From achieving Part L compliance to reducing overall carbon calculations, thermally-efficient and fully recyclable aluminium fenestration systems provide the ideal solution. But does choosing the more sustainable option mean you have to compromise on style? In our latest blog, we’re looking at the design flexibility aluminium windows, doors and curtain wall systems can offer and how they are so much more than just a ‘green’ option.
Open up new ideas with windows:
Thanks to advances across the fenestration industry, thermally-efficient and low U-value aluminium windows are no longer seen as a niche product. We’re proud to have helped lead this revolution with the development of our own patented PURe® system which we launched back in 2015. We could see there was a gap in the market as before then, most low U-value windows were often expensive and difficult to source, and could be laborious in terms of their fabrication and installation. Our PURe® windows system has been a game changer, for both us and the industry, and we have gone on to develop a full suite of window styles that each offer a different aesthetic with reliably low U-values.
Our PURe® window range now includes a variety of opening styles, from classic casement and the traditional tilt and turn, to the practical parallel push and the versatile reversible overswing option. To boost the design flexibility even more, we developed our PURe® multiframe which combines both an open-out casement and open-out tilt and turn into the one system.
The research and development that has gone into the creation of our patented PURe® system has also enabled us to continuously improve our full window range. Our Part L compliant Ali VU window provides specifiers with another option for both the commercial and residential sectors, with its attractive slim frame also making it ideal for heritage-style window replacement projects.
Set your sights on slimline doors:
One of the biggest challenges facing fenestration system manufacturers is getting the right balance between creating high-performance, thermally-efficient aluminium frames, and achieving the narrow sight lines that so many specifiers demand. We’ve accomplished this with our PURe® range by creating the thermal-barrier from expanded polyurethane (PUR) foam. The flexibility of this material has allowed us to use much slimmer aluminium frames for both our window and door products.
Doors that provide the ‘less frame, more glass’ aesthetic also have a practical role to play in terms of daylighting and in the case of commercial buildings, improving accessibility. Both our PURe® and Ali door ranges have been developed so that we can provide a solution for any scenario, so alongside our residential style sliding and bi-fold patio doors, you’ll find heavy-duty versions for the commercial sector. Our range of commercial entrance systems, which includes our extra-large, super strong PURe® Commercial Door, also feature a variety of opening styles and hardware options. And of course, thermal-efficiency comes as standard.
Choose complementary products:
Reducing heat loss and improving airtightness within a building envelope requires a holistic approach and there are several benefits to working with a sole supplier that can provide multiple solutions. Specifying windows, doors and curtain wall systems from one manufacturer reduces risk and improves the effectiveness of collaborative BIM projects. There is also an important design benefit to choosing complementary systems that can seamlessly interface with each other to create cleaner lines and a more complete façade design.
As well as ensuring that all our doors and windows work perfectly together, we have also enhanced the thermal-performance of our aluminium curtain wall systems to offer a complete and compliant package.
Make an impact with colour:
Aluminium fenestration systems already have an attractive and highly durable finish and this can be maximised through powder coating. This allows bespoke colour schemes to be created or brand colours matched, and can assist with wayfinding in public sector buildings. Specialist finishes can also boost the durability of aluminium systems by providing greater protection against weathering, UV damage or chemical exposure. It’s an important element to consider when looking at design options but as always, the environmental impact of powder-coating needs to be acknowledged first to avoid the risk of high levels of embodied carbon compromising the choice of energy-efficient systems. We invested in our own in-house powder-coating facility for just this reason, so that we can reduce the risk, transportation costs, and carbon emissions, that our customers would otherwise have to consider. Over the years we have continuously improved this service and now have one of the most environmentally-efficient in-house powder coating facilities in the UK.
Want to know more? Please contact us directly to discuss how we can help you design creative and compliant fenestration packages.
