Fenestration Digital Magazine Edition 3

ISSUE 3 FENESTRATION DIGITAL MAGAZINE

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F E N E S T R A T I O N D I G I T A L

STAYING SAFE – PROTECTING BOTH YOUNG AND OLD

This is a Clippings & Musings article by our guest editor Helen Duval

Many older people with Alzheimer’s for example, also can have tendencies to wander away from their home or caregiver and forget keys or even passwords to get back into their property. Protecting our elderly population with technically advanced products has to become a focus and while, technology with electronic locking systems may appear frightening to some of the older generation, there are products out there now which are tackling these issues to help them cope. Benefits of simple and fast installation combined with easy use, gives families real peace of mind when they do not live close to elderly relatives. As more and more stories appear in the news and online regarding the vulnerability of an increasingly older generation, there are a number of solutions which would undoubtedly offer relatives and carers great comfort.

Protection of the elderly and vulnerable remains the highest priority for manufacturers when looking at creating new security technologies. For installers and manufacturers it is always sensible to remind homeowners about keeping their homes safe. Regularly checking locks on all doors and windows should be almost ritualistic, however it does seem to be overlooked until the worst has happened. For those with elderly relatives it is well worth a reminder to ensure they are safe as burglary statistics continue to rise. With people generally living much longer these days through much healthier lifestyles, this does create cause for concern where the vulnerable in society need to be given much more consideration regarding security and safety measures.

Sadly these days we all too often hear of elderly people being targeted by avaricious thieves.

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guarantees, with many hi-tech innovations being launched.

As home security becomes increasingly important and statistics on lock snapping increase, panic alarm systems and wireless door phones offer, reliable and comforting peace of mind to both elderly homeowners and their relatives. Key safes are another area consumers can explore, providing a secure location for carers and/or relatives to gain access to a key to the home. It is not just memory that can create problems but flexibility and agility as well, which is where key turners come into their own, offering leverage for opening door locks. Today there are a lot of products out there that can help when loss of strength or dexterity occurs with hands and fingers. Also if anyone is suffering from reduced visibility or hand-eye coordination then there are some very practical solutions that locksmiths and installers can highlight to homeowners.

The High Security Division at SECOM works alongside police authorities, government agencies and financial institutions nationally to ensure people and property can be protected. The company is recognised for offering exclusive services to organisations that need particularly high levels of security for both the public and private sectors. With this in mind, Codelocks has been offering training skills to locksmiths since 2012 to help them understand the market as it changes and develops. Showcasing products such as the KL1050, CL50, CL160 and CL5510 helps locksmiths to get to grips with the new technology and refresh their skills. With today’s market the traditional key is being replaced with remote locking systems and biometric solutions that really do offer up a more personalised option for home and public building security, whilst catering for the needs of our elderly population.

Handle covers also give much more grip if there are problems turning a lock on the inside of a door.

Equally for the public sector there are now many more products out there to offer security and safety

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SUNNY SIDE

Climate change has been a huge focus for discussion this Summer with the alarmingly high temperatures wreaking havoc across the globe. Britain’s heatwave is not the only anomaly to have occurred during the summer with extreme weather conditions causing horrific fires and unbearable temperatures that have caused devastating threats to life. So climate change is very much taking its toll and it is clear that there have to be new ways to adapt to the changes this brings. In terms of products this will have undoubtedly put the high performance glasses through their paces in terms of temperature control. Interesting, the soaring temperatures in the UK this Summer meant that Solar Power briefly surpassed power stations as the UK’s top source of electricity. Although the UK’s solar power industry had seen very little growth over the last year, the run of continual blue skies has seen Solar break the record for weekly output between 21 and 28 June, producing 533 gigawatt hours of power. Globally solar power has been embraced and it is fast becoming a leading form of power generation. There have been predictions that the falling costs of wind and solar power could potentially grow to provide half of the global electric generation by 2050.

energy, with solar technology proving the most popular.

Predictions from the IEA in Paris state that solar power will dominate this sector with global capacity expected to be greater in five years’ time than ‘the current combined total power capacity of India and Japan.’

IS A NEW ERA DAWNING?

According to reports, the prospects for British solar do not appear too positive with only 1/5 the amount forecast to be installed by 2022 as opposed to the total number of installations over the last five years. We certainly seem to have a long way to go to catch up with our European neighbours in terms of solar energy installations, with Germany expected to add 20GW of solar power, France 11.7 GW and Spain8.8 GW, but the UK is expected to add only 2.1 GW of solar power by 2022. Countries with naturally sunnier climates of course have hit record highs with Turkey achieving 30% growth in the solar sector. Perhaps if costs for renewable energy are reduced, then this will become a viable alternative to fossil fuels? Sadly, the IEA has made downward forecasts regarding green energy projects being installed in the UK by 2022. Hopefully more sunny skies will be a positive incentive for investors.

