FIT SHOW

Carl F Groupco Stocks New Patented Release And Turn Handle

Carl F Groupco has further expanded its product hardware inventory with the introduction of the new patented Release and Turn (RT) handle by J Banks & Co Ltd.

The new lockable, easy to operate RT handle offers a unique slim, compact design perfect for securing windows without obstructing internal blinds and fittings.

Designed and manufactured in the UK, the patented handle is suitable for use on aluminium, PVC-U and timber windows and delivers a low stack height of just 16mm. The handle incorporates a slim lock and key release cylinder and fits all espagnolette and shootbolt systems with 43mm hole centres. Available in various spindle lengths, the RT handle has a comfortable handle grip lever, while its non-handed design delivers product flexibility. And for customer reassurance, it has been designed, tested and manufactured to meet all UK standards of strength and durability.

Commenting on the launch of the new RT handle, John Crittenden, managing director at Carl F Groupco, said: “The new patented RT handle is a unique concept in window handles and designed in the UK for the British market. The handle incorporates some intelligent design features and is available in a range of durable powder coated and plated finishes with diecast colour matched screw covers supplied for next level aesthetics.”

The patented RT handle offers the kind of design innovation synonymous with a hardware product stocked by Carl F Groupco. It has been manufactured to a very high standard using quality components. And its unique slim, compact design offers versatility so is suitable for all domestic and commercial applications.

John concludes: “Our market status combined with our longstanding relationships with the industry’s most innovative hardware manufacturers, means we have the flexibility and industry foresight to ensure our range always reflects current market trends. And the new RT handle is another example of this ethos in action.”

The new RT handle is available now from stock to order from Carl F Groupco.

carlfgroupco.co.uk www.smartsecure.co.uk www.carlfdirect.co.uk

Soterian Slim Letterplate Receives Certifire Approval

UAP, specialist in locks and hardware for doors and windows, has secured a Certifire certification for its Soterian Slim TS008 letterplate.

Designed in-house by UAP, the Soterian Slim is the most compact TS008-compliant letterplate ever made, claims the company. The certification means the product can be safely installed in timber FD30 fire doors without the need for further testing.

Julian Roberts, technical services director at UAP, said: “The Certifire certification follows a rigorous assessment. This involves factory production audits at each site where the product is manufactured in accordance with ISO 9001 and additional requirements of the Certifire scheme. “This process has independently verified the performance and quality of the Soterian Slim, ensuring installers and end-users can make an informed decision when selecting the product.”

Designed for 44mm – 70mm composite, timber and uPVC doors, the Soterian Slim measures just 298mm x 98mm, with a flap projection of 14mm. The design includes an innovative, pivoting serrated stay system, which limits the flap opening to 39 degrees to protect against key fishing and lock manipulation.

As well as providing robust security and fire safety features, the product eliminates the issue of bulkiness on the interior face of the door. This provides a more aesthetic solution and ensures the door can open fully without damaging the letterplate or interior wall.

UKAS accredited, Certifire is recognised by regulatory authorities worldwide as an international mark of fire safety across a diverse range of passive fire products. The third-party passive fire product certification scheme assures performance, quality, reliability and traceability of products and systems. The certification process was carried out by Warringtonfire, a global leader in fire safety services.

uapcorporate.com/

A House Of

Handles On Us

Mila is offering trade fabricators ‘A House of Handles on Us’ as it steps up its efforts to help fabricators win new business at the higher end of the market using its Heritage hardware range.

The move is in response to signs of a slowdown in enquiries for mainstream PVC-U casement offerings, set against continuing robust demand for more premium offerings such as flush casements.

Mila customers can get 10 Heritage espag handles free to try out for themselves – in their choice of classic or modern finish and in either the monkey tail or pear drop design. Richard Gyde, Mila’s managing director, explained: “We are hearing early reports from customers that demand is starting to soften – albeit from last year’s very high levels.

