Bifold Doors.

[gness]

I am considering having bifold doors from my patio into the dining room.

The ones I chose have a handle inside which locks the doors with no key lock and no handle outside.

I have asked the builder and the manufacturer if this satisfies the requirements on my house insurance policy.....they say it does....
I emailed my insurance company and the reply I got needs a better brain than mine to understand....

Now, if my insurance company requires me to have five lever locks on my doors and key locks on my windows how does the bifold door recommended to me comply?
I would have thought it was just like a large window and needed to be able to be key locked from inside.....or...if it's considered a door to have a locking system like my other doors....

I hope I've made myself clear and would like advice from someone who knows or has had these doors with no locking system or outside handle fitted....and no insurance problems....

Thanks....Gx

[woofgang]

Honestly if it was me, I would be going back to the insurance company and asking for a yes or no answer.... because whatever we say, it will cut no ice with the insurance company if you need to claim and they say oh that doesn’t meet with our requirements.

[gness]

Thanks, Woof....I will of course...I just hoped someone had had the same dilemma......

Trying to get a yes or no from an insurance company is like knitting custard.......I hoped for that and got four pages of rules!.... :-)

I can of course fit my own locks later.....but it's raised my curiosity and maybe there are folk who have had bifold doors fitted without considering this may cause a future problem.....x

[Ryzen]

I cant see why a 3 star rated lock cannot be fitted to a bi fold door.I would not accept the doors without a lock.

[The Builder]

There's all kinds of nonsense talked about window and door security, Gness. No one is ever sure exactly what is needed.

For patio doors... they should be treated much the same as any other external door. With double doors, the problem is that they can be barged inwards from outside. So, "espagnolette" type are usually fitted. They have "shoots" that locate top & bottom into the frame.
So... barging-proof.

The next issue is thus... Insurance companies know that people do break in, or maybe enter through an open window. In that event, their concern is that once inside..... your patio doors can be undone (because there is no deadlock) ... then all kinds of large items can be carried out easily through the patio doors.

The usual answer is to have a lockable espagnolette, or fit "Chubb" mortice key-operated deadlocks into the edges of the 2 doors. These shoot into the frame. So they can't be opened without the key.

These are "Yale"...... same thing...... (ignore the brass - they can be other finishes).

http://www.screwfix.com/p/yale-door-security-bolts-polished-brass-76mm-2-pack/74618?kpid=74618&;gclid=CIOesdLZ7dQCFcyRGwodxIYCcA&gclsrc=aw.ds&dclid=CITWxtLZ7dQCFUSmUQod8fMMvw

[gness]

Thank you, Ryzen....I will be having a lock fitted but I wonder how many folk take the word of the manufacturer...until they have a break in....x

Thank you, Mr Builder...that is what I discovered when I received the email from the insurance company......

Your information is so useful and just what I needed....thank you very much!

Gx