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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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Search Results for: decorative glass

STAY SECURED BY DESIGN WITH CENSOLUTIONS

News |

CENSolutions celebrates 10 years in business this year, and while they are widely recognised as the leading consultancy and test facility for the window, door and glazing industries, they have no desire to rest on their laurels.

. Instead the company is continuously extending its scope. One of the things they are increasingly asked about is the recently amended PAS24:12 regulations and how companies can comply in order to keep selling Secured by Design.

Wayne Rogerson, Joint Managing Director explains: “PAS24:12 came into effect in September 2013, so if you wish to continue selling Secured by Design to the consumer, you should already be up to speed. The standard calls for all glazed doors and windows which have a non-locking handle to have at least one leaf of glass that achieves a P1A classification. Our research has found that this glass needs to be at least 6.8mm laminated. With regards to P1A, this is a classification within EN 356:200 for a drop height of 1500mm. In fairness 6.8mm laminated achieves P2A, which is a drop height of 3000mm, sadly there is no classification for 6.4mm laminated: It is classed as a safety glass.

“There was a great deal of confusion since the changes were announced and judging by the enquiries we have experienced, this is still the case nine months later. We appreciate that changing standards can be confusing, but compliance will make the difference between being able to use Secured by Design in your marketing or not. By checking that your supply chain is offering 6.8mm laminated glass as standard, you can make sure that you are covered.”

As a supplier, Decorative Door Products by RegaLead was one of the first to take advantage of CENSolutions’ expertise to ensure their customers were prepared for the changes in good time for the deadline. Guy Hubble, Joint Managing Director explains: “As a specialist in a niche sector of the market we strive to lead the way in advancing specification within it. We have been offering 6.8mm as standard on laminates certified to P1A since August last year. As an integral part of the supply chain, it’s important to us to understand the changing legislation to ensure the correct specification of units to our customers. CENSolutions has played a key role, providing invaluable advice and guidance at every step.”

 

If you have a comment to make or any information relating to this article please contact the GGF

GGF presents on fire resistant glazing at Fire Door Safety Week seminar

News, Politics |

The GGF was pleased to be involved with 2017 Fire Door Safety Week, with FRGG chairman Stephen Bond presenting on fire resistant glazing at the campaign’s Fire Door Safety seminar

The Fire Door Safety Week campaign, run by BWF Certifire, took place from 25 September to 1 October this year and the GGF was present at a special Fire Door Safety seminar held at The Build Centre in London on 28 September.

Stephen Bond of Pilkington United Kingdom Limited, chairman of the Fire Resistant Glazing Group (FRGG), gave an informative presentation about getting fire resistant glazing right. The key topics covered followed the consistent theme of Fire Door Safety Week including component performance, specification, compatibility, traceability, and certification.

Best practice for fire resistant glazing was discussed in detail to ensure that the correct glass, glazing seals, glazing beads, fixings and frame were fully compatible under the required fire conditions.  Further details can be found in the GGF Guide to Best Practice in the Specification and Use of Fire-Resistant Glazed Systems with some printed copies being available to those attending.

Stephen explained the different performance benefits of integrity and insulated fire resistant glazing and illustrated examples with video clips, one of which can be viewed on the GGF website.  The full range of smoke control, heat insulation and integrity performances are available to ensure the correct protection can be provided for people and property. Fire Door Safety Week also gave those attending time to ask questions about regulatory requirements and product performance.  These ranged from escape corridor requirements to the performance of non-fire rated glass types.

 

Partition Graphics Ltd

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Partition Graphics specialises in graphics and film on glass, specifically for office interiors and refurbishments. We work closely with designers, architects and end users. We supply a full range of solar control, privacy, security and view control films
and offer over 15 years experiance.

  • Manifestation
  • Decorative Etching
  • Security and Safety Film
  • Stainless Steel Signage
  • Glass Signage

Roby Glazing Ltd

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We are glass suppliers and carry out all aspects of glazing including window installation, aluminium and UPVC. Glass screens, balustrades, window repairs including replacement double glazed units, window and door handles/locks and hinges.

We also supply and fit mirrors. We can provide a window filming service which includes sola reflective film, safety film and decorative film(fenestration).

We have contracts with local authorities, city councils (Liverpool, Knowsley, Halton, Chester and Sefton), community colleges, universities, asda, MOD, Costa Coffee, Merseyside Police and many schools. We have also carried out contracts for many English heritage sites including Osborne House Isle of Wight, St Georges Hall Liverpool and Walker Art Gallery Liverpool

All employee’s of the company are CSCS card holders, CRB checked, first aiders and licensed for use of cherry pickers/scissor lift.
We are fully trained in use of tower scaffold and fully competent in all aspects of H&S.

