tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57783341975062793852024-03-13T12:46:42.126+00:00The Window MakerPersonal thoughts on Fenestration, Architecture, Construction and Manufacturing Industries in the UK and worldwide.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116224179052381815noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5778334197506279385.post-29579244967249259692016-06-14T11:13:00.001+01:002016-06-14T11:13:01.376+01:00Office Lens<p>I’ve got a great idea for an app. I think it will be really useful for business users. I sell my own range of hardware, but, do you know what? I’m going to ignore that and put all of the really good functionality for business users on the version that works on my competitor’s hardware.</p>
<p>That would never happen, right?</p>
<p>Wrong!</p>
<p>In my day job as IT Manager at Crittall Windows, I am constantly searching for opportunities to improve communication and collaboration between our mobile team, and their office-based colleagues. It could be to monitor progress on site, to validate payments to sub contractors, to calculate how much we should be charging the customer, or to record quality issues for technical advice.</p>
<p>When Microsoft brought out Office Lens I thought it would find a home in the tools used by our site team.</p>
<p>Office Lens is a great app which can be used as a camera, document scanner, business card scanner, and whiteboard scanner. The images created can be stored as a page in a OneNote NoteBook on OneDrive, and/or in a OneDrive folder as Jpg, PDF, Word Document or Powerpoint Slide.</p>
<p>As a company, We subscribe to Office 365 which provides functionality to store and share files in the cloud using OneDrive for Business. So, it is possible to upload documents and photographs/images to OneDrive for Business, and share them with our colleagues, or with people outside our business.</p>
<p>As Office 365 users, we made the decision to use Windows Phones to provide seamless integration between platforms. There may be more apps available for iOS and Android, but the key ones we need are available for Windows Phone.</p>
<p>Here’s the thing…</p>
<p>The Microsoft product Office Lens works better on iOS than it does on Android or Windows. Office Lens on Windows Phone, and Android is only capable of using a Microsoft Account, not an Office 365 work account, but the same app for iPhone/iPad can use Office 365.</p>
<p>The frustration I felt was compounded by Microsoft’s recent announcement that they will soon be reducing the size of the free cloud storage available with a Microsoft account from 15GB to 5GB, and that the bonus storage given when turning on auto upload of photographs to OneDrive would also be removed.</p>
<p>The official word from Microsoft is that they will release Windows and Android versions of Office Lens which will work with an Office 365 work account, but they will not give a release date.</p>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116224179052381815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5778334197506279385.post-63869123448773022612016-05-06T11:30:00.001+01:002016-05-06T11:30:57.695+01:00Celebrating 90 years of Silver End<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="http://ift.tt/1O2iyf6">Celebrating 90 years of Silver End</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="http://ift.tt/1NsQjSc">Crittall Windows UK</a>.</p>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116224179052381815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5778334197506279385.post-64435745120566505622016-04-29T13:31:00.001+01:002016-04-29T13:31:04.963+01:00Brace Yourselves Updates Are Coming<div style="position: default; left: 48px; top: 115px; width: 688px;">
<p><img class="aligncenter" src="http://ift.tt/249bF30" width="480" height="368" data-src-type="image/jpeg" data-fullres-src="http://ift.tt/1T9HOMD" data-fullres-src-type="image/jpeg" /></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">I can’t be the only one who has suffered a degree of frustration following Microsoft’s February update to Office 2016.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">Before the update, it was possible to pin files, and folders in the Open and Save As… screens. I used this for many different locations, as many are buried under levels and levels of parent folders.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">For some of my users, you would think the world had ended, and life had lost all meaning for them.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">So, I searched, and I searched, and I searched… Although you can still pin files, you cannot pin folders. This is a piece of functionality that someone in Microsoft decided was no longer required.</p>
<p><img class="aligncenter" src="http://ift.tt/249bCUZ" width="330" height="344" data-src-type="image/jpeg" data-fullres-src="http://ift.tt/1T9HQUH" data-fullres-src-type="image/jpeg" /></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">There are plenty of forums bemoaning this fact, and no one at Microsoft has come up with a work around which does not involve backing out the update. Until now…</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">Cue smug face…</p>
<p><img class="aligncenter" src="http://ift.tt/249bF34" width="288" height="422" data-src-type="image/jpeg" data-fullres-src="http://ift.tt/1T9HQUJ" data-fullres-src-type="image/jpeg" /></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">I may have come up with a reasonable alternative…</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">On Windows 7 and Windows 8, in Windows Explorer, there is a section in the Navigation Pane labelled “Favourites.” In Windows 10 it is labelled “Quick Access”</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">If you add a location into “Favourites” or “Quick Access” you can access it with one click when you select “Browse” in Office 2016 Open or Save As… screens.</p>
<p><img class="aligncenter" src="http://ift.tt/249bF38" width="480" height="264" data-src-type="image/png" data-fullres-src="http://ift.tt/1T9HP2U" data-fullres-src-type="image/png" /></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">I have added a folder called “EmailReports” into my Favourites, which is on a network share 2 levels down, as can be seen from the URI below.</p>
<p><img class="aligncenter" src="http://ift.tt/249bDbj" width="814.5" height="584" data-src-type="image/png" data-fullres-src="http://ift.tt/1T9HP2W" data-fullres-src-type="image/png" /></p>
