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When homeowners use a GGF Member company to carry out windows, doors or conservatory work, they are investing in professional workmanship and service of the very highest standard. Companies requiring flat glass or glazing products from a GGF Member can also be assured they are dealing with the best companies in the industry. So if you are wanting to improve your home or property, or simply need a glass and glazing product or service, why not browse our directory and contact a GGF Member Company in your area.

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Archives for January 2020

Edgetech’s Super Spacer brings sustainability to one of the world’s tallest wooden buildings

Members News |

Edgetech’s world-renowned Super Spacer has helped make one of the world’s tallest wooden buildings a beacon of energy efficiency.

HoHo Wien, located in Vienna’s 22nd district, is a modern marvel of timber and state-of-the art technology.

The 82-metre, 24-storey structure was the vision of architects Rudiger Lainer + Partner, and designed to offer a visually distinctive and outstandingly sustainable space for hotels, restaurants, offices, apartments and more.

The building’s 1,100 triple-glazed units all incorporate Edgetech’s Super Spacer T-Spacer, allowing them to achieve U values of just 0.5, and helping the building save 2,800 tonnes in carbon emissions compared to a more conventional structure of the same size.

The building itself is a wood-concrete hybrid construction. The interior consists of a solid reinforced concrete core containing staircases, elevators and supply shafts, and prefabricated solid wood structures are arranged around it. The wall and ceiling elements made of spruce wood remain unclad to retain their natural character.

Its exceptional environmental performance has seen the project receive two highly prestigious accolades – a gold LEED certification, and a gold award from the Austrian Sustainable Building Council.

“We were delighted to be involved in such a fantastic, forward-thinking project”, comments Edgetech Managing Director Chris Alderson.

“Pair Super Spacer’s exceptional energy efficiency with an ingeniously-designed, sustainably-constructed landmark like HoHo Wien, and you’ve got a template for the architecture of the future.

“We hope to work on many more developments as ground-breaking and ambitious as this one in years to come!”

For more information please call + 44 (0) 2476 639931 or visit www.edgetechig.co.uk

Meet The President

Events, News |

Following the recent announcement of the date and venue for this year’s President’s Reception, new GGF President Mark Austin is looking forward to what promises to be a memorable and enjoyable event.

With just over three weeks until the big event, Mark Austin commented, “I look forward to making meeting my fellow Members and making my inaugural speech to bring in the start of a new decade and a new era for the GGF.”

The President’s Reception takes place on 4th February at The Landmark Hotel, Marylebone, London and starts at 3.30pm with the President’s speech starting at 4.15pm. All GGF Members are invited to this free event which is part of the Members’ benefits package.

The President’s Reception is a time for Members to meet up and to take advantage of the networking opportunities in a relaxed atmosphere over a few drinks. The event also gives Members the opportunity to hear first-hand the GGF’s plans for the future from both the President and the incoming GGF Managing Director, John Agnew.

The venue for the Reception is one of London’s most stunning hotels. In the heart of fashionable Marylebone, this deluxe hotel has a stunning glass-roofed 8-story atrium with towering palm trees and is easy for public transport with Marylebone Underground and Mainline Train Station just 50 yards away.

The President’s Reception in The Empire Room:

3.30pm: Drinks and canapés served

4.15pm: The President’s Speech

4.30pm: Managing Director’s Presentation by John Agnew

4.45pm: Special Presentation

6.30pm: Event closes

As part of your Member benefits, you are invited to attend this free GGF event which will also be attended by GGF staff, suppliers and the trade media.

You can book online in minutes by using our online booking form by clicking here https://www.ggf.org.uk/the-presidents-reception-2020-book-your-place/

Or email marketing@ggf.org.uk

Read more about GGF President Mark Austin https://www.ggf.org.uk/about-the-ggf/meet-the-team/

Members meet on Future Homes Consultation

News, Politics |

On 7th January, over 35 GGF Member companies met with the GGF Technical team to discuss the impact of the Government Future Homes Consultation proposals and to finalise the GGF’s response to the Consultation.

The meeting was chaired by David Borland, Technical Officer who led the forum covering the following key points:  

  1. Approved Document L (on energy efficiency) was addressed and to achieve the Government’s Zero Carbon targets for new homes by 2050 the following options were discussed.  
  2. Option 1 – the immediate introduction of triple glazing as compulsory for new build 
  3. Opt 2 – move towards improved U value through improved products by 2025

The Group unanimously preferred Option 2 based on the following grounds. Firstly that Option 1 – compulsory triple glazing with immediate effect would be too difficult to achieve as the industry is not ready (in terms of manufacture, supply and installation) for this significant shift, though long term it should remain a goal.  Option 2 – improving a properties U-Value would be the easier and more gradual process which would allow the industry to use improved and upgraded products/components to achieve the Government targets as proposed in the Consultation.