We have been an established limited company since 1982.

  • All glazing services
  • Window and door installations
  • Window and door repair
  • Glass suppliers
  • Emergency repairs

Thermoseal Group Ltd

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Thermoseal Group is dedicated to the insulated glass manufacturing industry. With over 40 years’ experience supplying to sealed unit manufacturers and window installers, the Group focuses on innovation and developing its products and service to meet the changing requirements of the industry.

Dedicated to manufacturing British products:
Thermoseal Group is the only British manufacturer of a range of warm edge spacer including both flexible and rigid, as well as producing compatible fittings in house through an injection moulding department. The Group also produces a range of Georgian fittings and DecraLed adhesive lead strip in-house.

Dedicated to offering a wide range of Insulated Glass products:
Thermoseal Group is the complete supplier for insulated glass unit manufacturers, and offers a comprehensive range of components and machinery.

Dedicated to quality and future proofing products:
Thermoseal Group is the only insulated glass component supplier in the UK who has invested heavily in an Innovation Centre run by material specialists with the most up to date equipment for ongoing testing, research, and development.

Dedicated to customer service:
Thermoseal Group offers a personal service and each customer is allocated a knowledgeable and experienced area sales manager who is always happy to discuss account requirements.

Dedicated to staff:
Thermoseal Group has been Investors in People Accredited for over 10 years, with each member of staff being given a personal training plan. There are staff members who have been with Thermoseal Group for over 30 years.

Dedicated to being leaders:
The Group is an active member of both the GGF and the Bundesverband Flachglas, and works to represent the views of insulated Glass manufacturers. With dedicated UK teams across the country, an export manager working in Europe and agents and distributors supplying products globally, Thermoseal Group is well placed to move the insulated glass industry forward.

Insulated Glass Components Warm Edge Spacer Bar & Accessories Glass Manufacturing Machinery and tools, Decorative Products

Touchstone Glazing Solutions Ltd

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With over 25 years worth of experience in the traditional leaded light industry, we developed Touchstone Insulead glazing system (Patented) to specifically overcome the problem of double glazing windows in a heritage building situation. No modification to the existing fabric of the building is required as the Insulead glazing fits where the original was located, and is made using only traditional materials.

Directly glazed into the original stonework

An appearance virtually identical to the original

Touchstone Steelyte opening casements are uniquely designed and constructed from Stainless Steel. Thermally broken and fully weather stripped, they take a full 28mm unit. They combine the narrowest of sight lines with security, durability and elegance. The steel is all but immune from corrosion. Whilst powder coated for the heritage market openers can be supplied polished for modern building applications.

Stainless steel and effectively maintenance free

Due to Touchstone Insulead’s unique ability to take any thickness of unit (28mm standard) it is possible to incorporate specialised glass for the purposes of security, UV filtration, energy conservation and sound inhibition all whilst maintaining a traditional appearance. It is even possible to use the original glazing either within the double glazing or mounted in front or behind as a decorative screen.

Extensive range of glazing options including original

Shapes and out of square windows easily accommodated

Touchstone Insulead has been specifically designed for double glazed units. It is fully drained and thermally broken. In the unlikely event of water ingress through, for example stone porosity, the inbuilt drainage channels allow the water to exit to the outside via weep holes. Combined with warm edge spacer bar technology the highest level of insulation is possible.

Fully drained and thermally broken

  • Double Glazing for heritage buildings
  • Steelyte Stainless Steel Opening Casements
  • Insulead Patented Frameless Double Glazing
  • BFRC “A” Rated
  • Shaped and Out of square windows easily accomodated

Atkinsons of Portchester

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Atkinson’s of Portchester is a family run business with over 40 years experience in the glass trade. Our qualified tradesmen carry out a wide range of commercial and domestic glazing and repairs both large and small. Glass can be polished and drilled on site for shelves and cabinet doors etc. Kitchen splashbacks can be supplied in a large range of colours and custom made to size. There are three mirror showrooms with a large selection of decorative framed and unframed mirrors in a range of sizes. We also supply and fit larger mirrors for gyms and dance studios.

