Hi Chindonly. I can comment on this because this is what we do
. Husband and I have a security screen company.
We do not sell Crimsafe for a number of reasons...
1: it is useless on the coast as it is not 316 grade stainless steel. Now, they will tell you that this doesn't matter, and that theirs is stronger (theirs is 0.9mm wire the 316 is 0.8mm). And that theirs doesn't rust. Technically this is true...BUT what they don't tell you it that is corrodes TERRIBLY without very regular maintenance. I will post a couple of corrosion pics later. We very regularly replace Crimsafe screens for 316.
2: the sheer cost of Crimsafe....someone has to pay for all that advertising. We were approached to be a Crimsafe dealer..they wanted $10k straight up for the license. That probably accounts for why most Crimsafe dealers are a little pushy
.
So.....the alternatives.....
Each of the Aluminium suppliers (and there are only a few) has their own system. They ALL pass Australian standards.
We currently use the Darley (
http://www.screenguard.com.au/index.php). & Ullrich systems. (
http://www.ullrich.com.au/brochure_pdfs/Ullrich_security_screen.pdf)
We don't use the Invisigard system from Alspec (despite using most of their other product) because again they wanted a license fee and that just passes on more cost that the end customer has to pay for
Get some quotes (Stainless is not cheap it costs a bucket load to buy the material and takes longer to build) ask the guy who quotes to bring a corner sample to show you how the thing goes together, or if you can visit the factory to see one being put together. The ridiculous Crimsafe noting that the "others" are just held in with a piece of plastic is just plain WRONG. Both our systems are held together with wedge that gets hammered in with a pneumatic hammer and cannot be removed. We have had a couple of our wholesale guys order a wrong size and ask to have a door cut down. The boys in the factory just could not get the thing apart. (It became a bit of a "I can do it..you are weak" game for a bit)
A final note....NOTHING will keep out a determined thief. Even a stainless screen still has a 3mm piece of glass sitting next to it. As for fire escape, all screen systems have a "safe escape" product in their lineup. They are expensive but some people like the piece of mind.