Sue Corrick of Allegion UK discusses the value points of sustainable door hardware and why its use in construction projects can play an important role in the industry’s environmental evolution. Across the globe, the decarbonisation of our planet has become a focal point for construction. Between legislative requirements and market
As a result of the development of a new industry-approved Product Data Template (PDT) for doorsets, manufacturers and distributors seeking to build confidence in their products and move closer towards implementing the ‘Golden Thread in construction’ can now supply consistent performance data to specifiers, contractors and building owners, says DHF.
Robust UK supplies steel doorsets to a wide variety of industries, including transport, education, health, housing, industrial, warehousing, and utilities markets, for both new build and refurbishment projects. Robust UK offer two product ranges with Secured by Design accreditation – TUFF-DOR and SECUR-DOR. Every security door is specially constructed to
West Fraser has been recognised for the excellent relationship with the builders’ merchant community it serves. The Builders’ Merchant Federation has joined forces with Builders’ Merchants’ News to compile a list of the Top 100 Supplier Influencers in the merchant sector, based on involvement, presence and commitment to the industry.
Material-efficient construction requires high-quality and high-performance products, especially when long spans and thinner cross-sections are needed. Kerto® LVL is lightweight, but highly durable with low deformation. It is used for construction that requires superior strength qualities or greater cross-sections or lengths while using less wood material. German timber construction company
A fire door with impressive, consistent fire resistance Unlike most composite fire doors on the British market, the Guardsman Fire Door has been independently tested to the European fire test standard of EN 1634-1:2008, the more demanding test standard required by Part B of the building regulations. Results show the
Thermory and Woodsafe Timber Protection, the largest players in their respective industries, announce collaboration to provide thermally modified and durable fire-protected wood. Woodsafe Timber Protection AB WOODSAFE® Europe’s largest manufacturer of durable fire-resistant impregnated wood, and Thermory AS, the world’s largest manufacturer of thermally modified wood, announce collaboration for the
On the sixth anniversary of the Grenfell fire tragedy, which resulted in the loss of 72 lives, Door & Hardware Federation’s General Manager & Secretary, Michael Skelding, looks back on this year’s developments with regards to legislation, and the resultant impact on DHF members. The high-rise fire which broke out
The latest report from the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for the Timber Industries, ‘Timber Construction: Barriers and Solutions’, provides a set of policy recommendations to expand low-carbon timber construction in the UK. Increasing the use of timber in construction has been recommended by both the Climate Change Committee and Environmental
Gerald Allen, Head of Marketing at Epwin Window Systems, said: “Our new commercial guide showcases the depth and breadth of our PVC-U commercial offer. It will help our fabricator and installer customers to demonstrate the added value they are able to deliver to commercial contractors and specifiers.” The 56-page brochure
Sue Corrick of Allegion UK discusses the value points of sustainable door hardware and why its use in construction projects can play an important role in the industry’s environmental evolution. Across the globe, the decarbonisation of our planet has become a focal point for construction. Between legislative requirements and market demand, industry leaders remain under constant pressure to reach environmental targets and upon exploring some of the more distinct routes, it’s important to consider what more can be done with construction materials. Research has shown that approximately 55% of extracted raw materials are used to develop the built environment, with buildings further contributing to 40% of annual global carbon emissions. With that, there is an onus on decision makers to make astute choices, opting for more durable, environmentally conscious building products that reduce the need for repeat manufacturing and improve resource efficiency. Yet, the perceived value and cost of such products remains a stumbling block, where according to an NBS 2022 Sustainable Futures Report, more than a third of construction professionals cite the application of sustainable products is restricted by cost optimisation decisions. While cost will always remain an influencing factor in construction, there is a clear need to change the notion of ‘perceived value’ in sustainable construction, and for that, door hardware can play a starring role. Value added At surface level, architectural ironmongery is perhaps lesser recognised for its potential environmental benefits when compared to its significance in functionality, safety and security. Between fire safety, ease of movement and quality of life, door hardware plays an integral role in the operation of our built environment. Still, with hardware elements constructed from materials such as iron, aluminium and timber, and with many touchpoints found on each construction project, from an environmental viewpoint, there is tangible value to be found when using correctly specified, durable solutions. In high traffic buildings, the day-to-day use of doors can often lead to wear and tear on fittings, which in turn creates the need for replacement hardware. Trusted manufacturers aim to extend the lifecycle of ironmongery, providing more robust door hardware that significantly reduces the need for replacements over time due to wear and damage. The appropriate designated standard for mechanical testing for a controlled door closing devices is EN1154, which ensures closers are tested to endure use for over 500,000 cycles for example – with some manufacturers choosing to extend the testing to above and beyond. The use of these certified solutions incidentally helps building environments moderate the amount of resources being consumed at the manufacturing stage, while also minimising the waste associated with replacement products. Although sustainable construction projects may incur short-term, budget-stretching costs, the potential ROI associated with better-quality products is also much greater over the full building lifecycle. By removing the inevitability of sourcing substitute products on multiple occasions throughout a building’s lifecycle, costs can be kept to a minimum post project completion. As such, decision makers are urged to adopt the use of optimised door hardware at the initial design stages – ensuring products are correctly specified and fit to last from the moment a project’s doors open. Tracing footprints In 2022, research conducted by Allegion UK into the impact of fire doors in education and healthcare sectors revealed sustainability and product traceability to be important to 78% of decision makers in education settings and 50% of decision makers in healthcare settings respectively. Today, more than ever, higher standards are expected throughout the entirety of construction projects as stakeholders continue to place personal value on sustainability, product traceability and transparency. In recognition of this, manufacturers can choose to enrol in programmes that focus on sustainability and product credentials, further assisting decision makers throughout the product selection process by offering transparent and independently verified information. The Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) programme for example, is a complete mapping of a product’s environmental footprint and has become a standardised way for manufacturers to communicate the environmental impact associated with a product. For an EPD to be reported, products are subject to a full Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and must meet Product Category Rules (PCR) in the process, where upon completion, they are declared as acceptable in building rating schemes such as BREEAM. As such, EPD’s have become a signal of intent from manufacturers, highlighting their commitment to measuring and reducing the environmental impact of a door hardware product, and alongside environmental management standards such as ISO 14001, EPD’s are becoming an expected standard for hardware products. A combined effort is needed if the industry is to meet its full environmental responsibilities. Sustainable door hardware is only one piece of the puzzle. Yet, with several value points to offer, decision makers must be willing to look past cost barriers where possible and choose to adopt environmentally responsible door hardware products as a long-term investment for construction and our planet. How Allegion UK is Driving Change Allegion UK is committed to supporting sustainability in construction. We are proud to be helping create a more transparent and sustainable global industry by proactively participating in the EPD programme, with full EPD documentation available for download on Briton products, based on ISO 14025 and EN 15804 environmental declarations, from the Allegion and Briton websites. We continue to focus on making regular improvements in sustainability management systems, enhancing product life cycles through increased hardware durability, reducing natural resource usage and improving the recycling and reuse of materials, all in a bid to help minimise our environmental impact as a manufacturer.
