Slimline Sliding Door Weather Resistance: What You Need to Know

There’s plenty to consider when investing in new sliding doors. From the aesthetics to the price, from security to thermal efficiency, there are all kinds of different factors to weigh up. But one that sometimes gets overlooked is weather resistance.

We all expect our doors to be weather resistant, but different products perform differently in this regard. Some are more resistant to the elements than others, and unlike thermal efficiency, there are no minimum standards that sliding doors have to adhere to.

If you’re in the market for slimline sliding doors and want to know how to choose weather-resistant products that have been built to last, we’re going to fill you in on all the must-know information in this article.

What does ‘weather resistance’ mean?

When we use the term ‘weather resistance,’ we’re referring to a number of different factors:

• Water tightness: How well doors can resist rainfall. The latest products on the market should have no trouble resisting even the most torrential rainfall.
• Air permeability: How resistant a door is to drafts; some older or less well-made products can let a draft in, making your home cold in winter.
• Wind load: Doors should be able to withstand strong winds without being damaged or rattling.

Weather resistance is not to be confused with a U-value, which purely measures energy efficiency (not the durability of the product).

What testing do sliding doors go through?

Because there is no minimum required standard for weather resistance, testing isn’t compulsory – but if you’re investing in new doors, you should make sure their weather resistance has been independently verified.

All products that are tested for weather resistance go through the same process, being subjected to high air and water pressure to simulate harsh weather conditions. They are essentially tested to destruction, the final grading being given based on how long the seals can resist the air and water for.

Slimline sliding door installations

As one of Britain’s premier installers of slimline sliding doors, at Klosen we’re very particular about the products we supply. Our Senior Architectural Systems doors have been tested to BS6375 weathertightness standards, while our Cortizo products have been independently verified for air permeability, water tightness and wind resistance (Class 4, E1200 and CE 2400 respectively). Learn more about what we do today or get your free quotation.