Vertically challenging vertical slider – meeting customers requirements

Selectaglaze, based on customer feedback and research, has refined its product range over the years. The Series 20 is one of the original vertical sliders developed, most suited to compliment box sash windows – mimicking their operation creating a discreet secondary glazing treatment. This has gone through many upgrades and iterations over the years to a product, we at Selectaglaze, feel is sleek and has reached its optimum design (for now!). However, what we think is working well and is aesthetically pleasing, sometimes falls short of a customer’s expectations or even their ability to operate the windows. Some people have special requirements, which can be simple and sometimes complex to accommodate, however, we always try to find solutions to meet their needs. It could be related to the actual building fabric and window furniture which needs to be considered, or it could be personal physical needs. In this particular project, the client had difficulty reaching the interlock and operating the top sash, plus there was a roller blind sited close to the window. Fig 1. Traditional box sash windows with flush roller blind – the windows to be treated with secondary glazing The Series 20 slimline vertical slider comes with a recessed finger pull on the bottom sash and a standard finger pull on the interlock. This, in most instances, allows easy opening of the units and facilitates the panes to contra slide for cleaning and maintenance of the primary window. Standard handles on the Series 20 slimline vertical slider Due to the height of the resident, they would have had problems reaching and gaining purchase on the finger pull to ease the top sash down, and although only protruding slightly, it would have interfered with the blind. Finger pull protruding from frame by 22.75mm Another solution was sought, by looking at the other options we have in our arsenal of ironmongery. Although not an option we would normally suggest, as in our mind we don’t feel it offers the most sympathetic or discreet treatment, was to use two D handles on the bottom of the top sash. Series 20 with D handle sitting within the frame line Using this handle, meant it was far easier to reach and gain purchase to pull and slide the sash down. As the handle sits back from the sash line by 7mm, it would not interfere with the operation of the blind. In addition, the function of contra sliding remained, which is important to allow full access to the primary window. Aesthetically it worked, as the meeting rail or interlock on the primary window was wider than the Series 20 frame, so when the unit was installed, the D handles could barely be noticed. Final installation with Series 20 slimline vertical sliding with D-handles