Spotlight

If you are a homeowner or residential landlord you are able apply for a Green Homes Grant voucher towards the cost of installing primary and secondary energy efficient improvements to your home, which could include secondary glazing if you wish to upgrade the performance of the windows in your Listed building.

The Grade II* Listed Whitehall Museum has received a lottery funded grant and undergone an extensive refurbishment and conservation project, in keeping with its 500 year old history. As part of the works secondary glazing was installed to upgrade the thermal and acoustic performance of the old single glazed windows, as well as add fire integrity to two openings in a kitchenette area.

Despite a technological revolution the last few years with an explosion of digital platforms emerging across all industries to help streamline and finesse processes, the construction industry is still lagging behind in its adoption. With more recent developments in the built environment such as BIM, The Golden Thread and Digital Twins, will we see a harmonious approach to the way buildings are designed, constructed and maintained, by all those involved?

The conversion of a Grade I Listed heritage stable block into offices and a cafe required secondary glazing to improve energy efficiency. One of the windows was extremely unusual - a drop-down door, so the treatment not only had to be openable to allow for ventilation but provide an element of guarding too.

How do I get a secondary glazing quote from Selectaglaze to improve my listed and heritage windows? This outlines the details we would require to ensure a close ball-park figure for you to decide if it is something you would like to go ahead with. There are many considerations, however this outlines the most important factors that needed to be addressed from the outset.

The conversion of a bank and offices into a 4* hotel, in the heart of the bustling Minories, saw the need of acoustic secondary glazing to supplement the new double glazing to meet the acoustic requirements; affording guests a peaceful night's sleep.

The Jewel Tower, loving looked after by English Heritage and open to the public, is a gem of a building surrounded by other architectural treasures. A guided tour highlighted that buildings are not always what they seem and with the use of building forensics, they can be dissected and unravel some of the stories they hold. The Jewel Tower's windows provide a view to its history and an interesting one too, but not a straight forward one ...

How Selectaglaze secondary glazing not only helped meet noise planning stipulations in this office to Manhattan Style loft living conversion, but also adapted its product to meet the aesthetic requirements.

Open the boot of the car of one of our surveyors and you will find – PPE, measuring equipment and project details for the site being visited. However, in the case of a recent modular build project which was measured and installed ‘off-site’ there were two additions – a map and hiking boots! Although secondary glazing is generally a retrofit solution for Listed buildings, it is also provides the most effective acoustic insulation in new-builds where the primary glazing can not meet the necessary levels alone.

240 windows with single glazed crown glass were treated with Selectaglaze secondary glazing, framing the views over to Regent’s Park, in a conversion of offices to residential at Cornwall Terrace.

Universities need to improve the environmental controls across their estates, which poses a challenge with campuses often being a mix of new and heritage buildings; but there is plenty which can be done. In a typical campus building, approximately 10% of heat loss is through the windows and a further 15% of heat loss is due to draughts if the building is old and has ineffective primary glazing – both of which can have a huge impact on energy bills too. Selectaglaze thermal secondary glazing with low-E glass can dramatically reduce heat loss, stop draughts and help lower energy bills; resulting in a more sustainable building

You think you have seen just about every size, shape and style of window – nothing is too difficult to treat…. And then you get to site, in this case a University library, and are confronted with towering gothic arched, stained glass windows; over 4.5m tall x 1.6m wide, stone reveals, beautiful detailing, and tracery – as well as a Grade II Listing. How would you treat them with secondary glazing? This was our approach...

Like all building products secondary glazing needs to conform to the current building regulations when it is part of any building work. This piece looks at what needs to be considered when meeting the requirements of Part K - Protection from falling, collision and impact. Guidance for how to apply the building regulations can be found in the series of Approved Documents.

The Sofitel St James, occupies the prominent corner location opposite the Institute of Directors on the corner to Pall Mall and Waterloo Place. Selectaglaze was briefed to design, manufacture and install a range of secondary units to reduce noise levels and increase thermal insulation to the bedrooms and suites. But at the same time, it was essential to preserve the original style of the building and hence the secondary windows had to avoid introducing sight lines.

In a world which never stands still and an industry which is experiencing a great deal of change in terms of working practices and construction methods, The RIBA Plan of Work 2020 helps to provide a guiding light, for specifiers and project teams to achieve the end goal: a sustainable, well designed and constructed building, delivered on time and on budget, making the client’s dreams and wishes a reality.

A refurbishment of a Library saw the need to replace old secondary glazing, which had been fitted individually and directly into the stone transoms and mullions of the original sweeping bay window, which faces directly onto the busy Plumstead high street. Due to the make up of the glazing, the seals did not clamp the curved reveal, creating a gap...Where there are gaps there are flaws – gaps will provide a passage for sound and noise to travel, as well as an escape route for heating and inlet for draughts. This is where the importance of a fully independent secondary glazing system comes into play.

