Bowater By Birtley Covers All Bases With High Performance Fire Door

Bowater by Birtley set out its stall at the beginning of the year that it would offer choice to the market. Following news of its double rebate and flood composite doors, the company says it is pleased to promote its 60 minute fire rated door.

“We offer both 30 minute and 60 minute fire rated doors, to give our customers the most appropriate product for each individual project,” says Kevin Kiernan of Bowater by Birtley. “A year ago, we made a promise to our customers that we would give them the range so that they had the choice, but perhaps the most important areas for delivering fit for purpose products is in fire and flood protection and we have both.

“As the names suggest, a 30 minute fire door holds fire back for 30 minutes, known as a having 30 minutes integrity time. A 60 minute fire door has 60 minutes integrity. The test fully exposes one side of the door to intense heat and fire which would be just like a real fire – the fire door’s integrity and stability is then assessed and approved.

“Product testing is always important, but never is it more critical than in the areas of flood or fire protection. Where lives are at risk, there can be no compromise. The team at Bowater by Birtley take this responsibility seriously on behalf of our customers, whose reputations are at risk, and of course on behalf of the end users, who are relying on us to supply fit for purpose, high performance products.”

For more information call 0845 121 5376 or visit www.bowaterbybirtley.co.uk

A multi-million pound project to create an exclusive residential development in a Cheshire conservation area, which has given a new lease of life to a beautiful unused Victorian church, has utilised Promat UK’s high performance, fire-resistant glass range.

The Trinity development at Bowdon near Altrincham by Hale Estates has created nine luxury residences in a variety of configurations and sizes from one to three bedrooms. The project has converted the former Trinity United Reformed Church, which dates from 1872 but was last used as a place of worship in 2004. Designed by award-winning architects Ollier Smurthwaite, the new properties sensitively respond to the material and detailing of the impressive Grade II listed building, with new components sitting sympathetically within the volume of the historic structure, taking reference from existing forms and fabric.

One of the building’s key features, given its ecclesiastical heritage, is the 3m wide communal corridor which passes through the centre of the church. This gives views up to the church roof and allows the original clerestory windows to provide natural light into the centre of the building. Maintaining this spectacular communal aspect with its original features and window shapes, whilst delivering superior quality properties with assured levels of fire protection and acoustic insulation, was the brief met by Promat UK, whose Glazing for Life® ethos is centred on delivering assured passive fire protection.

The 45mm glazing units provided by Promat UK were required to achieve strict acoustic and fire protection standards, in numerous shapes consistent with the Gothic style windows. The solution was a sealed unit specification incorporating EI60 fire rated insulated glass units. These are fitted into oak frames to deliver high quality windows which reflect the high-end specification of the development.

This sealed unit specification ensures the windows provide assured passive fire protection to EI60 – 60 minutes minimum for the window’s integrity as well as insulation from the heat of any fire. This protects the communal areas to provide a safe, sufficient window of opportunity for residents and visitors to exit the building safely in the event of a fire.

In addition to the fire protection dimension, the glazing units also work to provide residents with insulation from unwanted external noise in the communal areas. This is achieved through the glass types used and their thicknesses, to deliver windows with an acoustic sound reduction level of a minimum of 43db.

Cath McLean, Segment Manager – Glass at Promat says: “The team at Promat worked with Hale Estates at an early stage to provide specialist guidance through the design and specification stages of the project, and we continued to work closely with them right through to installation. This ensured we were able to provide a high quality solution that met the full specification criteria and stringent fire ratings in what is ultimately a stunning residential development by Hale Estates.”

www.promat-glass.co.uk 

Prefix Systems has launched a new eight page Urbanroom brochure, which details the features and capabilities of its contemporary glazed extension.

According to Prefix, Urbanroom – which boasts full height glazing, a choice of four corner design options, Ultrasky roof and the option for bi-folding or patio doors – was well received at its FIT Show launch in 2017, by installer partners who were keen to take advantage of the full kit aluminium system.

Urbanroom also features the LivinRoom internal pelmet for the adoption of spotlights and integrated speakers and a 225mm deep gutter shroud, which is said to make the glazed extension appealing to consumers. For the trade, says Prefix, one of the key features of the shroud is a multi-functional and structural water deflector to ensure water flows where it should. The deflector also provides a clean line and uncluttered finish to the rear face of the shroud, which Prefix claims is often a neglected area with other systems.

Marketing co-ordinator, Hannah Gilrane, commented: “The new Urbanroom brochure is there to support our installer partners who are eager to start selling this new genre of glazed extension. With on trend colours such as RAL 7015 and 7016, the overall look and feel is vastly different to that of a traditional conservatory.

“With fully glazed, rendered, brick or Loggia corner options, along with a Georgian or double hipped Edwardian aluminium roof and hundreds of RAL colours to choose from, there’s plenty of design variation for both consumers and the trade.”

www.prefixsystems.co.uk

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Gloucester-based specialist aluminium window and door supplier, CDW Systems, recently teamed up with Black Millwork to supply products for a show home at the National Self Build and Renovation Centre in Swindon.

