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Eurocell
Fabricator, A1 Window Systems, of
Clifton in Nottinghamshire has recently fitted a number of Eurocell Ultimate
70mm windows to Digby Court in Nottingham. A1 was called out by the Nottingham
City Council due to a crisis with the previous windows and immediately
set about preparing for the refit. ‘We assessed the situation quickly
sorting all the necessary requirements including a Sky Lift which would
be needed to lift a fitter and the windows into place during the installation.
As a result of our continued commitment to quality of service the council
would not hesitate to use us on any future emergencies.’ said Melvyn
Walker, A1 Window Systems.
A1 Window Systems has strong supplier links with a number of key councils
throughout the UK with a great deal of the company’s work derived
from this sector. A1 is also increasing production to serve its growing
trade division, as well as continued development of the local retail sector.
A1 – 0115 9141 999
Eurocell – 01773 842 100
Regent
Street Offices given HansenGlass Treatment
ThermoCool™
high performance insulating glass units, FortPlus™
laminated toughened floor panels and toughened etched glass for curtain
walling and structural glazing have all been supplied by HansenGlass
for the creation of an atrium, transforming the image of an old Victorian
office building standing on London’s Regent Street.
The specialist glass manufacturer was involved on the reconstruction of
48 Warwick Street as the preferred supplier of Melayway Glass Assemblies,
the sub-contractor for all of the curtain walling, roof glazing and other
fenestration. The leading architectural practice of RHWL was the design
consultant employed by The Crown Estate.
Steven Field, Technical Director for Melayway, comments: ‘The atrium
on the Regent Street building belonging to The Crown Estate transforms
what was originally a very dark and dingy Victorian interior. Its roof
takes a complex, elliptical shape sweeping down and is supported by vertical
curtain wall screens.
‘HansenGlass is a glass supplier we use regularly and one we even
partner with if the project calls for it. In this instance HansenGlass
supplied us with double glazed units for the roof – featuring a toughened
upper leaf over a laminated lower for extra safety – and 10 and 12
mm FortPlusTM toughened glass for the structural glazing.
‘While
we carried out the majority of the design work connected with the roof
and other major elements to the atrium, we rely on HansenGlass to check
all of the calculations to ensure such factors as expansion, contraction
and thermal shock are correct. This has been a very successful project.’
Both the internal elevations to the atrium, mainly fronting circulation
spaces, and alcoves around the lift lobbies also feature HansenGlass’
products. The floors at the lift lobbies featured FortPlus™
laminated with Cerocco sandblasting for privacy.
Glass bearing Ceraphic™
dot matrix patterns as an architectural decoration, and other sections
having different densities of Ceraphic™
screenprinting acid etched effect were also supplied by HansenGlass to
form all glass partitions between offices.
Contact: Graham Chung
Tel: 0151 545 3000
Email: mailto:sales@hansenglass.co.uk
Centurion
u-PVC Services Protects Village Hall
Great
Bradley Village Hall is a popular venue, used by many locals for a wide
range of activities such as Scottish dancing, yoga, lectures and classes
as well as private functions and local gatherings. The hall is cared for
by a local committee, which made the decision to refurbish the hall’s
window frames after the originals had weathered and deteriorated after
many years’ use.
‘The village hall was very cold during the winter months,’ said
Committee Treasurer Sidney Buchs. ‘The original window frames were
draughty and we had to turn the central heating up full just to keep the
rooms warm. This was producing over the top bills.’ The maintenance
of the wooden frames was also proving anything but cost effective. ‘We
considered a weatherseal system but quotes we received were unrealistic
for what was essentially a short-term measure. We had to think of the
future; future users of the village hall, the future Committees and future
funds.’
