What types of glass partition door are there?
Choosing the door is as important as choosing the partition, because the door is used every day, sets the tone for the room and is often the weakest point acoustically. Frameless doors are single panes of toughened glass, usually 10mm or 12mm, hung on pivots, patch fittings or hinges. Framed doors set glass in an aluminium, steel or timber frame, which allows seals, locks and integral blinds. Sliding doors run on a track, either surface-mounted or concealed within a pelmet.
Door choice should match the partition system and the room's purpose. A frameless door in a frameless single glazed screen gives a clean, open look. A framed double glazed door in a double glazed partition maintains acoustic performance and blind continuity. Crittall-style doors match black framed screens, with glazing bars aligned to the adjoining panels.
How do the main door types compare?
The table compares the most common door options for glass partitions. Prices are 2026 guide figures for supply and install of a single door with standard hardware, excluding VAT, and are confirmed after a free site survey. Double doors, premium handles, access control and fire rated configurations sit at or above the upper end of the range.
| Door type | Suits | Acoustics | Guide price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frameless pivot | Open, minimal glass screens | Limited, gaps at edges | £850–£1,600 |
| Frameless hinged | Frameless screens, frequent use | Limited, can add seals | £900–£1,700 |
| Sliding glass | Tight spaces, no swing room | Lower, hard to seal | £1,100–£2,200 |
| Framed double glazed | Meeting rooms needing privacy | Good, perimeter and drop seals | £1,300–£2,400 |
| Crittall-style framed | Feature rooms with black frames | Moderate to good, system dependent | £1,400–£2,600 |
Which door type should you choose for acoustic privacy?
Framed doors with perimeter seals and an automatic drop seal at the threshold usually outperform other door types acoustically in glass partitions. A frameless pivot door needs small gaps around its edges to swing freely, and those gaps let sound through, so even a high-performing glass wall can be undermined by the door. Frameless hinged doors can take brush or rubber seals, which help but rarely match a framed door. Sliding doors are hard to seal well and suit spaces where privacy is not critical.
For confidential rooms, specify the door at the same acoustic level as the partition and ask for the manufacturer's test data for the door assembly, not just the glass. Check that the floor is level enough for a drop seal to close fully, as an uneven threshold leaves a gap that undermines the rest of the room.
What hardware options are available?
Hardware affects how the door feels, how it is secured and how it complies with accessibility guidance. Pull handles range from slim round bars to D-handles and full-height bars, in finishes such as satin stainless steel, polished chrome and matt black. Closers can be concealed in the floor as floor springs, mounted overhead, or built into the pivot or hinge. Soft-close and hold-open functions are available on many systems.
- Pull handles: round bar, D-handle or full-height
- Locks: patch locks, corner locks or framed mortice locks
- Closers: floor springs, overhead or integrated hydraulic hinges
- Seals: perimeter, brush and automatic drop seals
- Finishes: satin stainless, chrome, matt black or bronze
- Signage and manifestation on the door leaf
Can glass doors be locked and fitted with access control?
Yes. Frameless doors can take patch locks at the bottom rail or corner locks, keyed to suit, while framed doors can take standard mortice locks and cylinders. For access control, framed doors are usually easier to adapt because they can house electric strikes, magnetic locks and concealed cable routes. Frameless doors can be prepared for access control, but it needs planning before the glass is made, because holes and notches for hardware cannot be added after toughening.
If you might add access control in future, say so at survey. The installer can then allow for cable routes, door contacts and suitable lock positions, so that an access control contractor can connect later without replacing the door. Doors on escape routes must still open freely from inside, so the access control design should follow fire safety guidance.
What regulations apply to glass doors?
Glass doors must use safety glass to BS EN 12150 or BS EN 14449, impact classified to BS EN 12600, and carry manifestation so they can be seen, in line with Approved Document K section 7. Approved Document M covers clear opening widths, opening forces, contrast and ironmongery heights. Doors on escape routes should generally open in the direction of escape where occupancy requires it. Fire doors must be part of a tested or assessed assembly to BS EN 1634-1, installed as tested, with matching hardware.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a pivot and a hinged glass door?
A pivot door rotates on pins fixed into the floor and head, often with a floor spring to control closing. A hinged door hangs on hinges clamped to the glass edge, fixed to a wall, frame or adjoining pane. Hinged doors can usually take seals more easily, while pivot doors give a cleaner look.
Can you add a lock to a frameless glass door?
Yes. Frameless doors commonly use a patch lock at the bottom of the door, locking into a floor keep, or a corner lock locking into a side keep. Locks must be planned before the glass is made, because toughened glass cannot be drilled or notched after toughening.
Are sliding glass doors good for meeting rooms?
Sliding doors save space and look sleek, but they are harder to seal than hinged or framed doors, so they suit rooms where acoustic privacy is less important. For confidential meeting rooms, a framed door with perimeter and drop seals usually performs better.
How much does a glass partition door cost?
Guide prices are £850–£2,600 per door, supply and install, excluding VAT. Frameless pivot doors sit at the lower end, while framed double glazed and Crittall-style doors with premium hardware sit at the upper end. Prices are confirmed after a free site survey.
Guide prices are supply and install, excluding VAT, and are confirmed by a fixed quote after a free site survey. Regulatory information is general guidance; your Building Control body, landlord or fire engineer has the final say on a specific project.