Iron bars (rejas) are the traditional way to protect windows and doors in Spain. They work, but at a cost: darker rooms, blocked views and the feeling of living behind bars. Crimsafe security screens offer another way to protect your home. Here are the differences, so you can choose with confidence.
What is Crimsafe?
Crimsafe is an Australian security door and window system with more than 30 years of development. It combines 0.9 mm grade 304 structural stainless steel mesh (Tensile Tuff®) with the patented Screw-Clamp® fixing system, which holds the mesh in the frame and spreads the force of an impact across the whole mesh. Doors and windows also have three-point locking.
Crim Defend is the exclusive Crimsafe licensee for Spain and Andorra and the only official Crimsafe partner in Europe.
Bars vs Crimsafe, side by side
| Iron bars | Crimsafe | |
|---|---|---|
| Light and views | Bars block part of the view and make the room feel closed in | Black mesh with 1.5 mm holes: in normal light, your view is barely affected |
| Ventilation and insects | You can open the window, but insects still get in | Open the window safely, and keep flies and mosquitoes out |
| Strength | Depends on how thick the bars are and how they are fixed to the wall | Passes the Australian Standard tests (impacts, crowbar, pull and knife); up to 550 J (Standard) or 750 J (Ultimate) in a single impact |
| Emergency exit | A fixed grille can stop you getting out of the window in a fire | Safe-S-Cape version: opens from inside without a key and stays secure from outside |
| Maintenance | Iron can rust and need repainting | Stainless steel: just clean it now and then |
| Looks | Very visible from outside | Discreet, and made to measure for each opening |
When do bars make sense?
If you only need to close off an opening you never use and you don’t mind how it looks, traditional bars may be enough. But on the windows and doors you use every day, bars force you to choose between security and quality of life. With Crimsafe, you don’t have to choose.
Why more and more homes choose Crimsafe
- Light, air and views: leave windows and doors open without giving up security.
- No more mosquitoes: the same mesh works as an insect screen.
- Children’s rooms: fixed screens let fresh air in and remove the risk of falls.
- Inside or outside: they can be fitted inside or outside the opening.
- Works with your shutters: no need to remove them.
- Made to measure: hinged, sliding, double hinged and folding doors, plus fixed, hinged and sliding windows. See all products.
Quick answers
- Warranty: in Spain we offer a 3-year warranty.
- Lead time: about 4 weeks from order; in busy periods, up to about 10 weeks.
- More questions? See our FAQ.
We work across Spain and Andorra from our base in Arenys de Mar (Maresme, Barcelona), and we speak English. Want to see what would work in your home? Get a no-obligation quote or call us on +34 711 088 439.
Written by Chris, Operations Director at Crim Defend. An electrician by trade, Chris worked on high-security prison projects in Australia before bringing Crimsafe to Spain.