Phil Parry , Business Development Director at Epwin Window Systems , says : “ Stellar ’ s unique design doesn ’ t use dummy sashes or rebate adaptors so it ’ s more thermally efficient by design . Plus , its thermal breaks can be upgraded to meet the demands of thermal regulations that will only get stricter over time . It means we ’ re already ahead of the market and many systems will have to be redesigned and reconsidered to meet the new requirements .” |
The new regulations pose a problem for many aluminium systems because of the way the U value now must be calculated . Instead of being calculated on a 1230w x 1480h single opening casement ( known as the CEN standard window ), U values must be calculated on the GGF 2.2 window configuration , as used in WERs . This is a window with an opening light next to a fixed light with a central mullion . It ’ s harder to achieve the required U value on this configuration because there is more frame |
than in a CEN standard window . It ’ s especially problematic for aluminium windows that use a dummy sash or rebate adaptor to create an internally beaded fixed light next to an opener because they use even more frame .
Stellar is unique because it uses a patented reverse butt joint . It means there ’ s no need for dummy sashes , reverse profiles or adaptors . It helps it to meet the requirements of the new Part L legislation with the added benefit of being ready for the proposed
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amendments to Approved Document Q too .
To illustrate the difference the patented construction makes , Epwin Window Systems ’ certified BFRC simulators simulated two GGF 2.2 windows . The first was a Stellar window constructed with a dummy sash . The second was Stellar window constructed using the patented reverse butt joint .
The reverse butt jointed window achieved a calculated improvement of 0.1W /( m 2 K ) over the dummy sash variant .
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Phil concludes : “ Stellar was always designed to be competitive yet future proof . It ’ ll be ready for the changes now and it ’ ll be ready in the future too . Its stunning aesthetics mean it attracts consumer attention like no other aluminium system . And with the introduction of the new Part L , there ’ s yet another reason for it to be the aluminium system of choice in fabricators ’ and installers ’ portfolios .”
www . stellaraluminium . co . uk
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