Glazing:Layout 1 01/07/2009 16:11 Page 74
glazing
Limiting the
effects of
natural light
S
PECIFIED to limit the effects of
natural light on the building’s
interior, the glazing system at the
Royal National College for the Blind (RNC)
aims to stop partially sighted students
becoming disorientated by shadows.
RNC is the country’s leading college of
further education and training for people
aged over 16 who are blind or partially
sighted. More than 175sqm of Pilkington
Planar was specified in the construction
of a new facade for the RNC’s Hereford
College sports centre, the Point4. The
gym is an important feature of the site.
The College has an emphasis on sport; it
is home to the GB Blind Football squad
and is hosting the World Blind Football
Championships in 2010.
Optifloat Green, a tinted float glass,
was used to reduce the effects of solar
glare. When combined with Pilkington K
Glass, which provides thermal insulation
with a low emissivity coating, the glazing
system achieved its key aim to prevent
students becoming disorientated.
Shadows can cause confusion.
www.pilkington.com
Intelligent monitoring of windows
T
HE SINGLE-STOREY Grange offer all those things in a single solution.” drawn by the motor instantly increases.
Preparatory School for boys is a This is detected by the microprocessor
new £3.7m independent school in Weather station which immediately reverses the motor to
Monmouth. The school was constructed The installation included the central release the window, therefore preventing
through a partnership between the school’s computer control system, along with the possibility of serious injury.
owners, consulting engineers Gifford Ltd, motors, window actuators, sensors and a The system can be retrofitted on many
architects Buttress, Fuller, Alsop & weather station. The weather station existing windows as well as being installed
Williams and builders Speller Metcalfe. monitors external conditions around the on new buildings. It can operate on a broad
Designed to provide private academic building, including wind direction and range of window types, including top and
accommodation for 110 pupils, it features speed, temperature and rain fall. Changes bottom opening, sliding and parallel
a natural ventilation and window control in wind pressure on the facades are also opening. The system can also be used on
system. Composite Velfac windows in the modelled. These parameters are windows for heat and smoke ventilation.
facades and high level Velux windows at the programmed into the computer control
rear of the rooms were supplied with system where they are analysed along
www.windowmaster.co.uk
integrated WindowMaster motors within with readings taken from the weather
the frames. station and sensors fitted internally.
The control system covers 19 zones Windows around the building are then
within the building, of which 14 are precisely controlled and positioned to
controlled by sensors monitoring both keep air quality within rooms fresh and
temperature and carbon dioxide levels the temperature constant.
while five are controlled by temperature- WindowMaster’s NV Advancewindow
only sensors. Architect Vicky Turner explains: automation system intelligently monitors
“We needed an integrated system that windows to prevent entrapment as an
provided a natural ventilation solution integrated function of the motor and control
based on monitoring temperature, CO2 system. If an object, or hands or fingers,
levels and external conditions. The becomes trapped in a window and prevents
building management system is able to it from closing the amount of current The Grange Preparatory School in Monmouth.
74 edbmagazine.co.uk
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