SHEERFRAME MEETS ELY DESIGN REQUIREMENTS

The UK's biggest housebuilder, Persimmon Homes, has incorporated Sheerframe vertically sliding sash and 6000 system casement PVC windows from L.B. Plastics Limited, to help meet planners' design requirements at Canons Way in Ely, Cambridgeshire.

East Cambridgeshire planners demanded that the design of all new houses should be sympathetic to the housing style of the Cathedral city. Leicester-based Coaville Glass & Glazing Co. Ltd, one of the Midlands' leading suppliers of high performance windows to the newbuild market, met this specification with Sheerframe PVC windows.

The windows include a vertically sliding sash, designed specifically for "heritage" applications where the requirement is to match the styling of traditional timber sashes. In addition, the vertically sliding sash tilts in for ease of cleaning, and can be produced with both gothic and Norman arched top sashes. To give improved sight-lines, a deep bottom rail and white gaskets are also incorporated into the design.

Designed specifically for the new housebuilding sector, Sheerframe 6000 casements utilise Sheerframe's own cavity closer fixing system, into which the units are clipped by means of stainless steel cleats. Featuring fully bevelled profiles which incorporate co-extruded gaskets and weatherseals, the casement windows offer added aesthetic appeal as the gasket and sealing system is hidden from the glazing sightline, eliminating the black edge usually found in PVC glazing systems.

Comments Scott Warley, senior buyer at Persimmon Homes (East Midlands) Ltd, "We are always sympathetic to the desires of planners to maintain the character of the areas in which we build homes. Sheerframe windows not only help to meet planners' requirements for design which is in keeping with the surrounding area, but also provide low-maintenance quality windows which will appeal to potential buyers."

Wider Doorways for Elderly and Disabled Residents

Harewood Housing Association has ensured easier access and a higher level of security for disabled and elderly residents by specifying Masterdors on its Evelyn Drive development in Scarborough.

Harewood Housing Association is part of the Chevin Housing Group, which owns around five thousand properties across Yorkshire and Humberside. Three years ago the Association began buying and redeveloping large numbers of prefabricated bungalows. The bungalows were built in 1948 by Scarborough Borough Council, but were only originally meant to have a ten-year lifespan.

The new two bedroom deluxe bungalows are being purpose-built for disabled and elderly residents. As part of the project, the Association will be complying with Scheme Development Standards set down by the Housing Corporation, concerning door widths and threshold heights. These standards state that the requirements will only be satisfied if an external door providing wheelchair access has a minimum clear opening width of 800mm and a threshold that is less than 15mm in height.

By meeting these particular standards and installing back doors with a low glass division line, the Association hopes to give wheelchair-bound and elderly residents easier access to their homes and a better view of the surrounding countryside.

David McKeown, group head of development at Harewood Housing Association comments, 'The properties were originally fitted with timber doors, which had become ill-fitting and insecure. Because the bungalows have been designed for the disabled and elderly, who have particular needs in terms of security and access, we needed to specify a low-maintenance door system that meets these needs but still has aesthetic appeal. A tall order for any door system!'

The Masterdor system proved to fit the bill and was specified by the Association on the front and back of all the properties. Masterdors are able to meet the Association's access requirements because each door is made to measure. In the same way, Masterdor's production technique enables specifiers to meet the requirements laid down in Part M of the Building Regulations for external doorways in residential developments providing wheelchair access.

Whatever size is required, the engineered and factory finished Masterdor always looks in proportion, with stiles and rails remaining constant. With PAS 23 and PAS 24 and Secured By Design accreditation, Masterdor also offers protection against burglary or vandalism and can usually be economically repaired rather than replaced. In every case, Masterdor doorsets are available in a range of colours.

David McKeown says, 'The Masterdor system offered an extremely flexible approach to our requirements and allowed us to offer tenants attractively styled, secure, low-maintenance doorsets without a compromise in the standard of mobility access. We have had extremely positive feedback from tenants and will continue to specify Masterdors on the remaining phases of the development.'