“The squeeze on living costs will obviously disproportionately affect consumers at the lower and middle end of the income scale, and we’re already seeing how that will play out with things like a sharp fall in the value of shares at budget retailer B&M, and the finance director of Primark telling the market that less affluent customers will be buying less this year.

“It’s more vital than ever then that fabricators targeting the higher and premium ends of the market have the right product offering and one which will help them sustain and even strengthen their margins.

“We’re giving customers these Heritage handle samples so that they can see not just how much they will appeal to buyers, but also how easy they are to fabricate and fit.”

Stand out features on the Mila Heritage espag handles include a ‘proper’ push-button key locking mechanism, a simple clip-on screw cover with perfectly horizontal faux clocked screw detail, and a beautifully designed rosette key, rather than a standard zinc or allen key.

Both the monkey tail and pear drop designs are available from stock in left and right-handed options and in nine different finishes – including textured black and textured pewter, matt black, white, polished chrome, polished gold, satin chrome, pewter patina and antique bronze.

They have been independently tested to PAS24: 2916 and are Secured by Design accredited. They also come with a 10-year guarantee on finish and performance.

Coastal Group Add New

Additions To Duratique Range

Coastal Group has announced two additions to its Duratique range – a ring door knocker & curly tail door handle.

According to Coastal, with its customers experiencing difficulty finding a durable antique hardware solution, Duratique was designed by Coastal to outlast the door itself, combining traditional styling with modern performance.

Duratique is manufactured from stainless steel to prevent hardware failure, designed and built in the UK to maintain quality of product, and precision CNC machined fixing points allow batch productions of doors.

The Duratique curly tail door handle is a black antique door handle suitable for multipoint door locks and comes with euro profile cutout. The handle is manufactured using a high quality dual sprung mechanism and spindle to ensure the handle does not droop or rattle; it provides a positive action and returns the handle consistently to its original position, says Coastal. it has been durability tested to BS EN 12217:2003 – 200,000 Cycles.

The Duratique ring door knocker is a heavy duty black antique ring door knocker made from Stainless Steel adding character to traditional, older style settings.

The ring door knocker features a striker plate and also comes with bolt-through security fixings and secret fix option.

The company says traditional antique door furniture is made from Malleable Iron, where over time the coating flakes off and the malleable iron base material begins to corrode, causing brown rust streaks to occur. Coastal make the Duratique range using a Stainless Steel base material and apply a specialist topcoat to ensure the best protection against corrosion, even in coastal locations. www.coastal-group.com

Carl F Groupco has further expanded its product hardware inventory with the introduction of the new Arrone door handle, a brand of the Hoppe (UK) Group. The new Arrone door handle is suitable for use on both PVC-U and composite doors and its zinc alloy and aluminium construction delivers high level performance.

Carl F Groupco Adds New Arrone Door Handle To Its Portfolio Designed to meet the needs of the fabricator, installer and of the new Arrone door handle, John Crittenden, managing homeowner alike, the Arrone le- director at Carl F Groupco, said: ver/lever door handle is available “We have worked with Hoppe in a long backplate format with (UK) for many years and it has a 92mm PZ centre. The handle always been one of leading also offers an integrated spring handle brands within our hardcassette system, 215mm fixing ware range. The new Arrone centres, 32mm wide back plate door handle delivers exceptionand reversible handing. al quality at a competitive price point so we know it is going to The new Arrone door handle has prove popular with our customundergone extensive testing. ers.” This includes durability tested to 200,000 cycles and corrosion Carl F Groupco operates nasalt spray tested grade 5-480 tionally, including to the Scothours, 1000 hours and comes tish Highlands and offshore with a 10-year mechanical oper- islands, from distribution cenation guarantee. tres in Peterborough and Cumbernauld. The door handle is available in a full choice of colours, includ- John concludes: “We work hard ing polished gold, satin chrome, to stock the widest range of polished brass, anthracite grey, hardware products to support graphite, white and black. Col- our customers and the introour match fixings are also avail- duction of the new Arrone door able. handle will further expand our market reach.” Commenting on the introduction www.carlfgroupco.co.uk

Distinction Doors

Launches The New Venture Collection

Distinction Doors has unveiled the Venture Collection. Designed to elevate and enhance the company’s Contemporary door range, the collection features four new cassette styles – the 8S, 8L, 8N and 8P. All snap fit, the cassettes are steel effect with a smooth texture on both the internal and external face.

