A correctly specified security screen pairs insect-blocking mesh with a security-rated frame, fixings and hardware, so it reduces insect entry while giving dependable protection. Your next step is to ask for a site suitability assessment and an installation to the relevant Australian Standards (AS 5039.1, AS 5039.2 and AS 5039.3). CSIRO guidance supports this approach, and we at Easterndoors can measure and install for you.
TL;DR:
- Ask which editions the installer uses: AS 5039.1:2023 covers performance, AS 5039.3:2023 testing, and AS 5039.2:2024 installation; older listings are superseded.
- Request evidence of dynamic impact, jemmy, knife shear, pull, and probe tests, then confirm which product components and installation those results cover.
- Have the installer inspect frame strength, substrate, drainage, exit routes, and local bushfire or cyclone rules before quoting, since site conditions can invalidate a suitable screen.
- For coastal or damp sites, ask for corrosion resistant finishes; tighter mesh weaves block more insects but can reduce airflow and visibility.
- Reserve DIY work for replacing torn flyscreen mesh in an existing frame; new security screens need trained assessment, suitable fixings, and a sealed perimeter.
Table of Contents
- What separates insect screens from security screens?
- Which materials and mesh types keep bugs out and last the distance?
- Which Australian Standards and tests should you ask about?
- Why does installation matter more than the mesh alone?
- How do you keep a screen insect-resistant and secure over time?
- How do you choose the right bug proof security screen?
- What customisation options suit different home styles?
- Is professional installation better than DIY?
- Why a measured, installed approach wins for most homeowners
- Get your screens measured and installed by us
- FAQ
- Sources
What separates insect screens from security screens?
An insect screen exists to stop flies and mosquitoes. A security screen exists to resist forced entry. The two goals overlap, but a mesh that keeps out a mosquito may fold under a screwdriver, and a heavy security mesh can still leak insects if the edges are poorly sealed. Treat them as related jobs that need to be solved together.
CSIRO advises that physical mesh reduces insect access when correctly fitted, and that mosquito control also means removing nearby breeding sites. That is the realistic expectation: a well-fitted screen cuts insect entry sharply, but no mesh guarantees zero insects.
Here is how the two types differ in practice:
- Insect mesh is light, usually fibreglass or aluminium, and built for airflow and a fine weave.
- Security mesh is tensioned, heavier and built to resist impact, cutting and prying.
- Appearance misleads, because two screens can look identical while one has weak fixings and a thin frame.
- System design decides performance, since the mesh, frame, fixings and hardware must work as one assembly.
If you remember one thing from this section, make it the last point. The mesh is only one part of what you are buying.
Which materials and mesh types keep bugs out and last the distance?
Several materials are commonly used. Fibreglass insect mesh gives good airflow and is easy to replace, but it offers no real security. Aluminium mesh is stronger and holds its shape better. Stainless steel tensioned mesh is the security-grade choice, and it is durable enough to handle years of weather and cleaning.
Mesh thickness is a useful comparison. A suitably selected security mesh can help reduce mosquito entry, so you do not have to choose between protection and insect control. Always ask the installer for the actual mesh specification rather than accepting a general claim.
Coatings and finishes matter more than most people expect:
- Coastal or damp locations call for corrosion-resistant finishes, because salt air attacks unprotected metal quickly.
- Powder coating or anodising protects aluminium frames and keeps their colour.
- Tighter weaves block more insects but can slightly reduce airflow and visibility.
- Stainless steel resists corrosion well and suits harsh sites.
Pro Tip: If the view matters to you, ask to see a mesh sample held against your actual window before you commit, because visibility varies with weave and colour.
Which Australian Standards and tests should you ask about?
The current standards series splits the job into three parts. AS 5039.1:2023 covers classification and performance, and it stresses that effectiveness depends on the complete installed assembly. AS 5039.3:2023 sets the test methods. AS 5039.2:2024 specifies installation requirements for hinged, sliding, folding, removable and fixed screens. The older AS 5039:2008 and AS 5041:2003 listings are superseded.
Installers often quote test names. Here is what they indicate:
- Dynamic impact simulates a body striking the screen.
- Jemmy test applies a prying tool to the screen and frame.
- Knife shear checks resistance to cutting through the mesh.
- Pull and probe tests check whether the mesh or its fixings can be pulled free or pushed through.
Public guidance from Western Australia’s Seniors Card rebate guide lists these same tests for security screens. When you compare quotes, check which edition of the installation standard each installer references. The AS 5039.2:2024 listing records a later amendment, so an installer who cannot name the edition is a warning sign.
Why does installation matter more than the mesh alone?
A screen is only as good as the opening it sits in. Standards Australia explains that security screens are fitted to existing openings, so the installer must assess the frame first. The national training unit MSFSSG303 treats this suitability assessment as a skilled task covering building structure, substrate, environmental constraints and site restrictions.
Poor fit undermines insect control as well. CSIRO research on rainwater tank openings found that damaged or poorly fitted mesh can be almost as ineffective as having no mesh. Small gaps, damaged mesh and weak perimeter seals are the usual culprits.
A competent professional checks the following before installing:
- Frame strength and condition, including whether the existing frame can hold the screen.
- The substrate and fixings, so the screws bite into something solid.
- Drainage around the opening, so water does not collect and corrode the frame.
- Egress paths, so a screen never blocks a safe exit in an emergency.
- Bushfire or cyclone requirements where they apply to the site.
Pro Tip: Ask the installer to show you where the screen meets the frame at the corners and joins. Gaps there let insects through long before the mesh itself fails.
How do you keep a screen insect-resistant and secure over time?
