18 minute read
ON SITE
Glazing Some Of The UK’s Most
Prestigious Shopfronts
In the world of retail, a Knightsbridge address is about as desirable as it gets, which is why so many brands choose to locate their flagship stores on the famed central-London street. entire block of the street, providing the best possible shopfronts for the retailers that will occupy the scheme’s ground floor was a top priority. So, choosing the right glazing was paramount.
While most of the building has been newly constructed, the 120-metre-long Edwardian street-facing façade has been retained, along with its 17 glazed shopfronts. The glazing for each of the frontages is held in place by decorative oak frames that have been carefully re-created according to the original design.
For the designers of Knightsbridge Gate, a landmark mixed-use development that occupies an To ensure that the units look their best, the designer selected Pilkington OptiView Protect OW anti-reflective glass for the street-level glazing.
Coatings on the outer faces of the laminated glass reduce its reflectivity to around 2%, compared with around 8% for standard, un-coated glass. The result is that views into the shopfronts are almost entirely un-interrupted by reflections, even on bright days, ensuring that retailers’ window displays are shown off to the best effect.
To give further clarity, the glass is Pilkington Optiwhite low-iron glass that is almost entirely free from colouration.
Rachel Scannell at APML Estate said: “The aim with the retail units at Knightsbridge Gate was to create spaces that the most prestigious brands in the world would be happy to choose in order to
display their offerings. The glazing is, of course, a key part of this.
“The anti-reflective glass from Pilkington UK is often used by galleries and museums to display priceless artworks and artifacts without compromising on detail, so the retailers that call Knightsbridge Gate home will enjoy the same benefits.”
Adding to the aesthetic appeal of the glazing is the complex shape of the panes that make it up, including a large, curved edge at the top of the central pane in each shopfront. Pilkington UK engineers worked closely with the carpenters to precision cut each pane of glass to ensure a perfect fit.
The shop front windows are as tough as they are beautiful as they consist of two panes of glass laminated together with a strong polyvinyl butyral (PVB) interlayer. This ensures the glazing can stand up to all the forces that may be thrown at it, from wind-loading, to any attempts to smash the glass.
Due to the anti-reflective coating being applied at a high temperature when the glass was being made, it is highly scratch-resistant, ensuring its clean and clear appearance will last for many years to come, claims the company.
Peter Maj, business development manager at Pilkington United Kingdom Limited, part of the NSG Group, said: “By selecting Pilkington OptiView for this project, the designers have demonstrated that it is the product of choice for retail applications where the glazing will be under the utmost scrutiny and needs to look its best.”
Along with the shop-fronts, Pilkington UK also supplied 300 m2 of Pilkington Optiphon OW acoustic glass, which has been used throughout the offices and apartments on the upper five floors of the building to provide noise-reducing secondary glazing. www.nsg.com
Senior Proves Just The Ticket For New
Rail Station Development
Senior Architectural Systems, one of the UK’s largest privately owned aluminium fenestration systems houses, has played a key role in the transformation of Coventry’s rail station to create a welcoming entrance to the city.
The £82 million redevelopment of Coventry’s rail station has seen the creation of a new entrance building and multi-storey car park, with Senior’s slimline SF52 aluminium curtain wall system helping to flood the concourse with natural light. Senior’s robust SD automatic commercial sliding doors were also installed to provide secure, safe and accessible access to the thousands of passengers who use the station every day.
Senior worked closely with supply chain partners Elite Aluminium Systems and Buckingham Group Contracting Ltd to deliver AHR Architects’ masterplan for the West Midlands station, which is one of the busiest outside of London. The new-look station also features a footbridge to allow easier access to the platforms and bus interchange. Senior’s slim profile SF52 aluminium curtain wall system provided the ideal balance of aesthetics and performance by allowing copious amounts of light to enter the building and offering enhanced thermal efficiency. The aluminium frames were powder coated to boost durability and also complement the station’s feature grey and red cladding. Senior’s SPW501 aluminium commercial swing doors were also specified throughout to provide a safe and secure solution to such a high traffic environment.
The extensive use of glazing on the building also pays homage to the original station building which is located nearby but owing to its Grade II status, could not be extended or developed to meet the increased demand on Coventry’s rail network. Ahead of the wider refurbishment of the original building, the large glazed panels have been used to frame various artwork from local artists and create another focal point for visitors to the city.
For more information please visit www.seniorarchitectural.co.uk.
