure and quote.