Available now to order online, the new cassettes are ready to use with eight door styles in the Contemporary range. This includes four from each of the Espirit and Infinity Collections. The cassettes bring modern and continental flair to these existing door styles. They can be positioned left, centre and right, with one exception.

To celebrate the launch of the Venture Collection, Distinction Doors is also introducing a new door style to its Infinity Collection – the GD11. Heavily influenced by European design, the modern GD11 boasts three horizontal glazing apertures positioned top, middle and bottom, against a grooved detail background. cassettes use the same glazing method as the company’s other cassettes.

To stay faithful to the look and feel of current continental door styles, Distinction Doors will not be spraying the cassettes in any colour. The cassettes can, however, be glazed with triple-glazed and laminated decorative glass from Distinction to intensify the door’s modern and high-quality styling.

“Once again, we are responding to market demand – giving our customers more of what they want,” comments Andy Grogan, associate sales director for Distinction Doors. “The Venture Collection brings design flexibility to our existing door styles. Currently, the cassettes work with eight of our door styles, and we hope that this will increase overtime, depending upon demand.”

Shepley Launch New Composite Door Range

Trade fabricator Shepley has expanded its collection of composite doors with the launch of the new Modernist range.

Featuring ten new door designs, exciting new colours and glass designs, the Modernist range is aimed at homeowners who want to make a statement with the front of their home.

Modernist is the latest addition to the popular Visage brand. Named after innovative artists throughout the ages, it offers the best of contemporary styling to give customers an even greater level of choice.

“A lot of homeowners are looking for a style that sets them apart from the rest of the street and adding the new Modernist range to our product offering will help customers make the most of current trends,” says Ian Griffiths, Managing Director at Shepley.

“The large array of available colours and glass options means homeowners can still maintain that traditional touch to their homes, with the new designs allowing customers to combine modern and classic styling.”

As well as the new Modernist door designs, Shepley has also updated its glass, colour and hardware options across the Visage composite door collection, making it an even more versatile choice for installers to have in their portfolio.

Green. The primary colour.

aluplast ecotech. More sustainable. No compromise on performance.

Recycled PVC-U content from known sources. No cadmium. No lead! Recycled material isolated from structural elements and surface to guarantee a perfect finish. Available across all aluplast PVC-U systems in A+ and A++ BFRC performance ratings.

Ultraframe Launches New Flat Roof System

engineer. While the Flat Roof alone is a fantastic system, coupled with our new hup! building system, it really does offer a fantastic way to build highly energy efficient extensions and orangeries in a fraction of the time of a traditional build.

Ultraframe has announced the launch of a new Flat Roof system for contemporary flat roof extensions or any style of orangery. The new Flat Roof is fully compatible with Ultraframe’s revolutionary hup! building system which made its debut at the recent FIT Show.

Explaining more about the Clitheroe-based company’s latest roofing system, Ultraframe marketing director, Alex Hewitt, said: “Our new Flat Roof system makes ordering and fitting a flat roof so simple and offers a huge number of benefits vs building a flat roof in the traditional manner. For each roof there is one order with structural calculations, lanterns and skylights included. This not only makes ordering easy, but it also saves our customers the large expense associated with a structural “As with all Ultraframe roof systems, the strength of our new Flat Roof is phenomenal, meaning it can span up to 5.6m without steels. This superior strength also means that extra large rooflights up to 5.7m x 3m can be supported. Rooflights of this size bring in an immense amount of natural light to the room below as well as adding an undeniable wow factor.”