<p>Adding locations into Favourites or Quick Access is quick and easy.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><img class="aligncenter" src="http://ift.tt/249bF3b" width="864" height="557" data-src-type="image/png" data-fullres-src="http://ift.tt/1T9HP2Z" data-fullres-src-type="image/png" />Navigate to the location, right click on Favourites (or Quick Access in Windows 10) in the Navigation Pane, and select Add current location to Favourites (or Quick Access in Windows 10)</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">(If you are using a touch screen tablet, do a long press on Favourites (or Quick Access in Windows 10) and the right click menu will appear)</p>
<p>Good luck, and happy pinning…</p>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116224179052381815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5778334197506279385.post-71271983747670898312016-04-25T14:05:00.001+01:002016-04-25T14:05:18.623+01:00Iconic Art Centre’s winning performance with Crittall Windows<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="http://ift.tt/1NLcjXF">Iconic Art Centre’s winning performance with Crittall Windows</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="http://ift.tt/1NsQjSc">Crittall Windows UK</a>.</p>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116224179052381815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5778334197506279385.post-39312828704611221552016-04-04T08:17:00.001+01:002016-04-04T08:17:45.453+01:00Celebrating 90 years of Silver End at Braintree District Museum, Crittall Windows Reunion<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="http://ift.tt/1N4GtEW">Celebrating 90 years of Silver End at Braintree District Museum, Crittall Windows Reunion</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="http://ift.tt/1NsQjSc">Crittall Windows UK</a>.</p>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116224179052381815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5778334197506279385.post-33493144433834550562016-03-30T15:27:00.001+01:002016-03-30T15:27:58.989+01:00CRITTALL WINDOWS ON C4’S “UGLY HOUSE TO LOVELY HOUSE WITH GEORGE CLARKE”<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="http://ift.tt/25wnwqe">CRITTALL WINDOWS ON C4’S “UGLY HOUSE TO LOVELY HOUSE WITH GEORGE CLARKE”</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="http://ift.tt/1NsQjSc">Crittall Windows UK</a>.</p>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116224179052381815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5778334197506279385.post-61423342920845005282016-03-30T14:57:00.001+01:002016-03-30T14:57:12.097+01:00TRUE AS STEEL – CRITTALL’S NEW HOMELIGHTPLUS ENHANCED STEEL WINDOW<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="http://ift.tt/1RKBhqN">TRUE AS STEEL – CRITTALL’S NEW HOMELIGHTPLUS ENHANCED STEEL WINDOW</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="http://ift.tt/1NsQjSc">Crittall Windows UK</a>.</p>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116224179052381815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5778334197506279385.post-5753000125452278232016-02-25T11:39:00.001+00:002016-02-25T11:39:51.060+00:00Crittall helps maintain industrial heritage of London landmark<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="http://ift.tt/1OwKFwg">Crittall helps maintain industrial heritage of London landmark</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="http://ift.tt/1NsQjSc">Crittall Windows UK</a>.</p>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116224179052381815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5778334197506279385.post-11505952889706984192015-11-25T16:01:00.000+00:002015-11-25T16:14:28.674+00:00Use IFTTT to help ease your digital life<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: 'PT Sans', Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16.8017px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 28.5629px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-top: 0.75em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.wodewick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/IFTTT2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.wodewick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/IFTTT2.png" height="329" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
There is a great tool available which can ease your digital life. If This Then That allows you to create<em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> recipes</em> which link web services together.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: 'PT Sans', Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16.8017px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 28.5629px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-top: 0.75em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
A recipe comprises a trigger, and an action to take when the trigger is set. The trigger is an event which you can define associated with the web service. In addition you can chose to be notified when the trigger has happened.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: 'PT Sans', Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16.8017px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 28.5629px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-top: 0.75em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
For example, I have a recipe which is set to automatically post to my FaceBook timeline whenever I publish a new post on my WordPress blog.</div>
<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_524" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: 'PT Sans', Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16.8017px; font-stretch: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 28.5629px; margin: 1em auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1090px;">
<a href="http://www.wodewick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/IFTTT.png" style="border: 0px; color: #1188cc; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="IFTTT Recipes" class="size-full wp-image-524" src="http://www.wodewick.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/IFTTT.png" height="675" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="1080" /></a><br />
<div class="wp-caption-text" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.9em; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-top: 0.75em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
IFTTT Recipes</div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: 'PT Sans', Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16.8017px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 28.5629px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-top: 0.75em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
I could do it myself, I suppose, but as you can see, I also create a post on Tumblr, in addition I create a tweet. So, using IFTTT saves me a bit of time.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: 'PT Sans', Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16.8017px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 28.5629px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-top: 0.75em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
