BUILDING FABRIC 29
STRATEGIC GLAZING SPECIFICATION
Kevin Bonnar of Velfac explains how to get to market faster and improve return on investment with strategic glazing specification.
G
lazing is one of the most important building products in any low rise or ‘plot by plot’ housebuilding
project. High quality, stylish windows and doors ensure efficient thermal and acoustic performance while adding value and differentiating a project from its competitors. A strategic approach to glazing
specification is therefore crucial to success, to meet cost and performance targets, fully realise the benefits offered by bespoke solutions, and ensure swift, first time compliance so that properties get to market as quickly as possible.
PART Q COMPLIANT PRODUCTS The key glazing criteria for any housing development is compliance with Building Regulation Part Q, which demands enhanced security features on easily accessible doors and windows. This applies not just to ground floor installations, but also to any units installed two metres above a flat or sloping surface such as a balcony, garage or porch. This could mean that every unit in an entire housing project, especially those featuring communal balconies or walkways, has to be Part Q compliant, and with test evidence to prove it. Part Q is also an essential component of Secured by Design – an initiative prospec- tive buyers may know more about than Part Q, and which can provide important market advantage, instilling greater confi- dence in your development and underlining the quality of your construc- tion and your values as a housebuilder.
BY SPECIFYING PART Q COMPLIANT PRODUCTS RIGHT FROM THE START, SECURITY BECOMES AN ESSENTIAL PART OF THE BUILD, NOT JUST AN AFTERTHOUGHT
WWW.HBDONLINE.CO.UK By specifying Part Q compliant products
right from the start, security becomes an essential part of the build, not just an afterthought, and your development will pass its Part Q inspection first time. If any units specified fail a Part Q inspection then this can be very costly – every non- compliant window or door will have to be replaced, adding to costs and putting a brake on final delivery.
CWCT STANDARDS Many housing developments now feature
large glazed areas to create the elusive ‘wow’ factor that can boost sales. If you are planning to install glazed screens that cross a floor slab (rising above a front door, for example, or around a stair well), then plan ahead to meet CWCT (Centre for Window and Cladding Technology) standards. Consult with your window supplier at the design stage to make sure any planned screens meet the standards required – this consultancy process can also provide a valuable ‘reality
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