Inside the Crimsafe Range: Choosing Between First, Regular, and Ultimate

The difference between Crimsafe First, Regular and Ultimate comes down to strength, fastening and warranty: First uses 0.8mm stainless steel mesh tested to 400 joules, Regular uses 0.9mm Tensile-Tuff stainless steel mesh rated to 550 joules, and Ultimate uses that same mesh with twice as many screws and a wider frame to handle 750 joules. If you’ve been staring at a quote that lists all three and wondering which tier you actually need, you’re not alone. It’s the question we hear most often at consultations across Brisbane, the Redlands, Moreton Bay and the Gold Coast, usually from homeowners who want the doors open on hot nights without lying awake wondering who could walk in.

Most people assume the answer is “buy the strongest one you can afford”. Sometimes that’s right. Often it isn’t, and you’d be better off spending the money differently around the house.

Why the Crimsafe Range Is Built in Tiers

Not every house carries the same risk, and not every opening needs the same level of protection. A second-storey bathroom window and a ground-floor sliding door facing a back lane are very different problems. Crimsafe builds its range in tiers so you can match the product to the job rather than paying top dollar for every opening.

Crimsafe’s own site also lists iQ, a premium door product. In this article, we’re sticking to the three tiers Securelux manufactures and installs: First, Regular and Ultimate.

One thing worth clearing up early: the tiers aren’t a “good, better, best” ladder the way most product ranges are. All three are genuine Crimsafe, all three are made to measure, all three use the patented Screw-Clamp system, and all three are tested well beyond the Australian Standard. What changes is how much force each one is engineered to absorb and how firmly the mesh is held in the frame.

Crimsafe First: Entry-Level Security with 0.8mm Mesh

Crimsafe First is the entry point into the range. It uses a 0.8mm, 304-grade woven stainless steel mesh, screw-clamped into the frame at 125mm spacings, and has been tested to a single impact of up to 400 joules. That’s four times the 100 joule impact test referenced in Crimsafe’s product comparison.

First suits homeowners who want real, tested security on a tighter budget, or openings where the risk is lower. Think upstairs windows, side windows that face a neighbour’s wall, or a home where the main entry doors already get a higher tier. It still gives you airflow and a clear view, and it still keeps insects out.

• Tested to a single impact of up to 400 joules
• 0.8mm 304-grade stainless steel mesh with an average aperture of about 1.5mm x 1.5mm
• Screw-Clamp fastening at 125mm spacings, using tamper-resistant security screws
• Keeps out 99% of insects while keeping the view and the breeze
• 8-year manufacturer warranty as standard

Crimsafe Regular: The Original Screw-Clamp Security Screen

Crimsafe Regular is the product most people picture when they hear the name. It uses 0.9mm Tensile-Tuff mesh made from 304-grade structural stainless steel, which Crimsafe says is 26.5% thicker than typical stainless steel security mesh.

What makes Regular work is the patented Screw-Clamp system. Instead of gluing the mesh in or pressing it in with a wedge, the mesh is clamped into the aluminium frame and fixed with tamper-resistant screws spaced about 125mm apart. When someone kicks or shoulders the screen, the force spreads around the whole frame rather than tearing the mesh out at one weak point.

Regular is rated to a single impact of 550 joules, 5.5 times that 100 joule test, and comes with three locking points on doors. For most South East Queensland homes in low to moderate risk areas, it’s a strong all-rounder.

• Tested to a single impact of up to 550 joules
• 0.9mm Tensile-Tuff 304 structural grade stainless steel mesh, 26.5% thicker than typical stainless security mesh
• Crimsafe says its 0.9mm Tensile-Tuff mesh exceeds the Australian Standard knife shear test
• Three-point locking on doors
• 10-year manufacturer warranty, extendable to 12 years when registered with Crimsafe

Crimsafe Ultimate: The Strongest Tier for South East Queensland Homes

Crimsafe Ultimate keeps the same 0.9mm Tensile-Tuff mesh but uses twice as many screws in the fastening system and pairs them with a wider frame, which Crimsafe says makes it more resistant to jemmy attacks. Crimsafe rates Ultimate as up to 40% stronger than Regular, and it has been tested to a single impact of up to 750 joules, 7.5 times that 100 joule test.

Ultimate also uses a clip-on cover that creates a sealed chamber over the screws, so they can’t be seen or reached from outside. So the strongest option in the range also happens to be the tidiest one to look at.