I also have a recipe which saves all email attachments I receive in my google account mailbox, and save them in a folder on OneDrive.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: 'PT Sans', Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16.8017px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 28.5629px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-top: 0.75em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
New services are being added to IFTTT regularly, just recently elements of Office 365 have been added – Outlook Email Calendar and Contacts, and OneDrive for Business.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: 'PT Sans', Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16.8017px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 28.5629px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-top: 0.75em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
So you could, if you wanted to, send a welcoming email to someone you created as a contact in Outlook.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: 'PT Sans', Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16.8017px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 28.5629px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-top: 0.75em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
If you want to try a recipe which isn’t related to work, you can set one up to email you any photographs you take on your android phone, or to add a music track to a spotify playlist.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: 'PT Sans', Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16.8017px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 28.5629px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-top: 0.75em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
IFTTT apps are also available for iOS, Android and WindowsPhone. On iOS and Android they are branded IF and DO.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: 'PT Sans', Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16.8017px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 28.5629px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-top: 0.75em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Try it, at <a href="https://ifttt.com/" style="border: 0px; color: #1188cc; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">ifttt.com</a> you might just like it</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116224179052381815noreply@blogger.com0Witham, Witham, Essex CM8 3UN, UK51.8030754 0.6509287999999742251.7637984 0.57024779999997421 51.842352399999996 0.73160979999997422tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5778334197506279385.post-36511996725123908992013-06-26T15:49:00.001+01:002013-06-26T15:49:10.006+01:00Use Recovery Mode To Fix a Dead Nexus 7<div class='posterous_autopost'><div class="posterous_bookmarklet_entry"> <blockquote class="posterous_medium_quote">Nexus 7 Recovery Mode This is a bit off my normal topics, but I am an IT Manager, and this appears to be a "feature" of the Nexus 7. Plenty of people are being hit by this design flaw. My Nexus 7 bricked last night. That is, it wouldn't switch on, it wouldn't charge - there were no signs of life at</blockquote> <div class="posterous_quote_citation">via <a href="http://www.wodewick.co.uk/?p=260">wodewick.co.uk</a></div> <p></p></div> <p style="font-size: 10px;"> <a href="http://posterous.com">Posted via email</a> from <a href="http://johnkeleher.posterous.com/use-recovery-mode-to-fix-a-dead-nexus-7">John's Posterous</a> </p> </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116224179052381815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5778334197506279385.post-38021834090985499992013-01-08T14:48:00.000+00:002013-01-08T14:53:04.805+00:00Imitation Is the Sincerest Form of Flattery. But, Can You Pass the Chip Butty Test?When I was growing up, there was an advertising campaign for a brand of margarine which claimed it was better than butter because it contained butter – oh how we laughed.<br />
<br />
Today, margarine and blended products (or yellow fat spreads as the UK Food Standards Agency so temptingly refers to them) are still playing catch up with butter, as can be seen by the buttery brand names they have adopted, like Utterly Butterly, I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter, Butter Me Up, You Butter Believe It… the list goes on and on. But, deep down, we all know, they’re not as good as the real thing.
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8SjvtntOpKM/UOwtiwO30PI/AAAAAAAAAUs/cMKkiwdHoWM/s1600/12-not-better.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="294" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8SjvtntOpKM/UOwtiwO30PI/AAAAAAAAAUs/cMKkiwdHoWM/s400/12-not-better.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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However good these spreads might become, there is still one taste test in which they fail dismally. A chip butty, made with real, deep-fried chips, real butter, on white bread is impossible to replicate.
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J__CIeWeuvk/UOwtwGq_zoI/AAAAAAAAAU4/ZPrzNQyOzFQ/s1600/ChipButty_enl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="279" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J__CIeWeuvk/UOwtwGq_zoI/AAAAAAAAAU4/ZPrzNQyOzFQ/s400/ChipButty_enl.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Over the last few months, I have seen increasing promotion of “Crittall Replacement Windows.”<br />
<br />
Let’s put to one side the fact that “Crittall” is a registered trade mark, and only <a href="http://www.crittall-windows.co.uk/" target="_blank">Crittall Windows Ltd</a> can manufacture Crittall Replacement Windows.<br />
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The majority of Crittall steel windows which have been installed over the last 150 years, have now been replaced. In residential buildings, more often than not by UPVC.<br />
<br />
The outstanding original Crittall installations are, in general, retained for heritage/conservation reasons. Either because local or national authorities recognise the architectural/cultural/historical importance of a particular building or district, or because owners do.<br />
<br />
In an effort to tap into this heritage market, Aluminium window systems companies have developed their own versions of “I can’t believe it’s not butter.”<br />
<br />
Fortunately, there is a “chip butty” test for these windows.<br />