Speed of fitting is another huge benefit of the new Flat Roof, with fitting times being slashed by 50% when compared with a traditional flat roof build, says Ultraframe. The Ultraframe Flat Roof is said to also offers on-site ease, thanks to its flat packed nature and easy clip components. Finally, as with other roofs in the Ultraframe portfolio, the Flat Roof offers class-leading thermal performance of 0.12W/(m²K) that exceeds the upcoming enhanced Building Regulations.

To find out more about the new Ultraframe Flat Roof and the hup! building system, visit www.ultraframetrade.co.uk

Future-Proofed

Thermal Efficiency

Leka Systems says the changes to Part L of Building Regulations covering thermal efficiency have had a huge impact on many solid roof manufacturers. However, according to the company, Leka products have always achieved industry-leading U values thanks to the system’s innovative design.

Rhys Hoddinott, managing director of Leka Systems, said: “The majority of our competitors have had to alter their systems to comply with the new regulations. In many cases, this has added complexity and cost to the installation. On the other hand, our Leka Warm Roof, Leka Orangery Roof and Leka Xi are thermally efficient by design and have always been available in a range of U values from an industry leading 0.12 W/m²K. to 0.15 W/m²K. It’s a huge advantage for installers because our roofs are still as easy to fit as they always have been.”

Rhys credits the thermal efficiency of Leka products to the innovation in their design. “We lead the way with innovation and consistently invest in engineering so we have been prepared for changes in building regulations since the day of concept and even future proofed further changes to Part L in years to come.”

The big difference with Leka products is their GRP construction, says the company. The material delivers outstanding thermal efficiency but also offers another important benefit in the current climate.

It means they don’t use aluminium, which means they aren’t being affected by the sharp increase in aluminium prices. Rhys commented: “Fabricators and installers using aluminium are having to pass price increases onto consumers because they can’t absorb them any longer. Because we don’t use aluminium, this isn’t something we’re having to do. Our costs have been very sustainable, allowing Leka to become one of the most competitive systems in the marketplace.”

Supalite Launch Flat Roof Orangery System

else on the market that was easy to install but still maintained our renowned levels of strength and thermal performance. “With specially engineered timber I-Beam joists which deliver strength, rigidity and that eradicate movement and its associated problems, the ILite system can achieve just that. “Plus, unlike conventional flat roof orangeries that can take days, sometimes weeks to construct and complete, the ILite system saves huge amounts of time for installers and can be built in hours.

SupaLite, the Preston-based tiled roof specialists, has added a new flat roof orangery system to its existing portfolio of products.

According to SupaLite, ‘it has been manufactured to be one of the strongest, most thermally efficient and quickest to install flat roof orangery systems, and that the ILite is perfect for both the new build or retro-fit market’.

Factory fabricated in the UK, its design has been engineered with ease and durability in mind. SupaLite says the system exceeds building regulation requirements by offering an impressive u-value of 013w/m2K as standard.

Wes Clarkson, sales director of SupaLite, said: “We’re incredibly proud to launch this exciting new addition to our portfolio of products, and is already generating lots of interest amongst our customers. “This is a great system and it makes the perfect addition to our existing unrivalled SupaLite products, and we look forward to continuing rolling it out to the wider new build and retro-fit market.” www.supaliteroof.co.uk

Ultraframe Glass Roof Makes A Global Impact Since the 2000, Ultraframe has Explaining more about the comhad a busy Export Department pany’s export department and the which serves 12 countries, sup- interesting projects supplied to plying its Glass Roof system for Ultraframe’s international custominstallation in projects across the er base, Darryl said: “While most globe. Export & new business people in the industry know of development manager, Darryl Ultraframe, not many are aware Houghton Smith, has been at the of our Export Department. We Clitheroe-based company for 26 currently export to several counyears and has managed the ex- tries, including Japan, North port department for many of these America, Canada, France, Geryears. many, and various countries in Eastern Europe. Many of these customers have found their way to Ultraframe as their local conservatory roof suppliers aren’t able to create the complex projects they have in mind for their clients, but the Ultraframe Glass Roof can be used for any design. Although the system we supply is the same one sold to UK customers, the designs it is used to create by our export customers are specific to the styles and trends of each country and so the projects handled by the Export Department look completely different to anything we would see here in the UK.” The export department sells solely to installers and all roofs are pre-

built in Clitheroe before being shipped worldwide. Commenting further, Darryl said: “Working in the Export Department, I really get to see the flexibility of our Glass Roof system. It’s a great honour to know that installers from as far away as Japan and North America trust Ultraframe to make their roofs.”

