EXTERNAL ENVELOPE 83
The hard facts on hardware for glass-focused homes
As windows and doors get bigger and heavier, the quality of the hardware is more important than ever. Joe Ward at SIEGENIA discusses the key trends and points to consider when choosing opening systems for ‘glass-led’ residential projects.
D
esigns in commercial and increasingly in residential buildings are geared towards bringing the
outdoors in. Large glass ratios have been the dominant aesthetic choice for a while, be it for windows or doors. In terms of patio doors, for instance, although bifold doors have certainly experienced a boom due to their qualities of blurring the lines between indoors and outdoors, sliding doors still make up the bulk of the patio market, and sliding and French doors continue to be the most commonly specifi ed for new build apartments according to the latest Barbour ABI market report. This increase in glass size is usually paired with a desire for slimmer frames in order to maximise the aesthetic. The pairing of larger, heavier glass and slimmer profi les naturally puts a strain on the hardware. Therefore, these often- overlooked small parts become even more critical. Whether it is for larger tilt-and-turn windows in a commercial or high-rise building, larger French doors for apartments or imposing sliding doors with slim frames for high-end homes, the hardware needs to be able to bear the additional load while still fulfi lling the expected durability, security, safety and usability requirements.
Do we have to sacrifi ce performance for aesthetics? It might be presumed that a trade-off needs to be made when implementing striking glass heavy designs. Perhaps the intruder resistance or service life will suffer. However, that should no longer be the case. For instance, quality tilt-and-turn window systems that carry up to 150 kg are now available that are still PAS24-compliant and keep their extremely long service life,
ADF OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2026
successfully achieving testing to 20,000 cycles. There are also now sliding door systems available that can be used on total door widths up to 19.8 m and weights up to 500 kg while also maintaining the highest durability class H3 (EN 13126) at 20,000 cycles. It is therefore worth keeping in mind that not all systems are made equal, and that a considered choice can make all the difference when it comes to these elements of the building.
Hardware’s role in ensuring the right window or door system Regardless of the aesthetic requirements of the project the hardware component is crucial in ensuring the selected window and door systems deliver a number of vital considerations for the building’s
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A considered choice can make all the difference when it comes to these elements of the building
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