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The strength of steel allows for a window with narrow sight lines. These cannot be duplicated in aluminium, timber or uPVC. The graceful lines that can only be created using steel windows have been incorporated into many different styles by architects over the years.<br />
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In the words of the <a href="http://www.steelwindows.com/reasons_narrow.htm" target="_blank">Steel Window Institute</a>, “The look of steel windows and doors is not simply distinctive, it is unique.” (I feel the same way about real chip butties)
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1s1xg5bSOxM/UOwupRBDScI/AAAAAAAAAVI/idM-_ZPsnKA/s1600/137-C.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1s1xg5bSOxM/UOwupRBDScI/AAAAAAAAAVI/idM-_ZPsnKA/s400/137-C.jpg" width="255" /></a></div>
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In the same way that margarine/spread companies have brainwashed the public into believing that their products are a suitable replacement for butter because they are somehow a healthier option, we are told that these new aluminium windows are more energy efficient than steel windows.<br />
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As I have shown in a previous <a href="http://www.wodewick.co.uk/?p=81" target="_blank">post</a> on my wodewick blog, the difference in performance between windows with various energy ratings is minimal, and the savings in energy consumption, and ultimately energy bills, can be counted in pennies.<br />
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So, if you are considering replacing your steel windows, remember the chip butty – there’s nothing like the real thing.<br />
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Homeowners can find out more about genuine Crittall Steel Windows here find your local Crittall Approved Distributor <a href="http://www.crittall-windows.co.uk/uk_distributors/">here</a> and request a Survey <a href="http://www.crittall-windows.co.uk/survey/">here</a>
For general enquiries about genuine Crittall Windows click <a href="http://www.crittall-windows.co.uk/contact/">here</a>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116224179052381815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5778334197506279385.post-9234854742614506372013-01-08T14:11:00.000+00:002013-01-08T14:11:19.901+00:00Crittall windows for Iconic London landmarkThe Old Building at the prestigious School of Oriental and African Studies in London has a new appearance, thanks to a replacement window scheme involving Crittall Windows. The original building on Russell Square was designed in the late 1930s by <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2007/oct/16/architecture4">Charles Henry Holden</a>, best known for his designs of underground stations.
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Being Grade II listed, the upgrade specified like for like replacement - and in this case, this involved the removal of existing Crittall steel profiles from their decaying timber subframes and the installation of new high performance steel Corporate W20 units.
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The scheme is part of an on-going plan to upgrade the SOAS campus, with the new Crittall windows serving a dual purpose; maintaining the overall visual appearance of the architecture and significantly improving the thermal performance. As the doors and windows span five storeys, new double glazed contemporary windows that comply with stringent conservation and environmental requirements will make a noticeable difference on heat gain and maintenance costs. In addition, they provide a timeless aesthetic quality to the architecture, without overshadowing the prominence of the structure itself.
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A selection of side hung and open out vents were installed, together with horizontal and vertical pivots, louvres and fixed lights, all in a uniform RAL cream colour to heighten the visual appeal.
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Architects Kendall Kingscott were responsible for the project with Overbury appointed as main contractors. The work was completed on time and to schedule, with the Crittall installers managing the work so smoothly and deftly that they were awarded Overbury's contractor of the month award for their 'flexible approach and professionalism '.
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IJwJFM1IjF4/UOwnmicWU5I/AAAAAAAAATg/hXb72MtUI2s/s1600/Soas%2B046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IJwJFM1IjF4/UOwnmicWU5I/AAAAAAAAATg/hXb72MtUI2s/s320/Soas%2B046.JPG" /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116224179052381815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5778334197506279385.post-23959123256914271212011-01-25T10:43:00.001+00:002011-01-25T10:43:08.697+00:00A-Rated Windows - The Emperor's New Clothes?<div class='posterous_autopost'> <p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 6.8pt; margin-left: 0cm; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; color: black;">This article started off as a rant, fortunately I was too busy to put my initial thoughts down in words. I decided I am too young to be classed as a “grumpy old man.” The reason for my ire? I realised I have been duped. Duped by the British Fenestration Rating Council, and their Windows Energy Rating Scheme.</span></p> <p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 6.8pt; margin-left: 0cm; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; color: black;">Early last year, I posed the question<a href="http://www.wodewick.co.uk/?p=53" title="A-Rated Windows, who do they really benefit?" target="_blank"><strong><span style="color: #666666; text-decoration: none;"> “A-Rated windows, who do they really benefit?” </span></strong></a> At the time, I was concerned that the potential energy savings, and reduction in CO2 emissions may not be fully realised, while the double glazing blogger was delighted to be able to sell A-Rated windows at a higher margin than other windows, see his post <a href="http://www.wodewick.co.uk/%20http:/doubleglazingblogger.blogspot.com/2010/01/wers-save-stagnant-industry.html" title="Double Glazing Blogger" target="_blank"><strong><span style="color: #666666; text-decoration: none;">here</span></strong></a> I fell into the trap and assumed that because a window was A-Rated, and being marketed as “High Performance, Energy Saving, A-Rated windows” it would be vastly superior to any other window.</span></p> <p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 6.8pt; margin-left: 0cm; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; color: black;">Since then, I have been reading more about an issue customers have been experiencing following the installation of their A-Rated windows, and the response from the industry.