What are secure sliding doors?
A secure sliding door is one designed to resist the specific ways intruders attack sliders: lifting the sliding panel off its track, forcing the lock, levering the interlock and breaking the glass. PAS 24 is the UK enhanced security test standard for doorsets, and a sliding door tested to it has been put through timed manual attack tests with hand tools, mechanical loading of the panels and locking points, and tests on the glazing and its retention. Our aluminium sliding doors are available in systems tested to PAS 24; your quote states which system and specification you are getting.
The key features work together. Anti-lift blocks or bolts in the head stop a closed sliding panel being raised and lifted out. A multipoint lock engages several hooks or bolts into the frame when you lock the handle, rather than relying on a single catch. Laminated glass, with a plastic interlayer bonded between panes, stays in place when cracked, and internally beaded or secured glazing stops panes being removed from outside.
Secured by Design is a police-backed scheme whose door requirements build on PAS 24; we are not a member, and we explain it so you know what to ask for. Approved Document Q sets security rules for new dwellings in England but does not apply to replacements. See our sliding door security guide for more.
Who are they for?
Best suited to
- Ground-floor doors out of sight of the street
- Rear gardens with side or alley access
- Homes left empty during the working day
- New-build projects with a security specification
Worth considering
- A PAS 24 test applies to a specific system and configuration, so changing the size, glass or hardware can take a door outside what was tested.
- Laminated glass and enhanced hardware add to the cost compared with a basic specification.
- No door is impossible to breach; tested security slows and deters an intruder but is most effective alongside lighting, alarms and good habits.
Why choose secure sliding doors?
- A doorset tested to PAS 24 has resisted a defined set of timed attacks using hand tools, giving an objective benchmark rather than a claim based on the look of the hardware.
- Anti-lift devices in the head of the frame stop a closed sliding panel being levered up and lifted off its track, which is a classic weakness of older sliders.
- A multipoint lock throws several hooks or bolts into the frame when the handle is locked, spreading the load so the panel cannot be forced at a single point.
- Laminated glass has a tough interlayer that holds the pane together when struck, so even a cracked panel resists an attempt to break through.
- Internally glazed or secured beads mean the glass cannot be removed from the outside, closing off a route that some older doors left open.
- An anti-snap key cylinder is designed to resist the snapping attack used on many older euro cylinders, protecting the lock itself.
- Robust interlocks where the panels meet reduce the chance of the door being levered open at the overlap, which is where a sliding door is often probed first.
- Specifying a tested door when you replace an old slider gives you a clear security standard to compare against, even though Approved Document Q only applies to new homes.
Typical specification
| Security standard | Systems available tested to PAS 24; confirmed per order in your quote |
|---|---|
| Anti-lift | Anti-lift blocks or bolts in the head of the frame |
| Locking | Multipoint locks with hook bolts engaging the frame |
| Cylinder | Anti-snap key cylinder |
| Glass | Toughened safety glass as standard; laminated available, depending on the system |
| Glazing | Internally beaded or secured glass that cannot be removed from outside |
| Regulations | Approved Document Q applies to new dwellings in England, not replacements |
Figures are typical and vary by system and size; your quote confirms the exact specification.
How much do secure sliding doors cost?
The guide price for a 2.4 m two-panel aluminium sliding door is £4,295–£5,295, fitted, inc VAT at standard 2.1 m height, with any PAS 24 tested specification, enhanced locking or laminated glass itemised in your written quote after survey.
| Overall width | Typical panels | Guide price (fitted, inc VAT) |
|---|---|---|
| 1.5 m | 2 panels | £3,295–£4,095 |
| 1.8 m | 2 panels | £3,695–£4,495 |
| 2.1 m | 2 panels | £3,995–£4,895 |
| 2.4 m | 2 panels | £4,295–£5,295 |
| 3.0 m | 2 panels | £4,995–£6,095 |
| 3.6 m | 3 panels | £5,595–£6,895 |
| 4.0 m | 3 panels | £6,095–£7,395 |
| 4.8 m | 4 panels | £6,995–£8,495 |
| 6.0 m | 4 panels | £8,295–£10,095 |
Guide prices for a standard 2.1 m high door, supplied and fitted, including VAT and removal of an old door of similar size. Your price is fixed in a written quote after survey.
