Clearview National February 2020 - Issue 219 | Page 4

INDUSTRYNEWS FROMTHEEDITOR Leaping into February We’ve made it through Christmas, New Year, the back-to-work woe- is-me, and even Blue Mon-day, so the next four weeks should be easy peasy (although it is not as short as usual this year). Yet, even if this 29-day month is the shortest of the year, we’ve still got plenty to get through so let’s leap in. » I’M NOT ESPECIALLY SUPERSTITIOUS BUT I am ‘super into’ traditions and customs from across the globe and throughout history. January to February - especially this year- is packed with practices, which even if you don’t believe in, I hope you find interesting… Leap year, of course, is always associated with women making proposals; I’m very independent any day of the year (DIY in our house is spelt DIM: do it myself, for instance) but there are some alternate attitudes for the every-four- years extra day, including if a man turns a woman down he has to buy her 12 pairs of gloves (handy for installers?), Italy’s saying of ‘anno bisesto, anno funes-to’ = leap year, gloomy year (but I won’t mention Brexit), and Anthony (a town in the USA, not just one man) that has a Leap Year Festival every 29th February, which also makes me think of anyone born that day too, do you only get 1/4 of the presents and cake? Especially exciting for anyone that does business with China, Chinese New Year took place on 25th January, but the celebrations last much longer. 2020 is the year of the rat; which doesn’t always have the best connotations on this side of the world, but is the number one animal in the Chinese zodiac, and a sign of wealth, fortune, and personality. In Chinese tradition, 2020 also has the ele-ment sign of metal, which is perfect timing for Clearview as our Aluminium Extra feature takes place this month (starting on page 42). Moving up to Scotland, 25th January also marks Burns Night, having lived in Dundee for a number of years, I remember the celebration fondly, especially the supper, and even though we moved back in 2014 we haven’t haggis yet with the tradition so I hope anyone that commemorated the night thoroughly enjoyed all aspects of it, and have recovered enough to read the rest of the mag-azine now it’s arrived. With that in mind, ‘fair fa’ your honest, sonsie face’ and see you again next month, Gemma, Editor 4 » F EB 2020 » CL EARVI E W- UK . C O M New airtightness seminars for architects and specifiers » NEW FREE SEMINARS ON airtightness in construction sealing joints and improvement options for architects and other design and construction specifiers will be available from sealant tape specialist ISO- Chemie throughout 2020. The initiative advances architectural knowledge and understanding of airtightness and related issues, enabling specifiers to improve the design and construction of buildings and boost their technical and product expertise. Delivered onsite within the practice and contributing towards formal CPD training, the programme covers advice on effective window installation techniques, and how to identify and rectify air leakage. It also covers products to improve thermal insulating and load bearing bracket system for the rapid installation of windows, which have been fire rated to E30. Products such as ISO-TOP WINFRAMER can protect the entire window area from fire for a minimum of 30 minutes, guaranteeing the retention of structural integrity, as well as supporting at least 200kg/m and providing an air-tight cavity support. Guidance on the latest airtightness products and sealing solutions is also covered in the seminar, which includes details of ISO-Chemie’s range of gap sealing solutions ISO-BLOCO WIN2WALL and BLOCO- ONE. Up to 70% cost savings can be achieved when using the ISO-BLOCO ONE foam tape for high performance window sealing, rather than the current three component systems - it allows windows to be easily installed from inside the building, avoiding the need to use time consuming and costly external access systems like scaffolding and ladders. To book a seminar contact Andy Swift, sales and operations manager, UK & ROI for ISO- Chemie. Tel. [phone] or email [email protected]