</span></p> <p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 6.8pt; margin-left: 0cm; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; color: black;">In certain weather conditions, condensation is appearing on the outside pane of windows.</span></p> <p style="text-align: center; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; color: black;"> </span></p> <p style="text-align: center; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; color: black;"><img src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/johnkeleher/t5zZvRlSHgGuWd3crUDNbuTXL310t56QCbpaCmHRtxcBzqhn1BcJVp18WF49/image001.jpg" width="448" height="336"/> </span></p> <p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 6.8pt; margin-left: 0cm; text-align: center; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; color: black;">External Condensation</span></p> <p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 6.8pt; margin-left: 0cm; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; color: black;">When questioned about this phenomenon, the response from many of the installation companies is to congratulate the customer on their wise choice, because it shows that the windows are truly doing their job. The temperature of the outer pane is not being raised by heat transfer from the interior of the building, so moisture in the atmosphere is condensing on it.</span></p> <p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 6.8pt; margin-left: 0cm; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; color: black;">For many customers, this explanation is enough, and they go away satisfied-ish.</span></p> <p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 6.8pt; margin-left: 0cm; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; color: black;">My friend Matthew Glover wrote an <a href="http://www.wodewick.co.uk/%20http:/renegadeconservatoryguy.co.uk/a-rated-windows-problem/" title="A Rated Windows Problem" target="_blank"><strong><span style="color: #666666; text-decoration: none;">article</span></strong></a> on this feature of A-Rated windows. It attracted many comments from within the double glazing industry, and from disgruntled customers, who weren’t prepared to accept the standard response.</span></p> <p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 6.8pt; margin-left: 0cm; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; color: black;">The comments from unhappy customers have generated some interesting suggestions from the industry “experts”.</span></p> <ul type="disc"> <li style="color: black; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif;">Some are facetious, “fit automatic window wipers like they have on cars” </span></li> <li style="color: black; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif;">some are provocative, “If they want to enjoy the view tell them to open their windows” </span></li> <li style="color: black; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif;">some are genuine attempts to resolve the problem “turning up the central heating a degree or two” </span></li> <li style="color: black; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif;">while others write off the complaints as coming from the “small percentage who would never be satisfied”. </span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 6.8pt; margin-left: 0cm; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><em><span style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; color: black;">Note: I loved the suggestion to turn up the heating, how ironic.</span></em></p> <p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 6.8pt; margin-left: 0cm; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; color: black;">If I had invested my hard-earned money in replacement windows, and then found that my quality of life was worse because of this problem, I would feel justified in complaining, and would expect more than to be fobbed off with the “it proves you made a wise choice” response.</span></p> <p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 6.8pt; margin-left: 0cm; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; color: black;">I spoke to the technical experts at <a href="http://www.crittall-windows.co.uk" title="Crittall Windows" target="_blank"><strong><span style="color: #666666; text-decoration: none;">Crittall Windows</span></strong></a>, and am reliably informed that it is a feature of the coating on Low-E glass which is required by many windows to gain the A-Rating. Apparently, you can now put an additional coating on to the original coating which will stop the external condensation. For an additional cost of course. Which means that the claim that the windows are so efficient has no basis in fact.</span></p> <p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 6.8pt; margin-left: 0cm; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; color: black;">The British Fenestration Rating Council (BFRC) Windows Energy Rating Scheme (WERS) has been developed to allow consumers to compare the thermal performance of different windows. The<a href="http://www.bfrc.org" title="BFRC Website" target="_blank"><strong><span style="color: #666666; text-decoration: none;"> BFRC website </span></strong></a>explains the rating scheme and what appears on the Energy Rating label:</span></p> <p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 6.8pt; margin-left: 36.0pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; color: #555555;">1. The rating level – A, B, C, etc…<br />2. The energy rating e.g. -3kWh/(m²•K) in this example the product will lose 3 kilowatt hours per square metre per year.<br />3. The window U value e.g. 1.4W/(m²•K)<br />4. The effective heat loss due to air penetration as L e.g. 0.01 W/(m²•K)<br />5. The solar heat gain e.g. g=0.43</span></p> <p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 6.8pt; margin-left: 0cm; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; color: black;">I can imagine you nodding knowingly, as you take in these technical values…</span></p> <p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 6.8pt; margin-left: 0cm; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; color: black;">I’m sure many homeowners, encouraged by their </span><em><span style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; color: black;">“High Performance, Energy Saving, A-rated”</span></em><span style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; color: black;"> salesman, will fall into the same trap as I did. It stands to reason, A-Rated windows must be highly superior in performance to the others, otherwise they wouldn’t be classified as </span><em><span style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; color: black;">“A”</span></em></p> <p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 