Premier Inn
Chooses Granada’s Secondary Glazing For New Llandudno Hotel
Secondary glazing manufactured and installed by Granada Glazing was specified to provide modern levels of comfort for guests at a new Premier Inn built on a Grade II listed former hotel site in Llandudno town centre.
The £12m redevelopment of the former Tudno Castle Hotel site comprises a 90-bedroom hotel, one restaurant and three retail/ restaurant units and a gym/business unit. It opened in Spring 2022 following a protracted planning process and delays. It had been derelict since 2008 and six years later, planning permission was granted for the demolition of the building behind a retained façade and the erection of a new hotel and extension.
Work started in 2017 but had to be put on hold when partial demolition work of the structure revealed that the Grade II listed façade of the building was unstable. This meant that the developers Tudno Developments Ltd had to come up with revised plans which would allow the demolition of the Victorian façade followed by its reconstruction on a like-for-like basis. Faithfully recreating the historic façade meant installing timber single-glazed sash windows which were treated with Granada Glazing’s latest high-specification secondary glazing range to reduce outside noise intrusion and improve the thermal efficiency.
A total of 46 units were installed – a combination of traditional-looking Balanced Vertical Sliders and Hinged Units – all with 6.4mm laminate Low E glass that reflects heat back into the rooms. Both products deliver 21st century standards of thermal and acoustic efficiency for single glazed primary original, or
in this case, replica windows.
“Where double glazing cannot be installed due to planning regulations, secondary glazing is often the preferred solution. It offers a cost-effective and efficient solution in reducing external noise by up to 80% and improving thermal insulation by up to 65%,” says Robert Cottam, Granada Glazing commercial sales manager.
“In establishments such as hotels, creating a warmer and quieter environment is essential for guests’ comfort and this is where secondary glazing scores very highly.” Premier Inn’s initial plan was for a 63-bedroom hotel but after considering the best format for its guests, decided to add a further 27 bedrooms by occupying the vacant retail space in the development. Construction contractor Medlock FRB Ltd was appointed to add the new rooms and their site manager Martin Blundell has noticed the difference that secondary glazing has made.
“It has definitely made the rooms a lot quieter, and you can’t hear the traffic outside,” he observes. “The system looks very neat, and the Granada team did a really good installation job. The transoms on the window match the transoms of the secondary glazing so it doesn’t interrupt the look at all.”
Suitable for all property types, Granada’s slimline aluminium secondary glazing frames can be powder coated in over 200 RAL colours. Virtually invisible, they blend in with any interior décor. The Granada Glazing product range encompasses hinged, sliding, vertical sliders, including tilt back, and lift-out options.
Fasciawise Benefit From Stockist And
Manufacturer Working Together
mitted to working and supporting our independent stockist and installer network. It’s something we are passionate about! This latest film is a great example of how we work together with our stockists and installers on a daily basis to sustain and grow their businesses.
Stuart Columbine
Freefoam has launched another new video to highlight the strong connections and the practical support they provide to roofline installers around the UK.
Working with Nottingham based Freefoam registered installer company Fasciawise, the interview with owners Stuart Columbine and Ricky Gill, showcases a long-standing successful business specialising in all aspects of roofline replacement, including fascia, soffit and gutter installations.
Ricky Gill The strength of these relationships is demonstrated by the fact Fasciawise have been using Freefoam Products since they started trading 17 years ago.”
Fasciawise have been trading since 2005 and cover a large area from Doncaster to Leicester, including Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire. Over that time they have established and grown their business, doubling the number of their installation teams. First set up to focus on roofline replacement, the business has gradually diversified to now include external cladding.
Stuart explained: “Homeowners like the fact that we are consistent in what we do, specializing in fascia and soffit, so we get a lot of work from referral. We also fit Freefoam cladding and have seen
a big increase in Fortex cladding as people wanting to use it on ‘man caves’ and outside bars, with the colour options being especially attractive, and greys being the top favourite.”
Freefoam says that a ‘consistent and on-time supply of materials is essential for the success of any installation business. A committed, knowledgeable stockist is a vital part of this relationship, and a dependable, experienced manufacturer is also an integral element. Fasciawise are seeing the advantages of a powerful supply chain that works together, from the reliability of Jayplas Building Supplies to the stability and consistency of Freefoam Building Products’.
Stuart commented: “We have a very good working relationship with Jaime at Jayplas and have become good friends. We have always used Freefoam products and will continue to do so.” www.freefoam.com
Avantal Door Now In Print
With high levels of enquiries from consumers and for showroom doors from Installer Partners, Endurance Doors have now published a luxurious 40-page brochure for their new ultra-premium Avantal door range.
