craig

To much emphasis is placed on the acoustic values and it’s generally the glass that is rated and not the unit. That being said, most ignore the most important aspect. That is how sound travels. Sound is like water, it’ll find a way. That’s why a very important factor is how the window is installed and the materials used. If they just used PU foam for example, that will have lots of pockets of air. Having the outside aspects around the window filled with a Compriband seriously reduces the noise levels. Noise doesn’t just travel through the window but around the window. Noise will also travel through the ground and up through the floor and through walls etc. Very good idea to get a good dB level of glass but installation of that unit is paramount to it’s success.

Looks good to me 👍

Safety glazing should be inner and outer, no current regs re triple glazing. Yes, regarding middle pane and thermal stress.

An excel sheet with the sizes quantities and types is usually good enough, window schedules are usually best and take away any ambiguity. If you can also specify what windows are below 800mm from FFL that will help, with any specific security requirements (i.e. SBD/Pas24, Emergency escape windows). The one thing to look out for with your quote is glazing (especially triple). Look out for the middle pane of glass being float glass and those that toughen the middle pane (more so on South East to South West windows). We did this with one of our suppliers for a while to match everyone else's price as it's very competitive and to be honest, you all like to do cost comparisons on m2 prices and it can be the difference between winning or losing a job. However, it's important to note that this is the number one way to save costs but it can cost you in the long term if it breaks (whether that be from slamming shut, thermal stress, or thermal fractures) the bill for this is left with you. We always did this with our Austrian supplier but not with our other suppliers - a lesson has been learnt.

It's a Gutmann window , manufactured in one of the Baltic states as Gutmann do not manufacture them. Gutmann is a good company and we deal with them and use some of their products. https://www.gutmann.de/en/building-systems/products-1.html

That’s a different kettle of fish, but not to dissimilar. Only difference is responsibility falls onto who ordered and measured, install wise you can only fit what you’ve been asked to fit. If it doesn’t then cost for lost earnings etc. would/should have been agreed.

Honestly? Every job requires a return and anyone telling you otherwise for a new build is being disingenuous with the truth. At least one return is required. However, that doesn't mean that the installation, of windows, doors, and openings, is wrong or not ready. It just means our install teams perform service calls within the 1st year (at least we allow for it anyway) and the client can choose whether it is something they want. However, you will find that building movement/settlement requires adjustments; if not taken, it's chargeable once the installation has been completed and signed off. "If" the doors don't fit, then why? What has caused the issue, is it the product size? If yes, is it our fault? If yes find a solution if available and address it with agreement from the client/contractor and foot the bill. Has it been the install team, have they incorrectly installed at the wrong height/position? If yes, then they foot the bill and re-attend. "if" it is building related etc. and there is nothing we can do, advise the client/contractor of the problem and what needs to be done. Move on to the next item and continue. If it doesn't add extra time (i.e. the install team have 5 days allowed, 2 days to erect/install a large sliding door, for example, 2 days for windows, then install all the windows) if in 3 days it's not ready. Then it will require a return visit. That will incur additional costs for travel and accommodation and potentially an extra day, and then the client/contractor will have to foot the bill for it. Proportion for wasted time, no. Time shouldn't be wasted, the site and installers should be ready for the installation of the windows and doors if any time is wasted it's generally due to the site not being ready but it also can be a result that the delivery hasn't turned up when requested. An example, if 5 days install is allowed, it's actually only 4, 1 day of that is for travel to the site (distance dependent) and offload/distribution. If it is delivery that has been delayed, the haulier foots the bill. However, we are pretty decent with hauliers and if any delays we know 2 or 3 days in advance and can plan ahead. It has happened a few times now with delays at customs.

How many people? The sliding doors can take a day to fit, they can be relatively straight forward especially if typical UK sliding doors and not lift and slide and as a result less than a day. The 2 doors should take no more than a couple of hours. I'd send 3 guys for that personally and they'd have everything done in a day (if products already on site, not having to offload etc.). £350 per man per day. Others charge per item, i.e. a door could be £150, sliding door £250.00+. Is any lifting equipment included, materials, travel, accommodation etc? £2K sounds steep but it depends on what has and hasn't been included.