6.8pt; margin-left: 0cm; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; color: black;">However, when every industry was clamouring for a scrappage scheme, similar to that introduced for the motor industry, the double glazing industry was no exception. Here is the government’s response to the petition (full text available <a href="http://www.wodewick.co.uk/%20http:/www.hmg.gov.uk/epetition-responses/petition-view.aspx?epref=windowscrappage" title="Window Scrappage Scheme Government Response" target="_blank"><strong><span style="color: #666666; text-decoration: none;">here</span></strong></a>)</span></p> <p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 6.8pt; margin-left: 36.0pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; color: #555555;">“The Government agrees that energy efficiency has an important part to play if we are to achieve our carbon reduction targets. The benefits of energy efficiency for households are clear: saving money on energy bills, reducing reliance on imported energy and helping householders reduce their carbon emissions.</span></p> <p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 6.8pt; margin-left: 36.0pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; color: #555555;">However given the high cost of replacement windows (typically £5,000 to £10,000 for a small home), the marginal improvement in performance, particularly when replacing like-for-like double glazed windows; and given that band C windows will be the minimum standard permitted by building regulations from October 2010, a window scrappage scheme is unlikely to be cost effective on energy efficiency and carbon savings grounds.”</span></p> <p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 6.8pt; margin-left: 0cm; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; color: black;">So the government aren’t really wowed by the performance of A-Rated windows. </span></p> <p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 6.8pt; margin-left: 0cm; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; color: black;">My suspicions were further aroused when I discovered that the Firmdale Group’s <a href="http://www.crosbystreethotel.com/" title="Crosby Street Hotel" target="_blank"><strong><span style="color: #666666; text-decoration: none;">Crosby Street Hotel</span></strong></a>, has floor-to-ceiling Crittall Steel Windows and doors throughout, and is the most energy efficient hotel in New York City, on target for gold LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) certification find out more <a href="http://www.ehow.com/list_6141085_eco_friendly-hotels-new-york.html" title="Environmentally friendly hotels in NYC" target="_blank"><strong><span style="color: #666666; text-decoration: none;">here</span></strong></a>.</span></p> <p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 6.8pt; margin-left: 0cm; text-align: center; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; color: black;"> </span></p> <p style="text-align: center; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; color: black;"><img src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/johnkeleher/n8ZNK8z4wWZgQzo3QnuZlLlGhn3wKSslxX1oPogYFTOhnm2FN7hRC3TBVBZ1/image002.jpg" width="360" height="480"/> </span></p> <p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 6.8pt; margin-left: 0cm; text-align: center; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; color: black;">Front Elevation of Crosby Street Hotel, NYC</span></p> <p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 6.8pt; margin-left: 0cm; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; color: black;">I decided to find out just how much better A-Rated windows really are.</span></p> <p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 6.8pt; margin-left: 0cm; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; color: black;"> On their members’ website, the Glass and Glazing Federation provide an Energy Saving Calculator which I used to produce some interesting results.</span></p> <p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 6.8pt; margin-left: 0cm; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; color: black;">I’m just a simple Northern lad, so I didn’t do anything too complicated. I used it to calculate the annual energy cost savings, and reduction in carbon dioxide emissions and carbon footprint as a result of replacing single-glazed steel frames in a detached property with gas-fired central heating, and an average window area, with, windows of various ratings. The full results are listed below.</span></p> <p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 6.8pt; margin-left: 0cm; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; color: black;">I have problems equating tonnes of CO2 emissions and my carbon footprint with anything meaningful, so I converted it into commuting days.</span></p> <p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 6.8pt; margin-left: 0cm; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; color: black;">I live 15 miles from work, so travel a nice, round 150 miles a week, to and from work, and classed my car as large.</span></p> <p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 6.8pt; margin-left: 0cm; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; color: black;">I used the carbon footprint calculator at <a href="http://www.wodewick.co.uk/%20http:/www.carbonfootprint.com/calculator.aspx" title="Carbon Footprint Calculator" target="_blank"><strong><span style="color: #666666; text-decoration: none;">carbonfootprint.com</span></strong></a> and the carbon emissions comparison calculator at <a href="http://www.transportdirect.info/Web2/JourneyPlanning/JourneyEmissionsCompare.aspx" title="CO2 Emmissions" target="_blank"><strong><span style="color: #666666; text-decoration: none;">transportdirect.info </span></strong></a> to work out how many days’ commuting the savings would be for each type of replacement window.</span></p> <p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 6.8pt; margin-left: 0cm; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; color: black;">So, if I replaced my beautiful, slim, steel windows, which perfectly reflect the original character of the property, with chunky, A-Rated uPVC, I will be able to brag to my green friends that I have reduced my carbon footprint by nearly half a tonne, and my CO2 emissions by – wait for it… nearly 1 2/3 tonnes. I will also save £321.20 pa on my energy costs. But, OMG what have I done to my once beautiful house, and where did all the light go??!!?