Pro Installer January 2015 - Issue 22 | Page 30

30 JANUARY 2015 PRO INSTALLER PRO PRODUCTS www.proinstaller.co.uk THE SMART WAY TO FIT WINDOWS Commercial systems specialist, Smart Architectural Aluminium, launched a number of new products, further extending the company’s door and window ranges and providing even greater scope in both design and performance for architects and designers. The innovative Alitherm 700 range has been enhanced by the introduction of both parallel opening and top-swing reversible windows, the range offering an ideal solution for increasing levels of natural ventilation and delivering a balanced and effective airflow without compromising security or safety. The system works perfectly with curtain wall facades for low and highrise projects. The Alitherm Heritage range will also soon feature a pivot window option, specifically designed to fit into very traditional openings such as stone mullions. In line with all Alitherm Heritage systems, this new option will provide a modern, thermally-broken solution to the problem of replacing traditional steel-framed doors and windows, the elegant lines of the system perfectly replicating the slim profiles of traditional steel windows and doors. Alitherm Heritage is ideal for sensitive planning areas and for renovation and refurbishment projects where traditional steel doors and windows have to be replaced. Completing the new window introductions is the latest addition to the Eco Futural range of high performance commercial windows, with the launch of a tilt-turn system to complement the existing options. In line with the rest of the range, the profile of each of the tilt-turn products features a chambered polyamide thermal break to deliver excellent thermal performance. Two new door systems were also launched last year, with both the Visoglide Plus and Smart Wall rebated doors providing further high-performance options for specifiers. With a distinctive, slim profile, the Visoglide Plus sliding door combines contemporary styling and robust performance, with exceptional thermal performance. Designed specifically for large commercial and highend residential projects, the door is available in a range of sizes of up to 2.5 metres by 7 metres, and with the option of auto-slide gearing, provides the perfect solution for applications where large opening apertures are required. The flexibility and versatility of Visoglide Plus is further enhanced with the option of a triple-track format, with three sliding panes allowing an opening aperture of up to 75%. Finally, the new Smart Wall rebated door provides an anti-finger trap solution which delivers excellent security, U-values and weather protection. In line with all Smart Wall products, the new rebated door has been successfully tested in accordance with the rigorous standards of BS EN 1627 and LPS1175 for security and BS 6375 for weather performance, making it the perfect choice for public buildings such as schools, hospitals and libraries. Improving Thermal Efficiency with a Cost Effective Solution Rapierstar, a UK based, National producer of high quality screws, fixings and PPE and workwear is launching a range of new products for 2015. PROSHIELD™ is a water repellent, environmentally friendly masonry treatment that is quick and easy to apply. It penetrates to provide a strong water repellent bond that maintains vapour breathability and is invisible to the naked eye, retaining the look of original masonry and protecting from damaging water ingress. Andy Holland, Group Marketing & Technical Design Manager at Rapierstar, discusses the benefits of PROSHIELD™ he said: “The product is unique in that it gives hydrophobic properties and also increases the thermal efficiency of existing masonry structures. It complements Rapierstar’s existing product ranges, which are supplied into the fenestration, building construction and home improvement markets. “Energy efficiency is a real strong factor in the fenestration industry and the focus, quite rightly, is on more energy efficient doors and windows, but what about the rest of the building structure? “The walls of a building can account for a large proportion of heat lost through its fabric, and there are pressures to design and adapt buildings to improve their thermal performance. The UK Government’s commitment to an 80% reduction by 2050 from 1990 levels means that efforts to improve the energy efficiency of our existing buildings are intensifying. However, increasing the thermal resistance of masonry and especially traditional solid walls can be problematic. Cladding systems and cavity wall insulation can create their own building problems. This is not just an aesthetic concern; changing balances between heat, air and moisture movement may also affect the integrity of a building and the health of its occupants. “PROSHIELD™ can improve the thermal efficiency by reducing penetrating water and water vapour within the building structure, without expensive and feature changing additions. Applying PROSHIELD™ to masonry prior to conservatory installations can also help reduce unnecessary call backs with water tracking issues. “Rapierstar has undertaken extensive research and testing, proving PROSHIELD™ effectiveness and longevity when applied to a range of masonry block constructions and can offer a 25 year warranty of performance. “