Security for sliding glass doors

The locks on these doors are usually less secure than those found on main doors.

Most sliding glass doors are constructed of a type of glass known as tempered glass, which for safety purposes crumbles rather than breaks in shards.

These doors slide on a track installed in the framework of the opening, thus allowing the possibility of being lifted and removed from the track.

Many commercially available locks are manufactured specifically for sliding glass doors. These locks attach to the door or framework and work in combination to prevent the door from being removed from the track.

“Charlie Bars,” devices that put pressure against the sliding portion of the door, can be installed to secure the door in the event the lock is defeated.

A type of glass known as laminated glass can be installed to delay an entry by merely breaking the glass on the door. Laminated glass consists of a piece of plastic laminate sandwiched between two panes of tempered glass. The lamination holds the glass together delaying entry for a longer period of time than afforded by ordinary tempered glass.