We usually recommend Ultimate for high-risk openings, homes that have already had a break-in, or households where a parent is often home alone with young kids.

• Tested to a single impact of up to 750 joules, up to 40% stronger than Regular
• Twice as many tamper-resistant screws as Regular
• Wider frame for added resistance to jemmy attacks
• Clip-on cover hides the screws for a cleaner, more architectural look
• Crimsafe states it blocks up to 53% of solar heat gain and up to 62% of UV rays through glass
• 10-year manufacturer warranty, extendable to 15 years when registered with Crimsafe

How Impact Strength Compares Across First, Regular and Ultimate

Impact testing simulates kicks, punches and shoulder charges. The chart below shows each tier’s published single-impact rating against the 100 joule test referenced in Crimsafe’s product comparison, with Ultimate as the full bar.

These are the figures Crimsafe publishes for each tier, side by side.

University of Queensland testing found Crimsafe outperforms competitor screens, which is a useful reference point when you compare quotes for other brands.

Mesh, Screws and Frames: What Changes from Tier to Tier

Moving up the range, only three things really change.

What doesn’t change is the core technology. Every tier is custom-made for your opening, powder-coated in your choice of colour, and built around stainless steel mesh that keeps the view and the breeze. Crimsafe frames come in 13 standard colours plus woodgrain finishes, and we can match another Dulux or Interpon colour on request.

Warranty Differences Across the Crimsafe Range

Warranty is where quotes from different companies start to blur together, so here’s how the manufacturer cover stacks up. Each bar shows the maximum years available.

On top of the manufacturer warranty, Securelux backs its installation with a 12-month workmanship warranty, with door closers covered for the first 60 days. Warranty terms and conditions apply, and we’ll walk you through exactly what’s covered for your products before you sign anything.

Matching Each Tier to Your Doors and Windows

Every tier can be made for the common applications: hinged, sliding, French and stacking doors, plus fixed, sliding, hinged and awning windows. Safe-S-Cape windows, which open from the inside for emergency escape, are another popular option for bedrooms. Bi-fold openings are possible too, but the configuration and swing space need checking at your consultation.

As a rough guide, we look at three things for each opening: how visible it is from the street, how easy it is to reach, and how often it’s used. Give each opening one point for every “yes” and use the table below as a starting point.

This is a rule of thumb only. Your consultant will confirm the right tier for each opening on site.

How Budget and Risk Level Shape the Right Choice

As a starting point, Crimsafe windows start from around $350 and doors from around $1,000. The final price depends on four things:

• The tier you choose: First, Regular or Ultimate
• The size of the opening
• The installation requirements for your windows and doors
• Frame colour, from the standard range or a custom powder coat

Your risk level matters just as much as your budget. Ask yourself:

• Has there been a break-in on your street or in your suburb recently?
• Is the house often empty during the day or while you’re away?
• Are there openings hidden from neighbours or the street?
• Do kids and pets need to move freely between inside and out?

If you’re answering yes to most of those, it’s worth putting the stronger tier where it counts. Weekly payment plans are available, and final payment is only due once everything is installed and you’re happy.

Mixing Tiers Across One Home

Plenty of people don’t know this is an option. You can put different tiers on different openings in the same house. A common mix we install in the Redlands and around Moreton Bay looks like this:

You put the money where the risk is, and colour-matched accessories mean the house still looks consistent from the street.

Why Installation Quality Matters as Much as the Tier You Pick

A 750 joule rating only counts if the screen is fitted properly. A badly measured frame, the wrong fixings, or a door that doesn’t close square can undo all that testing. Here’s what you get with every Securelux installation:

• Installers who are Securelux employees, not external subcontractors
• Heavy-duty accessories on every installation
• Saltwater Series gel applied to every clamp screw to help protect against corrosion in coastal conditions
• Colour-matched accessories for a professional finish
• Our interlocking system and an Austral triple lock on every sliding door we install
• Crimsafe Authorised Licensee, NSSA member and QBCC licensed (Licence No. 1187294)
• More than 40 years of industry experience and a 4.9 star Google rating from over 270 reviews

Getting a Tier Recommendation at a Free Securelux Consultation

It’s much easier to pick tiers standing in your own backyard than reading a brochure, which is why we do it on site.

Crimsafe First, Regular and Ultimate: Frequently Asked Questions

If you’re stuck between two tiers for one particular door, tell us about it in the comments, and one of our consultants will weigh in. Or call us on 1300 11 51 51.