Specification of pre-tested, proven building products can provide valuable reassurance for clients who want to be sure that key performance targets can be achieved, while also ensuring project delivery stays on schedule and on budget.
Proactive product testing requires significant investment which is why some suppliers opt only to externally test their products on a project by project basis. While this may prove more efficient for the manufacturer, it can have serious downsides for client confidence and project planning. Lead times and project costs may increase if test results have to be specially commissioned, specifications may have to change if a product proves unsuitable, and ROI may even be affected if project delivery is delayed.
At VELFAC, we run a comprehensive testing programme designed to make sure that our aluminium / timber windows and doors continue to meet – and exceed – all necessary requirements and regulations. Our composite glazing system has been tested by Europe’s most rigorous standards agencies, and across a range of testing parameters including water tightness, wind resistance, safety, and acoustic control. The VELFAC system is also Secured by Design and CWCT accredited, and meets the demands of Part Q building regulations. In addition, our testing programme also means we can confidently offer a 12 year warranty and an expected lifetime of 40-60 years on all window units.
Our testing regime is exhaustive, and impressive. For example:
- our curtain walling solutions face extreme wind conditions simulated by aircraft engines
- ironmongery is continuously exposed to salt-laden winds to ensure it can withstand the demands of coastal locations
- Part Q-approved casement doors are opened and closed 50,000 times to make sure the frame construction will have a long operational lifetime
- brackets undergo cyclic corrosion testing to prove that our corrosion protection treatments prevent any rust damage
Tested to the extreme
Strong winds, heavy weights, driving rain – watch our video and see how the VELFAC system performs in a range of demanding testing scenarios.
Case study: Proven performance at the Seaton Jurassic Visitor Centre, Devon
When it opened, Seaton Jurassic provided a new landmark for the popular seaside town of Seaton, ‘gateway’ to the 96-mile long Jurassic Coast. The VELFAC system was specified for a number of reasons, says Stephen Pring of architects Form Design Group: ‘Having installed VELFAC in high rise schemes in Plymouth we knew the system could cope with a demanding coastal location and that VELFAC 200 double-glazed units could deliver the weather performance required for a building sited only 500 yards from the sea. The excellent energy efficiency of the glazing also helped us achieve a BREEAM ‘very good’ rating.’ Read more here.
For more about VELFAC testing and warranties, and about our distinctive composite glazing system, contact our team directly on 01223 897 100.