Tel: 01423 866868
Email: mailto:manse@masterdor.demon.co.uk

WEST LEIGH AT UNIVERSITY OF WARWICK

West Leigh has successfully completed a third contract for the University of Warwick's Estates Department, replacing existing wooden windows with a modern high performance metal fenestration system, for the four storey Rootes residential blocks.

In installing 128 pairs of windows installed across the linked blocks D to H, West Leigh supplied all of its own access equipment including tower scaffolds, and was fully responsible for all of its own health & safety provisions as well as finishing works.

The new white polyester powder coated, aluminium framed windows are of the top swing type and each featured two opening casements. The windows, which all have locking handles, are 2.4 metres wide and 1.3 metres high. Toughened glass was used in fabricating the 24 mm thick sealed units which combine with weather stripping and a thermal break to ensure the system's energy performance.

Tel: 020 7232 0030
Email: mailto:info@west-leigh.co.uk
Web: http://www.west-leigh.co.uk

SAS is revved with success for Jaguar

Senior Aluminium Systems curtain wall was supplied to fabricators Peak Aluminium Systems of Nottingham who faceted it to create an impressive visual glazed façade for a new Jaguar car showroom.

The new build on the outskirts of Walton-on-Thames was designed to incorporate 4 no. SAS' SCW single glazed curtain wall screens each approximately 4m wide and 5m high to make up the curved front façade.

SCW non-thermally broken compartment drained box section profiles were faceted to form a semicircular entrance of curtain walling, which was fabricated and fixed on site at angles to give the impression of a curved screen.

Powder coated green in matt finish (BS 14 C 39), the SCW curtain wall was glazed using dual gaskets for aesthetic detail as well as ease. Grey tinted glass was featured to high-level apertures.

Incorporated into the faceted screen work were two pairs of SAS folding/stacking vehicle access doors, fitted with hinges, flush bolts, weatherpile, folding/stacking door gear, tracks and rollers, Specified to have SD 574 top and SD 575 bottom door sections with SD 592 wide plain stile; the SD doors were made up from the Senior Ground Floor System frame, which allows for installation into the curtain wall.

An SAS single fire exit door was also utilised in the new build and was fitted with an overhead closer, threshold and a panic push pad.

Senior Aluminium Systems supplies Britain's commercial aluminium fabricators from five regional service centres in Basildon, Birmingham, Newport, Bradford and Livingston.

Tel: 01709 772600
Email: mailto:enquiry@senioraluminium.co.uk
Web: http://www.senioraluminium.co.uk

IT'S CURTAINS FOR CAERPHILLY COUNCIL AS VEKA SYSTEM IS INSTALLED TO PLAN

Three curtain-walling projects at schools under Caerphilly County Borough Council's jurisdiction have been completed with no disruption to lessons, despite the complexity of the projects.

CCBC's own Direct Labour Organisation (DLO) teams replaced the existing cladding with the VEKA curtain walling system, which was developed specifically to offer ease and speed of installation. The largest assignment, at St Cenydds Comprehensive School, was carried out during the holidays so as not to disrupt the general day-to-day running of the school. The programmes for the other schools were carefully planned to preclude any disruption by carrying out the work around the timetable.

Councillor Darren James, Cabinet Member for Environmental Services and Housing commented: 'The VEKA product portfolio has been on the approved list for Caerphilly County Borough Council for many years for the housing refurbishment programme. It was natural that we should consider VEKA curtain walling to extend our partnership to public buildings.'

Tel: 01282 716611
Email: mailto:salesenquiry@veka.com
Web: http://www.vekauk.com

PILKINGTON ARCHITECTURAL AT THE VERY SEOUL OF SWISS GRAND HOTEL

Constructing a convention centre as an extension to the existing building was the Swiss Grand Hotel's inspired solution to the question of how to grow its business in Korea. The architects, Junglim, wanted to use the Pilkington PlanarTM concept as feature glazing for the entrance and as cladding for the main convention area and Pilkington Architectural worked with them for ten months to develop a glazing solution that would be both attractive and functional.

