Security - Safe and Secure

Location & Frame Type

Many Years ago the frames sold to customers were often little to do with the customers requirements or design of the property. The products sold were simple designs with little thought to security or aesthetics but got the sale. We believe that customers should receive the best advice possible, whilst large side openers are perfectly ok upstairs they are not advisable down unseen alleys. Small top hung windows with fixed panels below would be our recommendation. Security and safety should not only be to repel people from trying to break in, it is equally important for people trying to get out. Fire escape hinges should be fitted in upstairs locations in every house, or in isolated rooms in bungalows for your family’s complete safety.

Engineered Frames

High impact modified profiles, fully welded transoms and mullions, no mechanical joints, five chambers for additional strength and increased thermal performance. Fire resistance complies to BS476 Part 7, class 1DIN4102 flame retardant, self extinguishing. By controlling the temperature and pressure involved in the welding process and exploiting the unique properties of the profile, fusion welds can be made that are actually stronger than the base material. As necessitated by all internally beaded frames, all transoms and mullions are reversed butt welded, with all angled seams finished with 'shallow grooves' and 'hot knifed' on the vertical and horizontal seams.

Internally Beaded

All the Platinum range offered is internally beaded, this means the glass is installed and beaded from the inside for additional security. Windows fitted externally are a burglars dream. Security tape is offered by some companies who fit externally beaded products but few adhesive tapes last, once exposed to damp atmospheric conditions. Glass locks are an alternative offered by externally beaded window installers, meaning that once fitted the glass cannot be removed, in reality these are rarely fitted because there is a risk of damaging the frame in replacing the sealed units.

Steel Reinforced

The Platinum profile is engineered to a superior level of strength whilst also accommodating steel reinforcing, where required for large and coloured frames. Structurally this is an advantage once installed that gives even higher strength, durability and security. For a stronger frame than that being replaced and avoiding structural difficulties caused by cheaper, weaker frames. Galvanised steel reinforcement is roll formed from material with a G Z 275N coating complying with BS EN 10142, 2000.

Multi-point Locking

The locking mechanism incorporates a centre latch and dead bolt, two hook bolts and two roller cams. 35mm backset. ABI Approved and BBA assessment report No. 1141. Lever/lever type handles with spindles BBA assessment report No. 1186 and 45/50 split gold colour 5 pin cylinder with the locking cam offset in the closed position and with 4 anti-pick pins for added security. Also included are 17,500 different key combinations, far exceeding the BS3621 requirement of 1000.

General Security Advice

Always engage multi-locking points on leaving the house. If leaving windows open downstairs leave them in the night vent position. Never leave a key inside a door cylinder if going out; you will not gain entry via that door. Other tips include, cancel newspapers when going on holiday, cancel milk if you have it delivered, fit intermittent switches to lights. Advise neighbours of your absence or the local neighbourhood watch.

Double Glazed

Platinum windows and doors are double glazed for many reasons such as security, strength and reducing heat loss. There is added security to all doors with toughened or laminated glass as standard. Only float-annealed low-emissivity glass is incorporated into our double-glazed sealed units. The glass is separated by a 20mm or 16mm air gap for acoustic insulation giving an overall unit thickness of 24mm or 28mm. We also have our TRIPLE SHIELD system which reduces energy loss by a further 60% on top of standard Pilkington’s ‘K’ glass. There are three stages of insulation; 1. We use soft coat Low-E glass instead of hard coat. 2. We use warm edge spacer bar to separate the glass as opposed to aluminium, which conducts the cold and 3. The double glazed cavity is filled with ARGON gas to improve thermal performance. The units are individually sealed for longevity and manufactured to BS5713 for sealed units and BS6206 toughened for conformity to BS6262. Low-E Glass is as standard in accordance with latest Building Regulations (specifically Part I. 2002).Locks

Our espagnolettes are designed for profiles with eurogroove. They have a 16mm steel faceplate in either silver brush or a yellow bichromate finish with die cast mazak lockcase. A 43mm handle centres with 7mm sintered steel follower for strength. They have fully adjustable mushroom cams +/-0.7mm with a slim lockcase depth. All locking products are wax sealed which increases protection to corrosion by 100%.

Hinges

Window hinges are security plus 17mm stack height friction stay constructed from stainless steel type 430 to BS 1449-2: 1983. The hinges incorporate a high strength glass-fitted nylon slider so that oiling is minimal and can be adjusted by means of a brass screw or a die cast, slot head cam to provide the necessary braking action. Once the vent is fully closed, the male and female locks automatically secure to the top of the frame, while the hinges fold flat to form a solid vertical bar, protecting each side of the open casement. For doors there are three specially designed flat hinges with nitrotech finishing steel pins (4mm adjustment laterally).

Handles

The following gives a description and operational mode of the handle, security that has evolved from the crudities in the 1960’s to the sophisticated window inline handle, push to release with additional key locking dead bolt opening an inline mushroom espagnolettes with locking shootbolt action at either end of the sash, 20mm backset and 7.7mm cam height. Handles are covered by BBA assessment report No. 1842 and 1935. Window handles are Die cast for strength and durability, the reversible Inline locking handle combines elegant design with good sash clearance. The backplate has bosses attached for improved stability with features such as: Push button to release, Audible automatic latching when closing and Deadlock by key for additional security.