As a result of the development of a new industry-approved Product Data Template (PDT) for doorsets, manufacturers and distributors seeking to build confidence in their products and move closer towards implementing the ‘Golden Thread in construction’ can now supply consistent performance data to specifiers, contractors and building owners, says DHF. The PDT is timely, following the recent publication of the landmark Morrell Review into the regulation, testing and verification of the performance of construction products. “A Product Data Template is a common way of describing essential product characteristics that can be traced to a credible source such as a product standard,” explains Michael Skelding, General Manager & Secretary at DHF. “Once a manufacturer completes a PDT, the output is a Product Data Sheet summarising the performance and other technical characteristics of a construction product. Structuring product information in this way enables more consistent, audience-specific information, and identifies all the performance information required to make informed choices about construction products.” The doorset PDT has been published by the shadow Fenestration Relevant Authority, a group of 14 organisations and trade associations that have come together to provide PDTs for the sector, which DHF is represented. This means that the industry will now be able to create a coordinated set of Product Data Sheets for any doorsets involved in their projects. Hanna Clarke, digital and policy manager at the Construction Products Association (CPA) said: “Structured product information is absolutely vital to a joined-up construction and built environment sector. But the key to arriving at this information is consensus, and the CPA is pleased to see that the trade associations in the fenestration area have come together to form a shadow Relevant Authority as per the processes identified in the LEXiCON project. “It is these consensus processes and due diligence that will allow all those using the template and resulting product data sheets to trust that the information has been appropriately considered and will have longevity in application.” “This PDT is part of an ongoing programme of works in this field undertaken by the Fenestration Relevant Authority, with window hardware as the next project. DHF is thrilled to contribute to this and future PDTs to ensure that the Golden Thread is embedded into the construction industry”, concludes Michael. The following organisations are represented on the shadow Fenestration Relevant Authority: Guild of Architectural Ironmongers (GAI), British Woodworking Federation (BWF), Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF), British Standards Institution (BSI), Council for Aluminium in Building (CAB), Construction Products Association (CPA), Door and Hardware Federation (DHF), Association of Composite Door Manufacturers (ACDM), British Blind and Shutters Association (BBSA), National Association of Rooflight Manufacturers (NARM), British Plastics Federation (BPF), Automatic Door Suppliers Association (ADSA) Centre for Windows and Cladding Technology (CWCT) and Steel Window Association (SWA). The PDT is available to download here: https://bit.ly/DHF-GenInfo Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Robust UK supplies steel doorsets to a wide variety of industries, including transport, education, health, housing, industrial, warehousing, and utilities markets, for both new build and refurbishment projects. Robust UK offer two product ranges with Secured by Design accreditation – TUFF-DOR and SECUR-DOR. Every security door is specially constructed to individual project requirements and features internal reinforcement designed to resist a sustained attack from a wide range of tools, offering a physical barrier to deter and delay intruders for a specified period of time. Paul Williams, Robust UK, said: “Our continued partnership with SBD has allowed us to provide our customers with a high level of security and peace of mind that our steel door solutions are secure and of the highest quality. The support and expertise of the Designing Out Crime Officers (DOCOs) is crucial in offering an independent security assessment, allowing end users to know that the Police Preferred Specification has been adhered to.” Hazel Goss, Secured by Design, commented: “It has been a pleasure to renew contracts with Robust, who have been members of Secured by Design since 2013. They offer a great range of Steel doorsets covering various security ratings and styles. I am looking forward to many more years working alongside them.” You can find out more about Robust UK and their Secured by Design accredited products on their dedicated member page. Secured by Design (SBD) is owned by the UK Police Service with the specific aim of reducing crime and increasing safety for businesses and individuals. SBD seeks to improve the physical security of buildings and the surrounding area using products such as doors, windows, locks and walling systems along with fencing systems that meet the SBD Police Preferred Specification security requirements. SBD have many partner organisations, ranging from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities through to local authorities, housing associations, developers and manufacturers and work closely with standards and certification bodies. SBD is the only way for companies to obtain police recognition for security-related products in the UK, through the Police Preferred Specification – a product-based accreditation scheme developed over 20 years ago, which provides a recognised standard for all security products that effectively deter and reduce crime. SBD work with manufacturers and standards authorities to ensure that security standards are current and updated to keep pace with emerging crime trends. Learn more about Secured by Design and our member companies at: https://www.securedbydesign.com/