Even a perfect installation needs regular attention. Inspect your screens regularly, and again after storms or heavy use. Small faults are cheap to fix and expensive to ignore.
- Check the perimeter seals, corners and joins for gaps or lifting.
- Look over the mesh for tears, dents or loose sections.
- Test fasteners and hardware, including hinges, latches and locks.
- Clean the mesh with mild soapy water and a soft brush to keep airflow and visibility up.
- Clear gutters and rainwater tank overflows, since CSIRO notes that unsealed overflows let mosquitoes breed close to your home.
Repair damaged mesh promptly, because a small tear invites insects straight away. A simple flyscreen repair is quick and inexpensive, while a failing frame or weak fixings usually means a measure-and-install replacement. Our security screen and fly door repair service covers both cases.
How do you choose the right bug proof security screen?
Start by deciding what you need. If you only want insect control, a light flyscreen will do. If security comes first, you need a tested system with proper fixings. Most homeowners want both, and that points to a stainless steel or heavy aluminium mesh system measured and installed to the standard.
Ask every installer these questions:
- Which AS 5039 parts will the product and installation meet?
- Will you carry out a site suitability assessment before quoting?
- What frame, fixings and hardware will you use?
- Can you show evidence of the test methods the product has passed?
- What warranty covers the screen and the installation?
A professional should be able to point to the competency in MSFSSG303 and any local licensing that applies. Rules vary between states, so confirm what your area requires.
On budget, a custom measure-and-install job costs more than an off-the-shelf flyscreen, but it gives you a system built to the standard. A quick-fix flyscreen costs less and may not meet your security or long-term insect-control needs. Our guide to compliant security doors walks through the compliance steps in more detail.
What customisation options suit different home styles?
A security screen does not have to look like an afterthought. The frame colour, mesh type, grille pattern and hardware can all be matched to the character of your home, so the screen reads as part of the architecture rather than an addition to it.
Frame finishes are the easiest place to start. Powder coat gives a wide choice of colours, while anodised aluminium suits a cleaner, more natural metal look. We explain the difference in our guide to powder coat versus anodised finishes. Dark frames tend to disappear against the shadows of a doorway, and lighter tones blend into weatherboard and rendered walls.
Visibility is the next consideration. Some meshes are designed to keep the view open, and our post on security screen visibility explains what affects how clearly you can see through one. If you want a screen that stays out of sight, ask about clear view options and confirm they carry the AS 5039 label.
Style choices extend beyond colour:
- Decorative grilles add pattern and suit period homes, and they can still meet the standard.
- French and double doors need custom-fitted screens, which we cover in our guides to French door screens and double security screen doors.
- Window screens can be matched to door screens for a consistent look across the house.
If you are also planning window upgrades, a retrofit project such as double glazing is worth scheduling alongside your screens, so the work is done in one visit to the frames.
Is professional installation better than DIY?
For security and insect protection together, yes. A security screen is a system, and the standard expects the installer to assess the existing frame, choose suitable fixings and fit the screen so the whole assembly performs. A DIY installer without that training can easily get the mesh right and the rest wrong.
The first benefit is the suitability assessment. A professional trained to the MSFSSG303 competency checks the structure, substrate and site constraints before a single screw goes in. A DIY job usually skips this step, and it is where hidden weaknesses show up.
The second benefit is the seal. Insects find the smallest gap, and gaps at corners, joins and the perimeter are the most common failure points. An installer who fits screens every week knows where those gaps form and how to close them.
The third benefit is compliance and warranty. Work that follows AS 5039.2 can be documented, and a documented install is easier to defend if you ever need to claim on a warranty or insurance. Some jurisdictions also require licensed installers, so DIY may not be an option at all.
DIY does have a place for small jobs, such as swapping a torn piece of flyscreen mesh in an existing frame. For a new security screen, the cost of a professional install is small compared with the cost of a screen that fails when you need it.
Why a measured, installed approach wins for most homeowners
My view is simple: system fit and professional installation are what make a screen both insect-resistant and secure. The mesh gets the marketing, but the frame, fixings and seal do most of the work. No mesh guarantees absolute insect exclusion, and any seller who promises it is overselling. A right-sized product that is fitted well and maintained will reduce insect entry significantly and will last longer. For most homes, a custom measure-and-install solution from someone who knows AS 5039 and the maintenance it demands is the most reliable path.
— MYBMC
Get your screens measured and installed by us
If you want an installed solution that balances insect control and security, we can handle it from the first visit to the final fit. Here is what we offer:
- A free on-site consultation and quote.
- Custom measure-and-make screens for doors and windows.
- Awareness of AS 5039 requirements throughout design and fitting.
- Professional installation backed by a warranty.
Browse our full range of screens, doors and window grilles, or contact us to book your consultation.
FAQ
Can a security screen completely stop insects?
No mesh guarantees zero insects. CSIRO describes mesh as a way to reduce insect access when it is fitted correctly. A tight perimeter seal and sound mesh give the best result.
What mesh size stops mosquitoes?
Ask the installer for the exact mesh specification rather than relying on appearance, because the frame and seal matter just as much.
Which standards apply to security screens?
The current series is AS 5039.1:2023 for performance, AS 5039.2:2024 for installation and AS 5039.3:2023 for test methods. Older listings, including AS 5039:2008, have been superseded.
How often should I inspect my screens?
Check them regularly. Look at the seals, corners, mesh, fasteners and hardware, and repair any damage promptly.
Do I need a professional to install a security screen?
For a new security screen, we recommend one. A professional assesses the frame and fixings and seals the perimeter, which protects both your security and your insect control.