Partnering with the BRE, we produced test specimens to show the diffrence between standard and security secondary glazing, which would be attacked with considerable force in their LPCB (Loss Prevention Certification Board) testing zone at the International Security Expo 2019. The tests on both days showed how even basic secondary glazing can provide a barrier to entry for a stealth attack. For those buildings designated vulnerable and at risk, that there are solutions such as LPS1175 rated security secondary glazed units, which can prove to be impenetrable.

A project from 2017 takes us to The Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (RADA), where acoustic secondary glazing was installed in the Sound Studio and Sound Control rooms on the 3rd floor Gower Street elevation to provide high levels of noise insulation.

Through the centuries London has evolved and grown, independent from either royal or governmental control. This autonomy is what makes London so unique amongst capital cities. How to keep this special something; whilst at the same time allowing it to evolve as all cities must, was the subject of a recent lecture organised by SAVE Britains Heritage and given by Sir Simon Jenkins titled Who Guards London?

When installing secondary glazing to improve acoustic insulation, it is important to create at least a 100mm glass to glass cavity. However, in this project the window boards had inset heating grilles. If the secondary glazing was fixed as per normal, it would have compromised the heat distribution with energy wasted in the cavity. So how was the secondary glazing installed to provide the much needed acoustic insulation, yet maximise thermal efficiency?

If secondary glazing is specified on a project where alarm systems cannot perform adequately on the primary windows, alarm contacts can be fitted to our units.

With the combined skills of all the teams working on this historic building; this hub of Victorian communications has been transformed into quiet, warm and comfortable apartments.

As our understanding deepens significant sections of humanity now influenced by Greta will actively pursue 2.5-tonne lifestyles. To do this they will demand ever more clarity and transparency of information to inform.... Climate activists are creating the ripples which leaders of current-day systems ignore at their own peril!

Just like the saying goes ‘there are many ways to skin a cat’; there are often many different ways to treat windows with secondary glazing. We always discuss requirements and the client’s expectations, to ensure that we design and fit the most discreet configuration.

Schools must be proactive in being well-prepared for situations where there are attempts to compromise safety, and that the right measures are in place to prevent them. Is security secondary glazing the answer?

The Priory is an unusual Grade II Listed home... During the latter half of the 20th century, the home, medieval priory ruins and grounds fell into disrepair... the site was lovingly restored by its current owner; a RIBA award winning builder. Outside help was also brought in, which came in the guise of Channel 4’s ‘Time Team’.

There was standing room only at a recent event at London’s Building Centre. The theme was Material Provenance and the Climate Crisis. Material provenance is a vital tool within the environmentalist toolkit. Succeeding in securing a sustainable future for all humanity is a huge, but not surmountable challenge.

Working in collaboration with a local sustainability charity; ‘Sustainable St Albans’, we have been measuring the changes in the thermal integrity of windows before and after the addition of secondary glazing.

Our team are very experienced in assessing heritage buildings and will always ensure that both the secondary glazing and building fabric are at the level required to meet the security specification....In the world of heritage retrofit security treatments, the old adage ‘only as strong as the weakest link’ hits the nail on the head.

William Scott Abbot, one of Sacrewell Mill’s highly influential owners, implemented and inspired a whole generation in the art of intensive farming. During WW2, William and his wife Mary, with the help of the Women’s Land Army transformed the food output from the farm. His innovative farming was desperately needed as food was getting dangerously short.

Standing outside, looking up at the monolithic neoclassical skyscraper; I was struck by the boldness and confidence of the design. This was to be a farewell tour of 55 Broadway organised by SAVE for its members; it is soon to be sold and converted into flats.

Built in the shape of a DH Comet Racer, the Comet Hotel is totally unique. Opened as the Comet Hotel in 1936 this iconic building has recently received a much-needed renovation and retrofit ... peaceful and relaxing ... Creativity, attention to detail and bespoke top of the range secondary glazing units have all been combined to bring 30s glamour back to the Comet Hotel.

With so many Listed buildings across the UK requiring interventions to bring them up to 21st century standards; one quick win, with three beneficial outcomes ... By retrofitting an internal window, in effect creating double glazing, you will almost eliminate draughts and heat loss, provide noise insulation and give an added layer of security at the windows.

Named after Prince William Frederick, Earl of Connaught; this beautiful sweep of mansions has seen a colourful set of characters come and go over its lifetime resulting in some tantalising stories...home to the estranged wife of George IV, Princess Caroline ... and where ... the young Winston took his first steps

On a recent BIID event I had the opportunity to visit Southside House, Wimbledon. Built in The William and Mary style, Southside House is hidden away from view behind high walls and tall trees.