  • All Types of Glass Cut To Size
  • Commercial & Domestic Glazing & Repairs
  • Custom Made Coloured Splashbacks
  • Decorative Mirror Showrooms
  • Large Customer Car Park – Open 6 days

The GGF Glossary

Uncategorized |

The Glass and Glazing Industry has thousands of products and components as well as companies. Due to its size and diverse nature, it’s also full of jargon and terminology that quite often varies from region to region, country to country, sector to sector and even in some companies from colleague to colleague.

The GGF Glossary is here to help anyone who needs help in understanding it all. It is by no means exhaustive and the GGF is aiming to update this page regularly. If you have and addition or feel something is missing then please contact the GGF and we’ll include it in the GGF Glossary.

Term Definition
Acoustic Glass : Glass that has been treated to improve it’s soundproofing qualities 
Annealed Glass :Annealing is a process of slowly cooling hot glass after it’s been formed, to relieve residual internal stresses that could cause breakage during manufacture. Annealing glass improves it’s durability 
Approved Documents :  The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government publishes guidance called ‘Approved Documents’ on ways to meet building regulations. These contain:
– general guidance on the performance expected of materials and building work in order to comply with the building regulations
– practical examples and solutions on how to achieve compliance for some of the more common building situations
Argon gas :  Double and triple glazed windows, commonly have argon gas between the panes to improve insulation and soundproofing. Argon gas is put into the glazing units because it is denser than air and therefore has greater insulating values than air. 
Astrigal bars :  These are thin wooden moudlings placed on glass to create a period look. They are often used to create the traditional Georgian window look.
Awning windows :  These are casement windows that are hinged at the top of the frame. 
Building Regulations : Building regulations in the United Kingdom are statutory instruments or statutory regulations that seek to ensure that the policies set out in the relevant legislation are carried out. Building regulations approval is required for most building work in the UK. Building regulations that apply across England and Wales are set out in the Building Act 1984 while those that apply across Scotland are set out in the Building (Scotland) Act 2003.
British Standards :  British Standards are the standards produced by the BSI Group which is incorporated under a royal charter (and which is formally designated as the national standards body (NSB) for the UK). The BSI Group produces British Standards under the authority of the charter with the key objective being to set up national standards of quality for goods and services. 
Casement window : A casement is a window that is attached to its frame by one or more hinges at the side. They are used singly or in pairs within a common frame, in which case they are hinged on the outside. Casement windows are often held open using a casement stay. Windows hinged at the top are referred to as awning windows, and ones hinged at the bottom are called hoppers. 
Construction Products Regulation :Often abbreviated to CPR, the Construction Products Regulation was started in 2013 under the EU but was fully integrated into UK legislation in 2019. This guidance is about placing construction products on the GB market. The GB market refers to England, Wales and Scotland. There is a separate Construction Products Regulation for Northern Ireland. Also in the Republic of Ireland, the CPR is under the EU. The CPR is the legislation that underpins CE Marking and UKCA marking of constrcution products.  
Composite doors : Composite doors are made of a selection of materials often including core products such as timber and  uPVC. Each material is chosen for its specific properties with the aim being that when combined they will make doors stronger and more durable. 
Curtain wall : A curtain wall system is an outer covering of a building in which the outer walls are non-structural, it’s purpose being to keep the weather out and the occupants in. Since the curtain wall is non-structural, it can be made of lightweight materials, thereby reducing construction costs. Glass is commonly used as the curtain wall this offers the advantage of increased natural light. In some cases glass curtain walling can also be used to describe full floor to ceiling glass panels installed in an building’s interior. This is common in office spaces and commercial buildings. 
Double glazing :  Windows which have two layers of glass with a space between them, designed to reduce loss of heat and exclude noise.
Double hung :  Often used to describe a sash window that has two vertical sliding sashes within the larger window frame. Each sliding sash closes/opens a different part of the opening and usually has counterweight on each side.
Emergency glazing : This is a common description when a window or door has been broken or damaged and requires an emergency glazing company to make safe, either by replacement or boarding up until a replacement can be installed. The GGF criteria for emergency glazing companies is that they operate at all times (24/7, every day of the year). 
Emissivity : The emissivity of a glass surface is its effectiveness in emitting energy as thermal radiation. Many glass manufacturers reduce emissivity by coating glass, allowing heat to remain inside the house and also to prevent solar heat coming into a property and causing overheating.   
