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A burglary attempt on a residential doorset.

Fabricators will need to review which fasteners they use throughout window and door assemblies to ensure they meet the proposed new minimum security and thermal standards for England and Wales.

This year is set to see an updated Part L of the Building Regulations put in place which will require windows and doors to meet lower overall window U-values. And there are proposals floated too, relating to higher security standards, which could see Part Q updated to require that all windows and doors meet the security performance requirements in the PAS.

Paul Balfe, Technical Consultant at Rapierstar said:

“The proposed changes to Parts L and Q will have big implications on the fasteners. So if you are looking at changing any aspect of your window or door specification, it is really important to consider where you may need to change the fasteners too.

“For example, one of the steps some fabricators are taking to lower the overall U-value is to switch from steel reinforcement to thermal inserts. However, if you are doing this you will also need to change all fasteners that screw into the reinforcement, such as where a friction stay or door hinge is fixed to the frame, because a screw with a drill point will no longer be effective.

“Where PAS 24 is concerned, Rapierstar has a strong track record of working with fabricators and hardware suppliers helping them meet the test requirements, so we can advise on which fasteners are best to achieve a robust build quality that will resist typical methods of attack. The importance of fasteners in meeting PAS 24 is often overlooked but it really can make the difference between success and failure.”

The proposals tabled for changes to Part Q for England and Wales also include the requirement for all easily accessible glazing to contain at least one pane of laminated glazing to a minimum class of BS EN 356:2000 P1A - 6.8mm laminated and not 6.4mm laminated. This increased glass thickness might add extra weight to the window overall, which could mean hinges in opening casements need to be changed and a different type of fastener used to ensure it can be securely attached.

Paul added:

“It is clear that the standards will only get tougher as the government seeks to make buildings greener and more secure. But it will inevitably cause some headaches for window and door window and door manufacturers, particularly in respect of testing.

“Our experience and expertise in this area could prove extremely valuable to the industry, given how we work closely with hardware manufacturers and systems companies to ensure the products their customers are using are the right products for the job.”

As the UK and Ireland’s leading specialist fastener supplier to the door and window industry, Rapierstar provides the widest range of products to distributors and fabricators of all the major profile systems. With more than one billion items held in stock at any time, Rapierstar has a team of technical consultants who work closely with customers to help them manufacture the highest quality finished products most efficiently and safely.

If you require any technical support to help ensure you are using the right fasteners in the manufacture of your windows and doors, please contact us.

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