Secure sliding doors (PAS 24) across Dorset
The right door depends on the opening, the room and the way you use the garden. Here is how secure sliding doors tend to work out in practice:
Ask your insurer whether a tested door or particular locks are a requirement on your Dorset policy, so the quote can be specified to suit.
For a new-build or conversion in Dorset with a security condition attached, send us the specification before we quote so the right system is chosen from the start.
- Laminated glass has a tough interlayer that holds the pane together when struck, so even a cracked panel resists an attempt to break through.
- 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.
- Internally glazed or secured beads mean the glass cannot be removed from the outside, closing off a route that some older doors left open.
Guide prices for secure sliding doors in Dorset
Guide prices are the same across Dorset: the fitted price depends on the size, system and specification, not your postcode. These figures are for a standard 2.1 m high door, fitted, including VAT and removal of an old door of similar size.
| Overall width | Typical panels | Guide price (fitted, inc VAT) |
|---|---|---|
| 2.1 m | 2 panels | £3,995–£4,895 |
| 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 |
Every size is on the secure sliding doors page.
Daylight and glass in Dorset
At the latitude of Dorset, the midday sun climbs to about 63° in late June but only about 16° in late December, when daylight lasts around 7 h 57 min against 16 h 30 min in midsummer. A south-facing secure sliding door lets that low winter sun deep into the room; on a west or south elevation, solar-control glass keeps summer afternoons comfortable.
Where we fit in Dorset
We cover Bournemouth, Poole, Weymouth, Christchurch, Ferndown, Dorchester and the rest of Dorset.
Approvals in England
English Building Regulations treat a new or replacement external door in an existing home as a controlled fitting: it needs a U-value of 1.4 W/m²K or better (or Doorset Energy Rating band C) if more than 60% of it is glazed (Approved Document L), and safety glass in a critical location (Approved Document K). Compliance is arranged through a competent person scheme installer or a Building Control notification, so you get a certificate for your records.
Questions about secure sliding doors in Dorset
Can you match other doors and windows in my Dorset home?
Usually, yes. Most aluminium and uPVC systems come in standard RAL colours and finishes, and we can quote dual colour where the inside and outside need to differ. Bring photos of existing frames to the survey.
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.
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.