Early-stage design delivers success in secondary glazing projects – Granada Glazing

Collaboration at early–stage design for secondary glazing specification in all types of commercial and residential projects delivers positive benefits all round, explains Mike Latham from Commercial Sales at Granada Secondary Glazing.

Secondary glazing is the proven cost-effective, efficient and discreet solution to cure issues with external noise, thermal efficiency and enhance security in buildings of all ages. When correctly installed, secondary glazing can make buildings 80% quieter by reducing noise levels up to 54dB.

Secondary glazing addresses noise, thermal and security issues

Extra insulation provided by secondary glazing can eliminate draughts and heat loss by up to 65%, while the robust aluminium frames securely fixed internally enhance security by deterring unwanted intrusion.

For heritage and listed buildings with single glazed primary windows, installing secondary glazing is often the preferred option for creating a warmer, quieter and more secure environment with the original windows intact.

Slimline aluminium frames are virtually invisible, maintaining a building’s charm and character while bringing the glazing system firmly into the 21st century.

Granada Glazing place plenty of emphasis on early–stage design, where taking a collaborative approach with architects and clients allows for a thorough exploration and identification of specific issues – be they acoustic, thermal or security – before recommending the best secondary glazing solutions.

In the company’s experience, this approach contributes greatly to successful project outcomes.

Key questions at the early design stage

A key question will be who is using the building once it is completed? What access is required to the window for cleaning, maintenance and natural ventilation? Are there soft furnishings, curtains or blinds that could impact on how the secondary frames operate?

Answering these key questions at the beginning determines the specification of the secondary glazing system to suit the requirements of those living with the windows, whether be they paying guests, office workers or homeowners.

In hotels, for example, cleaning staff will open the windows to ventilate rooms. So, it is crucial that soft furnishings do not obstruct or affect the opening of secondary glazing frames on a daily basis.

Granada says it is incumbent upon itself, as a glazing contractor and manufacturer, to work with architects and specifiers to optimise the early–stage design process, helping to iron out any issues quickly, ensuring there are no surprises further down the line.

As a collaborative partner, the Granada Glazing technical team examines the main issues that secondary glazing can cure and then advise on what is required. For example, what cavity width is required between the primary and secondary glazing to achieve the optimum result? Or would a different Low-E glass or coatings work better?

All these questions around the performance criteria can be discussed and answers given at the early–stage design process. Once these answers are agreed in principle, we can move forward with a ‘design intent’.

From there, the architect can draw up the secondary glazing specification to form part of the tender for the main contractor and all interested parties to work on.

Early–stage design plays a vital role in ensuring any potential pitfalls and issues have been addressed and resolved in reaching the ideal secondary glazing solution.

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Granada Glazing
Campbell Way
Dinnington
Sheffield
S25 3QD

Phone: 01909 499 899
Fax: 01909 499 900
Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @GranadaGlazing

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