12 | FEBRUARY 2018
News
Read online at www.proinstaller.co.uk
MILESTONE FOR SELF-CLEANING GLASS
Pilkington United Kingdom
Limited, part of the NSG Group,
has sold 10 million square meters
of its self-cleaning glass product
Pilkington Activ™, described as
the world’s first self-cleaning
glass product, launched in 2002.
The product range,
which marked its 15th
anniversary in 2017, works
by using a microscopic du-
al-action coating. The coat-
ing is activated by daylight
to break down organic
deposits such as dirt, which
is then washed away when
rainwater hits the glass and
runs off in a ‘sheet’.
Pilkington Activ™ was
independently verified last
year as the first dual-ac-
tion product to meet the
new European Standard
for self-cleaning glass. It’s
often used in glass exten-
sions and hard to reach
areas, including conserv-
atory roofs, orangeries
and atriums in commercial
buildings.
The range was used in the
£3 million renovation of the
orangery at Mansion House,
St Helens. It’s also been
used in other high-profile
projects across Europe
including hotels and power
stations.
Our research and development
‘ team
continue to break new
ground and push boundaries ’
Kevin Sanderson, head
of innovation at the NSG
Group, said: “When we
launched self-cleaning glass
in 2002 it represented a key
innovation in the sector, and
we’ve continued to invest
in and develop the range
to ensure it remains best
in class. For example, we
launched Pilkington Activ
SunShade™ in 2013, which
has superior solar control
properties to help reduce
heat gain and help main-
tain a comfortable climate
in homes and other build-
ings.
“Shipping 10 million
square metres of self-clean-
ing glass, the size of around
1,400 football pitches, is
a huge milestone for the
Pilkington Activ™ product
family. We’re hoping for the
same success for our future
innovations.
“Our research and de-
velopment team continue
to break new ground and
push boundaries in terms
of the role glass can play in
the built environment, from
building-integrated photo-
voltaics (BIPV) to switcha-
ble glazing.”
Watch how Pilkington
Activ™ can be used in
glass extensions, and
see what goes on at the
NSG Group’s European
Technology Centre in
Lathom, Lancashire:
https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=EVH721xJFic
RENTERS IN THE DARK OVER RIGHTS
Research among more than
2,000 UK adults by LetBritain has
revealed that millions of tenants
and landlords across the country
are unaware of the laws governing
the rental sector.
It found:
• 37% of UK tenants and 16%
of landlords do not know that
renters must be given at least
two months’ notice if a land-
lord wishes to evict them
• A third of all people in rented
accommodation – 34%, or
5.8 million people – do not
realise they have the right for
their deposits to be placed in
a Tenancy Deposit Protection
scheme
• 12% of UK landlords were
also unaware of this rule
• Even more renters (43%, or
7.4 million) and landlords
(19%) have no idea that
tenants can challenge any
excessive charges made by a
landlord via an ombudsman
• More than a quarter (28%) of
tenants did not know a land-
lord should provide 24 hours’
notice before entering their
property
• 34% were unaware that a
landlord must provide an En-
ergy Performance Certificate
• Exactly half of renters (8.6
million people) are unin-
formed that the rent charged
by a landlord should be
comparable to similar prop-
erties in the area or can be
challenged
• 27% of landlords are also
clueless about this fact
A huge number of tenants and
landlords across the UK are in
the dark when it comes to the
rules and regulations governing
the country’s rental market, new
research by virtual online letting
agent LetBritain has found.
The research comes as figures
show that 29% of UK renters lose
their deposits every year, at an
average of £825 each. Further-
more, the number of privately
rented households is due to grow
from the current 5.4 million to 7.2
million by 2021.
Fareed Nabir, CEO of LetBrit-
ain, said: “It is clear that a huge
proportion of UK renters – a
population growing in size – do
not truly understand the legis-
lation and regulation in place
to protect them. Likewise, a
concerning number of landlords
are also in the dark about their
rights and responsibilities. Such a
lack of awareness means the risk
of renters and landlords being
exploited. It must be addressed,
and lettings agents certainly have
a duty to better inform all their
customers about the vital legis-
lative framework governing the
rental sector.”