Specifying success with curtain walling

Façades have the ability to transform how we see architectural spaces and, in recent decades, glazed curtain walling systems have become increasingly popular – on commercial and residential buildings alike.

Enclosing the envelope of the building, there are two main types of curtain walling: stick and unitised façades. These can be adapted from their standard design to create bespoke features which are engineered to emphasise geometry or a particular aesthetic appearance. As a result, curtain wall systems equip architects with the freedom to create an aesthetically led façade which meets the specific performance requirements of the building.

Performance

Spanning multiple floors and covering a large surface of the building, curtain wall forms a significant part of the envelope. As such, systems can directly impact key performance considerations, including water tightness and thermal characteristics, daylighting, ventilation regimes and acoustics. Another fundamental part in selecting the correct curtain wall is the accommodation of building movement. The taller a building gets, the more movement can be expected, creating the potential for a range of building

“Although some types of movement are more typical outside the UK, it is important for every aspect of the building envelope to be designed to accommodate such movements.”

movements such as windsway, inter-storey drift, differential slab deflections, settlement, creep and even seismic loads. Although some types of movement are more typical outside the UK, it is important for every aspect of the building envelope to be designed to accommodate such movements.

Acoustics is another area where curtain wall systems have a part to play. As urban areas become increasingly populated, controlling noise levels within a building increases comfort for occupants. Curtain walling can reduce noise concerns such as flanking sound transmission, which is particularly relevant for multipleoccupancy buildings. Accommodating the large glass thicknesses and glass weights associated with acoustic glazing, alongside the inclusion of profiles that stop direct

“Accommodating the large glass thicknesses and glass weights associated with acoustic glazing, alongside the inclusion of profiles that stop direct transmission, Reynaers curtain wall can directly support acoustic performance.”

transmission, Reynaers curtain wall can directly support acoustic performance. The systems’ test data speaks for itself, with each different curtain wall type offering varying levels of performance, depending on characteristics like profile design, gaskets and openings. CW 50, for example – the leading curtain wall system from Reynaers – offers all-round performance having passed CWCT Sequence B testing, providing independent accreditation. Different technical variants can also accommodate specific fire resistance requirements where needed.

Elevating aesthetics

While the technical performance of curtain walling is a primary consideration for those specifying systems, there is one clear benefit to including them in a building’s design – aesthetics. As a fast and cost-effective way of introducing large volumes of glazing into a building, these systems hold the potential to define a building’s appearance. For occupants, the benefits are clear to see. Large and often full height windows flood rooms with natural light, making spaces more comfortable, practical and modern. Alongside the positive impact this can have on wellbeing, curtain wall systems can introduce greater connections between inside and outside spaces and maximise views, further elevating the appeal of buildings for occupants. From the outside, curtain walling equips buildings with a distinctive appearance which defines their unique character. To achieve this, it is crucial for architects to specify systems which facilitate creative freedom, without compromising the performance benefits required.

Ensuring correct specification

To unlock the full suite of benefits which are made possible through curtain walling, it is crucial to work closely with suppliers and collaborate with design teams from the very outset of a project. Particularly on large scale projects, such as high-rise buildings where curtain walling is most in demand, this approach ensures success. It is for this reason that Reynaers encourages direct collaboration with its partners. Through its Consult programme, in-house specialist consultants, engineers and technicians work closely with architects and building professionals to offer technical assistance. This close collaboration facilitates a deeper understanding of a project’s specific requirements and allows for the correct systems to be specified, including bespoke systems which are tailor-made to meet the specific demands of a project. Complementing this hands-on approach to working with our partners, Reynaers offers a broad selection of profiles and tested systems and has the capability to test systems in-house, ensuring every system performs as required. By working together with partners throughout the supply chain, architects and building professionals can lean on the expertise of the wider supply chain and bring their visions to life with glazed curtain wall systems, while weaving uncompromising performance and quality into the fabric of their buildings. For further information, visit www.reynaers.co.uk.

Design freedom without compromise

Realise yourprojectaspirations with leading product solutions in curtain wall.