The GGF will reflect the above in its response.

  • Approved Document F (ventilation) was next on the agenda.

The practicalities of achieving the background ventilation requirements as per the proposal through the use of trickle vents were discussed. It was deemed that this would be difficult in the current systems and trickles vents available. The Group asked that the GGF explore this area further in its response to the consultation to gain greater clarification on the ventilation requirements as proposed in the Consultation.

The general consensus at the meeting was the GGF supported the Government’s agenda, plans and commitment to Zero Carbon by 2050 but will strongly recommend to Government that the Glass and Glazing industry will need at least 5 years to get set up to achieve the 2050 targets. It was unanimously agreed that the industry at present, is not in a position to achieve the targets proposed.

The GGF will issue a hard copy of the full response to the Future Home Consultation at the next Joint Window and Door Group and Conservatory Association meeting in Birmingham on the 6th February, one day before the Government deadline of 7th February for responses to this Consultation. To attend this meeting please contact technical@ggf.org.uk

The deadline to feed into the GGF response has now passed but Members can still respond directly to the Consultation. 

You can view/download the consultation proposals by clicking here 

UK Pavilion takes shape for Fensterbau 2020

Events, News |

The GGF is pleased to announce that it has appointed X-Acon to build and design the UK Pavilion at Fensterbau 2020 which will be held in Nuremberg, 18-21 March.

Last month, the GGF confirmed the six Member companies who are co-exhibitors on the UK Pavilion including:

BSI Group – the business standards company that helps organizations make excellence a habit

Business Pilot – a CRM / ERP system built by installers for installers that will improve business performance

Fenestrology – The Fenestration consulting specialists for conciliation, pathology reports, remediation, management services and training

Glazpart – the leader in plastic glazing accessories and ventilation

GQA Qualifications – the Glazing Industry’s specialist awarding body

RITEC International – developer and manufacturer of the only complete system for glass renovation, ‘non-stick’ protection and maintenance

James Lee, Director of External Affairs commented, “We are delighted to be working with X-Acon again. They built a fantastic Pavilion in 2018 when throughout the entire event organisation process, they provided great support. I have no doubt the UK Pavilion will be even better this year.”

The GGF will be revealing the stand layout and graphics for the UK Pavilion at Fensterbau in the next few weeks.

At Fensterbau Frontale 2020, the UK Pavilion can be found in Hall 4a Stand #305. All UK companies welcome to visit.

To find out more about Fensterbau 2020 please visit: https://www.frontale.de/en

GQA Qualifications joins GGF

Membership News, News |

The Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF) is pleased to announce that GQA Qualifications has become a Member of the Federation.  

GQA Qualifications is an Awarding Body for specialist sectors and occupational roles with its roots firmly in the Glass, Glazing and Fenestration sector. GQAs current qualifications also cover Construction and Print, expanding into Polymers, Nuclear, Laboratory and Meteorology with the recent acquisition of PAA\VQ-SET.

Their mission is to work only with industries where they have access to “in-house” knowledge which gives them the ability to discuss specific qualifications with both training centres/providers and employers.

GQA’s qualification development is carried out in accordance with Regulatory and Sector Skill Council requirements, using industry experts throughout the development and consultation processes.

The GGF’s working relationship with GQA goes back many years as the Federation endeavoured to deliver accredited and meaningful training for the industry. GQA has worked with the GGF and its commercial subsidiaries on numerous projects over the last decade, from GGF Training to MTC (Minimal Technical Competency), Building Our Skills initiatives through to support and demonstration at major industry exhibitions such as Fensterbau Frontale in Nuremberg and The FIT Show in Birmingham.  

On becoming a GGF Member, Mick Clayton, GQA CEO commented, “We are delighted to join the GGF at a time when we both share real concerns and goals around training, skills and qualifications for our industry.”

James Lee, GGF Director of External Affairs added, “We are pleased that GQA has joined the Federation and we very much look forward to working with GQA on future projects starting with Fensterbau Frontale and the UK Pavilion where with GQA we will be highlighting the importance of training, skills and qualifications for the glass and fenestration industries.”

To find out more about GQA please visit: https://gqaqualifications.com/   

How did you fare in 2019 on Health and Safety?

Health, Safety and Environment, News |

As many Members are aware, the GGF is keen to make sure its strategy and efforts are focused in the right area. This is most important in the work the GGF can do to provide information, toolkits and where necessary providing access to appropriate training.