Converting a draughty, cold, Grade II Listed property into homely student accommodation whilst meeting conservation requirements was challenging. It Required the expertise from architects, surveyors, builders, craftsmen and finishing trades; as well as the skills of a Conservation Officer who oversaw the whole process.

Selectaglaze secondary glazing systems have an odd leg frame .... It is this design which affords so much flexibility when dealing with reveals which are out of plumb and true or which have period features, allowing these architecturally important details to be retained in their original form.

On the Historic Buildings at Risk Register, the Old Toll House was a sorry sight to see in the early 2000s. Grade I Listed and falling into disrepair this very special building was badly in need of help.

With the old adage ‘knowledge is power’; policymakers together with built environment professionals hopefully have, in SAP 10, a firm foundation on which to build a greener, more sustainable future.

With over 50 years experience our team were undaunted by the technical and aesthetic considerations posed by a recent treatment. Named in the Domesday Book, this beautiful Grade II Listed property contained architectural features spanning from the 16th through to the 19th century.Harmony has been restored to this beautiful property; whilst modern thermal integrity has been added to the windows to make it both sustainable and comfortable for future generations.

Often splayed reveals are formed from timber panelling, getting the detailing right in these situations is vital to preserve the historic features. Whilst the installation of secondary glazing will never go unnoticed and there will always be some compromise it is important to do as much as possible to reduce the visual impact of the installation.

Much has changed over the decade since the climate change act was almost unanimously enshrined in law in 2008. The UK, in the vanguard of climate change legislation, has since then been settling into the hard realities of putting this ambitious Act into practice.

This beautiful property can now boast thermally efficient windows; affording current and future occupants’ 21st-century comfort, safe in the knowledge that their carbon footprint and bills will be much reduced.

In a straight forward installation, timber grounds are screwed straight into the reveal and the secondary frame fixed into them. However with a curved on plan unit, this would not work. Therefore the timber was designed to be fixed in stages with some elements screwed to the frame to slot into the jigsaw puzzle.

The two new Kombimatec DGS530 CNC double mitre saws in the Selectaglaze factory have been integrated into the secondary glazing production line with ease, refining the process of cutting aluminium extrusions whilst improving its CNC automation.

Great care, ingenuity and skill were required by the whole team, from surveyor through to installer to meet the needs of this beautiful building. Each opening came with its own unique set of challenges; ranging from crossbeams, supporting timbers and plasterwork obstructions; with the added difficulty of no opening being true and all having irregular dimensions.

Late morning and late February in warm sunshine we start our SAVE walking tour of Mayfair ably lead by Robert Ayton, Head of Design and Conservation at Westminster Council. Threading our way through Mayfair we look at the differing architecture, some contentious plans and some architectural gems hidden in the London jungle.

Spanning over 3 metres this beautiful rose window required a combination of engineering acumen and ingenuity. With no true angles or symmetry, a strong adaptable method of fixing was required for any secondary glazing treatment.

This project had the ambitious target of pushing its energy efficiency towards Passivhaus EnerPHit standards. Energy monitoring equipment was installed to assess the performance of the building over time... the resulting treatment gives significant acoustic and thermal benefits together with a low visual impact.

Selectaglaze played an important part in the transformation of this derelict architectural gem. All the original Victorian window features such as keystones and dado features were retained. In order to do this ingenuity, accuracy, skill and determination were all required in order to meet the challenges posed.

Sitting empty for many years and on the Heritage at Risk Register, Historic England’s Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings project is a testament to the importance of bringing our empty buildings back to life.

D-Handles added to Series 20 vertical sliding treatment - Not typically a treatment we would advise, as it reduces the ability to contra-slide, which aids in cleaning. However, in this case, the well-being of the lady living there was paramount, so the solution was happily developed and changed by us.

Good, modern secondary glazing units should provide maximum benefit, minimum visual impact; whilst at the same time preserving the function and ease of maintenance of the existing window.

The presence of secondary glazing for noise insulation and thermal retention contributed greatly towards the properties being awarded an Eco Homes Excellent rating.

Window box disguising flue .... This is just one of the plethora of intriguing stories that surround the unique exterior and interior of Chiswick House. With the care and dedication of many people over the decades, this architectural gem continues to reach out to artists and innovators into the 21st century and beyond – smoky chimneys and all!

This challenging treatment, secondary glazing of a church belfry, required expertise and collaboration from the whole Selectaglaze team; from technical advisors through to installers.

Selectaglaze secondary glazing is fabricated from aluminium which is an extremely durable material, so once installed, requires minimal maintenance. Generally the only areas which could cause issues are those that provide the means to open/close – such as hinges and balances.