For the entrance atrium of the Swiss Grand, part of the Swissotel Group, the architects wanted a cone section shape approximately 18m high, which would give a clear, clean looking expanse of glass that would fill the building with natural light. To ensure that the atrium design would be exactly right for the application, a full scale mock up test of a section of the atrium was produced. A 120m2 scale model was built and then successfully tested at Taywoods Cladding Technology Centre in Middlesex. The model was subject to rigorous weather and structural testing to ASTM testing procedures passing the full test first time to the satisfaction of the Korean customer.

The orientation of the atrium was such that solar control was not a major issue, the type of glass selected was clear double glazed Pilkington PlanarTM with low E Pilkington K glassTM on the inner panel to give improved thermal insulation during the cold Korean winter months. The Pilkington PlanarTM panels were fixed with Pilkington PlanarTM castings and special Pilkington PlanarTM bolts back to a slender steel support structure. The total area ofthe Pilkington PlanarTM glazing on the atrium was 1100m2.

For the 1000m2 main convention area, the architects were looking for a simple facade without framing members that would give a feeling of space from the inside of the building with a clearly defined exterior. Junglim specified a special screen print pattern for the convention area for solar control purposes as part of this area was in direct sunlight.

Contact: Phil Savage
Tel: 01744 692 378
Email: mailto:contact@pilkington.com
Web: http://www.pilkington.com

DOORS & WINDOWS UPGRADE FOR NEW ENERGY SAVING SCHEME

South Lakeland District Council, which owns in excess of 3,500 properties, has specified Sheerframe products as part of its Heating and Energy Saving Scheme (HESS), which is to be carried out on houses, maisonettes and bungalows in the Waterside area of Kendal, Cumbria.

The Heating and Energy Saving Scheme has been run by SLDC since 1998 and involves the installation of central heating and various insulation and ventilation measures to upgrade its existing housing stock. The last major phase of the programme is due to begin in Spring 2002 and be completed by the end of the summer, part of which involves the replacement of single glazed timber windows with the Part L compliant Sheerframe 7000 system casement windows on nearly 80 properties.

The result will be a reduction in energy usage because the Sheerframe 7000 casement windows are part of the enhanced thermal performance range, which includes a four-chamber design and comes with co-extruded weatherseals to maximise weather performance. Tenants can also expect a further significant improvement in sound insulation as a result of the installation of a multi-chamber system and double glazing.
As a further part of the HESS scheme in the Waterside area, bespoke door manufacturer, Manse Masterdor ltd, is being specified to replace the existing timber single glazed doors on all properties with pre-finished, made-to-measure composite doorsets.

Tenants have been given an active role in improving the appearance of their homes by being provided with a choice of two styles from the Masterdor “Secured By Design” range of doorsets, in a choice of four nominated colours.

Martyn Hall, a Building Surveyor with Design Construction Services, South Lakeland District Council comments, 'The Heating and Energy Saving Scheme is allowing SLDC to address the problems associated with single glazed windows and doors on a four storey 1970’s housing development. We needed to source low-maintenance window and door systems, which would meet the SLDC requirements of energy performance, appearance and increased security, along with Health and Safety issues associated with cleaning.'

Tel: 01773 852311
Email: mailto:sheerframe@lbplastics.co.uk
Web: http://www.sheerframe.co.uk

PROJECT PARTNERSHIP GIVES SENTINEL THE EDGE

Sentinel Doors, manufacturer of composite doors, has recently completed a contract for Cadwyn Housing Association. The Project Partnership involved the supply and installation of front and rear doors for a new 35-home estate at Clos Ty Bronna.

The Cardiff based housing association, which grew from a group formed by the Catholic Housing Aid Society in 1972, has 1,050 homes for rent in areas throughout the city and aims to provide homes for those in greatest need.

All the Series 100 style doors fitted at Clos Ty Bronna met PAS 23 and 24 standards and were fitted with laminated glass, spyholes, multi-point locks and security chains approved under the 'Secure by Design' scheme.

