Having won the G-22 Customer Care Award for its efforts to support customers through the changes to Part L, AluK is continuing to develop product and system enhancements which make compliance easy and, above all, cost effective.
Sales Director Wayne Heath explained: “Approached in the right way, Part L can be an opportunity and not a threat. It has put energy efficiency right at the top of the agenda in this industry and, given that it remains a key purchasing driver in both the retail and commercial sectors, that can only be a good thing.
“For those fabricating and installing in aluminium, it has also had the effect of boosting minimum performance, which has arguably helped level the playing field against PVC-U.
“Huge efforts have obviously been made by AluK and others to communicate the precise requirements of the updated legislation in terms of lower U-Values and minimum WER/DER ratings; and I think having that knowledge out in the marketplace means fabricators and installers are better equipped than ever to use the energy efficiency message in their sales pitches.
“Certainly, the feedback I’m getting from AluK customers is that Part L is much less of a burden than they expected. Several are even saying that, in the commercial sector in particular where compliance is demonstrated via U-Value calcs, the enhancements we’ve made – and continue to make - to our products are actively helping them to win business.”
AluK’s predominantly commercial 77 window and door system, for example, has just been upgraded with enhanced insulation so that it not only complies with the 2022 Part L updates when fitted with double glazing (1.2 W/m2K U-Value limit using standard, cost-effective 1.0 centre pane) but, reassuringly, will also comply with the tougher 2025 Future Homes standard with triple glazing.
The modern, minimal aesthetic of the system and the consistent look carried across both windows and doors mean it is already popular in new build home settings and in particular multi-storey apartments – and that has only been enhanced by the improved efficiency. New glazing foams and centre seals also achieve market leading levels of air, wind and water resistance, and existing PAS24: 2016 security tests are already in the process of being tested to the new PAS24: 2022 security test standard.
For fabricators and installers, the priority is obviously how easy the system is to manufacture and fit and there is now a simplified gasket and bead combination to reduce stockholding and ordering, as well as clip-in membrane details for all the outer frame profiles which reduce fabrication time and provide more robust weathering details.
In all of its Part L response, AluK has worked hard to minimise any additional costs for customers. Unsurprisingly, it has been quick to respond to the news that bigger tolerances have been added to the standard window sizes allowed for Part L U-Value assessments in England.
It has replaced the two thermal foam barriers which were originally required between the sash and frame in its 58BW window system to achieve a U-Value of 1.4 with one single length of thermal seal. The change, which applies to AluK’s popular 58BW HI and 58BW ST HI windows, replaces two inserts with one so also reduces costs and stockholding, and saves time on fabrication because the new seal is inserted in the non-locking side of the window meaning there is no need to cut around hardware.
Peter Willard, AluK’s Senior Product Manager, explained: “The ±25% tolerance added to the standard 1.23m width and the -25% added to the standard 1.48m height used in the U-Value assessment methodology has made it possible for us to achieve the 1.4 U-Value performance required for residential refurbishment with a clever, value engineered solution.
“We backed the GGF and the CAB in their lobbying efforts last year to get the sizes changed and we’re passing the benefits of that change straight on to our customers.”
