FIT SHOW 2016
A SECURITY
GAME CHANGER
LAUNCHED AT FIT
GT Snap Lok, the latest groundbreaking component developed
by GT Window Products, made
its debut at this year’s FIT Show.
Clearview met with Managing
Director, Carl Taylor, on the
stand to find out more…
»»Carl’s father, Graham, founded GT Window
Products 23 years ago. Graham sadly
passed away three years ago but his legacy
lives on in the recently rebranded company.
So it would seem fitting then that the
Company’s latest innovation, GT Snap Lok, is
a development on the original clip for which
the business first found success, GT SecuriClip, which became the only recognised
solution to help window and door fabricators
meet vital tests that prevent sealed units from
being forcibly removed.
“We work very closely with fabricators so
we know what their issues are,” explained
Carl. “A key driver has been the need to
make sure their products meet building
regulations requirements, in particular
Document Q, which became active for new
builds and extensions in October last year
and includes PAS 24.
“For example, we designed a new security
component for Shepley recently to ensure its
French doors met new Document Q security
requirements, as well as the latest Part M
standards for disabled access. The End Cap
we produced means that Shepley’s range of
Visage French doors are now compliant with
all the building regulations, which became
active for new homes receiving planning
permission after 1st October last year.
“The new GT Snap Lok enables window
and door manufacturers to meet the latest
building regulation requirements to ensure
sealed window and door units cannot be
forcibly removed.
“Needing no screws or additional profile
related packers, the unique design of the
one-piece clip means the component doesn’t
need to be added whilst the units are in
production. Instead, GT Snap Lok is simply
54 M AY 2 01 6
slotted into place by
fitters out on site during
the installation
process.
“GT Snap Lok
helps them secure
glass units in line with
the new standards but it also offers additional
benefits as well, which is why we consider it
to be a game changer in the market.
“As a one-piece component that can be
used in a variety of different profiles, GT
Snap Lok doesn’t need to be added during
production. As the units are being installed,
fitters add the component, snapping it into
place, and the window or door is secure,”
Carl explains.
The design combines the needs of
fabricators to meet the latest regulatory
standards as cost effectively as possible
with those of the fitters who are focused on
making installation quicker and easier.
The new component benefits from GT’s
rich heritage in security design coupled with
the benefits of the latest tooling technology.
Previously tooling was developed as the
component design evolved, which could
mean product development could last
several months. It used to take three weeks
to develop the tooling to produce a sample
and quite often five different sample versions
were needed before final one was right.
“For Shepley, we produced a bespoke
acrylic sample in just three weeks, which
was thoroughly tested. Only when it passed
the required standards was the tooling
developed for mass production saving both
time and money,” Carl says.
To comply with Document Q, French doors
have to include security features designed
to protect householders and reduce the
risk of opportunistic break-ins. In meeting
part M, the doors must facilitate access for
wheelchairs. Previously the access threshold
on French doors was 15mm high but the
new standards reduces the roll over height
to 11mm.
The resulting End Cap developed by
GT solves the problem by securing the
two doors together and providing greater
support from excessive force at the bottom
of the frame. “Our entire range of Visage
low threshold French doors can now meet
new Document Q security requirements
as well as the latest Part M standards for
disabled access. It means that developers
and builders can specify and fit them
with confidence knowing they offer the
required standards,” explains Tim Walker,
Managing Director at Shepley, one of the
largest fabricators of REHAU windows and
composite doors in the UK.
“We’ve really enjoyed working with the
team at GT,’ Tim added. “They understood
exactly what we needed to achieve and
helped us get there really quickly.”
www.gtwindowproducts.co.uk