With money made available through the Lottery ‘Awards for All’
grant, St Edmundsbury Borough council and the Suffolk Environmental Trust,
the £12,000 project was given the go ahead. The committee put the
job out to tender and received quotes from many contractors, finally settling
on local u-PVC specialists Centurion u-PVC Services, a family concern
started in 1997 by Robin Goldson and now run by brother Tim and sister
Charlotte. ‘Surprisingly, the Centurion quote was the best in terms
of product and also the cheapest,’ says Mr Buchs. ‘Centurion
were quite simply the only solution.’
Centurion demonstrated Masterframe products to the satisfaction of the
Village Hall Committee and soon had the job completed. ‘We’ve
always used Masterframe vertical sliders,’ says Tim Goldson. ‘The
project was problem free and two of our fitters had the work completed
within a week.’
The windows on the village hall – originally a school building dating
from the early 1900s - included a selection of typical sash windows on
the front of the building with two stunning Gothic-style sliders at each
end.
‘It was imperative to maintain the original look of the gothic windows,’
says Mr Buchs. And with this in mind, Centurion delivered the spec to
Masterframe who duly obliged with bespoke gothic style u-PVC frames.
‘Masterframe’s gothic sliders are really something to look at,’
says Goldson. ‘They’re about 2 metres wide by 2 and a half metres
high and they really make the building.’
Mr Buchs and the Great Bradley Village Hall Committee were delighted with
the finished product. ‘We hoped to encourage more use of the village
hall by making it warmer – and the result has been magnificent. The
hall is now very comfortable: much warmer, much quieter and the frames
are magnificent. Centurion have done a superb job.’
Email: mailto:sales@masterframe.co.uk
Web: http://www.masterframe.co.uk
Soho
Smartened with Pilkington Planar™
Novello
House, in the heart of London's Soho district, has been rejuvenated, with
the Pilkington Planar™ frameless glazing system from Pilkington
Architectural playing an integral part in both the internal
and external design.
Built in 1906, the building was occupied by music publishers Novello until
owners, Crown Estates, made the decision to convert the building into
offices. The refurbishment includes a roof extension, remodelling of the
core around two large atria and the renewal and replacement of staircases
and other structural elements to give a clear, open plan space.
The most striking installation of the Pilkington Planar™ structural
glazing system is in the entrance atrium within the inner courtyard, where
a vertical glass wall and roof have been created. This comprises double
glazed Pilkington Planar™, 12mm/16mm/6mm using Pilkington K Glass.
Over 640 sq. m of Pilkington Planar™ was required to create an eye-catching
focal point at the entrance to the building. Complementing the wall in
one corner of the courtyard is a stair tower, with two external sides
comprising 12mm/16mm/6mm Pilkington Planar™.
Internally, a number of staircases have been renewed using double glazed
Pilkington Planar™ to create an airy, light environment. Charles
Henshaw Ltd developed and installed the glazing to architects Rolfe Judd's
specification and also designed the structural steelwork required as a
support for the glazing. 'The refurbishment includes pop out windows in
the atrium,' comments Jerry Almond from Henshaws. 'We worked as a partnership
with the architects, main contractors Mace and Pilkington to devise a
solution to integrate the steelwork and the glazing with the windows and
the result is a great success. The use of Pilkington Planar™ glazing
has transformed the appearance of Novello House.'
The success of the Pilkington Planar™ frameless glazing system lies
in the interaction and operation of the whole concept, rather than the
isolated performance of individual fittings or glazing components. Strength
and durability are essential specification factors and the Pilkington
Planar™ system offers both.
This is achieved by the use of specially designed, highly engineered and
tested 316 stainless steel bolts countersunk into the glass to provide
a flush, strong glass exterior surface.
Crown Estates is the freeholder for the scheme and the developer is Benchmark
Group.
Web: http://www.pilkington.com
Stafford
UPVC Completes School Work
Eurocell
Profiles
fabricator, Stafford UPVC, has completed
a PVC curtain
walling installation at Moorhill School in
Cannock. The work was completed over the course of a week whilst the school
was fully operational. Stafford UPVC were initially called upon due to
the poor quality of the existing curtain walling, combined with the need
of the school to be fully refurbished for the inclement weather over the
winter months.
