Fenestration Digital Magazine edition 20

Fenestration Digital Magazine edition 20

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

CLIPPINGS AND MUSINGS MARCH - HELEN DUVAL

Spring and Summer are always seasons where the consumer gets restless for change whether it’s a house move or a renovation project. Whichever, it generally gives a feel good factor for the next six months as consumers look to upgrade, one way or another in the upgrade market. The calibre of skillsets available on the building market, continues to show a severe lack of trained proficiency. Sourcing the right skills on site to build and install to a consistently high standard during a period of increased building activity, has been proving difficult for some companies, particularly those who rely on sub-contracting . It would seem the good, reliable workers are either too busy or too expensive for the job. So what is the solution? Investing in training would seem the logical answer to getting the skills right, whether onsite or in the office. Whether it’s training courses for individuals or on-site training for

employees, improving build processes and managing sites well will guarantee to keep quality standards high. These are good incentives for the Generation Z graduates. Aluminium continues to increase in popularity, consumers with an eye on contemporary design will undoubtedly look to blend modern living with an overall sleek appearance. While the appeal of aluminium frames was previously found in the commercial sector in projects such as schools, restaurants, and government buildings, as new technologies have evolved over recent years, it is now firmly established as a main contender on the domestic front. Improvements in thermal insulation, increased strength and the ability to manufacture in dual colour finishes, will continue to inspire home owners.

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shown that the BSI Kitemark is recognised by 82 per cent of the UK population. Locksmiths are grasping that a BSI Kitemarked products are a key selling point to homeowners. For 91% of the population, Kitemarked products are synonymous with quality and assurance, making these much more popular with end users. It would seem that locksmiths are increasingly recognising that a BSI Kitemark offers viable reassurance, with the enhanced security it provides. People trust the symbols, with consumers and businesses accepting the logo as a sign of durability and quality. Locksmiths can prove that the products they are installing have been authenticated independently by an approved authority. BSI procedures include an audit of the lock makers’ manufacturing facilities along with their quality management systems. BSI also insists on regular retesting of products.

Techniques to manufacture products that perform to the highest levels remain prevalent across the industry, as climate change and managing its effects has taken a real toll on the environment lately. Australia has suffered dreadfully in the bush fires with wildlife and homes utterly destroyed. Here at home, the flooding appears to be the worst on record and it is evident that pressure will be on to develop building products that can radically reduce global carbon emissions. Glass machinery manufacturers continue to evaluate methods for leaner, cleaner automated production, introducing faster, more efficient cycle times and ways of enabling processors to create more progressive designs. As window design becomes more creative, it is certain that the niche practice of frame bending will keep manufacturers busy.

QUALITY GUARANTEES

With guarantees being of paramount importance to both installers and homeowners, a recent survey has

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

Increase your profits with integral blinds

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www.morleyglass.co.uk

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Tel: 0113 277 8722 Email: [email protected] Direct fax for quotations: 0113 277 8723

Morley Glass & Glazing Ltd, Unit 3, Leeds 27 Industrial Estate, Bruntclie Way, Leeds LS27 0HH

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MORLEY LAUNCHES NEW AND IMPROVED APP

Uni-blinds® integral blinds manufacturer Morley Glass & Glazing has developed a new and improved app with home integration company Loxone, allowing users to open and close their motorised integral blinds from a tablet or smartphone. By integrating Morley Glass & Glazing’s fully electronic MB System Uni-Blinds® into the Loxone app, blinds can now be operated using WiFi connected devices from anywhere in the world. The app is available for immediate installation into MB Systems, including retrofitting into previous projects. Ian Short, Morley Glass & Glazing managing director, said: “We were inundated with requests from customers for a way to operate their integral blinds remotely using an app. We worked closely with DV Smarthomes in association with Loxone to make sure the final product not only offers all the features we have been asked for, but a lot more besides.”

Using the app, blinds can be programmed to open and close at set times of the day, especially useful when homeowners are on holiday, and they can even be linked via a subscription service to temperature controls, allowing them to close automatically before rooms get too hot. Finally, the app can be integrated into home automation systems via the Loxone Miniserver, offering flexibility and expandability with up to 30 extensions to integrate various domestic applications such as lighting, heating, safety and security, energy management and entertainment systems.

For more information, visit www.morleyglass.co.uk.

