Are Aluminium BiFold Doors Secure?
A wall of glass at the back of the house, out of sight of the road, would make anyone nervous. So are aluminium BiFold doors secure? A well-specified set is, and the frame isn’t where the weakness sits. A BiFold door is as secure as its weakest part, so this guide covers the parts that matter: the locking, the glass, the glazing beads and the fitting. It explains what the PAS 24 standard does and doesn’t tell you.
The aluminium frame isn’t the weak point
Extruded aluminium is stiff. Our BiFold profiles carry sashes up to 3,000mm tall and 120kg, and that rigidity gives the locks something solid to hold against. Burglars look for the easiest route in: a weak lock, glass they can remove or smash, or a gap they can lever. Those are the places to spend your money.
Multi-point locking
A multi-point lock engages the frame at several points along the height of the door instead of holding at a single latch. That spreads the load of an attack across the whole panel, and it’s the standard approach on any decent glazed door.
Our enhanced security option uses multi-point locking with PAS 24-compliant hardware. On a folding set the panels share the work between them, so ask any supplier how every panel is held shut, including the ones without a handle.
Laminated glass and internal beading
Standard toughened glass breaks into small granules and leaves a hole. Laminated glass has a plastic interlayer that holds the pane together when it’s struck, so someone has to keep hitting it, loudly, to get through. Laminated panels are available on the BiFold through the configurator.
The glazing beads matter as much as the glass. Beads fitted on the outside can be prised off to lift the glass out. Beads fitted on the inside can’t be reached from the garden. For the highest security we recommend internally-beaded glazing with laminated glass.
Plenty of people assume more glass means less security. A large pane isn’t the easy way in that it looks like. The hardware, the beads and the type of glass decide how well a set resists attack.
What PAS 24 covers, and what it doesn’t
PAS 24 is the UK standard for the enhanced security of doorsets and windows. It tests whether a product can resist attack from a casual or opportunist burglar using common tools, and BSI’s current revision dates from 2022. Approved Document Q, which covers security in new dwellings, refers to it, and certification is one route to Secured by Design status.
Two points to hold onto. First, PAS 24 tests a complete doorset, meaning frame, glass and hardware together, so compliant hardware and a certified doorset are different things. If your project needs a certificate for building control or an insurer, tell us when you enquire so we can confirm what applies to your configuration. Second, Approved Document Q applies to new dwellings, so ask your building control body whether it covers your extension.
Fitting and insurance
A set fitted out of square leaves gaps, and gaps are where tools go. Our frames have adjustable jambs and the glazing has adjustable toe and heel, so the panels can be set true on site where an opening is out of square. Use an installer registered with a competent person scheme such as FENSA.
Some insurers set conditions on large glazed openings. Read your policy, or call your insurer, before you order.
Habits that matter as much as the hardware
The best lock in the catalogue does nothing if the key is sitting in it. Take the key out of the inside of the door when you leave, and don’t hang a spare on a hook within reach of the glass. Lock the traffic door every time you step into the garden after dark, because that’s the door people forget. Outside lighting that comes on when someone walks up the garden costs very little and puts off the opportunist who was never going to risk being seen.
Five questions to ask any BiFold supplier
Start with the paperwork: what PAS 24 test evidence do you hold for this exact configuration? Then ask how every panel is secured, because a supplier who only talks about the traffic door hasn’t thought about the other panels. Ask whether the glazing beads are fitted on the inside, and whether you can specify laminated glass and in which panels. Finish with who fits it and whether they’re registered with a competent person scheme. A supplier who answers all five without hesitation has done this before.
Frequently asked questions
Are BiFold doors a security risk?
Not if they’re specified well. The risk sits in weak locking, glass that can be removed or broken quickly, and poor fitting. Multi-point locking, laminated glass, internal beading and a registered installer deal with each of those.
What is PAS 24, and do BiFold doors need it?
PAS 24 is the enhanced security test for doorsets and windows, aimed at casual and opportunist attack. Approved Document Q refers to it for new dwellings. Whether your project needs it depends on the type of build, so check with building control and your insurer.
Can BiFold doors be fitted with laminated glass?
Yes. Laminated panels are available on the Clearview BiFold, and we recommend them with internally-beaded glazing if security is a priority.
Do insurers require specific security on BiFold doors?
Some set conditions on large glazed openings, such as a minimum standard of locking. The conditions vary by insurer and policy, so check yours before you order.
Does a bigger glass opening mean a less secure house?
No. Security comes from the locking, the glazing type, the beading and the fit, not from how much glass there is. A large set with multi-point locking and laminated glass can resist attack better than a small one with weak hardware.
Get your price
Enter your opening width and height on our aluminium BiFold doors page for an instant from-price, with no obligation. Download the BiFold range brochure for the full specification, or call us on 0114 308 0530.