As part of the Project Partnership, Sentinel attended tenant liaison meetings and helped tenants choose their doors by providing sample products,'Tenants Choice' leaflets and wall charts.

Sentinel also took responsibility for the issue and collection of choice leaflets and provided signed evidence of each tenant's choice. A site survey was then carried out for each property and a detailed and costed contract summary was issued.

Tel: 01443 229219
E-mail: mailto:post@sentinel-doors.com

KAWNEER & HENSHAW COMPLETE £2.75m FAÇADE FOR WORLD CLASS SCOTTISH ENTERPRISE HQ

Kawneer and specialist contractor Charles Henshaw & Sons (Henshaw) have completed a complex £2.75 million façade contract for Scottish Enterprise's new world class headquarters on the banks of the Clyde, at the Broomielaw in Glasgow.

Designed by Building Design Partnership (BDP) for developer Bellhouse Joseph, the building is a seven-storey office block, comprising a combination of open plan office areas and cellular office space. A separate board room facility is situated on the seventh floor.

Main contractor Sir Robert McAlpine appointed Henshaw and Kawneer to the design and build project. With the exception of the pre cast and roofing, Henshaw was responsible for the entire façade, including the supply and installation of Kawneer's facetted curtain walling and windows, as well as feature metal work to the projecting roof, and high performance anodised aluminium and zinc cladding. Kawneer designed, engineered and fabricated all elements of the curtain walling and windows, and took an active role in defining the interface details with the other elements of the project.

Kawneer worked closely with BDP's Iain McNab in order to realise the architect's design intent for the various curtain walling aspects of the project. The building features a combination of Kawneer solutions, many of which incorporate custom detailing to balance aesthetic and structural requirements.

Iain McNab explains, 'A range of technical issues had to be overcome, particularly around the two areas of double height curtain walling, one at ground floor level around the main entrance, and the other in the boardroom. We worked closely with Kawneer and Henshaw to produce solutions which were acceptable both aesthetically and structurally.

'Following Kawneer's suggestion, it was decided to use an alternative system in the boardroom than the one originally proposed at tender, as it would enable us to avoid having to use an additional structure.' Kawneer's 1200 Series curtain walling was subsequently installed in a single, eight metre high span to three sides of the four-sided room. The company enhanced the structural performance properties of its 1200 system by inserting continuous sleeves into the mullion sections. At ground floor level, a double height facetted screen was created using Kawneer's 1600 system; the mullion sections of which, again, contained continuous sleeve inserts.

The main south elevation, overlooking the Clyde, features Kawneer's specially developed 1612 system. Iain McNab explains why the system was necessary, 'The curtain walling had to be capable of accommodating 10mm of live load deflection at the slab edges, which was a result of the very efficient steel frame. The 1612 curtain walling, which incorporates critical elements of Kawneer's 1600 and 1200 systems, is capable of accommodating this deflection.'

To minimise the effects of solar gain in the summer months, the south elevation also features horizontal solar control fins at approximately lOOOmm vertical centres, cantilevered 300mm from the façade. While the fins themselves were a standard extrusion, Kawneer designed and engineered a bespoke bracket, capable of supporting the continuous horizontals, which fixed to the nose ofthe 1612 mullion.

For continuity, the 1612 system was also used for the ribbon windows set into pre cast concrete, while the atrium roof was constructed using Kawneer' s 1200 Slope Glazing system. Kawneer also developed 1500mm wide structurally silicone bonded vents, which are set into 40 metre high vertical strip curtain walling in two of the building's staircases.
Commenting on the curtain walling and cladding elements, Iain McNab says, 'We were very happy with the outcome of the project, and particularly the products. Kawneer and Henshaw paid due regard to the attention to detail which was required on this project.'

Having an anodised finish to the aluminium elements, both pressed metal and curtain walling, was of paramount importance to the client. The means of achieving consistency in the finish was one of the most complex elements of the project. As well as a standard silver, the building features areas of aluminium with an Anolok II dark blue/grey finish, which is much more difficult to control in terms of colour and gloss consistency. Kawneer and Henshaw exercised strict quality control on the manufacture of the finishes, working closely with BDP's consultant metallurgist to ensure these consistencies.