An exquisite 19th century entrance lodge with Renaissance style Italian carving, has had secondary glazing installed to raise the thermal performance of the home, to make it a more comfortable environment for the family living within.

The UKGBC makes it clear that built environment firms must speed up their efforts ahead of the government. Constructing greener buildings with energy efficient solutions like secondary glazing will mitigate the impacts of climate change in a bid to lead the way towards a fully decarbonised building sector by 2050.

21st century secondary units holding 6.8mm acoustic laminate glass nestle snugly and unobtrusively between the 18th century Baltic pine primary box sash windows and their fully operational shutters. Whilst the resulting noise attenuation is dramatic!

Now the evolution of the iconic townhouse involves low visual impact adaptations which transform the acoustic properties of the original. However unlike their predecessors these 21st century adaptations are very hard to spot...can you?

The College wished to sensitively refurbish the Grade II Listed building to make it as heat efficient and as sustainable as possible, while also keeping its beautiful original features.The College stipulated that the original materials and architectural design were to be maintained and all secondary glazing to blend seamlessly into its heritage surroundings.

A recent installation saw a thought provoking, sensitive and sympathetic projection commemorating the lives of those who gave their lives fighting for the country. Autumn 2018 marks the centenary of the armistice of World War I.

The sympathetic treatment is so unobtrusive, that you wouldn’t even notice it, unless you knew to look for it. However, the difference it makes is incredible – at night you have a view to the sky in a peaceful, quiet environment.

One element on a particular project, which proved to be more complex than normal, was treating full height stained glass windows with an arched head, which were cut in-two by a mezzanine level. In addition, the building is Grade II* Listed, so the treatment had to be discreet and sympathetic.

In its heyday, St Albans Town Hall was the heart of the city’s legal and civic life. Rescued from dereliction, thanks to the support of residents, local businesses and lottery funding, this Grade II Listed building is once more a place to meet and enjoy leisure time. The rejuvenated Town Hall now houses exhibition spaces, a gift shop and café, where you can enjoy particularly scrumptious cakes.

BRE and IWBI announced an alignment of the two standards in January 2018. This joint approach potentially gives additional gravitas to both standards..... Each organisation is committed to transforming the built environment to the benefit of all. The forward march of technology is making the real-time monitoring of all aspects of our lives both practical and feasible, further strengthening the possibilities of the two approaches.

When treating a primary window which already has blinds or requires them when secondary glazing is added; clearance for the operating mechanisms of the secondary glazing and blinds, as well as the overall aesthetic should be carefully considered.

The odd leg design does not go unnoticed where specifiers are concerned. Regularly it is seen as an opportunity to fit the units right on the corner of the reveal and maybe even used to cover up a construction joint, a detail referred to as "Lip". On paper all seems well and good but the "Lip" detail has some hidden dangers which need to be understood.

The successful launch of the Greenhouse Centre was honored by the attendance of two Princes in April, 2018. Getting into the spirit of the place, Prince Harry and Prince William enjoyed a game of table tennis after the official ribbon cutting ceremony.

Technology is rapidly evolving and being integrated into our everyday lives – IOT (Internet of Things) via smart watches, smart phones, smart meters and almost 24/7 connectivity to the internet in one form or another.

Many of our older Grade I and II Listed heritage buildings are of an era when fairly primitive (but robust) building methods were used compared to today. Although habitable and full of charm, they are tricky to maintain, with sloping floors, walls, ceilings and off square windows. Plus, when Listed, modifications have to stay as true to the original character and architectural detailing as possible. So how do you make a square secondary glazing unit fit an un-square opening?

As part of the assessment to be granted a Royal Warrant, a company must clearly demonstrate its commitment to both sustainable practices and products. Achieving a sustainable product starts right at the beginning of the value chain. An important factor within this chain is the distances between supplier and purchaser. Selectaglaze wherever possible uses local suppliers. Selectaglaze strives as a company to support sustainability both within its production, administration and final product. The product is guaranteed to be the best in its field and carries ISO 9001 accreditation, helping to reduce carbon emissions within existing buildings for many generations to come.

For a number of years, Willmott Dixon has run an internal competition with management trainees across a number of divisions, having to source a refurbishment project and manage all aspects through to its completion – with little to no budget. One of the main criteria is the impact the project will have on the local community. Grove Park Youth Club was selected as the refurbishment project and Jordan Wilding took the role of project manager.

Liverpool University created a peaceful learning and research environment in their laboratories, with the help of Selectaglaze secondary glazing. The resulting treatment combines low visual impact with dramatically enhanced comfort and control of the environment, supporting current students in their quest for knowledge.

The construction sector is one of the biggest contributors towards greenhouse gas emissions, with buildings in the UK accounting for more than 40% of all carbon emissions. In recent years, energy has become a key consideration in the way buildings are designed due to trepidations over climate change and carbon emissions.

