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Edgetech has become one of the first big-name brands to sign up to VISIT Glass, the exciting new show-within-a-show set to take place as part of FIT Show 2019.

The first time in over a decade that glass manufacturing, processing and installation will be given a national platform, VISIT Glass was launched after 40% of FIT Show attendees expressed interest in seeing more focus on glass and glass technology at future events.

The show will combine key exhibitors representing leading brands with thought-provoking seminars on the hottest topics in glass and glazing.

Edgetech Head of Marketing Charlotte Davies commented:

“We’ve always hugely valued the FIT Show, and have exhibited every year since it first launched. It gives us a fantastic opportunity to make new contacts, connect with potential customers and collaborators, and spread awareness of the many benefits of Super Spacer while building the Edgetech brand.

“That’s why when we were approached about the new area, we were keen to be involved once more. The new area will offer a focal point for visitors interested in our segment of the market and we hope will draw a more targeted audience for us. We’re looking forward to attending what we hope will become a regular fixture in the glazing calendar.”

For more information about Edgetech please call 02476 639931 or visit: www.edgetechig.co.uk

High security is a crucial attribute of modern, high-performance windows – and especially so on new build sites, where properties remain extra vulnerable to break-ins and thefts prior to occupation.

Fitting doors and windows as early as possible in the build programme – so securing the structure – can pay huge dividends in preventing the loss of tools, materials, valuable metals and, in extremis, even kitchens and appliances.

Never was this better graphically illustrated than on an unnamed site where specialist new build partner Nationwide Windows & Doors had recently installed Secured By Design windows and doors manufactured from Eurocell profiles. As the pictures show, even some quite determined burglars were successfully thwarted by the combination of quality products and a quality fit!

www.eurocell.co.uk

When fitting replacement windows, each job is different and presents installers with unique challenges to overcome. This was certainly true of a series of PVC-U window installations in Jersey, where experienced installer Alan Gicquel needed to swap his van for a boat in order to replace the timber framed windows for three remote island properties.

Les Ecrehous is a small archipelago of islets located six miles off the north east coast of Jersey, and just eight miles from mainland France. Declared a RAMSAR site in 2005 to protect the habitat of the many species of birds and marine life that live there, the islands themselves are also home to a handful of houses.

The island houses are former fishermen’s cottages now used as holiday homes, but their unforgiving sea location means that maintaining the properties throughout the year can be challenging.

Over the last 15 years, Jersey installer Alan Gicquel has replaced the windows in all but one of the properties that stand on Les Ecrehous, changing the old timber frames for new PVC-U alternatives from REHAU.

Alan has been fitting REHAU PVC-U windows since 1983, so when the residents from Les Ecrehous approached him about upgrading their windows to something which would be cost effective, easy to maintain and hard wearing against the elements, he knew he had a good product to fit the bill.

Alan said: “We started on one of the smaller houses first, just replacing three windows and a door, and this led to a bigger assignment working on the adjacent house to replace 12 windows. A few years later, we were then called back to the islands to do a third property. By this time, REHAU had launched its TOTAL70 profile, which is an easy swap for old timber frames because of the 70mm width.”

The challenge of replacing the windows wasn’t so much with the properties themselves, more getting to them. Alan and his team needed to get a boat to the islands, balancing the material load securely and then getting the profiles and the glass up the stony beach and rocks to the houses.

Alan said: “The glass, sealed units were the biggest challenge as we couldn’t put them down anywhere until we got into the house. We also needed to plan the job really carefully, making sure we hadn’t forgotten anything because for the larger jobs, we had to stay on the island while we completed the job over a number of days.

Mark Collins, Area Sales Manager, from REHAU said: “We understand that no two jobs are the same, which is why we have developed a portfolio of products to ensure that installers always have a selection of profiles and options to hand to meet their customers’ individual needs. However, with the Les Ecrehous installations, the choice of profile was probably the most straightforward element of the whole job! Hat’s off to Alan and his team for going the extra mile to bring REHAU’s high quality windows to even the most remote of customers.”

