Clearview 260 - July 2023 | Page 52

FIT Show Review

Changing perceptions of V . S .

» VICTORIAN SLIDERS IS ON A mission to “ change perceptions of V . S .”, says Group Managing Director Steve Winslet .
At this year ’ s FIT Show , the company showcased its market-leading PVCu sash windows – but also outlined its ambitious plans for the future .
“ We went to Birmingham to show the market that we ’ re changing ,” Steve explains .
“ From 2005 to 2021 , the business achieved amazing things . But we ’ re clear there ’ s still a lot of work to do .
“ With support and funding from the BGF , one of Britain ’ s most respected investment groups , we ’ ve set our sights on becoming a world-class manufacturer .
“ We want to be a widely respected , customer-centric and customer-friendly company – dedicated to constant improvement , and easy to do business with .
“ In the last year , we ’ ve put in huge investment to start making that vision a reality – and at the FIT Show , we were
delighted to be able to show our customers the changes we ’ ve made so far .”
On the Victorian Sliders stand , visitors found a market-leading windows , exhibiting a wide range of popular colours and configurations – including products with run-through sash horns , astragal bars , Georgian bars and traditional-style operating hardware .
Attendees could also view the product ’ s 2022 redesign , which saw it adapted to meet the requirements of Part L & F regulations .
The upgraded product boasts U-values of 1.4 and a BFRC Rating of A +, complying with Part L , and is equipped with the maximum number of trickle vents up to 10,000mm 2 ( EQA ) to meet Part F standards .
Importantly , unlike previous sash window designs with visible trickle vents that compromised their aesthetics , ECOSlide overcomes this issue while meeting Part L standards , preserving its heritage charm .
ECOSlide is available in an extensive range of coloured foils and can be spraypainted in RAL colours , offering versatility for housing developments .
It also prioritises security , featuring toughened glass at the top and bottom as a standard feature , along with an anti-jemmy bar .
www . victoriansliders . co . uk

Gerda Doors : Why Polish engineering sets new standards for premium residential doors

» AMIDST A VERITABLE ocean of GRP-skinned entrance doors at this year ’ s FIT Show , Gerda Doors were alone in utilising steel and aluminium for the facings , mounted on engineered , aluminium frames and insulated using PU . Not that the use of metal skins was obvious from their appearance . For whilst the security performance of Gerda doors is impressive , the elegant , contemporary designs and quintessentially British Hawkstone door , belie their robust construction .
Distributed exclusively in the UK by Pioneer Trading , Gerda doors offer market leading thermal efficiency and security that is unrivalled at its price point . Cross-range
specification includes multi-point locks , three bolt main locks , anti-burglary vertical bolts , anti-theft pins and optional auxiliary locks for added security . Thermal performance is as low as 0.8 W / m ² K for solid doors , futureproofing against the widely predicted values anticipated to follow the next uplift in U
value requirements within Approved Document L of the Building Regulations .
Attention to detail is emphasised through the standard provision of keys for every door . Gerda supplies two installer keys , with five homeowner keys supplied separately in a sealed pack . When the installation has been completed , the first use of by the homeowner of any key from the sealed pouch , renders the installer keys useless . This feature is believed to be unique amongst door manufacturers .
A further example of Gerda ’ s commitment to innovation is the Tedee smart lock , the world ’ s smallest smartphone-controlled door lock . Tedee provides the
convenience of advanced smart-security but interestingly , utilises the existing lock cylinder and hardware , retaining conventional key-locking to provide reassurance to users . The partnership with Pioneer Trading has allowed Gerda to tailor its residential door range to suit British tastes in colours and designs as well as meeting and exceeding UK and Irish performance standards and compliance requirements . As an example , Gerda has developed the Hawkstone classic four panel , glazed door style for the UK market , in addition to the contemporary designs that have proved popular with UK buyers .
www . gerdadoors . co . uk
52 JULY 2023
CLEARVIEW-UK . COM