A Passive House Standard can be awarded to a building, component or individual that meets the stringent criteria of the standard, which aims to dramatically reduce energy use and carbon emissions from buildings in the UK, as well as providing high standards of comfort and building health. This is the very first time that a rooflight of this kind has been accredited.

“ By bringing another Passive House Component to the market, Roof Maker has helped facilitate the superior quality for which the Passive House Standard is known and added to the ever-expanding range of options for clients looking to build better,” commented a spokesperson from the International Passive House Association.

Since 2001, Leicester-based Roof Maker has been at the forefront of research and development for the manufacture of innovative rooflights, offering architects and specifiers a wide range of bespoke sizes, styles and designs. However,

it is the thermal performance of its rooflights that make them unique, offering the industry’ s lowest Ug rating from 0.2 for quadruple, with triple glazing as standard, which delivers superior thermal insulation and solar gain efficiencies.

Roof Maker’ s fixed flat rooflight has secured the renowned Passive House accreditation due to its impressive

thermal credentials, with the product listed on the Passive House website as a recommended product to help architects, specifiers and builders achieve an energy efficient home.

The fixed flat rooflight, available up to 3sq metres, has undergone a range of tests and processes by the Passive House organisation, including thermal imagery examinations, to prove it helps to provide constant and consistent temperatures throughout the home.

Paul Mildenstein, CEO of Roof Maker said:“ To have created the world’ s first and only fixed flat rooflight to be accredited by the International Passive House Association is a fantastic achievement not only for ourselves but for the glazing industry as a whole. We have worked closely with the Passive House team, from the initial design

supporting architects and installers with products that can be easily specified

concept stage, right through to the manufacturing process, to ensure we’ ve created a rooflight that is as thermally efficient as possible.

“ We are not only committed to providing homeowners with the highest standard in rooflights, but also supporting architects and installers with products that can be easily specified. This is why the fixed flat rooflight features our triple glazing, rather than the four or five panes of glass you may expect, as this allows installers to fit the

product in the easiest and quickest way, whilst still offering unrivalled thermal benefits.”

Designed with high quality marine grade powder coated Aluminum frame technology and impressive unit seals, Roof Maker is the only manufacturer in the UK to offer a 20-year glass unit guarantee.

The Roof Maker Passive House accredited fixed flat rooflight was due to be available to purchase at the end of March. For further information and purchasing options, architects, specifiers and builders should contact 0116 214 7088 or visit https:// roof-maker. co. uk / passive-house.

Astraseal, one of the UK’ s most respected trade and commercial fabricators has seen unprecedented traffic to Astraseal Downloads( www. astrasealdownloads. com) – the firm’ s powerful, online‘ Information Centre’.

Combining product brochures, profile prints, technical specifications and installation guides from across the industry’ s systems houses and suppliers, the free-to-access resource has seen thousands of industry professionals navigate to the site and download resources since the beginning of the year.

The firm, which specialises in a complete range of uPVC and aluminium

products is constantly adding new documents to its‘ Information Centre’. Users can search for documents using a keyword search, and then view online or download to keep for complete ease of use.

With one of the biggest portfolios in the industry, Astraseal has built a strong

reputation for high-quality aluminium and uPVC products including windows, doors and conservatories. For over 30-years, Astraseal’ s ethos has been to offer exceptional products with customer service that goes above and beyond.

www. astraseal. co. uk

Industry-leading PVCu systems supplier VEKA Group took home the‘ Employer of the Year’ trophy at this year’ s Red Rose Awards.

Touted as‘ Lancashire’ s premier celebration of business excellence’, the annual Red Rose Awards evening was held at the Winter Gardens, Blackpool, with over 1,100 guests attending the black-tie event. Graham Liver of BBC Lancashire Radio played host to 150 finalists from all over the North West. Now in its eighth year, the auspicious evening has been described as‘ the

awards for the businesses that keep the county alive – the heroes of the Lancashire economy’.

Over the past 12 months, Burnley-based VEKA Group has completely redeveloped its Employer Brand and VEKA Values to come up with a new ethos of VEKA SPIRIT. The SPIRIT values – Success, Pride, Integrity, Responsible, Improvement, and Team – have become the basis for all employer / employee interaction from recruitment to retirement, and everything in between.

www. vekauk. com