How is a "Secure" Letterplate / Letterbox defined?
A TS008 security letter plate is one that has passed the physical testing regime specified by the Door and Hardware Federation (DHF). These standardised tests are designed to evaluate resistance to opportunistic attacks by manipulation (physical force and tools), arson, and theft of mail or valuables by fishing from the outside. The TS 008 regime concerns physical outcomes from these performance tests, and so its down to the manufacturer’s innovation how they achieve the required level of enhanced security. There are two grades of TS008 pass; Grade 1, and the higher grade of 2.
The tests themselves are done in conformance with PAS 24; the publicly available specification for enhanced security in doors and windows. PAS 24 offers a basic level of assurance that the product meets relevant British Standards. Some manufacturers, such as Rutland, go to the extra level by using a third party to audit the compliance process, such as the UK Police’s Secured by Design (SBD).
Secure letterplates are available in both non-fire rated versions, and those designed for fire and smoke resistance. Models made for fire-resisting doors undergo testing in UKAS approved laboratories where a “sample type” of the complete doorset is put through a live-fire test. This differs to the security tests, which can be done with the letter plate assembly fixed in a section of door material.
For door manufacturers and fitters, ensuring front entrance doors meet the highest safety and security standards is vital—it’s about compliance, customer trust, and long-term reliability that provides contractors, landlords and residents the protections they expect. TS008:2022 security tested Letterplates and Multipoint locks are two critical components that play a key role in protecting homes from forced entry and fire risks.
In this blog, we take a closer look at the rigorous testing and compliance requirements for these essential door features. Using Rutland’s RLP letterplate as a benchmark, we’ll explore how meeting the latest industry standards—such as PAS 24:2022, TS 008:2022, and EN 12209:2024—ensures doors are both secure and fit for purpose. Whether you’re a door manufacturer striving for speed of production and reliability, or a fitter installing doorsets, understanding the importance of compliance is crucial in delivering doors that customers can rely on.
Let’s dive into why testing matters and how Rutland’s solutions help meet today’s security and safety demands. We’ll cover:
- How to choose a Secure Letterplate
- TS008:2022+A1:2025 supersedes the withdrawn TS008:2015
- Secured by Design (SBD) approval
- Position of the letterplate on a fire door
Choosing a letter plate
Letterboxes are ubiquitous on front entrance doors across the UK and EU, and the fact that they penetrate through the entrance door or fire door makes it essential to get right from a testing and compliance point of view. Their very purpose requires them to be easily accessible, so it is imperative they are secured against common security risks.
The Building Regulations Approved Doc Q (Security in Dwellings) states explicitly that TS008-compliant letter plates are suitable for secure doorsets.
If you are choosing a letterplate to use in bulk doorset production or building maintenance procurement, speed and cost of fitting will be important too. Simplicity of installation also aids accurate fitting every time, ensuring compliance with the approved design.
Not every external entrance door needs to be fire-rated, so side-through letter plate assemblies are available as either non-fire rated, or supplied with an Intumescent kit. Both options are available in the Rutland RLP, and both are designed for quick, accurate fitting.
Despite the higher unit cost, there is a strong case for using fire-rated letterplates as standard for those manufacturing both fire-rated and non-fire-rated doors. It can bring many efficiencies in production costs, inventory management, clarity around information sharing, and of course, help improve fire safety beyond the ‘strictly necessary’.
Would choosing a slide-through letter plate, check the assembly kit is compatible with your door leaf thickness, and that the model is approved for your door material (i.e. composite or timber).
Matching hardware not only gives the doors a cohesive and coordinated look in communal corridors, but also makes it easier for responsible persons (RPs) to spot missing, damaged, or replaced components that warrant further inspection.
To meet these needs, the Rutland RLP letter plate is:
- TS008 Security rated (Enhanced) as standard
- Available as a dual security and FD30 fire-resistant letter plate (when installed with the Rutland RLP.IP intumescent seal kit in an FD30 tested door)
- Quick and accurate fitting through a single CNC pass, router or jigsaw aperture (cutting template supplied with kit).
- Successfully tested with PAS 24 doorset.
- Third-party certificated to Kitemark TS008.
- Meets all relevant standards for timber and composite doors (not PVC-u)
- Fits door thicknesses 44mm – 54mm
- Weather tested in BS6375-1 doorset
- Part of the Frontier range of entrance door hardware – a fully compliant suite of matching hardware finishes. The finishes include satin nickel, polished nickel, polished brass, white, and silver.
Secured by Design (SBD) approval
The SBD mark is a police initiative that is widely recognised by insurance companies, consumers, and councils. The scheme encourages security and safety throughout the built environment and since 2017 its holistic approach has increasingly widened the scope into fire safety aspects, alongside security.
Securing SBD approval gives door manufacturers a way to demonstrate their value and quality, and the journey is something Rutland are often called to support on. Using SBD approved hardware puts doorset manufacturers well on the way towards achieving SBD approval on their assemblies. If you are designing new doorsets, ask about our helpful resources.
The SBD mark shows that a security hardware product’s PAS 24 and TS008 compliance has been verified by an independent, qualified assessor.
Alfie Hosker, technical manager at Secured By Design told the Door Industry Journal that “Rutland [were] one of the first companies to supersede the withdrawn standard DHF TS008:2015 and ensure their letter plate meets the latest enhanced security requirements in industry in regards their letter plate to be UKAS 3rd party tested and certified to DHF TS008:2008:2022.”*
*As an update to this, Rutland again tested their letter plate assembly in 2025, ensuring it passed the latest DHF amendment of TS 008 (TS:2002+A1:2025)
Letter Plate Position - Best Practice Installation
Correct positioning of a through-door letter box is important to maintain compliance with security standards, and the fitting can also affect it’s performance in other ways.
Follow manufacturer’s fitting instructions carefully, as these will be how the sample was tested for compliance. For the Rutland RLP in particular, you can view, print or download the 5-step guide here.
When designing a door, there are many aspects to consider in the letter plate’s positioning, including structural integrity, accessibility, ergonomics, security, and privacy. We cover these points in detail below, however 900 – 1200mm from the bottom of the door generally allows for:
- positioning the aperture below the door chain and lock. This allows the internal flap to restrict outside manipulation of components above the letter-plate.
- the mail to drop below easy reach from outside.
- safe access for postal workers.
- insertion in a strong part of the door (especially for rail-and-panel style doors).
Physical Integrity
Letter plates are a morticed component in a door, so positioning it away from other morticed items such as glazed vision panels, locks or viewers helps maintain the door’s physical robustness.
Accessibility and Ergonomics
Ease of access for postal workers and residents to collect their mail is of course the entire raison d’etre.
There have been calls from postal worker representatives to ban low-level letterboxes, and a prohibition bill was debated in parliament. Although this didn’t proceed in legislation, it is still something to bear in mind when designing new doors. Wheelchair access height is a factor in meeting Building Regulations Doc M and the Equality Act.
Privacy and 'fishing' security
The DHF (Door Hardware Federation) TS008 technical standard was updated in 2022 to meet evolving security threats and known exploits of opportunist thieves who attempt to access valuables and keys by reaching through front door letter plates.
Consider what is opposite the door and reachable from the outside, bearing in mind that thieves are known to fish for keys through the letter flap with thin, flexible rods.
Having a gap to the floor allows mail to drop beyond easy reach of outsiders.