</span></p> <p style="text-align: center; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; color: black;"><a href='http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/johnkeleher/w4SjYwt8H99Rbi5Z908tWH67tMPknZFCmoEi6vC1PAZFmKtSs4QLB5te57No/image003.jpg'><img src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/johnkeleher/2cTF3Pb0GFxxorTDVeA1dWw4IyW11C9KRE48VPq5nRrXduv9eltHBohjlzkZ/image003.jpg.scaled.500.jpg" width="500" height="338"/></a> </span></p> <p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 6.8pt; margin-left: 0cm; text-align: center; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; color: black;">Common configuration of a uPVC Window</span></p> <p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 6.8pt; margin-left: 0cm; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; color: black;">What if I replace my windows with the best performing steel windows? I hear you can get C-Rated steel windows these days. They won’t be a perfect replica of the originals, but maybe I’ll be able to retain the essential character of my property.</span></p> <p style="text-align: center; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; color: black;"><img src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/johnkeleher/2O1hVxx1zZorNjiZLDcplx2HkNZ4LTafvVZxTqsXwkFrAA1BXi5PYYihx6u6/image004.jpg" width="383" height="600"/> </span></p> <p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 6.8pt; margin-left: 0cm; text-align: center; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; color: black;">Daylight through Crittall windows - brochure cover</span></p> <p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 6.8pt; margin-left: 0cm; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; color: black;">I’ll still be able to brag to my green friends, 0.41 tonnes of carbon, is only 40kg less than A-Rated windows, and CO2 emissions are 140 kg less, still more than 1.5 tonnes saved, and energy cost savings of £294.21 is just £26.99 less pa than A-rated – that’s slightly over 50p per week.</span></p> <p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 6.8pt; margin-left: 0cm; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; color: black;">What does 40kg of carbon look like? What else can I do to match it? My annual commute to work extends my carbon footprint by 2.34 tonnes. That is 7,500 miles per year, or 150 miles per week. The weekly cost is 46.5kg, so the difference between C-Rated and A-Rated replacement windows is less than 5 days’ commuting.</span></p> <p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 6.8pt; margin-left: 0cm; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; color: black;">My annual commute results in CO2 emissions of 3.11 tonnes, or 62.1kg per week. The difference between C-Rated and A-Rated windows of 140kg equates to 11 days’ commuting.</span></p> <p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 6.8pt; margin-left: 0cm; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; color: black;">What about if I have a Listed Building or a building of special interest, and I need to replicate the windows. What’s the point of replacing them like-for-like? In that case, you can replace original single-glazed steel windows with the current Crittall Homelight DG Range. What do you think the results might be? (Note: Although it has not been tested, following a conversation with the Technical Department at Crittall Windows, we expected this range to achieve a D rating)</span></p> <p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 6.8pt; margin-left: 0cm; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; color: black;">Energy cost savings: £280.71, just £40.49 pa less than A-Rated windows. Carbon: 0.39 tonnes reduction, 60kg less than A-Rated, and CO2 emissions reduced by 1.44 tonnes, 210kg less than A-Rated. In terms of commuting days, just over 6 for carbon, and less than 17 for CO2.</span></p> <p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 6.8pt; margin-left: 0cm; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; color: black;">Below are the full results from the GGF Calculator </span></p> <p style="text-align: center; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; color: black;"><a href='http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/johnkeleher/H6ZI2pnOVaJk8dbF372qUAZjBYc35KBEI6AaGlMS7DBPWkUyb7N5W1lEnEVN/image005.png'><img src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/johnkeleher/BDuJibvog2uv98PF56HKizK8DVQ4U5dhuOqXo8GjXGHzZR0qzHmdfhL5CsZy/image005.png.scaled.500.jpg" width="500" height="93"/></a> </span></p> <p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 6.8pt; margin-left: 0cm; text-align: center; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; color: black;">GGF Calculator Results</span></p> <p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 6.8pt; margin-left: 0cm; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; color: black;">Try it for yourself for your own property <a href="http://www.ggfmembers.com/public/calculator.aspx" title="GGF Members Calculator" target="_blank"><strong><span style="color: #666666; text-decoration: none;">here</span></strong></a>.</span></p> <p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 6.8pt; margin-left: 0cm; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; color: black;">Part L of the Building Regulations which governs energy consumption in buildings is a very long and complicated document. Most people try to simplify it by taking headlines from it rather than try to understand the whole thing. The headline that most double glazing salesmen use (and the government, if you read their response above) is for existing buildings used as dwellings replacement windows must be C-Rated or better. This is, in fact, a gross over simplification, and can be very misleading for a homeowner.</span></p> <p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 6.8pt; margin-left: 0cm; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; color: black;">A number of homeowners have stated that they have been told “steel windows don’t meet the Building Regulations.” This is not true.</span></p> <p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 6.8pt; margin-left: 0cm; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; color: black;">I’m very glad I haven’t invested in A-Rated windows. The higher margins being charged, small comparative benefits and poor user experience mean that, in my opinion, they are a poor investment for the homeowner.</span></p> <p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 6.8pt; margin-left: 0cm; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; color: black;">The largest part of the improvement comes from upgrading from single to double-glazed units, and improved weather-proofing, irrespective of the material used to fabricate the frames.