Merlyn Showering Essence Hinge and Inline 1200 Fixed Panel, Shower Screen, Shower Enclosure Glass Panel, Fixed Side Panel, Inline Panel

A shower enclosure is the glass and frame that keeps water inside the showering area. This category covers sliding, bi-fold, pivot and hinged doors, quadrant, pentagon and corner entry enclosures, and the side panels that go with them, in a range of widths, frame finishes and glass patterns.

Door and enclosure types

• Sliding doors: one or two panels slide past each other, so no room is needed for the door to swing. They suit wider openings.
• Bi-fold doors: the door folds back on itself as it opens, which helps where space in front of the shower is tight.
• Pivot and hinged doors: swing outwards, so leave clear floor space in front. Some are handed left or right.
• Quadrant and pentagon: curved or five-sided shapes that fit into a corner.
• Corner entry: two doors that open from the corner.

Sizes and glass

Measure the shower tray and the recess, and choose a door and side panel from the same range so they fit together. Doors and panels have an adjustment range to allow for walls that are not perfectly upright, so check it against your measurements. Glass comes clear, satin or patterned, depending on how much privacy you want.

Look for enclosures made to BS EN 14428, which sets performance requirements and test methods for domestic shower enclosures and calls for thermally toughened safety glass to BS EN 12150.

Fitting

Fix the profiles to sound walls, and seal the joints with a sanitary sealant, which is covered by BS EN 15651-3. Leave the sealant to cure for the time given on the cartridge before the shower is used.

For showers and shower valves, see bathroom showers; for silicone and other sealants, see sealants and adhesives.