Falling prices and government policies across the globe have seen a real shift towards renewable

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KEEPING GLASS IN MODERN DESIGN With glass considered a premium as a design product for new build and renovation projects, it continues to dominate stylish concepts by architects. Allowing light into a design can be very creatively done with a variety of glasses incorporated that are not just stylish but very practical as a material to incorporate into renovation projects. Whether two rooms are being created from one large area or sections of a home are being partitioned off to create additional practical living space such as an ensuite bathroom, then glass is an exceptionally adaptable product. There are some fabulous options out there for processors to incorporate into their range that will satisfy the most creative of architectural minds. Reeded Glass is created with regular convex ridges across the surface and frequently this is used on door panels or partitions. Likewise fluted glass is similar with a concave pattern that also provides an alternative design solution. Textured glass with its bark like appearance is another option for more contemporary styles in new build projects. One product that catches the eye however is the striking glass brick. Whilst retro in style this is having somewhat of a renaissance with designers – looking at work from Maison de Verre or Villa Stenersen which provide a chic overall look. More recently, Renzo Piano’s Hermes flagship building in Tokyo has a façade that is made entirely of glass blocks. Although those buildings incorporate glass blocks from floor to ceiling, modern designers are reinventing glass bricks as a way to stylise in more appealing ways through interior design.

But new developments are on the horizon for this older style product with glass blocks being used to diffuse light. Moreover, this style of glass product is being adapted for its the energy saving potential it has to offer new projects. As it can give greater insulation than the average window pane, solar energy companies have seized an opportunity to turn this design into an alternative to panels. Solar squared glass blocks are being designed to store solar energy whilst allowing in more light to a building. This will mean that a property can have a stylish glass brick wall which will provide huge energy saving benefits. With carbon footprints, energy efficiency and cost saving benefits being on everyone’s minds when it comes to modern design, solar power remains very important to many end users. According to a recent article, researchers at Exeter University have developed a modular glass brick that is embedded with near-translucent photovoltaic solar cells. This works on a number of levels as a viable passive house construction product as it enables the brick to store the sun’s energy and allows natural light to filter through all while providing some thermal insulation.

The glass bricks can be installed vertically in a wall so that they can capture the sun’s energy.

Whilst this may take some time to become a regular part of everyday building projects as the patent pending product requires investment and ongoing testing however, it will certainly take wall building into another dimension.

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IS THE REAL BEAUTY BEHIND ARCHITECTURAL GLAZING PROJECTS TECHNICAL INNOVATION?

As glass provides so much natural light, it seems logical that architects looking to create impressive building designs that reflect their talent, opt to incorporate it into new project design. The fact that it also keeps a building’s occupants happy through improved living also stands it in good stead as a product with a continually evolving and positive future. Given the technical advances made and the benefits it offers in relation to its production, glass continues to be a distinctive and dominating building material in modern architecture. Aesthetics in glass design have seen some spectacular architectural creations over recent years, and modern architecture is now crossing over conventional concepts into a new unorthodox era it would seem. A great number of glass buildings have been created over recent years that display outstanding architectural innovation combined with magnificent beauty. For example the heart of London’s skyline is now shimmering with glazed superstructures such as The Shard, The Gherkin and County Hall, all of which dominate the City’s riverbanks and even further afield.

Aesthetic choices reflect the unique design concept of the architect, while the energy performance of the glass gives construction companies and builders the opportunity to determine which is the best product for any given project in any regional climate. In commercial glazing, where flat glass and coated glass technology is used across building applications such as curtain walling, storefronts, glazed canopies or even simple skylights, glass helps to bring out the best visually in respect of an architect’s or specifier’s plans. For example the beauty of the 13-storey Basque Health Department HQ in the heart of Bilbao, Spain, is now one of the areas most popular tourist attractions. Many could be forgiven for thinking it was an art gallery or similar structure. rather than an office building that has been designed to make the most of the natural light both internally and externally. Architecturally, complex window systems combine challenging technical demands with with a creativity that requires the best from the product at all times and during all seasons, for a very long time.

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Solar reflection, sound insulation and burglar resistance are all essential aspects for many projects today with increased protection now a focal point for architects. As the technical performance of insulating glass becomes increasingly important during the planning and design stages, co-operation and creative understanding must surely become more and more vital between all parties, as projects evolve? With more and more structural glazing contracts requiring hard facts about the technical specifications of a project, all of which must comply with legislation, then surely it makes sense for more processors to be involved and right there at the heart of discussions during those very early collaboration and planning stages?

Quality, advanced, durability and adaptability are key watchwords that most people in the glazing sector readily understand and use to highlight its merits. An example of this can be found in The Netherlands. Considered to be ‘the most sustainable building in the world’ The Edge can be found in Amsterdam and has been designed with solar panels as its energy source. Designed by OVG Real Estate, it is energy neutral with solar panels housed on its roof and every other surface that is not a window, on one side, is a power source. Yet, when it comes to longevity the glazed principal entrance to Le Louvre has to be one of the most quintessentially striking designs ever produced, despite harsh criticism from many architects when it was unveiled. Comprising 673 glass panes of both diamond and triangular shapes, the iconic pyramid now represents the symbol of all Le Louvre represents …from its association to historical roots in the French Revolution through to the art that can be found on its walls.

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