A rebated reveal was created so that the secondary glazing would sit within the rebate giving the impression that it was an integral part of the original design all those years ago. On the cavity side, the reveal aligned with the staff bead joint and the inside line of the secondary frame. On the room side the reveal was built traditionally providing that all important seamless look.

The final step in the manufacturing process is to fix the opening to the frame. The final step is carried out onsite, with the positioning of the timber grounds and installation of the secondary glazing. Each individual component needs to fit optimally. This is dependant on the skill and expertise of our surveyors, CAD technicians, factory team and installers; with the technical CAD drawings binding the whole process together.

Rudyard Kipling was reported to have written ‘The Jungle book’ during a stay; whilst its atmosphere was said to have inspired the fictional hotel in Agatha Christie’s ‘At Bertrum’s Hotel’.... peace and quiet has been restored to Brown’s; whilst the unobtrusive design careful specification has ensured that the look, feel and function of the primary windows is retained.

The buildings in which we work in are improving, getting smarter and more connected. The futurist autonomous technologies we observe as the backdrop to science fiction films are closer to the present than you think. We now have badges to access specific areas of a building and a blend of technologies to automate building management for temperature and lighting.

This window has been treated with three Series 46 curved fixed light units glazed in 6mm glass. The airgap between the primary and secondary, together with the disparity in glazing thickness has resulted in a window with high acoustic deadening properties.

If the educational establishment is well insulated, with a peaceful calming interior, then it is more than likely you will see an improvement in the student’s learning capacity and make their time at school more memorable for the right happy reasons!

The refurbishment in 2015 won the prestigious Best Global BREEAM Residential Award. The refurbishment also has the accolade of being the first Listed building in the UK to be awarded a BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ rating.

At a recent RICS & Historic England seminar the fragility of buildings was starkly illustrated by a series of presentations showing how the concerns and demands of 21st century owners can impact on the built environment.

A mixture of reveal and face fixed installations all blend with the decorative theme. Details such as flush hinges and peardrop handles add, rather than detract from the whole...The restoration process has succeeded in retaining the character and gothic charm of the building.

Interstitial blinds are sites in between two panes of glass. In the case of secondary glazing, they can be retrofitted in a Listed building for a number of benefits; to enhance thermal performance, improve noise reduction, provides privacy and aids to maintenance of ensuring a clean environment.

The care taken to meet both the aesthetics and function of the original windows has resulted in a treatment that is both unobtrusive as well as functional. The building’s windows are now thermally efficient, helping the Dean and Chapter towards their goal of transforming Wren’s beautiful Chapter House into energy efficient office space fit for the twenty first century.

To meet the challenges of tomorrow, the construction industry must recognise that sustainability is a collective effort – globally, nationally and locally. Although smart buildings cost considerably more to construct, their benefits overshadow the initial cost in the long term.

The weight of the secondary unit was transferred to the ‘mullion clamp’ by screwing it to the secondary glazing coupling mullion. The ‘mullion clamp’ was then fixed to the structure of the building by wrapping it around each curtain wall upright. Within each ‘Mullion clamp’ is housed a nitrile clamp. This increases the grip between the clamp and the upright. Finally the clamp is secured to the building by screwing the adjacent head bolts firmly against the nitrile plate. All this was designed and a test produced on our in-house 3D printer.

The lower the emissivity of the glazing, the lower the resulting U-value and using low-E secondary glazing a U-value of 1.6 is achievable. This not only reduces energy usage and the buildings carbon footprint but the embedded carbon in the original window is retained.

Selectaglaze were consulted during the initial planning of the adaptation to come up with a solution to a design problem. In order to create a safe quiet court space the improvements required the sectioning off of a gallery that run the whole length of the proposed new courtroom.

The halting of and possible reversing of global warming will require intelligence, co-operation and determination. There are no short term, simple fixes. Addressing this issue is multifaceted and fundamentally deeply political. The changes in the ways that man lives and interacts with his environment will need to adapt and change if we are going to have a long term future on this planet.

A new lease of life has been breathed back into the iconic Grade II Listed Lighthouse building. Its raison d’etre is not known but most historians agree it was probably built as an oyster bar (the Victorians version of a fast food outlet).

This treatment is for a large ecclesiastical window 3011mms high by 574mms wide. With large projects such as this accuracy and alignment is key.

A bespoke secondary glazing solution was designed using Selectaglaze Series 10 slimline horizontal sliding units, which would meet the need for improved acoustic and thermal performance, whilst preserving the original fabric of the building.

‘The Government must build 300,000 homes each year in England to help solve the housing crisis, an increase of 50pc from its current target’, a committee of Lords has advised (July 2016). This is to cope with a growing and aging population and does not factor in the additional amenities that are also required. Will we run out of available land or the workforce to build the necessary houses first?