One of the export department’s customers operating in various European countries is ADA BAU Kft. The company supplies a network of installers including Vienna-based Spectrum Fenster.

Customer: ADA BAU, Location: Budapest, Hungary

This large family home on the outskirts of the Hungarian capital, Budapest, has been further enhanced with the addition of an indoor swimming pool, housed within a conservatory. Featuring a triple-glazed lean-to roof with full height frames and sliding doors in a unique blue/green external finish, the conservatory enables the owners to enjoy the fresh air during their morning swim.

Customer: SPECTRUM FENSTER GmbH, Location: Vienna, Austria

Located in Vienna this 5m x 3m lean-to conservatory with full height frames was designed as a cover for the owner’s terrace. The new addition has enlarged the living space and provided a perfect viewpoint to enjoy the surrounding garden.

Customer: ADA BAU, Location: Veszprem, Hungary

Located close to the popular holiday destination of Lake Balaton in western Hungary, this detached property has been extended further with an 8m x 6m conservatory extension which has allowed the owner to create their own tropical haven.

A Garden Room

Village Of Inspiration

If homeowners need any convincing about the lifestyle benefits of investing in a premium garden room, then the new village at Carr Gate Garden Centre near junction 41 of the M1 in West Yorkshire is full of inspiration thanks to living space experts, Making Your Space.

With hybrid working increasingly becoming the norm, consumers are looking at ways in which to find a more permanent place to work, separate to the main fabric of the house. But this impressive village takes it a step further with 13 garden rooms on display ranging from a home office, gym, bar, outdoor kitchen, artist’s studio, mini hairdressing salon and children’s playroom. cated trade only manufacturer of garden rooms with Design Partners in key areas of the UK but are looking to scale this nationally with the promise of a marketing support programme and showroom materials including a unique mini-pod, brochures and flyers. There’s also a unique garden room designer and configurator that can be used to design a bespoke room in real time and to cost it too, with a full office back end with costings and margins that has been developed by Business Micros and The Consultancy.

Using the latest off-site construction techniques these premium Garden Rooms can be installed in as little as two days prior to final trades including plastering and electrical works. It’s also a market segment set for strong growth as highlighted in the consumer press and also with the increased traffic on search engines for related terms.

Ryan Crossley, director of Making Your Space, commented: ‘This new garden room village shows a wide variety of applications from office to living space, gym or even small business. We’re trade only and actively looking for new Design partners across the UK with the promise of a premium, well thought out product solution and supported by a strong marketing programme and you don’t necessarily even need a showsite to exploit the considerable opportunities that this emerging market sector presents.’

SWC Trade Frames

Chooses Decalu For Its Part L-Ready Aluminium Offer

Scarborough-based SWC Trade Frames has chosen the Decalu88 Aluminium Bi-fold and the Decalu163 Lift-and-Slide Door, as the foundation for its new Part L ready offer.

Set up in 1989 and covering Northumbria, Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, Scarborough-based SWC, manufactures more than 1,500 PVC-U and aluminium windows and doors a week. aluminium system from Deceuninck Aluminium in May this year, as part of its strategy to develop a Part L ready, aluminium offer.

“We couldn’t meet all Part L requirements through our previous system, so energy-efficiency and compliance with Part L was a major driver for us”, explained Mark Catchpole, sales director SWC. lu88 bi-fold achieves a u-value of as low as 1.2W/m2k, giving it reach into new build without having to go up to a triple-glazed unit, which no installer wants to do.

