Glazing that gives more
Thermally efficient, secure and sleek in design — aluminium bi-fold doors offer the whole package when it comes to choosing performance glazing for your home
The focus on thermal efficiency in glazing systems — keeping homes warm and preventing energy and money being wasted — has never been greater, as gas and electricity prices rise.
Will Mitchell, Sunflex UK’S trade account manager, offers some advice and ideas on installing aluminium bi-fold doors for those planning a renovation project.
Has the choice of aluminium bi-fold doors been affected by recent building regs changes?
Since June 2022, Building Regulations have included new standards to reduce energy use and carbon emissions during home improvements. For those tackling an extension or renovation, it’s important to find the balance between performance, thermal efficiency and aesthetic appeal when it comes to glazed doors.
The Sunflex Sf75eco aluminium bi-fold door system ticks all those boxes. It’s been designed by Sunflex in Germany, with more than 35 years of folding door experience, and combines slender frames, large panel sizes (up to 3000mm tall and up to 1200mm wide), the widest range of configuration options, and unbeatable thermal performance standards — making it perfect for whatever project is planned.
How does the Sf75eco compare to other bi-fold doors?
The Sf75eco has been specifically designed with thermal performance in mind. It features a huge 44mm thermal break that limits heat loss through the frames of the doors. As a result, no aluminium folding door system on the market can provide better energy-efficiency standards — with the doors even capable of meeting Passivhaus standards, with U-values from just 0.8W/M2K (based on a centre-pane of 0.5W/M2K).
What configuration options are available?
The Sf75eco is the most versatile of any aluminium bi-fold door system. It can be configured to almost any design requirements — whether you’re looking for a single set of doors across the back of your house, or a huge expanse of glazing across a much larger aperture. The doors can be designed to open inwards or outwards, with anything from two to 22 panels, and can open from the left or right, or even from the centre.
The Sf75eco can be designed as French doors for smaller apertures; manufactured with horizontal bars to mimic the appearance of traditional steel doors; include a moveable post to create completely open corners, or even manufactured as a curved (or faceted) set for homes with a sweeping design.
Who are the Sunflex Sf75eco bi-fold doors installed by?
Sunflex UK works with a handpicked network of distributors that cover the entire UK, from small local companies to larger installers who offer national coverage. For more information about the Sf75eco, and to find your nearest Sunflex UK distributor visit sunflexuk.co.uk.