This beautiful Grade II mock-Tudor building boasts stone mullioned casement windows with leaded lights as well as oak framed bays with both fixed panels and hinged casement openings. The challenge posed was to treat these eclectic windows with acoustic secondary glazing whilst still retaining their appearance and function.

Condensation within buildings is a perennial issue. It is generally considered a nuisance, but in fact, black mould caused by untreated condensation can have a detrimental effect on an occupant’s health. If untreated the consequences of condensation can be a contributing factor in chronic ill health, with children and the elderly being particularly susceptible.

This successful wood effect secondary glazing treatment has resulted in council offices that are now warm and comfortable. The council have already been able to demonstrate a dramatic reduction in their heating bills.

We hope that through the work of SAVE, Historic England and other similar bodies, that statuses imposed on buildings and areas are respected and preserved for our future generations.

Jacobean House posed many challenges; each window reveal presented its own unique proportions, splay (both horizontal and vertical) and wattle and daub meant irregularities of fixing surface.

To create bespoke, high quality secondary glazing for characterful Listed properties is no easy task and there are a whole multitude of things to consider; however with security products, the list of items to check gets more complex.

Bespoke security secondary glazing has contributed to preserving both the historic contents together with the historic fabric of an irreplaceable building ensuring the Old Magnus buildings remain safe and secure for generations to come.

Value engineering may keep costs down – but it can undermine the use and safety of a building or space.” What is clear is that the cheaper option can be very costly in the long run.

The treatment has achieved the clients requirements of providing additional privacy and fire security, whilst retaining the modern, professional, branded look of their new Oxford laboratories.

This poor quality secondary window is noticeable and unattractive. The shape and finish of the aluminium is out of keeping with the traditional Victorian primary sash windows.

Selectaglaze bespoke secondary glazing played a vital role in retrofit of this prize winning project. As testament to its quality, Igloo was awarded GOLD for the best sustainable development at ‘Whathouse? Awards 2015’

The new MEES regulations come into force on April 1st 2018. They apply to both, domestic and commercial new and renewal lettings....Ecology campaigners are hailing this new piece of built environment legislation as potentially the most significant in a generation.

This treatment required the addition of secondary glazing to preserve the look and function of the original Victorian windows, whilst achieving the benefit of acoustic secondary glazing

As part of the on-going investment programme Selectaglaze is taking delivery of two new machine tools:The Four axis machining centre and an End router.

A key element of the Holburne Museums' beautiful Neo-classical design is the size and shape of the windows. They give symmetry and decoration to the exterior whilst ensuring that the interior feels light and spacious. However, as windows and doors are generally the most vulnerable components of a building, attention had to be paid to their securit, thus Selectaglaze secondary glazing was specified and installed.

SAP and EPCs (Energy Performance Certificate) were introduced to both access and inform decision makers whilst the new MEEs (Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards) will set legal minimum standards.

This Grade II Listed building required a specialist secondary glazing treatment to attain the maximum possible dB reduction. Situated on, what is in effect, a traffic island in one of the busiest parts of London; converting this ex-office building into luxury apartments was always going to be challenge.

In order to obtain optimal performance, operation maintenance and retain the overall aesthetics, your secondary glazing provider must assure you of the quality of both their product and service.

Selectaglaze has assisted Prewett Bizley Architects in the transformation of this beautiful Georgian house into a comfortable, peaceful and energy efficient home.

At Selectaglaze we guarantee that all our products incorporating timber come with a FSC certification tick.

This treatment formed part of the transformation of a first floor town house into a quiet, clean and discrete private clinic. With Series 41 interstitial blind secondary glazing the refurbished clinic is now quiet, fresh, private and light. The secondary windows look stylish and modern whilst blending seamlessly into the primary Victorian style primary windows.

Advances in secondary glazing design and manufacture, coupled with clear information on the choices available to building owners will hopefully turn the tide, making repair and secondary glazing the option of choice.

As well as offering Banqueting House blast protection and noise insulation in access of 45dB, the secondary glazing also provides essential UV filtering to the Thomson Specification approved by the National Gallery, V&A and others.

The fundamental power of SAVE Britain’s Heritage (SAVE) is its ability to harness public opinion. From their creation in 1975 SAVE has used this power to such great effect that hundreds of irreplaceable buildings have been saved from the bulldozer.

Treatment proved particularly challenging, each and every opening is different; restrictions from beams and rafters, reveals out of plumb and true, sills and soffits out of level.

The weakest barrier to noise ingress in most buildings is their windows. As a result of new legislations pertaining to acoustic performance, Selectaglaze is receiving a growing number of requests from the education sector. The majority of these projects are retrofits of existing classrooms.

