Clearview Midlands May 2014 - Issue 150 | Page 32

INDUSTRYNEWS Q-Lon – What makes the world’s best-performing window gasket? What makes one particular PVC-U system stand out from the rest? By looking further than the profile you will find it lies in the type of weatherseal that ultimately delivers the essential long-term performance for the lifetime of the product, explains Ray McGrady, Marketing Director at MASCO UK Window Group. Weatherseal performance matters in windows. It is the job of this vital component to provide that all-important weathering, thermal and acoustic performa nce capability that genuinely differentiates one PVC-U system from another. Q-Lon is the innovative weatherseal incorporated across the complete mainframe sections of our Duraflex window system. It has been used in the Duraflex Diamond Suite for the last 10 years and due to its proven performance it is also backed by a lifetime guarantee. Proven, Q-Lon is the best-performing gasket on the market; in tests, outperforming the competition by wide margins. It is also the only gasket that comes with a full guarantee on the lifetime of the window. A bold statement, but many of our satisfied customers are testament to the product’s ability to deliver the top performance required amid continuing emphasis on weather performance, energyefficiency and savings on consumers’ energy bills. So what makes Q-Lon so special and why should installers seriously consider its features and benefits? In February 2014, Comparative Performance Tests were conducted under UKAS-accredited conditions confirmed Q-Lon’s consistently high performance throughout the life of the window against that of flipper and bubble seals. Each seal was tested for air and water permeability in accordance with BS 6375-pt 1 & 2 and cycle tested to 10,000 full cycles of operation in accordance with BS 6375-2 – equivalent to a 15-year life cycle. The results showed Q-Lon performs significantly better for air permeability during both the initial test and the second sequence, following the cycle test. It continues to provide an effective seal, even after 10,000 full operations of the window. The performance variance is just 2.33%. 32 MAY 2014 Both the bubble and flipper seals performed significantly less effectively, even during the initial test, with the flipper seal 55% less effective and bubble seal 28% less effective after 10,000 operations. On water tightness, the flipper seal performed poorly on both tests, while the effectiveness of the bubble seal is ‘degraded significantly following the cycle test, indicating that performance will reduce throughout the life of the window’. The report concluded that Q-lon, ‘provides an effective barrier to water ingress throughout the life of the window, and is suitable for windows requiring exceptionally high weatherresistance. Additionally, Q-Lon has been demonstrated to provide the same level of performance throughout the window service life.’ tested and accredited, not just the standard mahogany, golden oak and rosewood Demonstrating further our commitment to delivering fully tested and accredited products, and providing customers with the best colour range available. The Q-Lon weatherseal is supplied on all windows from the MASCO UK Window Group divisions, including UKFabrication (incorporating Griffin, Premier and Techniglass), Seven Day’s nationwide network of trade depots, Phoenix Doors and Duraflex. MASCO UK Window Group customers benefit from a comprehensive range of marketing materials that demonstrate the superior performance benefits of Q-Lon, including interactive demonstration boards for retail showrooms. ‘Over the last ten years, a total of 246,006,302 metres or 152,861 miles of Q-Lon weatherseal has gone into our windows – enough to wrap round the earth more than six times!’ In acoustic tests, carried out in accordance with BS EN ISO 10140-2, the Q-Lon gasket once again outperformed the alternative flipper seal by 1% and bubble seal by 60%. With an increasing number of consumers looking at reducing unwanted external noise in their homes, Q-lon delivers a valuable USP. Beyond its world-leading weatherseal, the Duraflex Diamond Suite’s advanced design has been developed to meet the needs of fabricators, installers and endusers alike. The range is complemented with an extensive range of foiled finishes, multi-chambered profiles and thermal reinforcements. The Duraflex Diamond suite is the only system to have ALL its colour finishes BBA Over the last ten years, a total of 246,006,302 metres or 152,861 miles of Q-Lon weatherseal has gone into our windows – enough to wrap round the earth more than six times! In conclusion, you could say that ‘Making the Difference’ is a very apt strapline for MASCO UK Window Group whose ground-breaking Q-Lon weatherseal will continue to make that crucial difference for fabricators, installers and end-users for many years to come. Contact MASCO UKWG on 01684 852673, email [email protected] or visit the website at www.ukwg.co.uk. To read more, visit www.clearview-uk.com