West Fraser has been recognised for the excellent relationship with the builders’ merchant community it serves. The Builders’ Merchant Federation has joined forces with Builders’ Merchants’ News to compile a list of the Top 100 Supplier Influencers in the merchant sector, based on involvement, presence and commitment to the industry. Making the list is not one, but two members of the West Fraser team, confirming the company’s position of a supplier merchants want to do business with. West Fraser’s nominees Sanjit Dosanjh, National Sales Manager, and Simon Woods, European Sales, Marketing & Logistics Director have been prominent voices in the merchant sector. West Fraser is a long-term supporter of merchant awards and Simon Woods represents the wood-based panel industry on the Builders Merchant Building Index (BMBI) panel of industry experts. Speaking about the nominations, Sanjit said “It is a great feeling to receive recognition for the relationships and influence we have with the merchant industry. We are proud of our strong relationships, built over many years on a solid foundation of good communication with our customer base and being able to support our customers has been a priority. The merchant industry is a great place to be in and I encourage anyone that is thinking of making the move into the industry to do it.” For further information, call 01786 812 921 or visit https://uk.westfraser.com/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Material-efficient construction requires high-quality and high-performance products, especially when long spans and thinner cross-sections are needed. Kerto® LVL is lightweight, but highly durable with low deformation. It is used for construction that requires superior strength qualities or greater cross-sections or lengths while using less wood material. German timber construction company Holzhaus Fabrik has found an efficient way to implement a new window lintel solution to meet these complex challenges. They replace the massive cross-section of the lintel with a slim, strong and sustainable Kerto LVL Q-panel. High windows require low lintelsHolzhaus Fabrik specialises in timber-based multi-storey residential buildings and public buildings. The window area and especially the height of windows have increased in recent years. “Floor-to-ceiling windows are popular in both multi-storey residential buildings and single-family homes leaving little space for the lintel. At the same time, the lintel must be aligned with the façade from the outside. And of course we want to avoid thermal bridges and we need adequate shading options,” explains Heiko Dietzenbach, Founder and Managing Director of Holzhaus Fabrik. Smart lintel solution based on Kerto LVLHolzhaus Fabrik replaces the massive cross-section of the lintel with beams made of Kerto LVL Q-panel. “Laminated veneer lumber is installed vertically with a small, slender cross-section. At the same time, it has a high structural load-bearing capacity. Window widths of up to four meters can be constructed without any problems. We form the lintel into an L-shape. A support strip is screwed onto the edge beams, and slabs with a maximum span of six meters lie on the L-detail,” Dietzenbach explains. Dietzenbach points out, that Kerto LVL is easy to process in the factory: “The high dimensional accuracy is an important factor for us, as we run a fully automated production. With its material properties, Kerto LVL also enables a high degree of standardisation for different requirements. The material is very straight and has no warping. Reworking is therefore not necessary, so that the production speed can be maximised. The material itself can either be screwed, nailed or glued and processing can be done with standard tools. We always recommend Kerto LVL for the window lintel and rely on our standardised detail,” Dietzenbach explains. Lowering the costs and reducing the use of construction materials It is important to use materials as efficiently as possible. Because Kerto LVL is strong and material-efficient, it offers reduced material consumption. Holzhaus Fabrik has calculated that a low lintel made with Kerto LVL can bring cost savings of up to 20 percent compared to traditional methods. Due to the optimised use of materials and thinner wall structures, the components have a lower overall weight. This means that the quantity of wall elements per transporter can be increased and a lighter crane can be used on the construction site. This also has a positive impact on costs and carbon footprint. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A fire door with impressive, consistent fire resistance Unlike most composite fire doors on the British market, the Guardsman Fire Door has been independently tested to the European fire test standard of EN 1634-1:2008, the more demanding test standard required by Part B of the building regulations. Results show the Guardsman Fire Door achieves an average of 100% overrun past the 30-minute mark on both glazed and unglazed doors. An environmentally friendly fire door The Guardsman Fire Door uses Agrifiber, a board material made from resin bonded agricultural fibres. It’s stronger and more stable than the phenolic foam that most other composite fire doors use within the market. It’s also a green building product, which will help buildings achieve better environmental credentials. Adaptable door range The Guardsman Fire Door can be manufactured to suit any structural door aperture in a range of door styles from just two base designs. More importantly, its use of Agrifiber means it offers very consistent material densities which delivers the same consistently exceptional fire resistance results every time. An award-winning fire door The Guardsman Fire Door uses Agrifiber, a board material made from resin bonded agricultural fibres. It’s stronger and more stable than the phenolic foam that most other composite fire doors use within the market. It’s also a green building product, which will help buildings achieve better environmental credentials.The Guardsman Fire Door won Best New Product of the Year at the G Awards 2021. The prestigious industry award is for an outstanding product that will significantly improve overall building performance. The judging panel said: “Achieving a 30-minute fire door with both glazing, a letterplate and with PAS 24:2016 performance is remarkable.” A low maintenance fire door The 2mm GRP skin means the Guardsman Fire Door is low maintenance and robust enough to stand up to high-traffic areas, reducing maintenance and replacement costs. Guardsman Fire Door Accreditations TestingGuardsman Fire Door has been independently tested to the European fire test standard of EN 1634-1:2008 SecurityThe Guardsman Fire Door has been tested and complies to PAS24:2016 accreditation. Environmental StandardsTimbers used in the manufacturing of the Guardsman Fire Door slab are subject to FSC chain of custody certification, ensuring they are from sustainable sources. ManagementCapstone and ODL Europe operate certified management systems to ISO 9001 and ISO 14001. ManufacturingThe Guardsman Fire Door slab is manufactured as part of the BM Trada Q-Mark scheme, which means we have full manufacturing traceability. MembershipsODL Europe are members of the Association of Composite Door Manufacturers (ACDM), which means that all our door slabs are tested to and comply with all current UK standards. FIND OUT MORE ON THE GUARDSMAN FROM ODL Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Thermory and Woodsafe Timber Protection, the largest players in their respective industries, announce collaboration to provide thermally modified and durable fire-protected wood. Woodsafe Timber Protection AB WOODSAFE® Europe’s largest manufacturer of durable fire-resistant impregnated wood, and Thermory AS, the world’s largest manufacturer of thermally modified wood, announce collaboration for the supply of durable thermally modified fire-resistant wood. Thermory’s real wood products with fire protection are available immediately. “I am very proud of the trust from a well-respected pioneer, innovator and industry leader in the field of thermally modified wood. Together we will contribute to a sustainable society with the forest as a resource,” says Woodsafe’s founder and CEO Thomas Bengtsson. “We aspire to improve the environment we live in. Leach-resistant fire protection has been a challenge when creating large public or residential buildings with wood. After a long testing period of comparing different technologies, we are happy to partner with Woodsafe to offer this durable extra layer to our real wood products,” says Simmo Soomets, CEO of Thermory. “It’s inspiring to merge our areas of expertise – thermally modified and durable fire-protected wood – on top of Thermory’s sustainable products and Woodsafe’s low energy production and present our combined solution to the global market,” says Woodsafe’s Product and Business development manager Peter Johnson. About Woodsafe Timber Protection AB Woodsafe is Europe’s largest processing link between the wood industry and the client. We manufacture durable fire-retardant impregnated wood, nothing else. For over 20 years, Woodsafe has supplied fireproofing services to the construction sector for sustainable communities built from forest resources. In collaboration with our partners, we are the market-leading manufacturer of fire-impregnated wood products, with a strong focus on being innovative for a sustainable future. We want to do our part for a sustainable society by producing fire-resistant wood, where the connection between city, life and nature creates harmony and well being. About Thermory AS Thermory is a leading manufacturer of thermally modified wood and sauna materials with over 25 years of experience and a global network of distribution partners in 50+ countries. Thermory’s mission is to leave a lasting impact – to enhance the environment around us with sustainable real wood products, reduce the footprint of our operations, keep innovating and improving. Using only heat and steam, Thermory creates durable and climate-resistant interior and exterior cladding, decking, flooring and sauna materials that are unrivalled in both performance and beauty. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
