Comparison of French and Sliding Glass Door Safety Features
French and sliding glass doors are popular options for dividing interior rooms. But they also are often used as entrance doors that require them to meet such security standards as PAS 24 or EN 1627 (European Standard).
According to the owner of Mr Glass Repair, French doors are a bit more secure compared to the glass sliding option, thanks to durable shoot bolts, anti-pick/drill cylinders, strong fixation, bumps, etc. At the same time, modern constructions allow you to boost the security of both door types using window film, multipoint lockers, and other solutions described below.
French Door
It is one of the most popular options to divide internal and external spaces. The basic configuration of most French doors implies double glazing that may be in different options:
- 14mm;
- 24mm;
- 28mm;
- 44mm.
Also, the glass in such doors is often toughened. This improves security and decreases the likelihood of getting traumas when it breaks. French doors also feature sturdy lockers and often come with an espagnolette bolt.
This mechanism offers simple but reliable keyless security. French and sliding glass door panels may be made of the same materials, including wood, aluminum, or Unplasticized Polyvinyl Chloride. However, the ratio of panels and lintels to the total area is larger in French doors.
Sliding Glass Door
Sliding glass doors can win French doors in terms of elegance and aesthetics. As with French doors, they may be double-glazed (or even triple-glazed) and come with hardened glass. At the same time, they are easier targets for intruders because of their construction.
First, such a door contains a solid glass sheet without lintels that can significantly strengthen the whole construction. Unlike a French door, which intruders may try to remove from hinges, a sliding glass door is more difficult to push off the runners. There are two reasons for that:
- The weight that may be up to 150 kg;
- A contact surface between moving parts.
By default, such doors often have a simple locking mechanism that should be changed for security reasons.
Tips to Enhance French and Sliding Glass Door Security
Although French doors have the construction advantages of sliding glass option, they both may be significantly improved in terms of security.
French Doors
First, you should protect the vulnerable construction points and install hinge bolts. Many modern models already contain this solution, making it much more difficult for an intruder to lift the door off its hinges.
If a door comes with a simple handle twist lock, it is better to remove it and install the multipoint system. Finally, you may screw a few flushing bolts into one of the door frames. It turns it into a passive panel and decreases the overall doorway width. On the other hand, you get more durable construction. Another solution is installing security bars that can prevent a door from pushing in.
Sliding Glass Doors
Like in the case of French doors, it makes sense to use security bars. Due to structural peculiarities, such bars are mounted to the sliding tracks. Modern security bars provide a snug fit and, at the same time, do not damage the glass, thanks to soft edges.
Since such a door is mostly a glass sheet, you may additionally protect it with a special polycarbonate shield that is 250 times stronger than glass. Such shields are mounted directly on the glass surface and help resist hits with blunt objects like bricks, stones, etc.
Another simple but effective solution is a Jimmy plate. It is an L-shaped piece of metal with holes for mounting it to the floor. They are installed close to the sliding track when the door is closed. Its main purpose is to prevent doors from opening from the outside. If you decide to use this option, using it with a deadbolt is better.
General Safety Tips
Regardless of the door type used, there are several common approaches that can better protect your house against intruders. For this purpose, you may use a vinyl window film that can double the strength of glass. Also, you may install a broken glass sensor that may react to vibration and the sound of broken glass.
This option perfectly complements modern security systems that react to the door opening and simply record everything happening next to your house. Thanks to AI technology, modern solutions can be set up to recognize different threats and quickly alert you, security guards, or police.