Energy ratings : These are used to assess the total energy performance of products such as windows and doors in the same way that household goods like fridges are energy rated using the rainbow label system. A window or door energy rating will not only measure the total energy loss, as a U-value does, but also the energy gain and the air leakage through the window or door. In the UK British Fenstration Rating Council are the leading company when it comes to window and door energy ratings. 
Fabrication : Fabrication is the manufacturing process of cutting and assembling the window profiles (frames) together and adding hardware (handles, hinges, locks) along with weatherseals and gaskets to make a finished window (or door)
Fan lights :  A fan light is a glazed opening above a doorframe or above the lintel in a doorframe. It is usually designed to allow natural light into a hallway or darker area of a building.
Fenestration : This is the process of positioning, installing and fixing a window, door or skylight in an opening in any type of building.
Fire-resistant glazing : Fire Rated Glass (also known as Fire Resistant Glass) is specialist glass that has been proven to provide a period protection against fire during a Fire Resistance Test. Fire resistant glass is used in Fire Resistant Glazing systems (with special fire resistant seals and components). Fire resistant glazing systems will only work to maximum performance if installed correctly. Certain types of fire rated glass will also provide a degree of protection (insulation) against the heat of a fire.
Float glass Float glass is a sheet of glass made by floating molten glass on a bed of molten metal, typically tin, although lead and other various low-melting-point alloys have been used in this process. This method gives the sheet uniform thickness and very flat surfaces. Float glass is the most commonly used glass in modern glazing (windows/doors/conservatories and curtain walling)   
Glazier :A tradesman responsible for cutting, installing, and removing glass. They also refer to blueprints to figure out the size, shape, and location of the glass in the building. Glaziers may work with glass in various surfaces and settings, such as cutting and installing windows, doors, shower doors, skylights, storefronts, display cases, mirrors, facades, interior walls, ceilings, and tabletops.
Heat soaking :   Heat soaking. The process involves placing the tempered glass inside a chamber and raising the temperature to approximately 290ºC to accelerate nickel sulfide expansion. The process reduces the risk of spontaneous breakage.
Heritage windows :  A heritage window is a type of window that has been manufactured specifically to be installed in a heritage building or building within a conservation area. These type of windows are made with modern materials and used as replica or close to replica replacements for the original windows in historic (usually 100 years or older) buildings
Insulating Glass Unit (IGU) :An insulating glass unit (IGU) consists of two or more glass panes separated by a vacuum or gas-filled space to reduce heat transfer in and out of a building. A window with insulating glass is commonly known as double glazing or a double-paned window, triple glazing or a triple-paned window, or even quadruple glazing or a quadruple-paned window, depending upon how many panes of glass are used in its construction. IGUs are often referred to as “sealed units”.
Krypton gas :  An inert gas commonly used to fill small air spaces (cavities) between glass panes, resulting in improved year-round thermal performance. Krypton gas is sometimes mixed with Argon gas to fill the vacuum between glass panes in the production of insulated glass units.
Laminated Glass : This type of safety glass holds together when shattered. In the event of breaking, it is held in place by an interlayer, typically of polyvinyl butyral (PVB), ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), or Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU), between its two or more layers of glass. The interlayer keeps the layers of glass bonded even when broken, and its high strength prevents the glass from breaking up into large sharp pieces. This produces a characteristic “spider web” cracking pattern when the impact is not enough to completely pierce the glass. 
Lantern (roof lantern) : Architectural lanterns are part of a larger roof and provide natural light into the space or room below. In relation to glass and glazing these are products that have a similar affect as skylights (roof windows) 
Lightwell : a lightwell, sky-well, or air shaft is an unroofed external space provided within a large building to allow light and air to reach what would otherwise be a dark or unventilated area. Lightwells may be lined with glazed bricks to increase the reflection of sunlight within the space
Low E Glass : Low E stands for Low Emissivity. This is where glass has been treated to reduced energy being emitted from a building or into a building through panes of glass. 
MullionA mullion is a vertical element that forms a division between units of a window or screen, or is used decoratively. When dividing adjacent window units its primary purpose is a rigid support to the glazing of the window. Its secondary purpose is to provide structural support to an arch or lintel above the window opening. Horizontal elements separating the head of a door from a window above are both a head jamb and horizontal mullion and are called transoms.
Processors (Glass) Companies that buy flat glass and then put it through a process to make it perform differently. For example, to make it toughened glass through thermally heating.) 
Profiles These are the lengths of framing created by systems houses and framing manufacturers and are supplied to fabricators to trim and develop into window frames.