The Health and Safety Committee can of course assume what the main areas of work are, and will no doubt have an understanding of the most common areas but validating this information through real-life incident and accident data will help make sure the resources are targeted where Members need help so, the call is to Members to complete a simple survey, the link to which is attached below.

Rest assured this information will not be attributed to individual companies when shared but the GGF will need to know what sector you operate in as some issues may be sector-specific.

The survey is open now and will close at the beginning of February.

https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/2019GGFStats

The UK Pavilion at Fensterbau Frontale 2020

Events, News |

The UK Pavilion at Fensterbau Frontale 2020, hosted by the Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF) has been finalised with some of the UK glazing industry’s leading organisations co-exhibiting at the world’s largest international trade fair for the window industry. At Fensterbau 2020, the UK Pavilion will continue to be the number one destination for visiting UK companies. Situated in Hall 4A Stand 305, the UK Pavilion will occupy an 80m2 space on the main thoroughfare between Halls 3 and 4.

As well as the GGF as hosts, the co-exhibitors who have signed up to the UK Pavilion are:

BSI (British Standards Institution) is the business standards company that equips businesses with the necessary solutions to turn standards of best practice into habits of excellence. We support clients throughout their journey to adopting standards, from the initial shaping of a standard to its embedding within an organization.
Clients use our services to access new markets and differentiate products and services with our testing and third-party certification. From standards to training, certification and BSI Kitemark, use BSI’s expertise to prove your capability and reassure your customers.

We’re also a Notified Body for CE marking offering companies around the world access to the EU.
For more information http://www.bsigroup.com/windowsanddoors

Business Pilot is a cloud-based system that gives you complete control of your business from anywhere, on any device built by installers for installers.
Whether it is the direct link from a website to Business Pilot or the temperature grading of leads, you will find tools to maximise your sales opportunities.
Running an installations office becomes easier too. You only need to see the interactive schedule board to see how. Installers even get an App to connect them to Business Pilot.
This intelligent linking extends into finance too meaning your finance manager will love the Business Pilot CRM / ERP system.
For more information visit https://businesspilot.co.uk/

Fenestrology is a Fenestration Practice of 4 like-minded individuals each with different specialisms pertaining to modern-day fenestration (Windows, Doors, Conservatories and roofline) Each individual having years of hands-on industry experience in their respective areas, they were persuaded by the industry to join forces under one organisation to offer a plethora of services under one roof. Services include Consultation, Management Services, Training, Qualifications, Conciliation, Pathology, Thermography.


We also retain the services of 4 Specialist Installation support teams that carry out Installation and Remedial works throughout the UK and Ireland. Our services are available to householders, installation companies, local authorities and social housing trusts
For more information visit https://fenestrology.co.uk/

Glazpart – the leader in plastic glazing accessories and ventilation
For 36 years Glazpart has been designing and developing plastic injection moulded products for the fenestration market. Glazpart have led the way working with system houses, fabricators and installers to provide optimum solutions.


Today with over 3,500 products we have the experience and knowledge to support any new product design and supply everything from setting and distance blocks to trickle vents whilst developing solutions for enhancing and adding value to fenestration products. Today we offer vacuum foiling of foils matching window system components.
For more complex components hydrostatic printed adds that finishing touch alongside an industry-leading plastic spraying facility.

For more information visit www.glazpart.com

GQA Qualifications – the Glazing Industry’s Specialist Awarding Body

Formal Qualifications are the hallmark of our education system; they signify that a person has achieved a certain level – an agreed, consistent standard, in their chosen field; they act as a barometer for third parties to benchmark that person against.

Beyond the field of education qualifications often disappear.  As a person enters the world of work, qualifications are often replaced by training as a way of getting a person onto a job more quickly; in some circumstances, there is no formal or practical training at all, but the same ‘rules’ that are relevant to qualifications in the education sector are equally important – if not more so – in industry.
For more information visit https://gqaqualifications.com/

RITEC International – developer and manufacturer of the only complete system for glass renovation, ‘non-stick’ protection and maintenance

With almost 40 years’ experience, Ritec International is the pioneer and market leader for ‘non-stick’ glass surface technology.
Our award-winning ClearShield Eco-System® is specially developed to renovate, protect and maintain glass. It is powered by ClearShield®, the only glass surface treatment proven in durability and performance under all conditions. The ClearShield Eco-System® upgrades ordinary unprotected glass into ClearShield Eco-Glass®, a ‘non-stick’ easy-clean surface that maintains its ‘as-new’ sparkling appearance for much longer. ClearShield Eco-Glass® typically halves the frequency of cleaning.

With ClearShield®, glass processors and fabricators alike increase profits by offering a range of added value solutions.
For more information visit https://www.ritec.co.uk/

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