When you start looking at security screens on the Sunshine Coast, you’ll notice a term that comes up constantly: AS5039. It appears on quotes, on product pages, in supplier conversations. Most people nod and move on. But if you’re making a significant investment in protecting your home and family, understanding what this standard actually means — and what it requires — is one of the most practical things you can do.
This guide explains AS5039 in plain English: what it tests, what the 2023–2024 updates changed, and why it matters when you’re comparing products and suppliers.
What Is AS5039? A Plain-English Explanation
AS5039 is Australia’s national standard that sets the minimum requirements for the design, manufacture and performance of security screen doors and window grilles. It is developed by Standards Australia — the same body that sets standards for everything from child car seats to bicycle helmets — in consultation with industry bodies including the National Security Screen Association (NSSA), the Australian Glass and Window Association, and Master Builders Australia.
In practical terms, AS5039 answers one core question: can this product actually resist a determined forced entry attempt?
To be classified as a security screen under Australian law, a product must be independently tested to AS5039 by a NATA-accredited testing laboratory and pass a series of rigorous physical tests that simulate real-world break-in methods. Without passing those tests, a product cannot legally be called a security screen — regardless of how it is marketed, how it looks, or what materials it is made from.
This distinction is critical and frequently misunderstood. Many products — commonly called barrier screens, safety screens or flyscreens — look almost identical to genuine security screens at first glance. They may use similar framing or mesh. But without independent AS5039 test certification, they offer no verified protection against forced entry. The standard is the line between a product that has been proven to work and one that simply looks like it might.
The Three Standards That Work Together
AS5039 is part of a family of three related standards. Each covers a different phase of your security screen’s life, and all three are relevant to you as a buyer.
AS5039 — Design and Manufacture
Sets the minimum requirements for how a security screen must be designed and built — materials, frames, mesh, locks and hinges — to be classified as a security product.
AS5040 — Installation
Defines the correct procedures for installing security screens and window grilles. A correctly manufactured product that is poorly installed cannot perform to its tested specification. AS5040 exists to ensure the installation is as rigorous as the product itself.
AS5041 — Methods of Test
Specifies the exact testing procedures used to verify that a product meets AS5039. This is what a NATA-accredited laboratory applies when independently certifying a product.
Think of it this way: AS5039 defines what you’re building, AS5040 defines how it must be installed, and AS5041 defines how you prove it works. All three must be satisfied for a fully compliant outcome.
The Six Tests Every Compliant Screen Must Pass
This is where AS5039 earns its credibility. These are not theoretical benchmarks — they are standardised physical tests conducted by independent laboratories that simulate the actual methods a real intruder would use to break in.
Dynamic Impact Test
Simulates kicking, shoulder-charging or ramming. Under the updated standard, products are tested at either 100 joules (Security Level SL100) or 200 joules (SL200). The test is applied five times consecutively. The screen must remain in the frame and must not create a gap exceeding 150mm.
Jemmy Test
Simulates levering with a screwdriver or crowbar. A mechanical winch applies force at all locking, hinging and fastening points around the screen. All points must hold firm and no gap greater than 150mm can form.
Pull Test
Simulates an intruder grabbing and pulling the screen out from the frame. Up to 2kN — the equivalent of 200kg — of force is applied to all sides for 20 seconds. The screen must not yield.
Probe Test
Simulates an intruder exploiting a gap to reach in and unlock the door or window. A deflecting force of 1.5kN is applied to widen any breach. The gap must not become large enough to allow access.
Knife Shear Test
Simulates a knife or sharp blade attack on the mesh. A heavy-duty blade is dragged along the mesh three times with a 150N force, using a fresh blade for each pass along the same 250mm line. The mesh must not allow an incision greater than 150mm.
Corrosion Test
Introduced in the 2023–2024 revision. Simulates long-term exposure to salt air and moisture through accelerated salt spray testing — directly relevant to coastal environments like the Sunshine Coast. Products must demonstrate resistance to corrosion that would compromise their structural integrity over time.
A product must pass all applicable tests before it can be independently certified as a security screen. It is worth noting that some products perform so well in the early tests — particularly the Jemmy and Pull tests — that no usable gap is ever created and subsequent tests simply cannot be conducted. When that happens, the product automatically passes those remaining tests.
The 2023–2024 Updates: What Changed
The Australian Standard underwent a significant revision in 2023–2024, splitting into three updated sub-standards:
AS5039.1:2023 — Design and performance requirements AS5039.2:2024 — Installation requirements AS5039.3:2023 — Methods of test
Products tested under the previous 2008 version of the standard remain valid, but products tested to the new standard will reference the updated numbering. The key changes buyers should understand:
Two new impact testing levels. The introduction of Security Level 100 (SL100) and Security Level 200 (SL200) means you can now compare products on a specific, standardised impact rating rather than simply knowing a product “meets AS5039.” SL200 products are tested to twice the impact threshold of SL100 — a meaningful distinction when evaluating higher-risk entry points.