‘We received the call from Mrs Barbara Peck, Headmistress at Moorhill,
after she had received a recommendation, and we were only too happy to
help. We are winning more work within the public sector due to the high
standards of our service, as well as the quality of Eurocell’s product.
As a result of completing this initial contract with the school, a number
of other opportunities have arisen in the immediate vacinity with a combined
potential value of £150k.’ said Dair Hendry, Stafford UPVC.
Stafford UPVC has been with Eurocell for over six years now and fabricates
the Ultimate 70mm Window System. Stafford is one of a number of companies
nationwide who are supported by Eurocell’s commercial Manager Eric
Gale who is actively seeking to develop the commercial fabricator network.
Stafford UPVC – 01785 246 516
Eurocell – 01773 842 100
Dynamic
Duo Delivers Rare Design
K2 key dealer, Crest
Conservatory Roofing Systems has teamed up with key dealer
Dave New UPVC Products and created
the conservatory industry’s top double-act by installing a unique
design with stunning results.
The assignment, at a stone-built domestic dwelling in Portland, Dorset,
presented the challenge of designing and installing a conservatory roof
system that followed the same pitch as the house in order to maintain
the roofline. The installation is seven metres long, three and a half
meters deep and the lean-to is 35°.
Dave New of UPVC says: ‘This was a real challenge - the PVC frame
had to replicate the wooden frames already on the house as it is located
in a conservation area.’
Crest Conservatory Roofing Systems supplied this structurally engineered
roof which incorporates a lean-to design with a projecting central ridge
feature.
Neil James of Crest Conservatory Roofing Systems says: ‘We’re
delighted to have been able to supply the products for this exclusive
project. Dave New did a fantastic job installing the conservatory and
the result is truly beautiful.’
For Crest enquiries please call 01656 745185, and for Dave New please
call 01639 632798.
Web: http://www.k2conservatories.com
Residents
at an apartment block in Chigwell are looking forward to a warmer winter
and lower fuel bills courtesy of replacement PVCu windows from the Duraflex
Diamond Suite. Longstanding
Duraflex installer,
the Window and Conservatory Company in Upminster, has recently
fitted over 100 new PVCu windows, together with high security communal
doors, at the two-storey residential building in Sands Way, Chigwell.
Alongside
improved thermal efficiency, easier cleaning and compliance with the latest
fire escape regulations were key priorities for Sands Way Residents Association
in its search for new windows and doors. With these issues in mind, PVCu
proved the clear choice to replace the building’s 20-year old timber
windows, with the Duraflex Diamond Suite meeting all the residents’
technical and aesthetic requirements. The high performance system carries
all the necessary BSI and BBA accreditations including compliance with
Part L, and in fact already surpasses the more stringent Scottish level
of 1.8W/moK.
The new windows were fabricated by Essex-based Window-Tech (Trade) Ltd
using Duraflex’s 70mm Featured system in a Brilliant White finish.
The system is fully featured, rather than scotia or ovalo, and because
the detail is within the line of the original bevel, it is very fabricator
friendly. Designed to add instant ‘kerb’ appeal, the profile’s
classic styling replicates the appearance of timber frames. Classic side
opening casement windows were selected for the Chigwell project to complement
the architectural style of the flats. In addition, communal PVCu doors
from the Duraflex range have been supplied as part of the refurbishment
programme. Complementing the fenestration design, the doors also feature
the latest locking systems to ensure optimum security for residents.
A well-established domestic and commercial installation business, the
Window and Conservatory Company was set up by Ken Rhodes in 1977. Duraflex
has been the company’s preferred PVCu system for more than 15 years.
