Aluminium sliding door glass is the biggest part of the door, so it decides how safe, quiet and bright the room is. Every Coetz™ sliding door is glazed with safety glass, as the building regulations require for large glazed doors. Most ranges use 6.38 mm laminated glass; a few sizes use toughened glass. This guide explains which glass each range uses, how laminated and toughened glass differ, and what to do if a pane breaks.
In this guide
Why sliding doors need safety glass
A sliding door is a large pane at floor level, exactly where people walk, run and sometimes misjudge an open door. South African building regulations require safety glass in doors and in low-level glazing like this. See where safety glass is required and SANS 10400-N.
Aluminium sliding door glass by range
| Range | Aluminium sliding door glass |
|---|---|
| StormSeal | 6.38 mm clear laminated |
| Premier | 6.38 mm clear laminated |
| Premier Multi | 6.38 mm clear laminated |
| Horizon | 6.38 mm clear laminated |
| Elite | 6.38 mm clear laminated, except some 2 400 and 2 700 mm-high sizes, which are toughened |
| Patio | 5 mm clear toughened on many sizes, including every 2 panel door at 2 100 mm high; 6.38 mm laminated on the rest |
Each product page states the aluminium sliding door glass for that exact size, so check it when you choose.
Laminated or toughened?
Both are safety glass, but they behave differently when they break.
Laminated glass
Two layers of glass are bonded to a plastic interlayer. If the pane breaks, the pieces stick to the interlayer and the pane stays in the frame. That makes it harder to climb through, and it cuts outside noise compared with ordinary glass. See laminated glass noise reduction.
Toughened glass
Toughened glass is heat-treated to be much stronger than ordinary glass. If it does break, it shatters into small, blunt pieces instead of sharp shards, and the pane falls out of the frame.
| Laminated | Toughened | |
|---|---|---|
| On breaking | Holds together in the frame | Crumbles into small blunt pieces |
| Strength | Standard | Much stronger than ordinary glass |
| Noise | Cuts outside noise | Similar to ordinary glass |
For more detail, read toughened vs laminated glass.
Clear glass only
Aluminium sliding door glass from Coetz™ is supplied clear. For privacy, think about position, blinds or curtains rather than obscured glass.
If a pane breaks
- Make it safe. Keep people and pets away, and tape over a cracked laminated pane.
- Measure the glass or note the door’s size and range, so the right pane is ordered.
- Replace like for like. A door must get safety glass again, never ordinary float glass.
Coetz™ supplies glass cut to size; see glass cut to size. Your glazier or installer fits it, using setting blocks as SANS 10137 requires, and makes sure laminated glass never stands in water.
Glass and security
No glass makes a door burglar-proof, but the type affects what happens if someone tries. Laminated glass stays in the frame when broken, so it is slower and noisier to get through. Toughened glass is harder to break in the first place, but once broken the opening is clear. Either way, the hook lock, a solid frame fixing and good lighting outside matter as much as the glass.
Glass and weight
Large panes are heavy, which is why aluminium sliding door glass is always handled upright by at least two people and why the rollers carry the weight on the bottom track. A heavy panel that drags is usually a roller or track problem rather than a glass problem.
Looking after the glass
Clean aluminium sliding door glass with a soft cloth and a glass cleaner, never abrasive pads or blades that scratch. Keep the track clean so the panel does not judder, which strains the glass at the corners. See aluminium sliding door rollers.
Ordering
Coetz™ supplies only, so your builder or installer fits the door. We deliver across South Africa, or you can collect free from Laser Park. The national standards framework is published by the South African Bureau of Standards. For all ranges, see aluminium sliding doors and aluminium sliding door sizes.
Aluminium sliding door glass: frequently asked questions
What glass is in an aluminium sliding door?
Safety glass. Most ranges use 6.38 mm clear laminated; many Patio sizes and a few tall Elite sizes use toughened.
Is laminated or toughened glass better?
Both are safety glass. Laminated holds together when broken and cuts noise; toughened is stronger and breaks into blunt pieces.
Can I get tinted or frosted glass?
Sliding doors are supplied with clear glass.
Can I replace a broken pane with ordinary glass?
No. A door must be reglazed with safety glass.
How do I know which glass my door has?
The product page for each size states the glass.
Coetz™, Unit 2, 84 Ridge Road, Laser Park, Johannesburg. Call 010 412 0062, WhatsApp 076 613 4418 or use our contact page.
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