Design fully accessible folding sliding doors

Installing accessible doors can be a problem, as not all door mechanisms work properly when sunk into the floor. Parallel tilt and slide doors for example, are based on the option of lifting the door leaves out of the frame in parallel – unfortunately, this mechanism cannot be integrated into the floor.

Also, not all models are easy to open for people with walking disabilities. Front doors with an automatic closing function, for example, can pose a greater problem for many people than door types which are difficult to open anyway due to the position of the handle.

If you can live without automatic locking functions, then a folding sliding door is the best door for you, as this can be easily installed as an accessible door. There are four main reasons for this:

• Good position of the door handle
• Simple horizontal opening
• Variable width of the door opening
• Optional installation without threshold

While aspects such as the position of the door handle, and the installation without a threshold also make lift and slide doors accessible, folding sliding doors which are manufactured as accessible are easy to open, and available with many different types of opening which gives them a greater advantage. Since this system consists of individual sash segments, much less force is required to push the door open, compared with lift-and-slide doors. The segmentation of the door allows you to determine the number of segments to be moved when opening. Even wide wheelchairs will easily fit through the door opening.

If you want to make a foldable balcony or patio door accessible according to DIN 18040-2, the main part is completed during the installation. The design of a folding sliding door facilitates easy opening and closing. You have to make sure that the door is easy to get through.

Laminated safety glass provides an additional plus in everyday security, as it effectively prevents burglaries.

Accessible folding sliding doors are easy to use thanks to the threshold-free installation. For this purpose, the lower part of the window frame is embedded in the floor. However, this is work that requires the input of a window and door specialist, because when unfolding, the individual door segments swing out slightly and can easily scratch the floor or even get stuck completely if the floor is uneven or the door is installed at an angle. Even accessible folding sliding doors can easily be customised by painting them in one of the many available RAL colours - depending on the material - and by attaching foils to the frame or glass.

The right door is an indispensable basic component for the accessibility of an apartment according to DIN 18040-2. For this purpose, folding sliding doors can be installed as completely accessible and are convenient and secure.

At windows24.com, the desired options for folding sliding doors can be entered in the product configurator and are immediately visible in the order.