OUR choice of the best new offerings from windows and doors suppliers
High Technal-ogy
The new GXi sliding window and balcony door from Technal combines narrow 41mm sight lines with a 9mm polyamide thermal break to help meet the stricter insulation values of last year’s Part L. Profiles can be flat-faced or curved, with the inside frame a different colour from the outside. Configurations go from a simple two-leaf door to a multi-panel sliding patio door or window on two tracks. GXi will accommodate 20mm to 26mm glazing units and uses a 52mm module. It can be fitted into curtain walling and is compatible with the FXi52 casement window.

Technal has also added a 65mm module to its FXi range. It incorporates a 19mm flush polyamide thermal break, can accommodate glazing units from 17mm to 48mm thick, and can deliver a window unit U-value of 2.2 using cheaper glazing with a U-value as high as 1.9. Configurations include fixed lights, projecting top and side-hung, bottom-hung and tilt/turn.

Enquiry number 207

Made to measure

Virtually invisible when closed, the Waldor 950 allows buildings to fit tiled walls with unobtrusive access doors. Because each door is made to measure, with a minimum size of 300mm by 300mm and a maximum of 600mm by 900mm, any size of tile can be matched. Maker Howe Green says the discreet aluminium doors are easy to install, left or right-hung and removable. In addition the doors come with a conventional key lock or a concealed push/pull catch.

Enquiry number 210

Seal-o-tape

Three new sealing tapes have appeared from Compriband. Compriband i tape squirts impregnated polyurethane foam into a polypropylene film that seals the gap between wall and window frame. A new tearproof, self-adhesive textile-reinforced aluminium foil allows for the interior sealing of windows and doors. And Ali-Tape PB is designed for the internal and external sealing of joints and overlaps.

Enquiry number 211

Fast flood protection

Forget the sandbags: Adshead Ratcliffe’s FloodSeal is a quickly erected barrier for preventing floodwater coming through doors. It takes around 10 minutes to close up gaps between door and frame and frame and wall with a gel and a layer of floodwrap. When the threat of flooding is imminent, FloodSeal requires less organisation and time than sandbagging.

Enquiry number 212

Mila’s FM auto-lock

Totally wireless and using coded FM frequencies, Mila Hardware’s Centralock allows doors and windows to be automatically locked and unlocked using a key fob. Pushing upward the handle of the master unit, usually the front door, locks the system. In the event of a fire, a special smoke detector automatically releases all windows and doors.

Enquiry number 213

I’m self-cleanin’ windows...

The death of the window cleaner came a little closer last September when Pilkington launched its Activ self-cleaning glass for the UK residential market. Activ’s titanium oxide coating reacts with ultraviolet radiation from the sun, breaking the adherence of dirt to the glass. The coating also attracts rather than repels water, so that rain runs down the glass in sheets rather than droplets, washing loose dirt away. Pilkington is currently testing Activ as the external pane in double-glazing with other glass types. The company says Activ adds something between 15% and 20% to the installed cost of windows, and may be available for commercial buildings by the end of the year.

Enquiry number 208

Moving frames

Out-of-plumb openings for industrial steel doors can be fixed with Omega Doors’ Adaptaframe. The system has an inner and outer frame that allows a width adjustment of 50mm overall within the opening. The floating inner frame is fixed to the outer as a complete unit and can be adjusted as such, giving perfect alignment to the opening. Adaptaframe is available in standard and architrave versions. Also new from Omega is the Adaptabase rail, which inserts into the bottom edge of the reinforcing channel on fire door leaves. Adjustments up can be made to meet changes in floor finish and smoke control requirements.

Enquiry number 209

Doorstop delivery

A new emergency release doorstop comes with a hold-back facility so fingers don’t get trapped. The stop, for use with Royde & Tucker Hi-Load double-action pivot sets, can be released with one hand by pressing the centre. Hi-Load pivots are common in hospitals and care homes.

Enquiry number 214

Shades of inspiration

Solutia has launched solar control interlayers for laminated glass. Vanceva Solar comes in a variety of thicknesses and keeps solar heat and UV radiation out of a building. Three base colours are available: green (for a high level of light), blue and grey (medium light transmission). Also new is Vanceva Design Metallics, which creates a textured metallic effect and can be combined with Vanceva Design’s 10 hues to give up to 62 different colours.

Enquiry number 217

Parkside profiles

The Parkside Group has launched a slim-profile version of its established Comar 5 aluminium window system. Comar 5 Lt nominally offers a 45mm section, compared with Comar 5’s 50mm section. The system is thermally broken and can take top or side-hung fixed lights and projected-out casements. It can be single or double-glazed, and glass thickness can be between 4mm and 40mm. Both Comar 5 and Conar 5 Lt conform to all recognised industry standards and have been developed in accordance with ISO9000 and the weathertight requirements of BS6375. Profiles and components come in anodised silver, bronze and black, and polyester powder coats are also available.

Enquiry number 218

Flush with choice

You can now specify the size of internal solid flush doors to the nearest 5mm. LS Primary supplies its new range of internal flush doors primed for on-site painting. The solid doors have 30 and 60-minute fire ratings, although there is a non-rated version, and can incorporate clear or wired glass. Semi-solid doors are also available where fire ratings or vision panels aren’t needed. Solid veneered doors can have a contrasting inlay for a one or two-panel style, while raised and fielded panelled doors offer the traditional four and six-panel styles.

Enquiry number 215

Pick a perfect partner

A partnering pack from window systems maker LB Plastics explains partnership concepts and spells out how the company achieves best value performance indicators. The pack is available to all local government and housing associations and contractors, and provides information on the design, performance and sustainability of LB’s Sheerframe window, door and curtain walling systems.

Enquiry number 216

Shielding for sills

A two-part sill from Howarth Windows & Doors prevents damage to timber windows during construction. While cavity closers give some protection, protruding sills can still be damaged by falling objects. Howarth’s new sill allows the window and primary sill section to be fitted as normal in mid-build, the simple-to-install extended sill section is not fitted till building work is complete.

Enquiry number 219