Mark Wainwright, Kawneer's project manager, explains, 'We defined manufacturing parameters with our supplier, LHT Anodisers, which is quite challenging when compared with the powder coating process. Having agreed upper and lower control samples with LHT, we then had to batch the material specifically for our manufacture, which was periodically reviewed by the metallurgist. We would advise him of the manufacturing dates at LHT and then he would inspect the production batches and sign them off.'

All of the curtain walling solutions were subject to a stringent testing regime carried out by the Centre for Window and Cladding Technology, which assessed thermal transmission as well as condensation risk at the interfaces ofthe cladding structure. In addition, the curtain walling which incorporated the solar control fin and fixing bracket, and the ribbon windows which were installed into pre cast concrete panel areas, were comprehensively performance tested at Taywood Engineering's Cladding Technology Centre.

Tel: 01928 502500
Email: mailto:kuk.kawneer@alcoa.com
Web: http://www.kawneereurope.com

GLASS BLOCK STAIRCASE MAKES STUNNING LANDMARK

Constructed in-situ by Luxcrete, glass block walling to a nine-storey staircase on the perimeter of the new national stadium has created a stunning landmark at Cardiff's Millennium Plaza.

The glass block panels, constructed with Luxcrete's 190x190x80mm Flemish pattern blocks, have been designed to withstand a wind load of 1kN/M2 and a balustrade loading of 1.0kN/M2

A range of glass blocks is also available from Luxcrete which are used in a variety of sensitive or high security areas and the company's Luxblocks can provide excellent security in terms of break-through and bullet-resistance.

Tel: 0208 965 7292
Email: mailto:iane@luxcrete.co.uk
Web: http://www.luxcrete.co.uk

WEST LEIGH PLAYS SENSITIVE 'ROLL'

Faithful replication and finely detailed repair work both played their part in the window refurbishment contract carried out by West Leigh Limited on a Grade II* listed property in central London.

The Rolls Building in Chancery Lane is on the Crown Estate and is the former Public Records Office that has been undergoing extensive refurbishment works, for which West Leigh was appointed by main contractor, Wallis. The project, to create a new library and information services building for King's College London, was led by architects Gaunt Francis Associates.

The project architect, Catriona Boulton, comments: 'As this is a listed building we were committed to keeping the original fenestration and contacted West Leigh as a specialist in metal windows, following a recommendation from TFT Cultural Heritage, one of the consultants involved with the project.

'The quality of the work carried out by West Leigh has been of a good standard and we are pleased with the service the company has given.'
The work primarily involved the in-situ stripping and repair of the original metal windows dating from between 1850 - 1900 and removal of all the layers of paint so that their condition could be properly assessed. In many cases the original ironmongery was either beyond repair or missing and West Leigh took samples of each item so that replacements could be cast.

In those instances where existing frames were no longer required, West Leigh removed the old frames and used them either to repair sections of others which were badly corroded or, in a few cases, to fabricate complete windows.

West Leigh completed the majority of its work to schedule earlier this year and is now returning to the site to address repairs in the basement area which had been used for temporary storage prior to the building beginning its new life as a library.

Tel: 020 7232 0030
Email: mailto:info@west-leigh.co.uk
Web: mailto:info@west-leigh.co.uk

VENTROLLA SASH WINDOW RENOVATION RETAINS ORIGINAL STYLE AT CHARACTER HOTEL

Sash window renovation specialists, Ventrolla, have again been called upon to upgrade the original windows of a prestigious hotel.

Weetwood Hall Hotel, on the outskirts of Leeds, incorporates the Manor House, a Grade II listed building, which dates back to 1625. As part of a project to upgrade the traditional annex, which houses Conference rooms, dining areas and offices, in addition to Weetwood Halls luxury bedrooms and feature rooms, Ventrolla West Yorkshire was asked to provide their service to repair and upgrade the original sash windows.

