Removable security grilles

What are removable security grilles?

A removable security grille is a rigid steel panel that sits in locked brackets fixed to the window reveal. Unlocked, it lifts out entirely, leaving the window clear for cleaning, views or escape; locked in, it is as strong as a fixed grille.

Removable grilles suit windows that need protecting some of the time, such as a holiday home, an office closed at weekends, or a ground-floor window you want clear during the day and secured at night.

The panel is usually a welded grid or bar frame with location pins that drop into brackets on the reveal. A lock or padlockable pin stops it being lifted from outside. Larger windows can be split into two lighter panels.

How much do removable security grilles cost?

Our guide range is £354 to £894 including VAT (£295 to £745 plus VAT) per window, supplied and fitted. The exact figure depends on size, type, finish and locking, and your fixed price is confirmed in writing after the free survey. See all grille prices.

Specification and options

Rigid welded panel in steel
Keyed or padlockable bracket pins
Lifts out completely for a clear window
Split panels for large windows so each is manageable
Brackets that are discreet when the panel is stored
White, black, anthracite or RAL finishes
Internal fixing so brackets cannot be reached from outside
Storage hooks or wall clips available

Where removable security grilles are used

Holiday homes and second homes
Offices empty at weekends
Windows needed for cleaning or access
Listed interiors where tracks are unwelcome
Temporary or seasonal security

What to decide before you order

Panel weight

Steel panels are heavy. We size and split them so one person can lift each panel safely.

Where it is stored

Plan where the panel lives when it is out, because a grille propped behind a door is easily damaged.

Locking

Choose keyed pins for everyday use, or padlock hasps if you prefer to use your own padlocks.

Escape

A removable panel is not a quick-release escape grille. Upstairs and bedroom windows needed for escape suit a quick-release retractable grille better.

Rules across the UK

The rules on planning, listed buildings and fire safety differ between England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. These are the points most relevant to removable security grilles; local pages show the version for your nation.

England (similar principles apply in Wales, Scotland and NI)

Grilles inside the glass

A grille fitted inside the glass does not normally need planning permission, because it does not materially change how the building looks from outside. If the building is listed, listed building consent may still be needed.

Listed buildings and conservation areas

Listed buildings need listed building consent for works that affect their character, which can include internal grilles and their fixings. In conservation areas, councils look closely at anything fitted to the outside. We recommend speaking to the council's conservation officer before ordering.

Bedroom and escape windows

Approved Document B (fire safety) expects many habitable rooms in houses, especially first-floor rooms, to have an emergency escape window with an unobstructed opening of at least 0.33 m², at least 450 mm high and 450 mm wide, with the bottom of the opening no more than 1,100 mm above the floor. We only fit grilles over escape windows with a release that opens from inside without a key.

How it works

Tell us what needs securing

Use the quote tool or form, or call. Sizes and a couple of photos help us give a guide price straight away.

Free survey

A surveyor measures every opening, checks the walls and fixings, and talks through type, colour and locks.

Fixed price in writing

You get a written quote with the grille schedule, the price and the lead time. Nothing is ordered until you accept.

Made, fitted and handed over

Grilles are made to measure, fitted by installers working under our contract with you, tested and explained.

Removable security grilles: questions

How much does a removable grille cost?

Most removable grilles cost between £295 and £745 plus VAT (£354 to £894 inc VAT) per window supplied and fitted, depending on size and whether the panel is split.

How heavy is a removable grille panel?

It depends on size and bar section. We aim to keep each panel light enough for one person to lift, splitting large windows into two panels.

Can removable grilles be locked from outside?

They are designed to be locked and removed from inside only, so nobody outside can lift them out.

Are removable grilles suitable for listed buildings?

Often, because the only permanent fixings are small brackets. Listed building consent may still be needed, so check with your council first.

What is the difference between removable and retractable grilles?

A retractable grille folds to the side but stays in place; a removable grille comes out completely. Retractable suits daily use, removable suits occasional use.

Can I fit the panel myself after it is installed?

Yes. Once the brackets are fitted, lifting the panel in and locking it is a simple job.

Find removable security grilles near you

Choose your county or region for local information and the rules that apply where you are.

Get your free quote