Clearview National February 2019 - Issue 207 | Page 63

GLASS&SEALEDUNITS Quiet Success » » SIX MONTHS AFTER THE relaunch of the Planitherm Network by Saint-Gobain Building Glass, one installer is enjoying a “quiet success”. The Planitherm Network is designed to help fabricators and installers to win more business by upselling to homeowners based on the comfort benefits of different types of Planitherm glass such as enhanced security, reduced overheating, noise reduction, energy efficiency and furniture fade protection. Mark Pearce, managing director at KJM Group said: “I was really impressed with the marketing material and website available to Planitherm Network members and it has helped me to explain the benefits of the different types of glass to my customers in plain English. One recent example has been a customer who lives on a busy road and on the Heathrow flight path, so noise was a big problem. “We were contacted to provide a quotation for secondary glazing for the main bedrooms via email. A price was sent for 8.8mm SGG acoustic secondary glazing plus a quotation for one small new primary window with Comfort Plus glass. This was duly accepted, and a survey arranged. Whilst there we advised that the existing windows were in poor condition as they were leaking sound and air. The secondary was installed, and an order placed for new primary windows with Comfort Plus glass. These have been installed and the outcome beyond the customer’s belief. They have since placed an order for more windows with Comfort Plus. Silence is golden!” Kirsty Pamment, Market Manager – Residential, Saint- Gobain Building Glass UK & Ireland, said: “The Planitherm range is now available in three options: Energy Standard for maximum energy efficiency; Comfort, which also offers enhanced security, noise reduction and furniture fade protection; and Comfort Plus for all these benefits plus solar control for sunny rooms. It’s all about using language that the consumer will understand so that they choose the right option for them. The three-option range simplifies the conversations yet highlights the fact that choosing the right type of glass will have a huge impact on the performance of your windows. “A key benefit of the Planitherm Network is the wealth of information on the website and access to sales and marketing tools to help fabricators and installers to start having different conversations with their customers and choose the right glass to meet their changing needs.” http://www.planitherm.com/ planitherm-network-home/ http://uk.saint-gobain-building- glass.com ‘INTERPRETATION’ OF PART K INCREASING COST AND RISK » » THE ‘INTERPRETATIVE’ nature of specification under Part K is leading to wide variations in specification of IGUs and balustrading, according to Cornwall Glass. The South West-based glass processor says that in its experience, requirements under Part K: Protection from falling, collision and impact, can be interpreted ‘wildly differently’ by individual building control officers. This means that in many cases product is being over-specified, artificially inflating costs. More worryingly, it also means that some specifications are falling considerably short of loading and containment requirements, representing a risk of injury and death. Ceawlin Hickman, Estimating and Technical Representative, Cornwall Glass, said: “Part K in common with some other areas of building regulations, sets out the requirement for loadings in specific IGU and balustrading applications but isn’t explicit as to how they’re to be achieved. “This means it’s down to interpretation of requirement. It also means that installers, builders and structural engineers are frequently defaulting to a catch-all specification, which can artificially inflate their costs compared to those of their competitors. Or, much worse, they’re not getting it right and putting lives at risk. There are significant differences in requirement if it’s a u-channel or post and rail system and the industry and building inspectors are not necessarily always tuned into them.” Over-sized units are now a standard part of Cornwall Glass’ production run. These are for the most part, manufactured at Cornwall Glass’ purpose-built IGU and processing factories. Going into operation at the beginning of 2016 this includes its’ state-of-the-art Plymouth IGU facility, which handles 57 different glass types, ranging from 4mm to 19mm specifications, with capacity to manufacture up to 2000 units each day. “We’ve seen growth because we work with our customers to get specifications right. Sometime that’s meant working with them to take building control through specifications of IGUs or balustrading to explain how products meet Part K”, Ceawlin added. “That doesn’t by default mean always moving to a laminate, something which can deliver significant savings on larger contracts.” www.cornwallglass.co.uk C L E A RV I E W-U K . C O M » FE B 2019 » 63