Visofold Aluminium Bifold Doors
Thermally broken aluminium bifolds that fold an entire wall away, fabricated in Pyle on the Smart Visofold system.
- 1200 × 2500 mm
- Max panel
- 1.4 W/m²K
- U-value
- 30 mm polyamide
- Thermal break
- PAS 24 hardware
- Security
Aluminium bifold doors, explained
Visofold is Smart Systems' aluminium bifolding door and the one we fabricate for trade customers and homeowners across South Wales. Its panels concertina back to one or both sides of the frame, effectively opening up a whole wall and framing the garden beyond. Slim, strong aluminium profiles with a 30 mm polyamide thermal break keep the door efficient, and the hardware is PAS 24 approved. Every door is made at our factory to your opening size and configuration.
Bifolding doors change how a room is used. Effectively opening up an entire wall, they create a relaxed feeling of light and space and bring the garden into the house. Suitable for any room, from a kitchen extension to a garden room or a commercial frontage, the Visofold provides a striking glazed elevation when closed and disappears to the side when open.
The system is a mature one. Smart's current Visofold 1000 profiles carry a wider 30 mm polyamide thermal break in the outer frame, which brings the door's U-value to 1.4 W/m²K with a 1.0 centre-pane unit and foam insulation. Frames are 70 to 82 mm deep with typical sightlines of 122 mm, and the glazing pocket accepts 24, 28, 34, 36 or 38 mm units, so triple glazing and acoustic glass are straightforward.
Security is built into the hardware: the standard roller is PAS 24 approved, the shoot-bolt gearbox and heavy-duty handles lock each panel into the head and cill, and the door can be specified to meet Document Q. Magnetic latches hold the stacked panels neatly when the door is open.
Each door is tailored to its opening. Panels up to 1200 mm wide and 2500 mm high fold to the left, to the right or split to both sides, with a traffic door where you want everyday access without folding the whole run. Low threshold options suit level access, a heritage-style sash is available for older properties, and trickle vents can be built into the head. Colour is any RAL powder coat, with dual colour inside and out.
Why choose Aluminium bifold doors
Opens a whole wall
Panels fold back to one or both sides, clearing almost the entire opening and framing the view beyond.
Thermally broken
A 30 mm polyamide thermal break gives a U-value of 1.4 W/m²K with a 1.0 centre-pane unit; Document L compliant.
PAS 24 approved hardware
Approved rollers, shoot-bolt locking and heavy-duty handles; Document Q capable.
Strong and slim
Aluminium carries big panes on slender profiles, stays true for decades and needs only an occasional wash.
Any RAL colour
Powder-coated in the RAL range, matt or gloss, with dual colour so the inside can differ from the outside.
Configured to the opening
Two to seven panels, folding left, right or both ways, with a traffic door for everyday use.
Configuration
Fold left, right or both ways
The number of panels and where they stack is decided by the opening width and how you use the room. An odd number of panels lets one act as a traffic door, so you can step outside without folding the run. Wide openings often split, with panels stacking to both sides. We will draw the configuration on the quotation so there is no ambiguity.
Thresholds
Level access or weather-rated
A rebated threshold gives the best weather performance and is the usual choice for exposed elevations. Low threshold options suit level access to a patio and internal or sheltered positions. Integrated cills and trickle vent sections are available where the detail calls for them.
Finish
Colour that lasts
Aluminium is powder coated after fabrication, which gives a hard, even finish in any RAL colour. Anthracite Grey (RAL 7016) remains the most requested, usually in matt; black and greys are close behind, and dual colour lets the inside face match the room.
Specifications
Figures are published by the systems manufacturer for the profile system. Performance of a finished window or door depends on size, glazing and hardware; we confirm the specification on your quotation.
Profile
- System
- Smart Visofold 1000Source: Smart Systems, Visofold 1000 product data
- Material
- Thermally broken aluminium (polyamide break)Source: Smart Systems, Visofold 1000 product data
- Frame depth
- 70 mm to 82 mmSource: Smart Systems, Visofold 1000 product data
- Typical sightlines
- 122 mmSource: Smart Systems, Visofold 1000 product data
- Thermal break
- 30 mm polyamide (outer frame)Source: Smart Systems, Visofold 1000 product data
- Maximum panel width
- 1200 mm per sashSource: Smart Systems, Visofold 1000 product data
- Maximum panel height
- 2500 mm per sashSource: Smart Systems, Visofold 1000 product data
Thermal
- U-value
- 1.4 W/m²K using a 1.0 W/m²K centre-pane unit and foam insulationSource: Smart Systems, Visofold 1000 product data
- Glazing
- 24, 28, 34, 36 or 38 mm unitsSource: Smart Systems, Visofold 1000 product data
- Building Regulations
- Document L compliantSource: Smart Systems, Visofold 1000 product data
Security
- Hardware
- PAS 24 approved standard roller (ACDV232); slimline shoot-bolt gearbox; heavy-duty shoot-bolt handles; magnetic stacking latchesSource: Smart Systems, Visofold 1000 product data
- Document Q
- Capable when specified with PAS 24 upgradeSource: Smart Systems, Visofold 1000 product data
Standards
- Certification
- BSI KitemarkSource: Smart Systems, Visofold 1000 product data
Options
- Thresholds
- Rebated, low and level threshold optionsSource: Smart Systems, Visofold 1000 product data
- Other options
- Heritage-style sash; hooded trickle vent sections; integrated cillSource: Smart Systems, Visofold 1000 product data
- Configurations
- Two to seven panels folding left, right or split; traffic door optionSource: KNM Ltd
Finish
- Colours
- RAL powder coat, matt or gloss; dual colour inside and outSource: Smart Systems, Visofold 1000 product data
Fabrication
- Manufactured by
- KNM Ltd, Pyle, BridgendSource: KNM Ltd
- Supply
- Supply only (trade) or supply and install (homeowners, South Wales)Source: KNM Ltd
- Quotation
- Written quotation from your sizes and specificationSource: KNM Ltd
Colours and finishes
Choose a finish to see it on a frame. Dual colour, one colour outside and another inside, is available on this system.
