Windows

Continuous innovation in fastening technology by Rapierstar is enabling housing specifiers and contractors to achieve ever higher performance standards throughout their window and door programmes.

The fasteners in its STARPVCU range are instantly recognisable through their ‘tri-thread’ logo which appears on the heads, and they are available in three different metals to suit the target level of corrosion-resistance – zinc coated carbon steel as standard or martensitic stainless steel and austenitic stainless steel for increased durability.

As Business Manager of Shelforce, Howard Trotter has extensive experience of manufacturing and supplying windows, doors and fire doors to housing associations. Here, he discusses the challenges and opportunities facing the sector in 2025 and beyond.

Some industry professionals are campaigning for a consistent approach to monitoring and even limiting projects’ embodied carbon in the built environment. We report.
 

Paul Souber, with decades of experience in the safety and security sector, and a trained locksmith himself is founder and MD of Souber® Tools; established in 1990. Having worked for Chubb Locks for 13 years, he brought his extensive engineering skill to this new venture which he devoted entirely to the needs of professional locksmiths – with this comes the crossover to the door and window repair professionals. Within the locksmith trade, Souber Tool’s precision and innovation, have established a strong reputation for high quality, reliability and efficiency of service. This has fuelled our success in the domestic market and export all over the world including Australia, Japan and the United States.

As the government announces groundbreaking plans to boost minimum energy efficiency standards for rental properties by 2030, Howard Trotter, Business Manager at leading uPVC window and door manufacturer and supplier Shelforce, discusses the implications for housing associations and their tenants.

Since the Building Safety Act came into force in October 2023, the construction industry has seen significant changes across all levels, from the way buildings are designed and constructed, to the types of materials that are used, and even how they are installed.

As is well known, a critical aspect of this is the ability of a material to resist the spread of fire and yet still perform its primary function.  This is particularly important when considering the membranes that are used for sealing around windows and façades.

Window and door technology has advanced significantly in recent years to the point where today’s profile systems, glazing and hardware enable housing specifiers to deliver ever safer, more secure and energy efficient homes. But for the benefits of these new generation products to be fully realised, it is crucial that the specification of window and door fasteners is not left to chance.