On the sixth anniversary of the Grenfell fire tragedy, which resulted in the loss of 72 lives, Door & Hardware Federation’s General Manager & Secretary, Michael Skelding, looks back on this year’s developments with regards to legislation, and the resultant impact on DHF members. The high-rise fire which broke out in the 24-storey Grenfell Tower block of flats in North Kensington, West London, on 14th June 2017, claimed the lives of 72 people. To prevent such a tragedy from recurring, over the past year, a number of regulations have come into force, for example, the Construction Product (Amendment) Regulations in July 2022; this has enabled the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to act as an enforcement authority for construction products. This legislation paved the way for the new National Regulator for Construction Products to be established by the Office for Product Safety and Standards, thus allowing for enhanced and strengthened regulation of construction products. “It is clear that enforcement of the existing Construction Products Regulations, as undertaken by local authorities’ trading standards departments since 1991, has been ineffective due to a lack of resources and specific training,” explains Michael Skelding, DHF’s General Manager and Secretary. “The report “Testing for a Safer Future” confirms this. The direct involvement of OPSS, acting under DLUHC, should improve the effectiveness of enforcement and lead to more prosecutions where defective and, in particular, dangerous, products are concerned. This will potentially affect all manufacturers of construction products.” In October 2022, the White Paper on Construction Products Competence (CPC) was published by WG 12 of the Competence Steering Group (CSG ); it has been widely supported throughout the construction products supply chain. As a result, in January 2023, BSI Committee CPB/1 established a new project to create a Code of Practice for Core Criteria for Construction Products Competence, to be based on the White Paper. The standard’s purpose is to ensure individuals using or working with construction products are competent and can demonstrate their competence to others. The standard is expected to describe five levels of core criteria that should be achieved, demonstrated, and maintained by all individuals making choices concerning construction products at all levels in the built environment sector. It is expected to include a methodology of application to define how those core level criteria can be mapped by industries within the built environment sector consistently to their competence frameworks. It is intended to be used, in conjunction with BS 8670, by all industries in the built environment sector to map against their existing training and qualifications to demonstrate the competence of their workforce, as well as to identify any gaps in their training and qualifications. Michael says: “While DHF training focuses on installing and maintaining products correctly, this initiative is based on the understanding that many actors in the supply chain must be competent in dealing with construction products; this would include, for example: manufacturers, distributors, architects, risk assessors, building safety managers, installers, and maintainers. We will continue to support this initiative through our membership of CSG WG 12.” On 23rd January 2023, The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022, made under Article 24 of the Fire Safety Order 2005, came into force. These impose additional duties on the responsible persons in residential buildings of multiple occupancy (BMO). In buildings taller than 11 metres, the new regulations require quarterly checks on fire doors in communal areas and annual checks on flat entrance doors. As Michael says: “Some members will be involved in carrying out fire door inspections under these regulations and there will be an increased need for training.” The following month saw the first meeting of the new Building Advisory Committee, chaired by Peter Baker, Chief Inspector of Buildings, and head of the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) in HSE. “This really was something of a ‘landmark’”, says Michael. “The BSR is becoming the building control authority for work on higher risk buildings in England; previously, this was the local authority in most cases. According to government: the Building Safety Regulator’s approach to formal enforcement and sanctions will serve the public interest and will be undertaken in a fair, equitable and consistent manner, targeting, and taking firm action against those who repeatedly offend, act irresponsibly, or whose actions could cause serious harm. It promotes the principle that those who create the risk are responsible for managing that risk and are held accountable when they fail to do so.” In April of this year, an independent review of the construction product testing regime (a follow-up to Dame Judith Hackitt’s report “Building a Safer Future”) was published. Named “Testing for a Safer Future”, the review identifies potential weaknesses in the system and makes recommendations for improvement. “We are yet to receive a response from UK Government. This could affect the existing intentions for conformity marking of construction products and safety critical products; the official response will be important as it will affect testing and certification requirements for manufacturers of construction products,” explains Michael. “Looking ahead, we expect the Grenfell Inquiry Phase 2 Final Report, as well as legislation on competence requirements (provided for in Part 3 of the Building Safety Act 2022) which will potentially affect any building activity subject to building regulations approval in England. In addition, the Golden Thread of information: Part 3 of the Building Safety Act Amends the Building Act 1984 to allow building regulations to make provisions regarding creating, obtaining, storing, and transmitting information and documents. Part 4 imposes duties on Accountable Persons to manage such information and documents, subject to regulations to be made by the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. The necessary regulations have not yet been published but guidance about implementing the regulations and obtaining and handling the data is also expected. Once in place, information provided by manufacturers and installers of construction products will assume greater importance.