Doors & Windows

Architect Embraces the Health Benefits of Titon’s NO2 Filters

Two Titon HRV10 Q Plus units with Trimbox NO2 Filters® have been installed as part of unique self-build project in East Dulwich, London.

When architect Jake Edgley began building his own six-bedroom house, he included a mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR) system as part of the design, alongside other ‘green’, environmentally-friendly measures, including non-toxic paint and flooring.

The 400m2 house was constructed in two halves, each built around a tree, with one MVHR system covering each half of the property. As Jake designs and specifies homes as part of his job, he often experiments with different products on his own property. Having included Titon’s ventilation systems on a number of projects during the last ten years, he was already fully aware of the company’s product offering. MVHR unit is already a good dust filter and this is improved by the Trimbox, and we’ve also noticed the Trimbox acts as an excellent attenuator to any noise from the MVHR unit. Then there’s the added benefit of knowing the units are filtering out any pollutants so, despite being located about 60 metres from a road, the air inside the house remains clean and healthy.”

Commenting on the decision to have nitrogen dioxide filters added, Jake said: “We noticed if a neighbour lit a bonfire or a barbecue, the smell would still enter the house. Fortunately, I had seen the Trimbox NO2 Filter® on the Titon website, so I made enquiries into the possibility of adding one to the ventilation system.”

The bedroom area had the Trimbox NO2 Filter® added first, and the Edgley family were so impressed with the results, a second unit was installed to the other half of the house six months later.

Jake explained: “The Trimbox filters work amazingly well, they have completely eradicated any smells coming in from outside. In fact, if we smell smoke outside, we just close all the doors and windows, and there is no trace of any odour indoors. The Jake now certainly practices what he preaches, as his positive first-hand experience has led him to include the Trimbox NO2 Filter® as part of every new build domestic ventilation system specified by his company, Edgley Design.

“The Trimbox is a great product, particularly in London areas,” he concluded. “Given the rise of environmental toxicity over recent years, we always encourage domestic clients to put MVHR systems into new build homes. Including the Trimbox as part of the system should make perfect sense to homeowners, especially given its capacity to remove diesel particulates and filter toxins from indoor air.”

Titon developed the Trimbox NO2 Filter® to complement its extensive range of HRV Q Plus Eco MVHR units and combat the high levels of nitrogen dioxide found in exhaust gases from diesel engines. The filter incorporates balanced flow technology to provide class leading absorption of NO2 and is available in two duty sizes (depending on the duty required). The product is effective in reducing NO2 to an acceptable mean annual concentration level of 40µQ /m3, while vastly improving indoor air quality (IAQ). Independent tests have demonstrated the Trimbox to absorb 98% of NO2, not only in normal, continuous ventilation mode but also at ‘boost’ or higher ventilation rates.*

For more information about Titon and its range ventilation systems, visit: www.titon.com

For further details about Edgley Design, visit: www.edgleydesign.co.uk

Doors & windows Home renovators: should you choose French, sliding or bi-folding doors?

Renovation can be an exciting project to undertake, but sometimes guidance is needed when it comes to choosing the right fixtures to ensure your completed renovation is perfect.

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hen it comes to choosing windows and doors, it can be a difficult task weighing up the pros and cons of each – so how do you know which to choose for your home? Here we will look at the choice between installing French, sliding or bi-folding doors in a renovation.

French doors are classic

For a timeless design that suits any home, French doors are ideal. This design allows easy access in and out of the home without taking up or requiring too much space. They’re ideal for small to medium sized openings in the home, so are perfect for smaller homes too. French doors allow for more light to enter the home than a single

door, which can be opened to maximise light and heat in the warmer weather. Many people assume that French doors compromise on security, however they can be easily customisable with locking systems for maximum security, making them great for many types of homeowners.

Aesthetically, they’re also a great option as they are available in an array of materials, depending on your budget and style, from aluminium, PVCu and timber.

Consider a chic and functional sliding door

If you choose sliding doors, your indoor space will instantly feel bigger and brighter. Sliding patio doors consist of large panes of glass that allow for wonderful views to be enjoyed from inside your home as well as a fantastic breeze on a warm summer’s day when opened. Featuring clean minimalistic lines, patio doors offer both value and versatility. Just like classic French doors, they are available in both PVCu and aluminium in a range of different configurations and colours. Consider sliding patio doors from Quickslide if you’re looking for a wide garden door with a large glass area and minimalistic features to really open up your downstairs social space. Bifolding doors can fit any size space

If you’re looking to create a seamless transition between the outside and inside, bi-folding doors are the ultimate way to transform your home because they are visually stunning, whilst still featuring the best of modern-day double glazing. The doors are versatile and made to measure to fit the aperture.

They’re also available in configurations of 2 panels to 8 panels, making them a suitable option for small, medium and large openings and great to incorporate into any size home.

Due to the weight of the glass panels, bifolding doors are usually only available in aluminium to guarantee strength whilst also being lightweight and smooth to transition open and close. They are considered a contemporary and modern product in a classic heritage colour but can easily fit in with a more period home.

Before choosing the right doors for you to complete your renovation, ensure that you consider your house type, project type (new build or refurbishment), size of the opening and the budget that you’re working with.

Doors & Windows New Specification Guide

- VEKA UK is on same page as installers, fabricators and specifiers

Industry-leading PVCu systems supplier VEKA UK has launched a brand new specification guide providing manufacturers, installers and specifiers with comprehensive information on all the products within the VEKA UK portfolio.