The Featured Suite, which now accounts for almost 20% of Duraflex sales,
is proving particularly popular with Ken’s customers, ‘The Sands
Way Residents Association looked at other PVCu systems and were most impressed
with the Duraflex Featured Suite. I believe it has distinct advantages
over similar products on the market in terms of both looks and performance,
and that gives my company a real edge in a competitive sales situation,’
comments Ken.
Contact: Neil Roberts
Tel: 08705 351351
Web: http://www.duraflex.co.uk
The
Litchfield Group Scores a Hole in One
The
clubhouse at Warwick Golf Centre was radically transformed when three
key products from The Litchfield Group of Companies
were installed.
Sheerframe
windows and Hometrim PVCu cladding and roofline products from L.B. Plastics
Ltd, as well as a made-to-measure Masterdor from Manse Masterdor Itd,
transformed the timber building, which has served the members of the club
for the last 30 years.
Owner of the golf centre, Mrs Dunkley, said, 'We are really pleased with
the installations. The clubhouse has been transformed and all of the members
have commented on how much better it now looks.'
In order to improve the appearance of the building and reduce the need
for costly maintenance, the old timber cladding was removed and replaced
with more durable and low maintenance Hometrim. Woodgrain style Mahogany
cladding was used for the majority of the building and it was finished
with white ogee boards and fascias.
lnstalled throughout the building were top-hung Sheerframe system 7000
casement windows with fixed lights, which are internally glazed for added
security. The windows are part of the enhanced thermal performance range,
which includes four chamber design, and come with co-extruded weatherseals
to maximise weather performance.
To complete the refurbishment, a made-to-measure Masterdor was installed.
Manse Masterdor Ltd's production technique of fitting a timber door into
a PVCu frame means the system is flexible in design terms and has all
the energy efficiency and good looks of a wooden door leaf, without the
weather-related maintenance problems.
Local company Roger Smith Installations, a Hometrim registered installer,
completed the refurbishment project on the clubhouse. Owner Roger Smith
commented, 'Having installed Hometrim, Sheerframe and Masterdor for many
years, I was confident that the products were a suitable replacement for
the timber features, in terms of how the building would look in relation
to its surroundings, overall cost and future maintenance needs.'
Tel: 01773 852311
Web: http://www.litchfield-group.co.uk
Securing
the Future with Masterdor
High
performance Masterdor fire doors have
been installed in place of non-regulation timber doors as part of a major
refurbishment project at a block of flats in Darlington.
Darlington Borough Council undertook the refurbishment of the building
because many of the fittings and building components did not comply with
the newer regulations and the standard of the building as a whole needed
to be raised.
Clark Morrison, architectural manager at Darlington Borough Council, commented,
'We undertook the refurbishment work with set objectives in mind and by
installing products which function well and have a long life expectancy,
we were able to raise the standard of the building in terms of meeting
requirements and to improve its aesthetics. We specified Masterdors because
the range of door-sets met all of our criteria and enabled us to meet
increasingly stringent regulations, whilst also satisfying our new residents.'
Darlington Borough Council was adamant that the new doors should be endorsed
by a Secured by Design Licence as each door opens onto communal space.
Clark Morrison, continued, 'lt is important that the residents feel safe
from break-ins in their new homes, as well as protected in the event of
fire. Having a strong and reliable front door can lessen many of the problems
associated with communal space in flats. Our residents are thrilled with
their new Masterdors and the protection they provide.'
Endorsed by a Secured By Design Licence and BS476 part 22 compliant, the
Masterdor range of fire doors are available in 17 different designs and
a variety of colours. Each Masterdor is made to measure, so regardless
of the dimensions of the mason's opening, the doors can accommodate a
deep-set, high quality locking mechanism. Masterdor fire doors can also
be unlocked with a quick-release thumb turn to speed up egress in case
of fire.
The 12 flats were unoccupied at the time of refurbishment due to the extent
of work to be carried out, which also included the installation of Sheerframe
windows
throughout.
Tel: 01423 866868
Email: mailto:info@masterdor.co.uk
Web: http://www.masterdor.co.uk