Bifold door elevation, shown in the selected finish
Colours are reproduced as closely as screens allow. Ask for a physical sample before ordering. Availability of individual foils and powder-coat colours is confirmed at quotation.
Configurations
2 panels
Both panels fold to one side. Suits openings of roughly 1.4 to 2.4 m.
3 panels
Three fold one way, or two fold one way with a single traffic door on the other side.
4 panels
All four to one side, or split 2 + 2 to both sides, or 3 + 1 with a traffic door.
5 panels
Typically 3 + 2 or 4 + 1, giving a traffic door and a wide clear opening.
6 and 7 panels
For the widest openings, split to both sides so the stacks stay compact.
Gallery
A bifold is the door people picture when they think of opening the kitchen to the garden. Decide how you will use it day to day: if you nip in and out often, ask for a traffic door so you are not folding four panels to let the dog out. Think about where the stack will sit when open and whether it will block a walkway. Colour is almost always Anthracite Grey or black, but the RAL range is open to you, and dual colour keeps a white interior.
We survey the opening, manufacture the door in Pyle and install it. The bifold in one of our customer reviews was fabricated for a trade order and installed to a delighted client; the same door is available to homeowners directly.
We fabricate Visofold bifolds to your specification for installers, builders and developers: structural opening size in millimetres, number of panels and folding direction (drawn from outside), traffic door position, threshold type, colour inside and out (RAL, matt or gloss), glass specification and any trickle vents or integrated cill. A written quotation follows, with lead times quoted per order.
Doors are manufactured and hardware-fitted at our factory in Pyle, with the panels and frame delivered ready to fit. Ask us about supply of the complementary Visoglide sliding door and Smart window systems for the same project.
Questions about Aluminium bifold doors
Bifold or sliding doors: which should I choose?
Bifolds open up almost the whole width of the opening, which is ideal if you want the room and garden to become one space in summer. Sliding doors keep larger panes and slimmer frames, so the view is better when closed, which is most of the year in Wales. Sliding doors also avoid a stack of folded panels. If the opening is wide and tall, or you want the biggest glass, choose sliding; if you want the widest clear opening, choose bifold. Our guide on bifold or sliding doors compares them in detail.
How many panels will my bifold door need?
Panel width on the Smart Visofold is limited to 1200 mm, so the number of panels depends on the opening width. A 3 m opening is typically three panels; 4 m is usually four; wider openings use five, six or seven panels, often split to stack on both sides. An odd number lets one panel work as a traffic door for everyday use. We will draw the configuration on the quotation.
What threshold options are there for doors?
A rebated (weathered) threshold gives the best protection against driving rain and is the usual choice on exposed elevations. Low threshold options reduce the step for easier access, and level thresholds suit sheltered openings or where Part M level access is required. The VEKA Imagine patio door has a Part M compliant low threshold option and the Smart Visofold and Visoglide systems offer low and level options.
Should I choose PVCu or aluminium?
Both are good materials and we make both. PVCu is the more economical choice, has excellent thermal performance from its multi-chamber frame, and suits most houses in white, colour or woodgrain. Aluminium is stronger, so it carries larger panes on slimmer frames, and it is powder coated in any RAL colour. For windows and standard patio doors most homeowners choose PVCu; for bifolding and large sliding doors aluminium is usually the better engineering choice. Our guide on PVCu or aluminium goes into more detail.
What colours are aluminium doors available in?
Aluminium is powder coated after fabrication, so the choice is the RAL colour range in matt, satin or gloss. Anthracite Grey (RAL 7016) matt is the most popular, followed by black and lighter greys. Dual colour, with a different colour inside and out, is available. Ask for a colour sample before you decide; colours look different in daylight.
“I would just like to say thank you for fabricating our latest job order. The customer was so impressed with the quality, thanks again for speeding it through and delivering on time.”
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