Clearview National April 2017 - Issue 185 | Page 60

PROUD SPONSOR OF DOORS & WINDOWS
DOORS&WINDOWS
Wood achieves window industry recognition
» » KEBONY ANNOUNCES THAT
Kebony Clear has now officially been approved
as a window wood by the Verband Fenster und
Fassade (German Association of Windows and
Facades, VFF).
Kebony, a beautiful wood
recommended by leading architects,
has been used for years in window
installations worldwide and last year
the wood was officially recognised
as a suitable product for the window
industry. Following additional research
and a series of tests by the German Institute
for Window Technology, ift Rosenheim, Kebony
Clear made from Pinus Radiata has now also
received this recognition as a suitable product for
the industry, making all Kebony Clear woods
viable for use as window woods.
The patented Kebony technology is an
environmentally friendly process, which modifies
sustainably sourced softwoods by heating the
wood with furfuryl alcohol - an agricultural by-
product. Once modified with Kebony’s patented
process, the Radiata timber has an average bulk
density of 0.63g/cm³, with an equilibrium
moisture content of only 4.7 %
at standard climate. The process
of heating sustainably sourced
softwoods with furfuryl alcohol
polymerises the wood’s cell walls, providing the
modified Kebony Radiata with a high level of
dimensional stability, with maximum swelling
and shrinkage reduced to values of 2 %, a value
that is comparable to tropical hardwoods.
Kebony’s versatility as a material has rendered
it invaluable for the construction of everything
including exterior surfaces, terraces and windows
- working to create a uniform appearance
throughout. Kebony timber is easy to work with;
it can be processed in the same way as hardwood
without the need for special precautions during
sawing and profiling as a consequence of the low
dust and VOC emissions.
One of the greatest advantages of using
Kebony Radiata as a window wood is its 30-year
warranty against rot. When succumbed to
testing and 12 months of outdoor weathering,
Kebony showed no signs of damage to the
outside coating, according to ISO 4628 (the
standard evaluation of degradation of coatings).
Additionally, this wood responds especially well
to paint and varnish, thus confirming Kebony
works as the perfect material to be use in window
frames.
Per Brynildsen, Chief Technology Officer at
Kebony, “To be given this approval is a fantastic
achievement.”
Fired up with composite
fire door solution
» » LATEST FIGURES FROM THE
Home Office reveal that the number of fire-
related fatalities in England during 2015/16
had grown by 15% to 303. The number of
fire incidents attended by the Fire and rescue
services also rose by 5% to a total of 162,000
incidents.
This growing number of fires has prompted
Hurst Plastics to bolster its composite
fire door offer and help customers to take
advantage of increasing demand for composite
fire doors in both commercial and retail
markets.
Howard Wilson, Hurst Plastics’ Composite
Manager, explains: “It is worrying that the
number of fire incidents and deaths from
fire has risen. Most fatalities from fire occur
in the home or in social and affordable
housing schemes, so it’s vital to ensure that
appropriate passive fire protection systems
are in place.
60 » A PR 2017 » CL EARVI E W- UK . C O M
“At Hurst, technical knowledge is at
the heart of what we provide. We want to
reduce the number and impact of fires in the
UK. The specifier has a legal responsibility
to get their specification right and we are
there to guide them through every stage of
their composite door specification. Our aim
is to steer customers through the red tape,
including current European legislation and
building regulations, to give them complete
confidence in their specification.”
In addition to comprehensive technical
support, Hurst has created a full marketing
support package, which includes a re-vamped
composite fire door brochure, individual
retail price guides, personalised leaflets and
tenants’ choice forms.
The new composite fire door brochure
features a wide range of door styles and a
number of frame, colour and glass options,
including Pyrodur Plus glazing. The 44mm
the composite
fire door
collection
Fully certified, stylish and secure
thick Hurst composite fire door leaf consists
of a solid high performance core, which
incorporates fire retardant phenolic foam
and a high-density hardwood perimeter to
provide a full half hour fire rating.
The doors offer the highest levels of
security and satisfy the requirements of the
Q-Mark enhanced security scheme. They
also comply with PAS023/PAS024 security
accreditation and the requirements of
Secured by Design. Unlike some composite
fire door suppliers, Hurst Plastics supplies
every composite fire door with controlled
door closers as standard to meet BS EN
1154.
www.hurst-plastics.co.uk