They can take a beating: childproof doors for families.

• his own "family history" at PRÜM,

• a "stress test for doors"

• and he answered the question: "What should families consider when buying childproof doors?".

The robot slams the door shut with force, 200,000 times in succession. It does this non-stop for 24 hours and it takes many days.

"Every door prototype goes through our PRÜM test track before it is ready for series production," reports Thorsten Nosbüsch. An endurance test for the striking plate, hinge and handle. Only when a door has passed the stress test in the factory does it go into series production: this door can take a beating. But what about the design? Can something that is so robust and resistant also be beautiful?

"Fortunately, yes," answers Thorsten Nosbüsch. "No family has to do without chic design when it comes to childproof room and flat entrance doors. There is a wide choice of materials and colours." Painted surfaces are more sensitive. But even this is not a taboo if a family wants it.

Even glass doors are now available in a childproof version. "However, I recommend at least ESG standard. This is toughened safety glass. It can withstand the hardest child's head and doesn't break so quickly. And if it does break, the glass crumbles into harmless crumbs. They are harmless," says Nosbüsch.

At PRÜM, ESG glass is a minimum standard for glass doors. But it can be even safer: with laminated safety glass.

How did you end up in the door business? Thorsten Nosbüsch (TN): “It’s a family tradition: my parents also used to work at PRÜM in Weinsheim. That’s why I grew up with doors. What’s more, I’ve enjoyed woodwork ever since I was a child. And, after all, the PRÜM door factory was right on our doorstep, just one kilometre away. So it was literally only natural that I did my apprenticeship here in 1994 – and have stayed ever since. Who knows? Perhaps my two sons will carry on the family tradition … when the time comes to choose a career.”

What do child-safe doors need to be able to do for families? TN: “From personal and professional experience, I know that child-safe doors need to be robust. This is ensured, for example, by a laminate coating on our doors, known as ‘CPL’ (‘CPL’ – what is it?). It’s a material similar to laminate floor paving. There’s a wide selection of attractive designs to choose from.

Material, form, features. What factors make a door child-safe? TN: “When it comes to child safety, there are several factors that play a role: these include, for example, the so-called ‘chamfered edge’. It reduces the risk of injury not only on functional doors for nurseries. The edges are also chamfered on interior doors and apartment entrance doors for private flats and houses, so that children do not seriously injure themselves. In addition, there are safety standards for glass doors and extra features for interior doors that are assembled in homes with children.”

What do you need?

Firstly, decide which functions(click here for the videos) your room and flat entrance doors should have. For example, do you need thermal insulation, soundproofing or burglary protection?

Doors with laminate:

Look for easy-care and robust surfaces, for example made of laminate (CPL).

Round edges:

Safe doors for families with children have rounded edges. This results in fewer thick dents and prevents lacerations.

Childproof glass:

Even glass doors or doors with a light cut-out are now available in a child-safe version. These should be toughened safety glass.

Emergency bolts for the bathroom:

Make sure the bathroom or toilet door has an "emergency release" from the outside! Has your child accidentally locked themselves in and can't unlock the door in a panic? Then this door can be opened quickly and easily from the outside with a coin.

Find door professionals

via our website tuer.de. Click here to go to your nearest dealer with their own showroom ("Click here to go to the door professionals").

Finger protection for small hands:

The so-called "finger protection roller blind" closes the gap between the door frame and the door so that children's fingers cannot get in between. Roller blind slats therefore reduce the risk of crushing to zero.

By the way: The PRÜM warehouse in Weinsheim/Eifel has 100,000 doors and accessories in stock. That's 80 per cent of the PRÜM range. It usually takes around one to two weeks for the desired door to arrive at the retailer from there. It is not uncommon for them to be installed within 14 days.