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The latest report from the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for the Timber Industries, ‘Timber Construction: Barriers and Solutions’, provides a set of policy recommendations to expand low-carbon timber construction in the UK. Increasing the use of timber in construction has been recommended by both the Climate Change Committee and Environmental Audit Committee to decarbonise the UK’s built environment and achieve net zero by 2050. The report looks at how the government can achieve this through policies that increase demand for sustainable timber, increase the resilience of timber supply, tackle misconceptions about building safety and expand low-carbon construction skills. This latest APPG report complements the work of the Timber in Construction Working Group, which was set up by the government in 2021 to identify significant actions that should be taken to increase the number of timber structures built in the UK. The working group is set to release its official timber construction roadmap later this year. Baroness Hayman of Ullock, Chair of the APPG, said: “Built environment emissions are a major cause for concern, directly accounting for around 25% of the UK’s total carbon output. Tackling these emissions is essential if we are to hit net zero targets. “By using wood instead of other materials in construction, we can reduce these emissions, both through the carbon captured and stored in the wood product and the avoidance of using alternative CO2-intensive materials. “The latest APPG report looks to assist policymakers in their bid to decarbonise construction by outlining what policies can be used to expand timber use in the UK. “This report goes beyond the arguments for timber construction. We feel these have been well made and to good effect. “Instead, we want to turn these arguments into a policy reality, inspiring the government, and other political parties, in their bid to formulate green-built environment policies for the election next year.” You can access the report via the Confederation of Timber Industries (CTI) website or download it below. DOWNLOAD REPORT HERE Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Gerald Allen, Head of Marketing at Epwin Window Systems, said: “Our new commercial guide showcases the depth and breadth of our PVC-U commercial offer. It will help our fabricator and installer customers to demonstrate the added value they are able to deliver to commercial contractors and specifiers.” The 56-page brochure perfectly showcases Epwin Window Systems’ commercial credentials, including a 17% market share and products that have been specified and installed in millions of homes, schools, colleges, student accommodation blocks, hospitals and other commercial buildings. The well-designed brochure looks at the advantages of Epwin Window Systems products, including unparalleled design flexibility, industry-leading security, impressive thermal efficiency, future-proofed performance, exceptional quality assurance credentials and a commitment to sustainability. There’s an introduction to the complementary internal design support service, which gives commercial contractors access to technical expertise and practical support to ensure they meet the exacting standards on every aspect of their window and door schedule. Contractors can also read about the benefits of the Approved Commercial Partner scheme, which provides peace of mind that a project is being manufactured and installed by reputable commercial contractors. The main section of the brochure introduces the multiple PVC-U window and systems in the Epwin Window Systems vast portfolio. This includes the Optima Casement, Spectus Casement, Flush Casement, Optima Tilt & Turn, Spectus Tilt & Turn, Flush Tilt & Turn, Fully Reversible Window and the Vertical Sliding Sash Window. For door systems, it includes the Optima Door, Spectus Door, PatioMaster Sliding Patio Door and the Emergency Door NSHEV and (AOV) window. There is also information on the popular Curtain Walling System and the Two-Part Cill. Sections on hardware and the cutting-edge Colour Collection are showcased and the comprehensive brochure closes with a series of commercial case studies that demonstrate the transformational benefits of choosing Epwin Window Systems products. Gerald concluded: “Overall, the brochure demonstrates the unrivalled technical and specification support, industry expertise and in-depth knowledge of contracts and building regulations on offer from Epwin Window Systems. In other words, everything you would expect from an experienced commercial systems partner.” The new commercial guide is available to download from the Connect digital portal. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
