The short answer
A well-made bifold door from a reputable system is secure, provided it has proper multi-point locking, toughened or laminated glass and is fitted correctly. Quality bifolds use shootbolts that lock each panel into the frame at top and bottom, plus a main lock on the lead door, so a closed run is held firmly at multiple points. The glass should be at least toughened, and laminated glass is better still because it holds together if struck. The features to look for are testing to UK standards — PAS 24 is the key security standard, and Secured by Design accreditation shows police-preferred specification. The weak points to avoid are cheap unbranded systems with single-point locks, thin glass, and poor installation. Specified and fitted well, bifolds are no less secure than other external doors.
Because bifolds are mostly glass with several panels, people worry they are easy to break into. The reality depends almost entirely on the locking, the glass and the fit. The sections below explain what makes a bifold secure and what to check before buying.
Bifold security essentials
- LockingMulti-point shootbolts per panel
- GlassToughened minimum, laminated better
- Key standardPAS 24
- AccreditationSecured by Design
- Biggest riskCheap systems, poor fitting
What makes a bifold secure
Security in a bifold comes from three things working together: the locking, the glass and the installation. On locking, a quality bifold uses a multi-point system — shootbolts that drive into the frame head and sill on each panel, plus a hook or deadbolt lock on the main 'traffic' door. That spreads the locking across the whole run so no single panel can be levered free. Cheap systems that rely on one central lock are the ones to avoid.
On glass, the minimum should be toughened (which shatters into blunt fragments), but laminated glass is the stronger choice for security because an interlayer holds the pane together even when broken, so it resists being smashed through. On installation, even a top-quality door is only as secure as its fit — the frame must be properly fixed into a sound structural opening so it cannot be flexed or jemmied out. A good door fitted badly is a weak door.
| Feature | Basic | Secure specification |
|---|---|---|
| Locking | Single-point | Multi-point shootbolts per panel |
| Glass | Toughened | Laminated |
| Cylinder | Standard | Anti-snap (TS007/Kitemark) |
| Standard met | None stated | PAS 24 |
| Accreditation | None | Secured by Design |
| Hinges/track | Exposed weak points | Concealed, robust hardware |
Indicative guidance on what to look for; confirm the exact specification with the supplier.
UK standards and accreditation
Two things tell you a bifold has been independently assessed rather than just marketed as secure. PAS 24 is the UK enhanced-security standard for doors and windows; a door tested to PAS 24 has passed manual and mechanical attack tests simulating forced entry, and PAS 24 is also referenced by Building Regulations Approved Document Q (security in new dwellings). Secured by Design is the official police security initiative — products carrying its accreditation meet a police-preferred specification, which usually includes PAS 24 testing.
It is also worth checking the lock cylinder on the main door: an anti-snap cylinder (look for TS007 3-star or a Kitemark) resists the cylinder-snapping method burglars use on weaker locks. None of this needs to be complicated — asking the supplier to confirm the system is PAS 24 tested, ideally Secured by Design accredited, with an anti-snap cylinder and laminated glass, covers the things that matter and gives you a door that performs as well as any external door on the market.
Frequently asked questions
Are bifold doors easy to break into?
A quality bifold with multi-point locking and laminated glass is not easy to break into — it locks each panel into the frame at several points. The vulnerable ones are cheap systems with single-point locks and thin glass, or any door that has been poorly fitted.
What security standard should bifold doors meet?
Look for PAS 24, the UK enhanced-security standard for doors and windows, which is referenced by Building Regulations Approved Document Q. Secured by Design accreditation goes further, showing a police-preferred specification. An anti-snap cylinder on the main door adds protection.
Is laminated or toughened glass better for bifold security?
Laminated glass is better for security. It has an interlayer that holds the pane together when struck, so it resists being smashed through, whereas toughened glass shatters into fragments. Toughened is the minimum; laminated is the stronger choice where security matters.
Sources & further reading
- Secured by Design — official police security initiative
- gov.uk — Building Regulations Approved Document Q (security)
Figures on this page are typical UK ranges drawn from published sources and depend on your specific opening and material. They are guidance, not a quotation.