R-value : the R-value is the term used for thermal resistance in a material. It is a measure of how well a two-dimensional barrier, such as a layer of insulation, a window or a complete wall or ceiling, resists the conductive flow of heat. R-value is the temperature difference per unit of heat flux needed to sustain one unit heat flux between the warmer surface and colder surface of a barrier under steady-state conditions.
Rooflight : A window built into a roof and sometimes referred to as a sky light. These are usually installed to increase natural light into an area (such as a loft) where there may not be much natural daylight.
Roofline : This is a generic description for the products that are installed at the edges of roofs and include fascia boards, soffits, bargeboards, antefixes and cladding that forms the frontage immediately below the roof and the eaves of many homes and building.
Sash windows : A sash window or hung sash window is made of one or more movable panels, or “sashes”. The individual sashes are traditionally paned windows but can now contain an individual insulated glass unit to create a double glazed sash window.
Security glass : This is a specialist type of glass that prevents easy breakage and makes it difficult for burglars or intruders to enter a property. Security glass can be toughened glass (sometimes known as tempered glass), laminated glass or wire mesh glass (glass with wire mesh inside sometimes known as Georgian wire glass – not so common today).
Secondary glazing : This is a glazing system that is installed inside a property when there are restrictions to replace the exterior windows. Secondary glazing often installed in historic buildings and is fixed to the sill inside the building. It
Self-cleaning glass : Self-cleaning glass is a specific type of glass with a coated external surface that keeps itself free of dirt and grime. The field of self-cleaning coatings on glass is divided into two categories: hydrophobic and hydrophyllic. These two types of coating both clean themselves through the action of water, the former by rolling droplets and the latter by sheeting water that carries away dirt. Hydrophilic coatings based on titania (titanium dioxide), however, have an additional property: they can chemically break down absorbed dirt in sunlight. This is often an option for hard to access windows.
Sight line :The perimeter of a window opening that admits daylight into living and work areas. 
Single glazing :A window that has one pane of glass. This type of glazing is usually found in older windows and is the least energy efficient glazing option. 
Skylights : A description often used for roof windows or rooflights
Solar gain : Solar gain (also known as solar heat gain or passive solar gain) is the increase in thermal energy in a building as the glass (in a window) absorbs solar radiation via sunlight. This can cause overheating in a building.
Spacer bar : A spacer bar is the thin hollow aluminium frame that separates the two glass panes in a double glazed window. The spacer bar is bonded to the glass panes via a primary and secondary seal, creating an airtight cavity enabling it to be filled with air or gas to reduce heat and sound transfer.
Tilt and turn : Tilt and turn windows can be opened fully like a casement window (inwards) or they can be tilted from the bottom so that the top of the window is angled into the room, giving a smaller opening for ventilation. The tilted opening also has the added benefit of increased security and safety as no one can fit through the gap.
Trickle ventilator : A trickle ventilator (sometimes called trickle vent) is a very small opening in a window that allows small amounts of ventilation in spaces intended to be naturally ventilated when major elements of the design – windows, doors, etc., are otherwise closed. Trickle vents are used extensively in the UK and Europe and are integrated into window frames to provide minimum ventilation requirements for naturally ventilated spaces.
Toughened glass :Tempered or toughened glass is a type of safety glass processed by controlled thermal or chemical treatments to increase its strength compared with normal glass. 
Triple glazing : A insulated glass unit or window that has three panes of glass with two spaces (vacuums) separating the panes. The vacuums are usually filled with argon gas to reduce heat loss. Triple glazing can offer great security and can be more effective for thermal performance.
UPVC :UPVC is an abbreviation or Unplasticized PolyVinyl Chloride and is a rigid, chemically resistant form of PVC used for pipework, window frames, and other structures. UPVC is sometimes referred to as PVC-U or plastic or PVC when describing double glazing.
U-Value :  U-values measure how effective a material is an insulator. The lower the U-value is, the better the material is as a heat insulator. U-values are generally used to describe the thermal performance glazing/windows.
Vertical sliders :  Another name for a double hung sash window
Warm edge : A warm edge spacer is a type of spacer bar used in insulated glazing. It separates the panes of glass in double or triple glazing, or curtain walling and seals off the air cavity between each. Recent warm edge spacers are generally made from plastics, although stainless steel can meet the definition.
WER (Window Energy Rating) :  A rating systems led by the British Fenestration Rating Council (BFRC), that reviews the whole energy performance of a window, including all of its components. Ratings can go from highest triple A to lowest F and is presented in the rainbow labelling style often seen in white goods such as refrigerators
Window Film :  Window film is a thin laminate film that can be installed to the interior or exterior of glass surfaces in the interior or exterior in homes and buildings. It’s often used to increase privacy, solar control, safety and security or to block out strong sunlight.
Window film should be installed by professional service companies to ensure best performance.

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