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

NATIONAL FENESTRATION AWARDS TO RESTRUCTURE 2020 CAMPAIGN TO REFLECT THE NATIONAL EFFORT In response to the rapidly changing developments with the coronavirus crisis, the National Fenestration Awards are announcing a series of changes to it’s 2020 campaign to reflect the current situation. Much of the installation community remains at home, not working right now. Therefore it has been decided that the planned re-launch of the Cool Wall installations competition will not go ahead this year. Jason Grafton-Holt, Director, commented: “at this time, when the installation community in our industry is at home, unable to work, worried about the future, it seems insensitive to run an installation- specific competition at this time.” The start of the 2020 campaign saw the introduction of some regionalised categories. The idea being that champions would be found for each region, and then an overall national winner voted on. Allowing for a range of winners in each region, as well as a national one. This idea will remain part of the NFAs going forwards, but will instead be moved to the 2021 campaign. Any nominees put forward thus far will be included and all categories will revert back to their national format. In light of the current national effort to help reduce the spread of the virus and help protect the NHS, a number of categories for 2020 will be turned into new “Covid Hero” categories. These will be aimed at shining a light on people and companies in UK fenestration that have gone above and beyond to help others in need. There are already amazing acts of kindness and charity coming from people in UK fenestration, and the NFAs wants to focus on those for 2020.

things as part of the national effort to beat COVID-19. Its right that the NFAs switch focus and praise those that are doing incredible things.”

Finally, the National Fenestration Awards has announced that dates for the 2020 campaign will now be open-ended until further notice. The team have explained that whilst lockdown conditions look set to continue for longer than we all hoped, and social distancing appearing to be required for at least the rest of the year, it does not make any sense to apply dates to its nomination and voting phases whilst the industry isn’t working or able to operate as normal. Jason commented: “there is nothing certain right now, and if you take a closer look at previous government and SAGE advice a couple of weeks ago, its clear social distancing measures are going to be here for a while, perhaps until the end of the year. We thought it was prudent to allow as much time as possible for the 2020 NFA campaign to run, which is why we have suspended all campaign dates and it will run for as long as is needed. We will announce new end dates for each phase when the picture becomes clearer.” “I also want to say a massive thank you to all our sponsors for their continued support. The NFAs is a positive platform with an inspiring ethos. If, during all of this sadness and difficulty, we can at the end of the year bring a ray of sunshine to the industry, then hopefully we will have achieved something great”. Alterations to the NFA website to reflect these changes will appear on the NFA website over the coming days. Web: www.fenestrationawards.co.uk Twitter: @NatFenAwards Facebook: www.facebook.com/NatFenAwards Tel: 01924 911234 Email: [email protected]

Jason went on to say: “we have already started to see a lot of people and companies doing some amazing

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C O V I D - 1 9 C O R O N A V I R U S I N F O The NFAs wants to thanks the fantastic staff at the NHS and the entire health care network for the amazing work they are doing in looking after the UK during this very tough time!

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UK SELF-EMPLOYED SUPPORT SCHEME ANNOUNCED

In an announcement that has long been awaited, Rishi Sunak, the UK Chancellor unveiled the next set of measures, designed to help the self-employed workers of the UK. This affects our fenestration industry as many in sales and installation are self-employed. It will be called: Coronavirus Self-employment Income Support Scheme. THESE ARE THE KEY DETAILS ACCORDING TO THE BBC:

Whilst I agree that the length of time is going to be difficult for many self-employed, we have to consider that the infrastructure to pay people doesn’t exist yet and that takes some time to put together.

• a taxable grant will be paid to the self-employed or partnerships, worth 80% of their profits up to a cap of £2,500 per month • this will be available for three months in one lump-sum payment, and will start to be paid from the beginning of June

THIS IS HOW TO CLAIM:

• HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) will use existing information to identify those eligible and will invite applications

• more than half of a claimant’s income needs to come from self-employment

• the scheme will be open to those with a trading profit of less than £50,000 in 2018-19, or an average trading profit of less than £50,000 from 2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018-19 • those who are recently self-employed and do not have a full year of accounts will not receive any help under this scheme There are two points here that will stand out for a lot of people. The cash not being available until June will be far too long for a lot of people, and may still result in job losses and bankruptcies. Second, if you have been self-employed for less than a year, you’re not going to be eligible. There will be calls already for the money to be made available much quicker.

• the application will require them to confirm that they meet the eligibility requirements

• it will be paid straight into a bank account, which eligible taxpayers will need to confirm on their application form

• people do not need to contact HMRC now, if they are eligible HMRC will contact them directly

Will the self-employed be happy with this? No other scheme exists like this in most parts of the world, so the fact its been announced is a big deal in itself. With no existing infrastructure to start the scheme immediately, it will take some time to build.

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