March 2022

Sash windows
When the longstanding timber windows
at a local Gateshead Primary School
began to come to the end of their life, an
effectively planned window replacement project
was required.
Alongside working with REHAU PVC-U frames to
provide fitting aesthetics for the historic building,
the installers and fabricators involved needed to
conduct this work with minimal disruption to the
live school environment.
Located in Low Fell, Gateshead, and built in
1896, Kells Lane is a mixed-sex primary school
with 429 pupils. When the school needed new
windows, Gateshead Council wanted to replicate
the old timber windows with solutions that were
energy-efficient, secure and low maintenance,
while fitting in with the appearance of the
surrounding conservation area.
FRAMES FIT FOR THE FUTURE
When Gateshead Primary School needed its windows replaced, installer Hadrian enlisted
the help of REHAU’s PVC-U profiles to improve the performance without losing the original
timber design.
Following a competitive tender process, Hadrian
Window Systems (Hadrian) were awarded the
contract for the supply and installation of the
replacement vertical sliding sash windows.
Hadrian tasked the fabricator Roseview with
making these windows, which were manufactured
using REHAU PVC-U profile.
Due to the age of the building, the windows
needed to be sympathetic to the original timber
window design while also improving performance.
Specifically, Heritage Rose double-glazed vertical
sliding sash windows were provided to deliver a
highly efficient solution.
As these systems use 28mm glazing, compared
to others which use 24mm, they offer better
energy efficiency and good acoustic performance
ratings compared to other uPVC products.
The project also required additional nonstandard,
vertical sliding sash windows to be
specially manufactured to match the existing
A total of 189 vertical sliding sash windows were installed by Hadrian Window Systems.
“As our close partnership with REHAU spans
decades, we trust in the quality of their profile”
windows that they were set to replace. As some
of the frames specified contained tall window
arches with triple astragal bars that create a
sunburst effect for the building’s occupants, the
fabrication requirements became increasingly
complex.
Mike Bygrave, Sales & Marketing Director at
Roseview, said: “We make recommendations and
produce windows based on the specific project
details, and Kells Lane was no exception.
“In this case, the specification needed to consider
the school’s close proximity to a conservation
area, and the fact large, more intricate window
designs were also included. Consequently,
any solution we provided needed to take
these concerns into account, which is why we
recommended our Heritage Rose model.
“As our close partnership with REHAU spans
decades, we trust in the quality of their profile
so were very confident any frames we provided
would fit this project’s specific requirements.
“We find that PVC-U from REHAU offers a number
of benefits, including that they are easy-tomaintain,
are long-lasting and provide excellent
energy efficiency and acoustic performance,
which is why they remain an attractive solution.
Additionally, because we test all of our fullyfabricated
windows independently, on top of
REHAU’s market-leading profile testing, we can
Continued on page 30
28 T I MARCH 2022
PRACTICAL CONTENT FOR THE GLAZING INSTALLER & HOME IMPROVEMENT SPECIALIST