Door Industry Journal - Spring 2020

Also online at: www.dijonline.co.uk Entrance & Bi-folding Doors 100 THE door industry journal spring 2020 Over recent years, there has been a significant increase in demand for aluminium and other alternatives for high end bespoke new builds and extensions. This demand has now reached the more basic domestic replacement sector at the demise of PVCu which has been hit hard by the misconception that an Aluminium system will always offer a better technical and reliable solution. In truth there are many pros and cons for both materials and this needs to be better understood. The switch to aluminium has seen traditional PVCu fabricators developing new aluminium ranges themselves and installers are also looking to embark upon new training to develop the technical skills needed to install these more expensive products. I feel there is almost some panic evident here that unless they can offer aluminium they will be left behind? My advice to retailers and installers who have been perfectly happy with PVCu and now find every other enquiry requests aluminium is to do your research into the various system options and not to rush into what appears a better option. Whilst aluminium products are driving the growth, there are many extremely innovative hybrid solutions available on the market, which deliver superb quality and have unrivalled thermal and acoustic properties. At Weru UK, we have for the last decade been importing our factory glazed premium hybrid alternative to aluminium called Fipro-Rau. This is a fibre composite extrusion used in our AFINO ranges. It is 25% lighter but twice the strength of conventional PVCu. This makes it an ideal option for bespoke, architecturally designed builds which demand larger, stronger glazed areas. Using the latest in smooth acrylic foils offering an identical finish to powder coating along with excellent weathering properties. A perfect example is our best selling lift slide patio door with this new technology enabling trouble free 7m+ sliding doors at up to 3m and 400Kg capacity with triple glazing! Pictured in the case study below, this new build was initially specified to have double glazed aluminium windows and doors. The full project was switched over to use our modern fibre composite AFINO range, even the 5.5m x 8m storey height glazed gable again with triple glazing. With many of the opening windows being 2.7m high normally aluminium would have been the obvious option. Here we have an excellent example of a perfect alternative using a factory glazed, fitter friendly system in GFP. The huge Weru Atris Life designer front entrance door with quad-pane ultralow E laminated safety glazing which is fitted to RC3 security standards. The storey height glazing with U Value 0.47Wmk 2 featuring innovative FiproRau technology, complements the remarkable impact of this contemporary new build project. The AFINO-tec system offers good strength for load- bearing hardware components (130Kg sashes). This ensures long service life from the door. Frame steel reinforcement is combined with the GFP high-tech material in the sash for stability and tensional rigidity. Graham Lindsay, Founder of Weru UK Network offers advice to installers who are looking to tap into the increasing demand for contemporary entrance doors if they’ve only ever fitted PVCu Aluminium Entrance Doors may be Trending, but are they Always a Better Technical and Reliable Solution?