For more information visit www.rehau.uk/windows

Products that meet the highest standards and comply with the latest regulations are vital. It’s something that Universal Trade Frames take very seriously. Duncan Saunders, Universal’s General Manager, said: “Our customers depend on the quality and compliance of our products and we don’t let them down. It’s why every single combination of all products in our portfolio has undergone extensive testing at Wintech Testing & Certification.”

The certifications that Universal’s products have include PAS 24:2016, which can also be used to demonstrate compliance with Approved Document Q, BS 6375-1 for weathertightness and BS 6375-2 and BS EN 1191 for operation and strength testing.

Duncan commented: “It’s very important to us to offer our customers the highest standards. We could have cascaded certifications but that isn’t the Universal way. We wanted full certification with every product. Not every product passed first time and when one didn’t, we upgraded the specification so it could pass fully.”

Mark Swanborough at Wintech commented: “As an independent UKAS accredited testing laboratory and certification body we were impressed by Universal’s commitment to offering full certification on their entire portfolio and feel sure it will offer their customers a high level of reassurance of the quality on offer.”

www.utfl.co.uk

Wooden Windows in-house team has created a unique online WindowBuilder tool to enable customers to design their ideal timber windows in 3D.

In addition to the online tools that have been created for customers, Wooden Windows directors have also developed their own software platform to improve business performance. This software takes the order from the initial web or telephone enquiry through to planning, picking of the parts, design, production and delivery.

MD Mark Winter comments: “Our designers use the latest 3D technology to create new styles and concepts so that our customers’ wants and needs are catered for, and our programming department converts CadCam drawings from the sales process into useable manufacturing instructions.

“Our software platform works out which jobs to produce together in order to maximise the use of material and to reduce waste. It measures the number of jobs per team member, the number of remedial works required and automatically loads time and allocates processes to team members and production equipment.”

The WindowBuilder has been developed even further and it can now be applied to sliding sash windows too.

Often, many heritage buildings are in need of new windows and the sash windows are a popular option as they suit the style of the traditional property. This is the same for listed or conservation buildings which have regulations to say the windows need to remain in keeping with the building’s legacy. By creating the Sliding Sash WindowBuilder for customers, Wooden Windows has made the process easier for joiners and builders or even homebuilders to buy the right window for their project.

The team has provided a full range of advice and information guides on the website to help with the window build.

For more information visit: www.woodenwindows.com

The post Unique online WindowBuilder tool for timber windows appeared first on Windows Active Magazine.

Following the collapse of Carillion this week Phil Pluck, GGF Group Chief Executive raises his concerns.  “As the assessment of the true damage continues following the collapse of Carillion, it does raise some fundamental issues in terms of protecting both smaller companies caught up in the collapsing supply chains and the jobs that may be lost as a result.

The Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF) has sympathy with local government and other bodies tasked with delivering major build projects on ever decreasing Government funding. This creates a race to the bottom in terms of procurement practice in that more and more major contracts are awarded based on the lowest price.

This is a poor, short term approach which causes companies throughout the supply chain to operate at almost impossible margins. The companies that the GGF represents operate to the highest standards of manufacture, supply and installation. As a result of short term procurement practices and Government’s fixation with cost savings, a clear risk has been built into major construction projects.

GGF Members aim to be – and many are – the best in the world in their given sector and collectively the membership represents over 30,000 jobs in the UK alone. A cost cutting approach to the awarding of contracts puts at risk build quality, safety and jobs. In doing so, no legal protection is afforded to those in the supply chain that are now the victims of the Carillion Collapse. This in turn could result in further company failures and consequent losses of jobs and talent.

A knee-jerk reaction comprised of Government rescue packages to selected companies is of no reassurance to GGF Member companies and does not allow them to plan for long term sustainability. A lasting negative effect on Government tax revenue would be the result.

I urge the Government to assess the long term damage that short term cost savings creates and to take heed that Carillion may not be the last company to collapse as a result. There are other major supply chains also operating at near impossible margins.”

