Armour Plate Glass Doors

Armour Plate Doors (AP Doors)

At A to Z Glazing we probably survey and replace more Armour-Plate glass doors than any of our competitors. Having over 30 years’ experience, we were installing armour-plate doors when they first became popular.

These doors gradually fell out of fashion due to various factors, such as the gap required all around the door for correct operation. The gap contributed to heat loss, but more importantly, once the Glass door is broken, it allows clear access for wood-be thieves. Once the glass broke, it required a complete new door. However, Armour-Plate doors soon made a comeback, being the door of choice. Armour plate doors now offer great smart design with sleek lines for main office block entrances; combining functionality and looks when built into a structural glass wall or curtain-walling system.

Strictly speaking the term ‘Armour Plate Door’ often shortened to ‘AP Door’ is a bit old fashioned, like us.

The current term is just ‘Toughened Glass Door’, the foundation of these glass doors remains unchanged. There are 3 main types for pivoting doors types A, B & C, however there are a few exceptions to this rule of thumb such as doors pivoted using the ‘manet’ system. Toughened Glass Doors are also available as a sliding door option.

Type A, Toughened Glass Door
Type B, Toughened Glass Door
Type C, Toughened Glass Door

They have stress deliberately introduced into them in a controlled way, causing them to break in a safe manor in accordance with BS EN 12600 Class 1.
Once made their makeup and dimensions can no longer be altered.
As the word Toughened implies, the glass is tougher against face impact due to the thermal alteration undergone in the toughening process.
These doors will also have improved flexibility
Available in float toughened glass, or for extra clarity in low iron toughened glass, there are also several options to providing obscured toughened glass doors.

Toughened glass doors are available in a range of thicknesses, but normally this would be in the range of 10mm to 15mm. If the fittings for a door have been manufactured to accommodate a particular thickness, for example 10mm and the glass needs to be replaced, the same thickness glass would need to be used, unless the fittings are replaced. In a few instances such as with a type A door, it maybe possible to mill the rails allowing a toughened glass door blank up to 2mm thicker to be installed.

Large Glass Door (tall and wide)
Large Glass Door (Tall)

Most Armour plate doors due to their non-apparent nature will require some form of manifestation, this can be very basic in the form of two rows of dots, or as elaborate as your imagination, encompassing company logo’s, images and alike.

Servicing and maintenance

Over time, a glass door will require a bit of TLC and this will greatly depend on the amount of footfall passing through the doorway. The best way to ensure a doorway is always useable and safe for all is by regular maintenance. This can be achieved by a quick bit of easing and adjusting or replacement of parts, but in most of cases no action will be necessary.

If your building boasts several toughened glass doors, we will gladly help put a maintenance programme into place that suits your needs and requirements. The maintenance programme is often tailored to be carried out during engineering hours when fewer staff are around.

Staying Safe

Toughened glass doors are a popular choice for commercial and residential properties because of their strength and safety features. These doors are made by heating ordinary glass to high temperatures and then rapidly cooling it, which creates a surface tension that makes the glass much stronger and more resistant to breakage. In the event that the glass does break, it is designed to shatter into small, harmless pieces that are less likely to cause piercing injuries.

While toughened glass doors are strong and safe, they can be quite heavy due to the weight of the glass. Glass weighs 2.5kg per mm per m2, so a 2m x 1m door made of 12mm thick glass would weigh 60kg without any additional fittings such as rails and handles. This weight should be taken into account when considering the installation of films or bespoke manifestation on toughened glass doors.

Overall, toughened glass doors are a reliable and safe option for commercial and residential properties. Their strength and safety features make them a popular choice, and their weight should be considered when installing additional fittings.

Internal Glass Doors

All the doors mentioned so far relate to internal and external doors in an office or commercial setting. Similar door styles are available that are more suitable for areas of low footfall, such as the domestic market. Often these doors will rely on side mounted hinges rather than a top and bottom pivot. It is normal to reduce the thickness of these doors to 8mm or 10mm. For safety reasons they still must undergo the toughening process.