Black Millwork is a major supplier of wooden windows and doors to new build and refurbishment projects across the UK. They specialise in American timber windows, but their extensive range also includes innovative products such as aluminium-clad timber windows and doors.

The company currently has a number of permanent displays at the centre in Swindon. Amongst these, a Reynaers CP130 lift and Slide aluminium patio door can be found in its own exhibition – a product supplied to Black Millwork by CDW Systems to demonstrate how timber and aluminium can work together.

“We chose to team up with CDW for several reasons,” says Black Millwork’s Managing Director, Gary Hutton.

“We were looking to partner with a firm that offered a varied and comprehensive range of aluminium products and that shared our commitment to high-quality work – CDW fitted this description.”

“At the moment, there is a growing trend for homes combining aluminium and timber products. For example, an increasing number of period property owners are investing in timber windows for the front of their house – retaining the house’s character – whilst installing aluminium doors on the back of their house to achieve a modern aesthetic and good outlook on to the garden.

“Moving forward, we see CDW as the perfect partner to help us achieve a greater share of the aluminium market.”

For more information call 01452 414853 or visit www.cdwsystems.co.uk

Prefix Systems has announced a partnership with Saveheat Group, which includes Merlin Network, for the supply of its Warmroof system for installations in Scotland.

Warmroof is described as a high performance, solid roof system, which offers a number of impressive USPs and already carries LABSS approval, alongside LABC for England and Wales, for both conservatory replacement and home extension projects.

According to Prefix, Warmroof is ideally suited to the Scottish market as its fully insulated system ensures ‘cold spots’ are eliminated. The Warmroof construction, which has pre-formed insulation sitting above the roof structure, is said to ensure the aluminium framework is fully insulated. Its construction reportedly negates the need for additional battening under the tile when using Envirotile, saving additional fitting days during installation.

Prefix adds that Warmroof is also structurally proven to take a traditional concrete tile or slate, which it says is something no other lightweight tiled roof solution can boast. A newly published 16-page Warmroof Building Regulations brochure from Prefix Systems, which also details the five-step process for compliance, explains the details about LABSS and LABC requirements, along with a guide to good practice.

Saveheat’s sales and operations director, Colin Torley, commented: “Merlin Network is extremely pleased to be appointed as the sole supplier of Prefix roofing systems for the whole of Scotland. Having recently been awarded LABSS for their Warmroof system, this gives us a unique selling point that we will use to grow business in the Scottish area.”

www.saveheat.co.uk

The post Prefix partner appeared first on Glass & Glazing Products Magazine (GGP).

Image Above: Russell Day, GGF Director of Home Improvement

The Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF) has responded to the recent consultation into Green Deal reform, calling for greater flexibility for consumers and installers to help simplify and improve the scheme for the future.

The GGF emphasised that the disappointing number of glazing installers involved in Green Deal was a consequence of a costly and resource intensive accreditation process. Further, the response stressed that the level of finance available to consumers under the scheme was often not enough to purchase glazing products in tandem with other measures. The GGF pointed out that for some energy efficiency measures, the Golden Rule in its current form is not a workable framework for promoting a ‘Whole House Approach’ to energy efficiency.

With the new Each Home Counts (EHC) framework also expected next year, the GGF recommended that installers should be exempt from the need for formal Green Deal status, if they can prove membership of a recognised certification scheme, which may include approved status under EHC or a UKAS accredited certification scheme.

The GGF underlined that the introduction of these reforms would allow installers to avoid additional red tape, reduce confusion amongst consumers and support the Government’s objective to simplify the Green Deal, whilst continuing to support the take up of more energy efficient home improvements.

In addition, the GGF also called for better consumer access to the latest and most effective energy efficient measures, which will require regular reviews of accredited measures under the Green Deal. This would include higher standards of glazing (including triple glazing), and introducing greater transparency between the roles of Green Deal assessors and providers; to ensure greater consumer confidence about the impartiality of the advice they are given.

GGF Director of Home Improvement Russell Day commented:

“The plans to simplify the framework are a welcome first step to improving Green Deal. Like many, the GGF was disappointed the Green Deal did not materialise into the scheme that was first hoped.

“Feedback from our members has shown that the complexity in gaining Green Deal accreditation dissuaded many installers from registering with the scheme and flaws within the Golden Rule discouraged many consumers from installing replacement windows or glazing using Green Deal Finance.

“Following the consultation, we urge the Government to ensure that Each Home Counts creates a joint framework where Green Deal accreditation leads to Each Home Counts accreditation and vice-versa to lessen the burden on firms wishing to work under Green Deal. To support the consumer, the Government should look to increase the amount they can borrow.”

www.ggf.org.uk