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or a brand that is world renowned for both its heritage and its commitment to innovation, the timing of the launch is particularly apt; it coincides with the global VEKA Group’s 50th anniversary, and a cutting edge new www.veka.co.uk website.

Marketing Director Dawn Stockell explains: “Here at VEKA UK, we know our products are perfect for every project, because they are tested to all expected quality and safety accreditations - but more importantly - they must meet our own exceptionally high standards.

“Furthermore, as a customer-centric company, having the ‘perfect product’ is just one part of the service; the second part is presenting all that product information within the ideal package, and that’s exactly what we’ve done with both our new specification guide and the new VEKA website. These resources have made it even easier to specify our industry-leading PVCu systems.

“The guide is over 100 pages and contains everything you need to know about all systems and products within the VEKA, Halo and Imagine brand ranges. From in-depth technical data, technical drawings, and performance results, to information about our technical support services.

“And, for those that prefer a ‘pick and mix’ approach, individual pages can be downloaded by product through the new veka.co.uk site, so customers can effectively put together a bespoke reference guide for their most-used systems. “The specification guide itself is a joy to read. I’m really proud of how we’ve managed to fit so much valuable content into such a clear and straightforward document. And, I believe the support that complements the spec guide is second to none. Our technical team are only a phone call or an email away and can assist with CAD design, as well as BIM, and wind load or energy calculations (to name just a few of our services), in order to help you specify the perfect system for your project.

“The new specification guide comes following the launch of SPECTRAL; the innovative ultramatt finish, unveiled at this year’s FIT Show and shortlisted for ‘Product of the Year’ at the G19 Awards. This means details can be found throughout the guide of all systems that can be specified with the new finish, as well as full details of SPECTRAL on page 14-15. This extraordinary product can be used to elevate the look and even feel of a window or door frame.

“VEKA UK systems offer immense yet intelligent choice. In developing the Variations colour range, we not only focused on getting the colour and texture of every foil just right, we also looked at how we could deliver these choices with swift lead times that work for your project. It may be a small detail - but one that means we carry the largest UK stock holding covering 4000 SKUs.

“The guide’s combination of line drawings, photographs of products in situ, test reports and results, alongside foil options, specification and sizing - with real life case studies - mean the reader has the information and the inspiration needed to perfect every project.

“Putting together such a comprehensive guide was a challenge to say the least, but one that was well worth it; this ‘specification Bible’ is the ultimate reference guide to everything VEKA. It is both exhaustive and easy to use, and I’m looking forward to hearing what customers have to say about it.”

System 10 | FlushSash Casement Window

Features

Maximum sash size Side hung: 620mm (w) x 1270mm (h)

Outer frames 56mm, 72mm and 84mm outer frames

Mullions 70mm or 95mm mullions

Sash 61mm flush sash

Finishes Available in a large assortment of colours and woodgrain options from the Variations range and SPECTRAL*

Glazing beads 28mm bevelled 28mm sculptured 32mm bevelled 36mm bevelled

Ancillaries Frame extensions, cills and weathering trims Range of coupling options Range of bay pole options

Thermal performance** Achieves U-values as low as 1.3 W/m2K using double glazing Achieves U-values as low as 1.1 W/m2K using triple glazing

* SPECTRAL is only available on bevelled or flat surfaces. ** Figures can vary dependent on specification.

54 Technical Drawing System 10 FlushSash Casement Window

Test Results

Window type Max sash sizes (wxh) Air permeability Water tightness Resistance to wind Exposure category

Side hung reinforced 620mm x 1270mm Class 4 Class 9A A4 1600

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eveloped on his family’s 210-acre ranch, David Wersebe, who works in the mineral royalty business in Houston, designed the nearly 6,000 square-foot project himself and hired an architect to draw up the plans for construction.

The residence, which is currently on the market, blends elements of its original pecan orchard site with materials complementary to the environment. Hand-cut Texas limestone and hand-hewn beams from a 200-year-old Amish barn frame the expansive entry, and largescale custom metal windows open to the native landscape. Kebony, a global leader in the production of sustainable modified wood, was carefully selected to clad all four facades, reflecting the organic but modern feel of the house.

The home is arranged in four distinct “pods”: the center pod houses the living room, kitchen and other common areas; the north and south pods comprise the guest rooms and master suite, respectively. A separate air-conditioned garage can accommodate four cars and features a hangar door that opens into an awning as well as two elevated workspaces and a rooftop observation deck.

All four structures are roofed in metal with custom-designed awnings with irrigated trellises; the center pod features a two-story white oak living room cathedral ceiling; its back porch includes a cantilevered deck overlooking Lake Lucille with a covered patio and woodburning fireplace. A glass-walled steel frame bridge with unobstructed views leads to the master suite. This one-of-akind home is surrounded by polo fields and equestrian facilities.

Developed in Norway, Kebony’s revolutionary technology is an environmentally friendly and patented process which modifies sustainably sourced softwoods by heating the wood with furfuryl alcohol - an agricultural byproduct. By polymerising the wood’s cell wall, the softwoods permanently take on the attributes of tropical hardwood including high durability, hardness and dimensional stability. This unique process also provides Kebony with its characteristic appearance, which only grows more beautiful with time.

David Wersebe explained: “I built this house for me, so if it doesn’t sell, I might move into it. We’re trying to attract a $3 million buyer, and it’s dialed-in for the equestrian culture that’s big down here. The Kebony cladding worked extremely well for this project and as it weathers into its grey patina over time, it will blend beautifully into this environment.”