Philip Cox, General Manager at Weetwood Hall, indicated that the hotel had chosen to use Ventrolla because of their previous experience with the sash window experts. The feature rooms within the Manor House are individually styled and decorated, with some of them incorporating character four-poster beds, and an overall aim was to maintain the original style.

Mr Cox confirmed that the objective was to ensure that the sash windows were operating correctly, and without having to replace frames, to also improve security. He stated that Ventrolla had successfully accomplished this:
'We are very happy with the work Ventrolla have done at Weetwood. They have always kept to schedules and have caused a minimum of disruption by being flexible and working around the business we had in at the time'.

In addition to repairs and a full overhaul of the sliding sash windows, as part of their comprehensive service, Ventrolla upgraded the windows using their patented Perimeter Sealing System and provided their Sash Removal System, for ongoing ease of decorating and maintenance.

Tel:01423 859323
Email: mailto:info@ventrolla.co.uk
Web: http://www.ventrolla.co.uk

BWF MEMBER BRINGING LIGHT TO BRADFORD MOSQUE

Extensive curtain walling in hardwood, together with dozens of octagonal and other non-standard shaped hardwood windows are being supplied by a British Woodworking Federation Member for the construction of a new mosque in West Yorkshire.
Bradford Joinery detail designed and fabricated the high specification, double glazed fenestration in styles reflecting traditional lslamic architecture for the new Madni Jamia Mosque in Bradford. The project is being led for the lslamic Cultural and Educational Association by the locally based Priest Woodward Associates, acting as both overall designers and project managers.

While one elevation to the new religious building is to contain over 20 windows, typically measuring 2200 x 1800 or 1100 x 1800 mm, three elevations feature the lslamic style screening; rising more than eight metres to first and second floor levels. Both windows and curtain walling have been fabricated in Utile - a hardwood similar to Sapele, from well-managed sources in South America.

The Architect in Charge for Priest Woodward, Mr Alan Priest, comments: 'The contract was originally specified and tendered in aluminium, but when the various fabricators who had at first expressed an interest were pressed for a quote they all admitted they were unable to produce the special double or S-curves which distinguish the window heads.

'The client therefore turned to local joinery manufacturers and they had no problem in providing what was wanted. The appearance of the windows and the curtain walling is pretty much what we hoped to achieve in aluminium and still hope to achieve very good physical performance. The frames are all being factory treated with high performance wood stains and then coated again in-situ.'

The green tinted glazing has been chosen as a traditional theme colour for lslamic Mosques, also matching the dome which caps the roof to the structure. Bradford Joinery is also producing a series of 12 hand carved doors to form the main entrance to the Madni Jamia Mosque.

Tel: 020 7608 5050
Email: bwf@bwf.org.uk
Web: www.bwf.org.uk

SAS has Next all sewn up

Senior Aluminium Systems box section compartment drained curtain wall rose to the heights of fashion when it was installed by fabricators Peak Aluminium Systems of Nottingham into leading high street retailer, Next.

Designed to be 7m high and 11m wide the thermally broken SCW curtain wall provided the facade of the new build, Castle Quay Shopping Centre in Banbury. It was glazed using dual gaskets for aesthetic effect and powder coated externally in black RAL 9005 satin finish with a silver RAL 9006 internal metallic gloss finish.

Specified to be single glazed, the SCW range can accommodate glazing options from 6mm to 10mm. With a 50mm wide face dimension, the system offers a range of mullion depths to cater for differing structural conditions.

'Aluminium glazing systems offered the project's specifiers significant advantages. Aluminium is strong and light, accepts finishes well and keeps its appearance over time, it won't corrode, warp or crack and is l00% recyclable.' says the company.

Senior Aluminium Systems supplies Britain's commercial aluminium fabricators, including Peak Aluminium, from five regional service centres in Basildon, Birmingham, Newport, Bradford and Livingston. All centres offer a high level of customer service and technical support.

Tel: 01709 772600
Email: mailto:enquiry@senioraluminium.co.uk
Website: http://www.senioraluminium.co.uk

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