The window supplier should be checking the wind data for your area on large items (especially when coupled), installation position/detail is generally set out on drawings by the architect and finessed by the supplier/installer. Sizes on new builds are based on the known structural opening, usually taken from as-built or confirmed frame sizes for example. Tolerance requirements are different on different windows/suppliers but a rule of thumb is 5mm or 10mm.

Being generous here, 16 windows at £1.5k each (some will be higher, others lower), £24K, £8k for your doors, £32K. 2 men x 4 days @ £700 (3 days install, 1 day offload and setting out), £2.8K excluding travel call that £200, accommodation £250 a night, call that £1K and delivery £2K. I would say it should be around £36/£38K, £44.5K sounds a bit steep without seeing schedule/quote, for 19 items to be honest.

Assa Abloy, model DC840a for the concealed option. https://www.assaabloy.com/ee/en/solutions/products/door-closers/concealed-door-closers-/assa-abloy-dc840

Not convinced it's a blown unit, really difficult to tell but it's potentially the Low E coating or just a really dirty unit inside, I'd be on the phone with the supplier and get them out to replace it. If it's not on the external or internal panes that can be cleaned it fails GGF guidelines on glazing units. Your supplier will be replacing them tbh, they'll raise a complaint to their glass supplier.

Speak to your supplier(s), few options about including concealed door closers.

I should emphasis, that it isn’t across the board and depends where you are but ask 10 different BCOs from 10 different areas and you’re likely to get 10 different answers. Not just on this but in general. A prime example is these full height turn and tilt windows (turns first, tilts second). Rejected initially with customer being informed they “must” install a balustrade. A bit of a fight with BC and eventually accepted a simple child restrictor as above diagram. Exactly the same principle, flat out rejected everywhere else. Slightly unique here due to the external venetian blinds required and nowhere to fit a balustrade but still accepted.

They’re a law unto themselves at times but I agree with them when that call is made, EEWs should not be key lockable.

They can and they do, they’ll accept a push button lock but not key lockable.

I have to stick my hands up, I’m wrong on that and I’ll check if/when that changed. As in my experience and from what I recall BCs reject key lockable handles in escape windows. You can’t escape if the handle is locked from operating and no key is present.

No minimum height but there is a maximum height (1100). Escape windows cannot have lockable handles unless a push button handle. Doors above ground are fine but they cannot open into fresh air without being guarded for protection from falling (balustrade). If opening out onto a balcony for example, then no fall protection, just glazing protection as the glass is below 800. Edit: Apologies, should have mentioned that your supplier should be telling you all this @MikeSharp01 They are correct in that it’s your / architects / contractors responsibility to ensure regs are met. However, they should be fully aware of the regs and ensuring they comply.

To note, 800 from FFL for glazing is about safety primarily and not about protection from falling, unless above ground floor. Which is where the 1100 comes into play for fire escape. The opening window cannot be above 1100 (might be 1150, need to check). If it is a fire escape window it cannot be below 800 without restriction and if it does, it can’t be a fire escape window and must be higher than 800 without restriction. Which means it cannot be lockable either but you can get away with using a push button lockable handle.

Those should all be treated as safety glass for protection against falling to EN12600 class 3 or BS6206 class C. Most BCs will want the inner pane to be laminated to withstand 0.74kN others will accept toughened inner and outer pane to be circa 6mm. As the openings are below 1100 from FFL, they will look at fire escape (if required) plus safety to prevent someone from falling via the opened window. Edit: for fire escape, the window when opened must have an obstructed area of 0.33m2

You just need to give your SAP guy the performance declaration. They don’t (shouldn’t) need individual items calculated uvalue. On your sheet, you should account for the sides (jambs), top (head), cill (bottom) Uf values. Jambs and head are likely to be the same but the cill is likely to be different. You should also use the psi value for the spacer bar and that should be good enough for the Uw but in all honesty, your window supplier should be able to give you each window value calculated to ISO 10077-1. I’d be concerned if they couldn’t.

They are a decent enough window, around the same as Rationel, Velfac but not really had a great dealing with them tbh. I can’t really give as much insight.

That a CSCS card is not a legal requirement? https://www.cscs.uk.com/about/

There isn’t any legal means to use FENSA or CERTASS all they are, are self certification to building control. That they have been installed by someone “that knows what they are doing”. You can request building control to check yourself, you don’t even need to do that and it’ll cost about £150/£200 at point of selling.

There is actually no legal requirement for them on any site 😉