»»“ THE HERITAGE OR conservation sector is an area that has always tended to be niche or specialist , serviced by companies that concentrate all of their efforts within it . Predominantly the arena of timber window companies , thanks to new product developments in aluminium and PVCu framing materials , the market has really opened up and now there are more opportunities available for more fabricators and installers .

“ But the thorny issue of achieving the balance between 21st Century glass technology in terms of performance and aesthetics that are sympathetic to traditional , listed or historic properties , has been one that our industry has long grappled with . For many homeowners who live in the 1000s of homes with sash windows that make up such an important part of the UK architectural heritage , most probably think that energy efficient double glazing is a modern convenience they have to do without if they want to maintain the authentic charm of sliding sashes . Manufacturers have often steered clear and proving compliance has been a real challenge . Until now .”

REPAIR OR REPLACE ?

“ When looking at timber , often the decision is taken to refurbish and ‘ make good ’ existing windows , because the options to replace are costly and don ’ t really offer much improvement in performance . Of course , you could switch to PVCu but , historically , this has meant a huge change in appearance that cannot always be accommodated . The need to improve on energy efficiency capabilities means you are left with a struggle between incorporating modern thermal demands without compromising on the character or architectural heritage of a building and its surrounding environment .

‘ huge potential ’

“ Surprisingly the total number of listed buildings is not known , as one single entry on the National Heritage List for England ( NHLE ) can sometimes cover a number of individual units , such as a row of terraced houses . However , it is estimated that there are around 500,000 listed buildings on the NHLE . Exciting to think then that we ’ ve now got the key to unlock the huge potential in this market .”

NEW DEVELOPMENT

“ BSI recently confirmed that there is now a fully certified solution as SafeGuard has achieved EN1279 Parts 2 and 3 across a range of heritage IGUs . The results show our Clarity Classic range of slim units sailed through the moisture penetration index , and gas loss rate tests .

“ This is a significant milestone for the fenestration industry as a whole when it comes to heritage glass units and I ’ m proud that SafeGuard is leading the way . The achievement pays testament to the depth and breadth of technical , glass know-how SafeGuard has acquired during our 21-year heritage . We ’ ve always been inundated with requests for us to make heritage units from our existing customer base and from further afield but we have always resisted the temptation until we were able to offer a suitably tested and certified product that we were happy to put our name to . Now this optimum combination of high performance coatings , sealant and gas filling incorporated into our Clarity Classic range , means customers can rely on our third party independently tested Kitemark compliance for consistent quality and performance .”

THE DETAIL

“ With just an 8.5mm sightline , the IGUs , which can achieve as low as 1.1W / m2K , offer the best of both worlds in terms of aesthetics and energy performance . The units genuinely have the appearance of single glazing so retain the character , charm and heritage of a building and when glazed into sash or casement windows , and are almost undetectable with none of the double reflections you sometimes see with standard IGUs . Further authenticity can be provided by incorporating one of our restoration glasses on the outer leaf to give an appearance in keeping with the period of the property .

“ This latest news comes on the back of our recent multimillion investment into new cutting , toughening and IGU manufacturing equipment at our 28,000ft2 manufacturing facility , so we have capacity in place to service our customers who now , for the first time , have access to Part 2 and 3 compliant heritage units . Our mission has always been to provide ‘ Clear Solutions in Glass ’, with the focus being on ‘ Solutions ’.”

www . safe-guard . co . uk