Sash Jammers: useful extra security or not?

[SVS]

How much extra security do sash jammers add to a uPVC door? Are they a useful bit of extra security or a waste of time? Do any locksmiths, builders, police, etc have a view?

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Defcon5 said:

I have two on my back door, they are solid.

Thanks. I'd wondered how many sash jammers to use. I've read anything from 1 to 4 jammers per door

How did you decide on 2 being the right number of jammers for your door?

Little Lofty said:

Their pretty sturdy little things, the problem is no matter how much you secure the door with sash jammers or better locks the panel in the centre is the weak point.

I agree about the panel, but hoped that the right locks and jammers would stop quiet methods of entry. Surely it's a good idea to increase the noise or time required to break in?

[SVS]

Many thanks - very useful info!

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Resurrected for an update. As I've now fitted a few sash jammers for family and friends, I thought it could help others to read a bit more info. I found that Fab & Fix sash jammers felt sturdy and tough. Do they work? West Yorkshire Police say they do.

West Yorkshire Police said:

You may also be able to fit sash jammers to your doors, which have also proven to prevent burglaries.

• UPVC screws felt insecure. Whereas jack nuts felt pretty strong. I reckon you'd need to use jack nuts for a secure fit to most UPVC doors, unless they have a metal inner. I liked the Fab & Fix kit, because you get jack nuts and everything else you need in one pack.
• I found that a 9mm drill bit made the best size holes for fitting jack nuts.
• Even using jack nuts, there could be a bit of play. Someone could exploit that to try and wiggle the sash jammer loose. TheAllSeeingPie's advice to use Araldite was spot on:

TheAllSeeingPie said:

Just make sure that they are both screwed and araldited on. We got burgled and the entry point was through a pair of french doors that had sash jammers top and bottom (installed by the previous owners) that had only been screwed on. It was a suggestion by the police to araldite them on as apparently it stops them wiggling the screws loose. Since our doors were fecked anyway I tested this by installing them on the fecked doors and testing with a crowbar before the window guys replaced the doors. They were a damned sight more effective when glued!

• When I fixed sash jammers with both Araldite and jack nuts, the jammer felt rock solid I followed the advice to use four jammers per UPVC door.
• Standard Araldite, sometimes called Araldite Precision, worked best because it takes a long time to set. This made it easier to fix the sash jammer without rushing, compared to the rapidly setting versions of Araldite. I think the slow setting Araldite is stronger too.
• I found sash jammers easy to fix. There are a couple of videos on YouTube about how to fix them, which anyone with basic DIY skills could follow. Here are some fitting instructions too.

I hope this info might help others.