HARDWARE & SECURITY
Do safety requirements change with the seasons?
In some cases, doors may be subject to expansion and contraction as temperature rises or drops, requiring more effort to open or close as the seasons change. With this, it’ s important to focus on appropriate installation and maintenance, so to ensure the safe and reliable operation of sliding and folding doors all year round.
What about heat – ventilation and insulation?
Doors are recognised as the natural walkway between spaces, with external doors providing access to outside environments and internal doors enhancing movement from room to room and so it is important to consider the thermal efficiency of doorset systems and their materials. Bifold doors can outperform their traditional counterparts in thermal efficiency and when specified correctly, will call upon reliable mechanisms, airtight seals and glazing to further help installations retain heat between rooms. With this in mind, it’ s crucial to use quality hardware systems that will reliably close doors to completion each and every time- producing an airtight seal which can minimise cold air infiltration and reduce heat loss as a result. The use of sliding and folding door applications should not be overlooked as s source of much needed ventilation when facing extreme summer conditions too. The naturally wide openings that are created with modern door designs can help circulate fresh air through a building when temperatures begin to rise, supporting a controlled climate in several scenarios.
How do warmer temperatures and increased use during summer affect the performance or wear of locking hardware on sliding and bifold doors?
The distinctive design of sliding and folding door systems is especially useful in situations where increased traffic flow is expected and with high use during the summer months especially, the importance of testing becomes even clearer. Testing and cycle standards are crucial in ensuring the wear of sliding and folding doors is kept to a minimum, with durable hardware lasting longer in high use situations.
What about finish? Especially for coastal or high-humidity summer environments?
Coastal and corrosive environments can significantly impact doors, where components can deteriorate, damage or rust by a combination of high humidity, wind and salt spray. In these conditions, either PVD stainless or anodised aluminium components can offer additional durability, but should they become scratched or damaged, it can be difficult to repair. Timber panels on the other hand, can benefit from some incredible paints and varnishes that are designed to withstand all weathers.
Courtesy of‘ Country Hardwood’
What maintenance recommendations should be made to homeowners or facility managers for hardware longevity during summer?
Regardless of weather, all door hardware should be checked, washed with soapy water and lightly lubricated periodically – more frequently in coastal or corrosive environments. In doing so, users can assure the performance of their systems are maintained and finishes are prolonged.
What are the most common mistakes you see when bifold or sliding door hardware is specified for security and safety?
Using the right system for the right job is paramount to all projects, and for that specification is key. As well as considering functionality, weather performance and style, it’ s crucial to choose a system with the appropriate levels of safety and security.
Specification teams must ensure tolerances and clearances are followed closely to negate any potential security issues, for example. In many cases, especially on taller doors, multipoint locks are also preferable to single central mortice locks and provide better performance.
How can specifiers ensure the hardware they choose is compatible with the door profiles or systems being used?
Early collaboration and ongoing consultation with trusted manufacturers and suppliers is beneficial for all parties and helps to safeguard the compatibility of hardware and door profiles. Timber doors are often simple to pair with our hardware for example, although, aluminium profiles can be problematic if the core internal structural areas in the profiles don’ t align without hinge hole patterns. In any case, decision makers should always review product information to further understand the system requirements and contact manufacturers for details and drawings of aluminium applications to double check when unsure.
What is the role of the installer in ensuring safety / security hardware performs as intended, and are there any checklists you’ d recommend?
There are three key points here; instructions must be followed to the full, customers and end users must be correctly advised on how to operate systems, and the role of care and maintenance must be understood and actioned post-installation.
What impact does increased thermal expansion and UV exposure in summer months have on the performance or tolerances of sliding and bifold door hardware?
As we’ ve touched upon, all keeps for bolts and locks should have enough tolerance and adjustment to allow for some expansion or contraction of the materials used. This can go a long way in safeguarding the performance of sliding and folding door hardware systems during the summer months.
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AUGUST 2025
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