Following an 18-month development programme of testing and evaluation, Avantal has been received to great acclaim as a next generation door, using the finest components and materials, claims the company, Based on the Endurance solid timber chassis, Avantal features ultra-premium foils, which provide the smooth aesthetic offered by aluminium doors and a satin white internal face and edgeband. There are five initial designs that also showcase the very best hardware and a 3-Star ABS cylinder as standard.
Claire Heywood, owner of The Door Company Stafford has been enthusiastic about Avantal right from day one and commented: ‘This is a true next generation door and something that little bit special to inspire consumers who want a luxurious product with a point of differentiation. It’s a door that looks and feels a premium proposition and we even sold one from our storeroom prior to unveiling it in the showroom and so this brochure will ignite further interest no doubt.’
Scott Foster, head of group sales and marketing for Endurance Doors added: ‘This new brochure has a distinct premium feel about it and for good reason, Avantal is a game changer for the sector given the fact that we’ve spent 18 months developing, testing and refining the end product. We’re super excited about the potential for this door and in time we’ll be adding new designs, finishes and other exclusive options.’
Step-By-Step – The New Xenlite
Lantern Video Demo
luFold Direct says it has designed its new Xenlite aluminium roof lantern to be safe, simple, and quick to fit by a single installer, and has just released a video showing exactly how easy the process is.
The new two-minute video on the https://www.xenlite.co.uk/installer website takes an installer through the assembly and fixing of the lantern step-by-step and, on the way, demonstrates many of its safety features and fast fit technologies.
According to Alufold Direct, ‘the video shows just how light and manoeuvrable Xenlite is and how that removes the risks that come with handling more cumbersome lanterns when working at height. And how easily the ring beam can be put together using pre-inserted cleats, how quick it is to fix the ridge and rafters within that ring beam, and how simply the thermal break is clipped into the rafters and the top caps just snap fit on top’.
The company says a key aspect of the video demo is the Xenlite lantern’s brand-new glass retention system, which means that the beads on the DGUs lock smoothly and securely onto the ring beam all the way round with a reassuring click every time and there is no danger of the glass falling through at any point.
Russell Yates, AluFold Direct’s managing director, and the person leading the design team, said: “We know that Xenlite will appeal to homeowners with its ultra- slim 38mm sightlines and contemporary aesthetic, but one of the key drivers in the design process was to make it the lantern of choice for installers as well.
“We’ve addressed all the worries that installers have about other lanterns on the market and made sure Xenlite is much more fitter-friendly. That extends beyond just the safety aspects and into business profitability because they can fit Xenlite single-handedly and in a super fast time.”
All the details on Xenlite, including colours, sizes and lead times are at: https://www.xenlite.co.uk/
TuffX’s Infinity Marketing Drive Hits The Road
When you’re next on the open road, keep an eye out for TuffX, as the safety glass specialist has recently invested in new graphics for its entire vehicle fleet.
As part of a year’s planned programme of investment to promote and grow production of its Infinity rooflight range, TuffX has updated all 44 vehicles in its fleet with the new graphics.
TuffX’s Infinity brand includes rooflights, roof lanterns, walk-on and fire-rated walk-on glass units, available as either double or triple glazed and in a choice of clear, solar and privacy glass. What’s more, Infinity’s unique ‘drop-in-and-seal’ design makes them super easy and fast to fit straight out of the box, as they require no additional assembly on site. “Our Infinity range of rooflights and walk-on glass units, which includes our all-glass frameless-look rooflight, continues to be more popular than ever, and we intend to ensure we remain first choice,” said Paul Higgins, TuffX’s commercial director.
“We deliver direct to site, in as little as three to four days for our standard sizes, and whether it’s a commercial delivery heading out from our Merseyside base in our 13-tonne truck, or our 7.5-tonne truck making a rural delivery to a homeowner with restricted access, you won’t be able to miss us now with our new graphics. www.tuffxglass.co.uk
Time To Get Trainedhup!
Ultraframe has announced the launch of a comprehensive webinar programme to educate fabricators and installers about its new hup! building system. Launched at the FIT Show, Ultraframe says hup! is the better way to build home extensions and conservatories and consists of a fast to build and highly energy efficient wall solution that can be used in conjunction with any Ultraframe roof – allowing installers and builders to create every possible style of home extension, orangery, or conservatory, quickly and easily.
The webinar programme consists of seven webinars on various hup!-related topics as detailed below:
• Webinar 1, 24th May – What is hup!