“We were also really keen on the knock-in glazing bead which we could see would deliver immediate benefits to our customers.”

June’s changes to Part L bring in a notional u-value for new build sector of a minimum of 1.2W/ m2k for windows and the same for doors with more than a 60% glazed area.

For the home improvement market, the minimum requirement for replacement windows is now 1.4W/m2k or WER Band B, and replacement doors with more than a 60% glazed area have to

be able to achieve 1.4W/m2k or DER Band C.

U-Values on the Decalu88Bifold are as low as 0.68W/m2k triple-glazed or 1.2W/m2k double-glazed. This is something which means it can meet new Part L notional u-values for new build, as well as home improvement under Part L from June this year – double-glazed, without having to go to triple-glazed units.

As well as being ultra-energy efficient, the Decalu 88 also delivers a series of installation efficiencies. This includes the use of pre-inserted co-extruded gasket and knock-in glazing bead, cutting glazing time to less than 4-minutes per leaf, but also eliminating shrinkage, claims the company.

Mark Catchpole

10th July 2012.SWC Trade Frames, Scarborough

The Decalu163 Lift-and-Slide Door also delivers advanced levels of energy performance with u-values as low as 0.8W/ m2k.

Accommodating individual sash weights of up to 400kg and highly engineered, it means it can accommodate individual sash size of up to 3900mm by 3500mm.

This means that it can be comfortably manufactured to an opening of up to 4000mm tall by 3500mm long on a single-track option, or 4000mm by 7000mm, in a twin track configuration.

SWC will offer its customers even greater design flexibility following the decision to also manufacture a triple-track option. In common with the wider Decalu window and door range, both are supplied in a marine grade finish as standard.

Mark continued: “We always like to do things properly. A lot of traditional aluminium systems have solutions but they’re based on adaptation of a pre-existing offer, which in our opinion didn’t fully work for us as a fabricator.

“What we have in instead in Decalu is an ultra-energy efficient bi-fold and Lift and slide solution, which meets and exceeds requirements under Part L but which also delivers significant efficiency gains to our customers.”

www.swctradeframes.co.uk

Sheerline Adds To Its Range Of Secured By Design Products

Sheerline has announced that continuing its commitment to offering all its products with consistently excellent thermal and security performance, the whole Prestige range now carries Secured by Design (SBD) accreditation. The addition of bi-folds and single and French doors included in its scope of approved products, will be alongside Prestige casement and tilt & turn windows. Sheerline says this means that the complete range of Sheerline aluminium windows and doors now carry SBD approval, alongside double-glazed Part L compliance, giving installers and fabricators the confidence to promote the entire range in a simple and easy to communicate manner. works with companies to improve security on buildings, remains an important, and crucially, widely known way of informing consumers they are choosing the right products to help keep their homes secure.

Prestige builds on the success of Sheerline’s Classic range of ultra slim aluminium windows that also passed the BSI BS 4873:2016 / PAS24:2016 security performance test in 2021. The test evaluates the strength of a window at each locking point, as well as its overall performance when under attack.

Product Design Director, Adrian Redshaw stated, “PAS24: 2016 for window units is set at a specific standard to ensure the complete product resists attack. It focuses on withstanding manipulation of the window hardware and combines mechanical loading, leverage and pressure, and impact testing. The Prestige range came through the tests without a hitch, exceeding many of the required classifications needed to gain a pass certificate and allowing us to attain endorsement by the Secured by Design initiative.”

“We expected remarkable results from the Prestige window system, and we weren’t disappointed. We built the system to the same set of principles as our Classic window range; to be innovative, easy to manufacture and simple to install using standard components, while delivering sleek and uninterrupted sightlines that perform to the highest-levels of security.” Adrian commented, “Adding the whole Prestige range to our Secured by Design product listing is a massive accomplishment for us, one which should also give our customers a competitive benefit.”