Telescopic vs bi-parting sliding doors is a common question when planning a wide automatic entrance, because both open from a single header but they use the wall beside the opening very differently. Coetz™ and MC Automations supply both on the MC-125 operator, assembled in South Africa at Laser Park, Johannesburg. This guide compares the two so you can brief your architect or shopfitter.
In this guide
Telescopic vs bi-parting sliding doors: how each opens
- Bi-parting sliding door: two moving leaves meet in the middle and slide apart, each one parking beside a fixed panel or wall on its own side.
- Telescopic sliding door: each side has two or more slimmer moving leaves on parallel tracks that stack behind each other as they open.
Because telescopic leaves stack, they need less wall space to park than one wide bi-parting leaf. That is the core of the telescopic vs bi-parting sliding doors choice.
Telescopic vs bi-parting sliding doors compared
| Point | Bi-parting | Telescopic |
|---|---|---|
| Moving leaves | One per side | Two or more per side |
| Wall space needed | More | Less |
| Clear opening from the same frame | Narrower | Wider |
| Mechanism | Simpler | More parts, more setup |
| Price | MC-125 kit R27 590 excl. VAT | Price on request |
| Best for | Most shop and office entrances | Tight walls, very wide openings |
When bi-parting is the better choice
- There is enough wall beside the opening for each leaf to park.
- Budget matters: a bi-parting MC-125 is a fixed-price kit, while telescopic is quoted per project.
- Fewer parts mean simpler servicing on everyday shop, clinic and office entrances.
See motorised sliding doors for MC-125 layouts and prices.
When telescopic is the better choice
- Display windows, columns or corners leave little wall beside the door.
- The opening must be very wide for beds, trolleys or crowds, without widening the building.
- A renovation keeps an existing wide opening in the same structure.
See automatic telescopic doors for how they work.
Telescopic vs bi-parting sliding doors in day-to-day use
In daily use, people walking through cannot tell the two apart: both open hands-free on a sensor and close behind them. The differences in telescopic vs bi-parting sliding doors show up behind the scenes:
- Setup: a telescopic door has more leaves to align and adjust when it is commissioned.
- Servicing: more carriages and tracks to clean and check at each six-monthly service.
- Cleaning: the stacked leaves sit close together, so keep the tracks free of grit and debris.
- Breakout and escape: where the entrance is on an escape route, your consultant confirms the fire and building requirements for either type.
What both share
Both run on the MC-125 operator, tested to one million operating cycles, with a 24-month warranty on the operator and service every six months. MC Automations installs both; installation is included in Gauteng and quoted per project elsewhere in South Africa. Both use safety glass, which must comply with SANS 10400-N, published by the South African Bureau of Standards.
Deciding on telescopic vs bi-parting sliding doors
- Measure the opening and the wall either side.
- Count the traffic at the busiest time of day.
- Note obstacles: columns, windows, corners and services in the wall.
- Send photos and sizes for a survey and quote.
Also compare framed vs frameless sliding doors and automatic sliding doors vs swing doors.
Telescopic vs bi-parting sliding doors: frequently asked questions
What is the difference between telescopic and bi-parting doors?
A bi-parting door has one moving leaf per side, while a telescopic door has two or more per side that stack, so it needs less wall space for the same opening.
Is a telescopic door more expensive than a bi-parting door?
Usually yes, because it has more leaves and parts. A bi-parting MC-125 kit is R27 590 excluding VAT, while telescopic doors are price on request.
When should I choose a telescopic door?
Choose telescopic when there is little wall beside the opening, or when a very wide opening is needed without changing the structure.
Do telescopic and bi-parting doors use the same operator?
Yes. We supply both on the MC-125 operator, assembled in South Africa at Laser Park in Johannesburg.
Who installs them?
MC Automations installs both types; installation is included in Gauteng and quoted per project elsewhere in South Africa.
Coetz™ and MC Automations, 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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