In order to gain permission to start the capel project, Selectaglaze needed to assure the planning officer that the treatment would be sympathetic to the original windows. To secure the project an architect was commissioned to produce a colour illustration of the potential secondary glazing in situ.

The London Plan states that from October 1st 2016, major developments of both domestic and commercial buildings within London will need to be zero carbon. This requirement is 35% higher than that stipulated in Part L of current national building regulations. Developers who fall foul of these more stringent regulations will be required to pay penalties. These payments will be used by the GLA (Greater London Authority) to support current carbon offsetting projects.

This treatment required specific performance from the glass in the secondary glazing. Firstly the client wanted very good acoustic performance and secondly they wanted to reduce any risk for the building users from this floor to ceiling glass treatment.

One style of glazing found in older office buildings, is swathes of primary ribbon windows. Often, they span the length of a wall, so will present ineffective noise insulation and do little for thermal retention. They generally have lightweight frames, fairly thin glass and are coupled to the next opening with slim profile mullions.

This striking Grade II Listed building has been remodelled to house quirky offices. The refurbishment has been undertaken with great care and detail to try to retain as many original features as possible yet bring it up to 21st century office standards.

The wellbeing of occupants and their relationship to the built environment is multifactorial and as a result notoriously difficult to assess. Understanding this relationship and the factors that impact on human health and wellbeing, can inform the design and management of our environments.

Selectaglaze tailors its products to the needs of its clients and offers many options including; different product styles, handles, glass types, glass thicknesses and even colours. When a client requires a specific colour for the frames, the aluminium is often sent to Barley Chalu who Selectaglaze have worked with for over fifty years.

Selectaglaze secondary glazing is proprietary, which when delivered to site is a bespoke complete window with its timber grounds constructed for a specific opening. We manufacture our units to fit within very fine tolerances: 3-5mm each side of the unit, rather than make a unit fit using lots of packers and adding surrounds to hide unsightly gaps.

Bartlet Hospital is a Grade II Listed Historic site situated at the eastern end of Felixstowe promenade. Originally a coastal artillery fort, built as a defence against Napoleonic invasion, the current Bartlett hospital incorporates one of the original fort’s towers within its structure.

With a long pedigree of successful projects completed for the National Trust and Listed properties, Selectaglaze was consulted by the Trust to specify secondary glazing treatment for a particularly beautiful Grade II listed residence.

As part of the 34 million refurbishment of Birmingham Town Hall, Selectaglaze were consulted to address the problem of noise ingress.

The UK has long been known as the dirty man of Europe. With a typical domestic property producing a disproportionately large carbon footprint (4.70 metric tons of CO₂ per year), in 2006 there was cross party agreement that action needed to be taken to address this problem. The Climate Change Act became law in 2008 which was a major step towards meeting the legally binding carbon emission targets agreed at Kyoto. Carbon reducing government policy has been generated over past decade.

Selectaglaze was required to treat the windows on this nationally important Grade I Listed building with secondary glazing specified to reduce the noise ingress and provide protection against potential bomb blast in the vicinity. The openings were particularly large and impressive, standing 3.5m tall x 2.0m wide and it was the architects wish that nothing interrupted the view of the original Georgian box sash windows.

Selectaglaze has a brand new CNC controlled machine with the latest generation control software; the only one of its kind in the UK at the time of writing.

Built in the late 18th century on the site of a Franciscan monastery, Greyfriars was originally an elegant family home. It then became a convent for an order of French nuns called The Ladies of Nazareth. After their return to France the building was used for educational purposes.

EnerPHit Is the quality standard awarded by ‘Passivhaus Institut’ to a deep retrofit of an existing building which meet a specific ‘EnerPHit’ criteria. These criteria require a lower threshold of energy efficiency compared to the Passivhaus to reflect the more challenging nature of improving an existing building.

Glass by its very nature is cool to the touch. When moisture rich warm air hits a cool single glass pane, it invariably results in condensation, a common problem in many domestic settings. This is magnified when the warm air is heavily laden with moisture.

Original curved on plan single glazed sash windows are an important architectural feature that most owners would like to keep, even though they can present issues with noise ingress, are draughty and offer little security. Selectaglaze has been successfully producing hinged casement curved on plan units for a number of years. However it was felt that the vertical sliding curved on plan unit would complement our product range.

Founded by the Reverend Canon Francis Holland in 1878, the original school building was built in Baker Street. In 1915 the school transferred to its current purpose built premises near Clarence Gate. The Francis Holland School has continued to provide an education for girls throughout the proceeding generations. Adjacent to Regents Park, The Francis Holland School has retained its status as a highly academic independent day school.

