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Balcony doors in residential buildings

Balcony doors allow seamless transitions to the outside - the best way to achieve this is barrier-free and with suitable child safety locks.

Just like patio doors and floor-to-ceiling windows, balcony doors are also available to buy, mainly in PVC-U, timber and aluminium. With regard to aspects such as burglary protection, accessibility and child safety, the same requirements apply to all balcony doors. We will show you what is important.

Käuferle - leading German manufacturer of garage doors, partition systems, windows and doors

Value inside.

Käuferle is Germany's leading manufacturer of garage doors, partition systems and enclosures. Around 25 years ago, we also expanded our range to include a wide variety of windows and doors. This range also includes customised solutions for PVC-U balcony doors - a robust, easy-care, light-resistant and weatherproof material that helps to protect your assets in the best possible way.

Craft Made in Germany

Käuferle products are always well thought out in terms of craftsmanship. And so our balcony doors also offer the right solution for every installation situation - whether in detached houses or apartment blocks. What sets them apart are the project-specific dimensions and equipment details. What unites them is the high quality of workmanship, the security standards and the modern technical equipment.

Individually customised

Our balcony doors are customised to your specific project specifications, installation situations and dimensions. If you need assistance in purchasing the right door, we will be happy to help you with the planning. We want to create door solutions that provide plenty of daylight, thermal and sound insulation, security and protection, while at the same time offering many colours, shapes and functions as well as great scope for design.

Security and burglary protection for balcony doors

Why the focus should be on securing balcony doors

In many cases, balcony doors are located at the rear of the building in places that are barely visible, or at least not easily visible, and are often concealed by trees, privacy screens and sun protection elements. In addition, their size alone means that they offer a large target area in the event of a break-in. In terms of effective burglary protection, it is therefore highly advisable to secure balcony doors particularly well.

Burglary protection options for balcony doors

There are many ways to secure balcony doors: for example, security glass, high-quality locks or alarm systems. Roller shutters with anti-lift devices also offer protection. In generally unsafe residential areas, alarm systems and special glass are recommended. In average neighbourhoods and as a first (retrofittable) measure, balcony doors can be fitted with locks (lockable handles) or tilt window protection.

Tilt window protection and balcony doors with lock

The majority of all burglaries occur at floor-to-ceiling windows, balcony and patio doors. Therefore, the mechanical security of balcony doors should always be a priority. Balcony door handles with a lock prevent the balcony door from simply being opened if the glass is broken through. Additional protection is provided by a tilting window guard in the form of a grille (which can also be retrofitted). It not only prevents animals from entering or escaping through tilted balcony doors. Tilting window protectors also ensure that balcony doors are more difficult to prise open from the outside in the event of break-ins.

Important facts about resistance classes for balcony doors

The properties of burglar-resistant balcony doors and windows are categorised into seven resistance classes (RC) in accordance with DIN EN 1627. Basically, the longer windows or balcony doors resist, the higher their resistance class. Essential information on burglar-proof windows and balcony doors, resistance classes and retrofittable security elements can be found here.

Childproof and barrier-free balcony doors

Barrier-free balcony door conversions - only with specialist companies

They don't just make sense for older people, they also make it easier for everyone to access the outdoors comfortably. Converting uncomfortable, non-accessible thresholds is therefore always worthwhile. However, as conversions are usually customised, caution is required. In particular, it is essential to ensure that the window profiles are correctly sealed and drained. Specialist companies are also happy to provide information on state funding opportunities in connection with conversions for greater accessibility.

Barrier-free balcony doors without thresholds and tripping hazards

Access to balconies without thresholds is generally not possible with standard frame profiles. However, there are special barrier-free constructions that only require a threshold around 2 cm high to ensure tightness against wind and weather. Balcony doors equipped with magnetic seals are completely threshold-free. When the doors are closed, magnetic strips ensure a secure, barrier-free closure of the floor joint.

Options for child safety locks on balcony doors

For small children, plug-in systems that make it difficult to turn the balcony door handle may be sufficient as child safety devices for balcony doors. However, if older children are involved, more effective safety devices are required: for example, opening limiters and lockable balcony door handles, but also safety devices for the tilt function. It is also important that tilted balcony doors cannot simply slam shut (e.g. in a draught) and trap children's fingers.

Child safety locks usually also mean more burglary protection

One quality feature for childproof balcony doors, for example, is compliance with DIN EN 16281 - child safety products. This standard provides information on childproof locking devices for windows and balcony doors. If you opt for child-resistant balcony doors, you will always get more secure balcony doors in terms of burglary protection. This is because, in principle, both fulfil the same objective: to make it more difficult to open the balcony door.

Correct adjustment and sealing of balcony doors

Sealing against wind and weather

The biggest challenge for balcony and patio doors in terms of sealing is the tightness against driving rain - the combination of heavy rain and wind, which is classified according to DIN EN 12208 and DIN EN 1027. When testing balcony doors, for example, the extent to which frame profiles bend under various wind loads and thus impair the wind tightness of the rebate and sealing areas is measured. In terms of building physics, driving rain and wind tightness are closely linked to thermal insulation, for which both types of tightness are essential.

Energy efficiency and thermal insulation for balcony doors

Thermal insulation is an essential component of thermal insulation and energy efficiency for all types of balcony door and window frames. This is because heat loss occurs not only in the glass surface, but also in the frame profiles of the balcony door. Wooden balcony doors are naturally insulated by the air contained in the wood, while filigree bars and cavities filled with insulating material in the balcony door frame ensure good thermal insulation in PVC-U balcony doors.

Scissor stay bearing wobbles, door jams in the centre - tips for adjusting balcony doors

Problematic leaks in balcony doors can be attributed to various causes. If the balcony door jams at the bottom or in the centre or if the scissor stay bearing on the top of the door wobbles, this indicates that the door leaf is hanging crookedly and needs to be readjusted. As long as no serious signs of wear have paralysed the turn/tilt mechanism, adjustments can easily be made using Allen adjustment screws in the corner or scissor stay bearing. However, defective balcony door seals may also be the cause of poor tightness, which can easily be replaced or supplemented with sealing strips.

Frequently asked questions about balcony doors

Here you will find answers to frequently asked questions about balcony doors:

What materials does Käuferle use for its balcony doors?

We produce balcony doors from PVC-U profiles - a material that is as robust and easy to clean as it is light-resistant and weatherproof.
What points speak in favour of lockable handles for balcony doors?

On the one hand, lockable handles ensure efficient child safety, on the other hand they offer good conditions for optimum burglary protection.
Can barrier-free thresholds also be installed in existing balcony doors?

Yes, that is possible. However, these are almost always customised products that are best planned and installed by specialist companies.
Why should balcony doors be wind and driving rain-proof?

Both types of sealing are closely linked to thermal insulation - cold air flows into the interior through leaky balcony doors. This can condense on the door frame and in the reveal and cause moisture damage.

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