A dedicated Corrosion Test. This replaces the previous shear test for grille-type products and directly addresses the real-world performance of security screens in coastal and humid environments. For Sunshine Coast homes this is one of the most relevant additions to the standard.
Clearer product categories and definitions. The revision makes it more straightforward for consumers to compare products on a consistent, like-for-like basis.
Updated installation specifications. New requirements including drainage provisions to prevent water ingress and long-term frame degradation.
Why AS5039 Matters Specifically on the Sunshine Coast
The Sunshine Coast’s environment and lifestyle make AS5039 compliance more relevant here than in many other parts of Australia.
Salt air and corrosion The new corrosion testing requirement in AS5039.3:2023 exists precisely because coastal environments accelerate deterioration in inferior materials. Products rated for coastal conditions — particularly those with concealed fastening systems that prevent moisture and salt accumulating in the hardware — will significantly outlast cheaper alternatives. This is one of the reasons Crimsafe Ultimate, which has been independently tested to the equivalent of 30 years of salt spray exposure, is particularly well suited to homes close to the coast.
Open-plan living creates more entry points Queensland homes are designed to maximise airflow and indoor-outdoor connection. Bi-fold doors, large sliding stacker doors, wide-opening windows — all of these are potential entry points that need proper securing. AS5039-certified screens mean those openings can be left genuinely secured rather than simply latched, which is the whole point of living the way we do up here.
Real weather, real force Queensland storms put every part of a home’s envelope under stress. Products that have been independently tested and certified to AS5039 have been proven to withstand real force under controlled, standardised conditions. Products that haven’t been certified have never been proven to do so — regardless of what the marketing says.
The open-air lifestyle is worth protecting properly One of the things that makes the Sunshine Coast genuinely special is the ability to live with your home open — windows up, doors open, breeze moving through. A security screen certified to AS5039 means you can do exactly that with confidence. An uncertified product is a compromise you simply cannot measure.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is AS5039? AS5039 is Australia’s national standard setting minimum design, manufacturing and performance requirements for security screen doors and window grilles. Products must pass six independent physical tests — conducted by a NATA-accredited laboratory — to be certified and legally classified as a security screen.
What is the difference between a security screen and a barrier screen? A security screen has been independently tested and certified to AS5039, confirming it can resist forced entry. A barrier screen — sometimes marketed as a “safety screen” or “heavy-duty flyscreen” — has not been certified to AS5039 and provides no verified protection against forced entry, regardless of how it looks or how it is described.
What is the NSSA? The National Security Screen Association is Australia’s voluntary peak industry body for the security screen industry. Many manufacturers and installers choose to join for its training, compliance resources and industry accreditation programs. However NSSA membership is not a legal requirement — a business can manufacture and install fully AS5039-compliant security screens without being a member. What matters is that the products supplied have been independently tested and certified to the standard, and that the installation follows AS5040.
What do SL100 and SL200 mean? These are the two Security Level ratings introduced in the 2023–2024 revision of AS5039. SL100 products withstand five impacts of 100 joules each. SL200 products withstand five impacts of 200 joules each. SL200 represents a higher level of independently tested impact resistance and is worth considering for high-priority entry points such as front doors and ground-floor windows accessible from concealed areas.
Does Crimsafe meet AS5039? Yes — and significantly exceeds it. Crimsafe products are independently tested and certified, with impact resistance reaching up to 550 joules for Regular and Classic, and up to 750 joules for Ultimate — compared to the SL100 minimum of 100 joules and the SL200 minimum of 200 joules. The Screw-Clamp™ and Tensile-Tuff® mesh system means Crimsafe regularly performs well beyond what AS5039 requires.
Can I install a Crimsafe screen myself? No. Crimsafe products can only be manufactured and installed by licensed suppliers within Crimsafe’s manufacturer network. This is a deliberate requirement to ensure the product is assembled and fitted correctly so it performs to its tested specification. DIY installation voids both compliance and warranty.
Why does AS5039 matter specifically on the Sunshine Coast? The coastal environment accelerates corrosion in inferior materials, open Queensland-style homes have more entry points to secure, and the relaxed open-air lifestyle that makes living here so enjoyable means doors and windows are regularly in use. The independently verified quality that AS5039 certification represents is more relevant in this environment — not less.
Ready to Talk to a Licensed Crimsafe Manufacturer?
North Coast Blinds & Security is a licensed Crimsafe manufacturer on the Sunshine Coast. Every product we manufacture and install is independently tested and certified to AS5039 — backed by over 28 years of local experience.