The overarching objective of BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) methodology is to support the development of sustainable buildings. The effectiveness of the methodology to achieve this objective is reflected in its rate of spread across the globe. BREEAM is now the world’s leading sustainability assessment method.

We have considerable experience working within the constraints posed by academic establishments and as a result the quality of our products and service is widely recognised within the education sector.

Glass is deceptively heavy, how can something that you can see through and that is relatively thin weigh so much? Small increases in glass thickness, leads to large increases in weight; some examples of the weight with different thickness are (and this is just the glass alone)

Sloane Street is well known for its vibrant cafes and luxury designer shops and has long been considered a prime London location. 64 – 65 Sloane Street was once home to Jane Austen and is where she wrote ‘Sense and Sensibility’. As part of an office refurbishment process Selectaglaze were approached by Cadogan Estates to design a secondary glazing solution for this exquisite six storey red brick building.

On April 6th 2015 a new set of regulations were published replacing existing CDM 2007 (Construction, Design and Management) Regulations with CDM 2015. The aim of these regulations is to ensure that the construction process runs smoothly and safely.

Selectaglaze was consulted to solve the noise ingress issues of a boutique hotel located a stone’s throw away from Piccadilly Circus. As well as needing to provide a solution to reduce the external noise, Selectaglaze was also tasked with retaining the original design styling of the primary windows.

When an owner of a Listed property wishes to alter the fabric of a building they are required to obtain Listed Building Consent (LBC) from their local planning authority. If the proposed alterations result in a change to the buildings external appearance then an additional request will need to be made to obtain planning permission.

133 luxury apartments have been created during the refurbishment and reconfiguration of this beautiful 1930s building. Designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and retaining all 600 of its original 600 sash windows.

New builds are required by most planning authorities to meet the acoustic BS 8233 standard. This standard was published in 2014 in response to the plethora of residential properties constructed/converted from pre-existing buildings being developed within noisy urban densely populated areas.

The science of sound reduction within buildings was in its infancy in the swinging 60s. A young entrepreneur (Mr Chris Childerstone) saw a potential new market for acoustic glazing and wasted no time in developing and manufacturing a product to meet the need.

Back in 2013 David Cameron pledged to make the UK “the most energy efficient country in Europe”. Progress has been made towards this pledge over the life of the previous Parliament. However, during the life of this Parliament the bricks and mortar forming the foundations of an improvement in the housing sector have been dismantled. Instead there is a gaping hole where an infrastructure plan should be. Our existing housing stock accounts for over 40% of our total carbon emissions, yet there are no plans politically to address this issue.

The windows of this Grade II Listed chapel, posed a whole host of challenges to engineers/architects and specialist providers in converting this space. None of the existing windows provided sufficient insulation or security properties required for the proposed performance and arts centre. Selectaglaze was approached as the specialist provider of choice.

Many terms are banded around when discussing energy efficiency within the housing sector. ‘Passivhaus’ and ‘EnerPHit’ Standards, together with, ‘Zero Carbon’ buildings and ‘Whole-life-carbon’ assessments, are amongst them.

SAHA (Salvation Army Housing Association) was set up in the 1950’s to manage the administration of housing newly retired officers. Since then, the charity has evolved and is dedicated to “Transforming Lives” of the community, a main part of that being to help house the multitude of people in need.

The dream was smashed on 8th July 2015 by the announcement in the budget of the scraping of these targets, as they had proved to be too expensive. Julie Hirigoyen, chief executive of the UK Green Building Council, said “Let us be in no doubt this announcement is the death knell for zero carbon homes”. George Osborne is on record as describing a cost-efficient, carbon-neutral home as ‘impossible’.

The RIBA Plan of Work 2013, gives a framework in which to plan the multifaceted, multifactorial process which is construction. The following diagram shows the optimum stages at which a specialist provider of secondary glazing should be consulted.

A new building; new bricks, new windows, new roof …. great building performance right?No need for any upgrading you would have thought. Well we are being approached more and more to help improve acoustic performance of buildings that have just been built. The move towards building on brownfield sites in city centre locations near to train lines or busy roads is meaning that the new primary glazing just isn’t meeting the desired or required noise insulation levels.

Located in one of the most vibrant parts of London, lies the stunning Ham Yard Hotel. Centred around a pedestrian thoroughfare connecting Great Windmill Street and Denman Street, Ham Yard Hotel has everything guests could want on its doorstep, from an eclectic nightlife of buzzing bars and restaurants to quirky shops and quaint cafes.

As part of an energy conservation project, councils have been tasked with improving the thermal efficiency of their buildings. Therefore; Selectaglaze was approached by a Grade II Listed Town Hall to provide a solution for single glazed, thermally inefficient large timber windows. Due to its Listed status, it requires that all structural changes must be fully reversible.