Options and extras
- Laminated inner pane. A bonded pane that stays in place when cracked, slowing any attempt to break through.
- Laminated outer pane. Extra resistance to an attack on the outside face, often combined with an inner laminated pane.
- Enhanced multipoint lock. An upgraded lock with additional or stronger hook bolts along the locking edge.
- Secondary locking. An additional internal lock or bolt that holds the sliding panel closed at night.
- Anti-snap cylinder. A key cylinder designed to resist snapping and other common lock attacks.
- Key-lockable handle. A handle that can be locked so it cannot be turned through broken glass.
Lead times and fitting
Lead time: Typically 4–6 weeks from survey sign-off, depending on the glass and hardware chosen.
Fitting: Typically 1 day for a 2-panel swap; larger doors 1–2 days.
Nothing is ordered until you confirm the surveyed specification in writing. See how it works.
Rules and approvals
England
In England, a replacement sliding door is a controlled fitting under the Building Regulations. In an existing home, a door with more than 60% glazing must reach a U-value of 1.4 W/m²K or better (or a Doorset Energy Rating of band C) under Approved Document L, and glass in doors must be safety glazing under Approved Document K. We arrange compliance through a competent person scheme installer or by notifying Building Control, and you receive the certificate.
Wales
In Wales, replacement doors are covered by the Building Regulations as applied in Wales, including the Welsh Part L energy requirements and safety glazing rules. Compliance is arranged through a competent person scheme installer or your council's Building Control, and the certificate is kept with your property records.
Scotland
In Scotland, replacing a door like for like in a house does not usually need a building warrant, but the new door must still meet the Scottish building standards for energy and safety. Forming or widening an opening is different: that needs a building warrant from the council before work starts.
Northern Ireland
In Northern Ireland, the Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) apply through your district council's building control service, with energy guidance in Technical Booklet F1. Work in Northern Ireland is by arrangement, and we confirm the approval route for your property at survey.
Secure sliding doors: common questions
What is PAS 24?
PAS 24 is the UK enhanced security test standard for doorsets, including sliding doors. A door tested to it has been subjected to timed manual attacks with hand tools, mechanical loading of the panels and locks, and tests on how the glass is held. It applies to the complete doorset as tested, not to individual handles or locks on their own.
Are all your sliding doors PAS 24?
Not every door we supply is PAS 24 tested, and we would never claim otherwise. Our aluminium sliding doors are available in systems tested to PAS 24, and your written quote states the exact system and specification. If PAS 24 matters to you, tell us at enquiry and we will specify a tested system and configuration to suit your opening.
What is Secured by Design?
Secured by Design is a police-backed initiative that sets security standards for homes and products, and its requirements for doors build on PAS 24. Products and developments can gain recognition under the scheme. We are not a Secured by Design member company; if a project specifies it, tell us at the start so we can check what the specification requires.
How do anti-lift devices work on a sliding door?
Anti-lift devices are blocks or bolts fitted in the head of the frame or on the sliding panel that fill the gap above the panel when the door is closed. Without them, some older sliding panels could be lifted up and out of the bottom track. With them, the panel cannot be raised far enough to clear the track.
Is laminated glass worth it on a sliding door?
Laminated glass is worth considering on ground-floor doors that are hidden from the street, because it stays in one piece when cracked and slows anyone trying to break through. It also reduces some outside noise and filters most UV light. Toughened glass is still a safety glass but shatters into small pieces when broken.
Does Approved Document Q apply to my replacement door?
No, Approved Document Q sets security requirements for doors and windows in new dwellings in England and does not apply when you replace a door in an existing home. Choosing a door tested to PAS 24 is still a sensible benchmark for a replacement, because it gives you a recognised standard rather than relying on how the hardware looks.
What makes old sliding patio doors insecure?
Older sliding patio doors are often vulnerable because the sliding panel can be lifted off its track, the single-point lock can be forced, the glass beads are on the outside or the cylinder can be snapped. Modern secure sliding doors address each of those weaknesses with anti-lift devices, multipoint locks, internal glazing and anti-snap cylinders.
Can I upgrade the locks on my existing sliding door?
Sometimes, but upgrading locks alone does not turn an old door into a tested one. A new anti-snap cylinder or a secondary bolt can improve security on a sound door, and our sliding door repairs page covers lock work. If the panel can be lifted out or the glass removed from outside, replacement is usually the better answer.