Phil Pluck 

GGF Group Chief Executive 

The post GGF Group Chief Executive raises his concerns after Carillion collapse appeared first on Windows Active Magazine.

Solid roof innovator, LEKA Systems, has just reported a doubling of order volume in 2017. Rhys Hoddinott, Director of LEKA, says: “The solid roof market is booming and we’ve got (what our customers tell us) are the best-in-class products in the sector as our 2017 sales growth shows.”

Alongside the impressive sales growth, Rhys also reports that his company has run over 50 product and sales training courses to over 400 personnel to help them get up and running with the new products quickly. Rhys says: “LEKA products add incredible value to a portfolio and our training package helps new installers see that value as soon as possible.”

LEKA has two products: the LEKA Warm Roof and the LEKA Orangery Roof. The company claims the latest product, which will be launched in March, will deliver the same compelling, on-trend features homeowners love.

The LEKA Warm Roof delivers thermal efficiency thanks to the unique GRP construction, which results in a U value of just 0.15 W/m²K. It has a longer lifespan than the traditional tile, concrete or slate alternatives, making it a better investment. The roof is available in any design, can incorporate Velux rooflights and offers a bigger span and a lower pitch, giving it versatility. It’s good for installers too: there are fewer elements to install than on a traditional solid conservatory roof, so on site installation typically takes just two to three days, including removing the old conservatory roof.

The LEKA Orangery Roof has the same exceptional thermal efficiency as the Warm Roof, which makes it the perfect solution for homeowners wanting to extend their homes to create bigger kitchens, living spaces and dining rooms. Like the Warm Roof, it’s quick and easy to install, taking two men one day (excluding the lantern and roof membrane).

www.lekasystems.co.uk

Nowadays the use of software for the calculation of parameters of heat protection and building physics is indispensable in the house building industry. To meet the growing demands of legislators regarding these programs, the Sommer Informatik GmbH has optimized its proven software solution WinIso^® according to the new standard DIN EN ISO 10077-2: WinIso^® is used to calculate two-dimensional heat and vapor diffusion currents, isotherms, U_F– and Psi-values with a DXF interface – this provides important data to define the thermal insulation properties of frame profiles and to integrate them into the building design. The optimized software was validated at the beginning of November 2017 by the renowned ift Rosenheim.

“The revision of the ISO 10077-2 standard for the calculation of building physics values changed the methods of calculation of U_F-values significantly”, explains Roland Steinert, external technical consultant of the Sommer Informatik GmbH. „In order to meet the requirements of the new standard, the WinIso^® software had to be revised accordingly.” The integrated CAD-Editor and the FEM-calculation in combination with the standard DIN EN ISO 10077-2 enable the user to get a detailed calculation result – especially in the area of ventilated cavities. The method of 2012, which was used before, did not correspond to the latest state of the technology and was also not precise enough in calculating a single equivalent conductance for heat conduction, convection and radiosity for each heat flow direction. “The improved method allows a separate evaluation of radiation heat transfer and convection, which is much more efficient. For heat conduction and convection an equivalent rectangle is evaluated, which is aligned at the used heat flow direction in the profile”, explains Steinert. Additionally, features for a fast and intuitive handling have been added and more editing and calculation capabilities are implemented in the proven software.

The method of meshing a rectangle, which is known from previous versions, has been replaced by a finite-element triangular meshwork, which now enables the user to map any geometric details in the software. The new version of WinIso^® was certified by the ift Rosenheim after almost a year of development and optimization work.

“We have already been working with this test institute for more than 20 years. The previous software version got its validation there, too”, says Steinert. In Europe, the ift is particularly well-known and is regarded as a specialist for assessing the usability of building products. “The certification is done by extremely strict rules, also normatively controlled according to the legal requirements as well as those of ift Rosenheim”, Steinert explains how the institute is working. Additionally to the public validation, the ift Rosenheim in corporation with Sommer Informatik provides professional trainings contributing to building physics, heat protection, statics and similar topics for customers and employees.

(Further information you can find at: www.sommer-informatik.de)