DECEMBER 2019 | 19
News
Read online at www.proinstaller.co.uk
SPOTLIGHT ON: COMMERCIAL GLAZING
Despite being one of the most overlooked areas of maintenance, commercial glazing is a core component
in businesses’ environmental, economic and safety agendas. James Sutherland, managing director
of Huddersfield-based Dortech Maintenance, shares his thoughts on the industry and looks into why
companies should be prioritising planned preventative maintenance (PPM) – plus its importance.
Would you drive your car
if it wasn’t serviced? Commercial glazing
roundup
The likely – and legal – answer
to this question is “no”, but what
relevance does this have in the
world of glazing installations?
It’s useful to think of aluminium
windows and doors as you would
a car – the servicing element is
paramount for ensuring the ve-
hicle’s safety, as well as its sleek
aesthetic.
However, as creatures of habit
and convenience, if something
looks like it’s working on the
surface, we’re often satisfied that
it doesn’t need any further atten-
tion. But this is when a reactive –
instead of planned and preventa-
tive – strategy can negatively
impact a firm’s bottom line, and
in some instances, security and
reputation too.
It’s therefore vital for organisa-
tions to recognise that all move-
able parts – whether automotive,
technical or glazing-related
– have a life expectancy, and to
maximise and prolong this, they
need regular checks to guarantee
they’re working to the standard
required. During a business climate of
economic uncertainty and an
increasing focus on safety and
the environment, the PPM of
commercial glazing assets is
something which is climbing ever
higher on the corporate agenda.
This is not only due to the asso-
ciated long-term fiscal benefits,
but also maintenance’s role as a
priceless tool of reassurance that
a building is fully security opti-
mised. And this is a major trend
we’ll continue to see throughout
2020.
Why is regular
maintenance
important?
Aside from keeping buildings
looking smart, one key area
where negligence in upkeep hits
businesses the hardest, is the
financials.
For a number of years, organ-
isations have pointed the finger
at budgeting restrictions for their
glazing downfalls. However, the
reality is that a lack of contingen-
cy planning is often the culprit.
As with most things in life, taking
preventative measures allows
you to spot any complications
or potential problems early on.
This, coupled with regular check-
ups, affords a greater chance of
there being a repairable solution
– better enabling businesses to
nip any costlier refurbishment or
replacement alternatives in the
bud.
The safety element is also
another core part of the equa-
tion. Whether its cracks or breaks
appearing within glass and win-
dow seals, or a door with wear
and tear on the hinges, when
left untreated these unassuming
imperfections have the power to
spiral into a more complex safety
hazard.
But these threats aren’t
always so blatantly obvious.
Many commercial buildings
suffer with damp and draughts
due to doors and windows
having gaps or weak spots,
for example, and if not main-
tained properly they cannot
only cause visible faults but
could result in the entire glass
collapsing.
Overcoming business
disruption
If maintenance is ignored or put
on the backburner, downtime is
another potential area of disrup-
tion for businesses. That’s because
a typical replacement project can
take days – and depending on the
size and scale, sometimes weeks
– to complete. As a result, it’s vital
for site managers and compa-
ny decision-makers to remain
level-headed and panic-free when
it comes to architectural glazing.
Where possible, and of course
safe, a good maintenance provider
will always recommend restora-
tion over renewal.
While safety trumps aesthetics
in the priority rankings, the way
the building looks shouldn’t be
dismissed as a side note. Whether
it’s for business partners, employ-
ees or customers, all firms want
to make a great first impression.
Yet prior to a client even walking
through the door, a building’s
façade helps them make a deci-
sion about the kind of company
they’re dealing with.
Having condensation-free win-
dows, smooth-functioning doors
and robust locking mechanisms
can be the difference between
being considered professional
and secure versus an unkempt
safety hazard waiting to happen.
In truth, properly installed glaz-
ing units should have a 25-30-
year lifespan, but without regular
audits and maintenance, this
could be halved.
Huddersfield-based Dortech
Maintenance forms part of the
Dortech Group – a commercial
glazing specialist with an archi-
tectural, maintenance and direct
division. The Group was founded
in 1993 by James’s father, Steve
Sutherland, and has grown to
become one of the most trusted
and recognised experts in the
design, manufacture and installa-
tion of curtain walling, alumini-
um windows, entrance doors and
roof lights.
www.dortechmaintenance.co.uk