• Webinar 2, 31st May – Flat roof • Webinar 4, 14th June – Transforming old conservatories with hup!
• Webinar 5, 21st June – Designing and Building hup! extensions
• Webinar 6, 28th June – hup! Specifying and surveying training
• Webinar 7, 5th July – hup! Fitter Installer Training
Commenting about the hup! webinar programme, Ultraframe’s marketing director, Alex Hewitt, said: “We received some fantastic feedback to our new hup! building system at the FIT Show and everyone we spoke to was keen to find out more. The webinar programme covers everything from the basics of what the system is, through to designing and building with hup!, along with various training sessions, and begins on 24th May until 5th July, with one webinar per week. hup! really is a revolution in terms of building extensions and conservatories and we would urge people to sign up to the webinars to find out more.”
According to Ultraframe, hup! uses building regulation compliant materials and fewer trades are needed; no brickies, just one conservatory fitting team. The system can be manufactured off site, with no cutting needed on site, reducing waste and time. It incorporates design flexibility – choose your own claddings and windows & doors, and design, specify and price each project in easy-to-use software.
To sign up for the free hup! webinar programme visit outreach. ultraframe.co.uk/hup-webinars
Sternfenster Launches Virtual Showroom
declined as we’ve moved back to a sense of normality. It is vital we keep up with changing habits, and even pioneer new ways of doing business, which is why we developed the Sternfenster Virtual Showroom.”
Sternfenster has launched a new virtual showroom to help customers sell higher value products to homeowners. “People moved online during the pandemic to research and buy home improvement products,” Sternfenster’s sales director Nathan Court said. “And this hasn’t Just launched, Sternfenster’s virtual showroom is the result of 18 months of research and development.
Potential buyers are given a choice of products, where they can click-through to product landing pages to learn about the features and benefits. Here, various sub-sections are clearly labelled and sign-posted.
An overview provides a clear summary of each product, while the ‘Explore Features’ section provides much greater detail: technical specs, colour options, hardware options, and locks are presented in a series of drop-down menus. These sit
alongside a picture of the product with ‘hotspots’ highlighted, which give contextual detail for those benefits. From this page, the homeowner can also watch a short sales presentation, which shows each product as part of a completed project, and take a virtual 360º product tour.
Sternfenster has produced a series of CGI (computer-generated imagery) videos for the virtual showroom, which gives the viewer one-minute tours of products. Set to an upbeat soundtrack, each professionally crafted video provides a closeup flythrough of products’ key features.
Take the Alitherm 300 window, for example, the viewer is shown a close-up of the slimline frame, before highlighting the Yale high-security multi-point locking system, and Yale handles, which come in a variety of colours. Other features highlighted include the high security internal beads, the energy efficient frames and glass, and unlimited choice of colours.
The key driver for this ground-breaking tool, Nathan said, was the changing buying behaviour of homeowners, and the growing interest in high-value products.
“Yes, the current squeeze on living standards will lead to some of the volume taken out of the market. But there is no suggestion that the market for highend products will be as equally affected. These consumers will inevitably spend more, and they will want to work with more professional companies.
“Selling tools like the Sternfenster Virtual Showroom will help our customers raise their game, and put them in contention for this high-value, high margin work.”
Epwin Window Systems has published a guide to the changes to Part F of Building Regulations, which come into effect on 15 June 2022. Gerald Allen, head of marketing at Epwin Window Systems, commented: “15 June will mark the biggest update to Building Regulations in England for a number of years. Rest assured, we’re here to help our customers get to grips with the new regulations so they can be confident in their compliance.”
Part F of Building Regulations sets the standards for the ventilation of new and existing buildings. It has been updated to ensure that sufficient levels of ventilation are still provided in light of changes to Part L, which covers conservation of fuel and power.
As the manufacturer and supplier of award-winning PVC-U and aluminium window and door systems, Epwin Window Systems has a range of compliant trickle vents available via its Safeware hardware brand.
The new guide follows closely on from the guidance the systems company produced on the changes to Part L on the conservation of fuel and power. Both guides are available on to all its customers on the company’s Connect digital portal.
To further support customers, Epwin Window Systems’ Connect digital portal has a forum where fabricators and installers can find answers to frequently asked questions. They can also submit their own questions to Epwin Window Systems’ technical experts. Gerald commented: “These are big changes and we know our customers will want to get everything right. They can check their understanding and ask for more detail from our in-house experts, who will be happy to help give clarity.”