With bespoke and standardised product solutions from Reynaers Aluminium, you can rely on: ƒ Expertly engineered systems that perform to your thermal and acoustic requirements ƒ Uncompromising quality and craftsmanship ƒ Support that matches your project programme, timescale, and budget ƒ World leading curtain wall solutions ƒ Achieves many test standards including CWCT (dependant on variants) ƒ Structural glazing, unitised glazing, roof glazing and fire rated solutions available

Reynaers Aluminium

Together for better

How increased demand for home improvements is impacting the fenestration industry

Victoria Brocklesby, COO at Origin, the UK’s leading manufacturer of aluminium doors and windows, talks to us about how the rising trend for home improvements brought on by the pandemic is generating an increase in demand within the fenestration industry, and discusses what Origin is doing to support its Partners during this busy period.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been one of the strangest 18-month periods in our recent history. The economic and environmental turbulence have been a lot to handle, but the world is slowly recovering. In the UK, with lockdown restrictions completely eased and people navigating their new normal, there is certainly light at the end of the tunnel.

Although the pandemic brought much disruption, there have been some benefits. For those of us in the fenestration industry, people spending a significant more amount of time at home is one of those. People

are prioritising their home living, and now home offices, like never before, and we have consequently witnessed a boom in demand for home improvement projects. Some are extending their homes; others are renovating, and a good proportion are building new homes thanks to Government initiatives like the Help to Build Scheme. In fact, the latest consumer figures from TGI show that five percent of UK adults anticipate making home improvements in the next year. This equates to 2.5 million people which is a significant number of homeowners in the UK. This is great news for those working of us in the fenestration industry, but how will the increase in demand impact valuable supply chains, and how can this best be managed?

Surge in Demand

The amount of home renovations and house building taking place in the UK is creating a peak in demand, which test supply chains and their ability to continue delivering in time and in full, especially when we look wider at problems such as shipping delays that are being felt across the globe. Other major external projects, like Crossrail and

HS2, are also using a considerable amount of materials, so it’s easy to see why some people are panicking. A lack of materials causes delays, and delays cost both time and money. They can result in poor cashflow, mean companies miss out on future business, and even harm a business’ reputation. All of which must be avoided at all costs. In my opinion, it is possible to ensure that the supply chain continues to work for you, despite these challenges. In Origin’s case, we have navigated safely through a tricky period and continued to deliver for our network of Partners, with the quality of our product not being compromised in the process. So, across the Brexit, COVID and now post-COVID peak periods, how have we been able to keep our Partners happy and in stock?

Partner Support

There’s an old saying in business that you must speculate to accumulate. Well, although it may sound counterintuitive to spend money during a period of economic uncertainty, we took it as an opportunity to significantly invest in our stock levels. In doing so, we worked harder than ever before to foster great relationships with our supply chain. Brexit also held us in good stead here as we were already working hard to ensure that we wouldn’t be caught out by trade regulation changes. As well as supplier relations, we also invested in a new warehouse facility in Bicester which has allowed us to increase our capacity by 82 percent. The level of stock we can maintain means that our Partners, plus builders, installers, and housebuilders across the UK, have been able to fully rely on us to deliver on time, in full, no matter the demand.

We also benefit from being a British manufacturer. Our products are manufactured at our factory in High Wycombe, and this has allowed us to maintain control over our entire operation, from sourcing and design, through to manufacturing and delivery. So, our Partners can rest assured that the products leaving our factory are of the highest standard, and they will arrive with them on the designated day by our own fleet. Social distancing rules meant that we did have to adapt our way of working in the warehouse, and quickly, so that the impact of the pandemic didn’t affect our ‘On Time, In full’ promise. To help us maintain our production processes, we innovated to introduce a two-shift pattern, allowing us to get back to full capacity quickly. This is something post-pandemic that we are keeping in place, as it allows us to further increase capacity, and better protect our employees in case of a positive COVID test. Plus, we have added more products to OSS, Origin’s own unique ordering and quoting system, and access this 24/7. This allows our Partners to create bespoke customer

projects in a matter of minutes at a time that suits them. They can even make changes across an entire order at the click of a button. This unique way of ordering means our Partners can spend more time building their business instead of doing paperwork.

In Conclusion

Those who have managed to navigate through 18-months of uncertainty are now presented with a huge new business opportunity. For those that have struggled, there is reason to be optimistic. There is a surge in demand across the industry, so now it the time to capitalise on it; don’t sit and watch it go by. Futureproofing your business now means you will be better prepared for anything thrown at you later down the road. Bold business decisions can set you on the path to success and having a dependable manufacturer behind you will give you the confidence boost you need to meet this demand and take your business to the next level. For more information about Origin, please visit www.origin-global.com.