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.

Designs 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 specified 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 profiles 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 fulfilling the expected durability, security, safety and usability requirements.

Do we have to sacrifice 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, 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 overall performance. Security and safety are probably the most obvious factors that hardware influences. PAS24 and childproofing requirements are naturally important when selecting systems that are suitable and compliant for the purpose. Other usage considerations may be disabled access, such as zero-threshold options, low handle heights or motorised systems, as well as functions such as panic or emergency egress. However, there are other factors where hardware might not be the first component that springs to mind, but where it can have a massive impact.

As well as supporting the aesthetic vision by enabling larger sashes and slimmer frames, the right hardware can advance the look even further by being unobtrusive in and of itself, or even completely concealed. The slickest building design could be undermined by bulky, unattractive hinges, when concealed options may well be available offering the same level of performance. Another topic that is gaining ever greater significance is that of ventilation and cooling. Overheating is becoming a real concern, and while the first considerations would probably be air conditioning systems, taking time to consider different opening systems can reap rewards in terms of the comfort of the users or inhabitants. Windows or doors that allow for secure tilt opening or a night vent position will alleviate some of the discomfort that can be caused by the airtightness of modern buildings. The main takeaway is that comfort does not have to compromise on quality, durability or usability if the systems in place are built upon the right hardware foundations.

And such considerations do not need to cause complications for your fabricators. Systems are available whereby the same hardware components can be used across a variety of applications, sizes and materials. This means bespoke-feeling products can be offered with minimal stock, training, or variations in process and machinery. A further advantage of this is that the fabricator can futureproof their offering. With hardware systems that can service a wide range of applications, their portfolio can adapt quickly and easily to new trends, regulations and requirements.

The triple-glazed future?

Indeed, one such change that is on the horizon is the move towards triple glazing. U-value targets and the tightening up of their measurements in the new Future Homes and Buildings Standard could effectively push through an uptake in triple glazing to achieve these figures. Much like the trend towards larger glazed areas requiring a stronger foundation, so too will the increased weight of triple-glazed units. And so, again, we come back to the bedrock of it all: a quality, durable hardware system. Therefore, having that experience of using hardware configurations that can bear heavier loads means there is one less complication when fabricators come to incorporating or ramping up their triple-glazed solutions, and specifiers can have the confidence of knowing their partners are knowledgeable and capable of supplying compliant products.

Joe Ward is technical manager at SIEGENIA