</span></p> <p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 6.8pt; margin-left: 0cm; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; color: black;">English Heritage state “Window openings and frames establish the character of a building’s elevation. They should not generally be altered in their proportions or details, as they are conspicuous elements of the design.</span></p> <p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 6.8pt; margin-left: 0cm; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; color: black;">In “Five Points Towards A New Architecture” Le Corbusier says “The whole history of architecture revolves exclusively around the wall apertures”</span></p> <p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 6.8pt; margin-left: 0cm; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; color: black;">I have spoken to a number of homeowners who believe that they would be unable to maintain the character of their home because they would be forced to replace their original windows with windows which do not reflect that character, or that trying to gain approval for windows which are not C-Rated or better, would be so difficult as to be not worth the effort. As a result, they are choosing not to upgrade.</span></p> <p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 6.8pt; margin-left: 0cm; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; color: black;">The table above shows the potential energy improvements that are being lost as a result.</span></p> <p style="margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 6.8pt; margin-left: 0cm; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; color: black;">Wouldn’t it be better to encourage the switch from single to double-glazed windows by making it easier for these homeowners to get what they want?</span></p> <p> </p> <p style="font-size: 10px;"> <a href="http://posterous.com">Posted via email</a> from <a href="http://johnkeleher.posterous.com/a-rated-windows-the-emperors-new-clothes">John's Posterous</a> </p> </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116224179052381815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5778334197506279385.post-74206716685852618082011-01-20T13:29:00.001+00:002011-01-20T13:29:03.724+00:00Crittall Windows Retain the City Character<div class='posterous_autopost'><p>95 Gresham Street is a gem in the heart of the City of London. The £35 million refurbishment of the site makes extensive and impressive use of glass and steel to contrast with the existing external facade of Portland Stone. And for the glazing element, Crittall Windows supplied and installed its Corporate 2000 and W20 profiles for optimum visual impact and long lasting performance.</p> <p>The original structure has been redesigned to offer eight floors and 95,000 sq ft of office space, with a brand new atria created as a main focal point at the entrance. The installation of the new windows was a like-for-like replacement, with the Crittall profiles helping to retain the character and traditional appearance of the external facade, whilst at the same time providing modern, advanced glazed units that comply with all thermal and energy efficient requirements. </p> <p>Crittall’s involvement extended beyond just supplying the profiles, as architect, George Corrigan of architects, Rolfe Judd explained. “95 Gresham Street actually comprises both Princes House and Bartlett House,” he said. “One of the tasks that Crittall Windows was faced with was to refurbish the cast iron framing and panels to some of the fenestration in Bartlett House prior to installing the new profiles. This was done successfully, with the rest of the replacement window project completed on time and to the standards required for this conservation area. Crittall’s ability to offer this complementary service greatly contributed to the smooth progression of the scheme.”</p> <p>The modernisation of 95 Gresham Street has now been completed and the result is a complete transformation of the site into modern, contemporary office space located behind a retained facade that continues to blend into the urban surroundings. Crittall’s range of windows has allowed this to be achieved due to the trademark narrow slimline profiles, which allow more glass to be used in an aesthetic capacity without compromising the inherent strength and performance of the windows. Moreover, the unobtrusive appearance of the profiles allows the architectural value of the original structure to be clearly visible by all those who pass by in the City.</p> <p><a href='http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2011-01-20/GFmszBiaikbCryrwmlvFJqasdqjAuhxynHFkdwvvioiqGrtbBqxEpeyusiny/Gresham_Street.jpg.scaled1000.jpg'><img src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2011-01-20/GFmszBiaikbCryrwmlvFJqasdqjAuhxynHFkdwvvioiqGrtbBqxEpeyusiny/Gresham_Street.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="500" height="671"/></a> </p> <p style="font-size: 10px;"> <a href="http://posterous.com">Posted via email</a> from <a href="http://johnkeleher.posterous.com/crittall-windows-retain-the-city-character">John's Posterous</a> </p> </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116224179052381815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5778334197506279385.post-84787407545005488922010-06-20T17:07:00.001+01:002013-09-25T11:12:21.242+01:00Steel Windows Then and Now<div class="posterous_autopost">
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Ask most people in the United Kingdom about steel windows, and they will talk about the ubiquitous, mass-produced standard metal window. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">A much smaller number will mention the use of the Universal Casement in the inspirational designs created by the world’s foremost architects. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2010-06-20/grfqobFFxzHGHmxuFHFDchAnqxJroEbcqJbjjccFInnkHpvizHoBzzvyhIxt/fallingwater-831x624.jpg.scaled1000.jpg"><img height="375" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2010-06-20/grfqobFFxzHGHmxuFHFDchAnqxJroEbcqJbjjccFInnkHpvizHoBzzvyhIxt/fallingwater-831x624.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="500" /></a> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;">Steel windows were used by Frank Lloyd Wright at Fallingwater, regarded by many as his masterpiece.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2010-06-20/jbDJlrfysvsteIrwbIpsnrCbyJraHgHruwnbnrcwJeiubJtzjbHdhexelrtx/peace_palace.png.scaled1000.png"><img height="295" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2010-06-20/jbDJlrfysvsteIrwbIpsnrCbyJraHgHruwnbnrcwJeiubJtzjbHdhexelrtx/peace_palace.png.scaled500.png" width="500" /></a> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;">Louis Cordonnier’s Peace Palace in The Hague</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;">Albert Kahn’s General Motors Building, Detroit</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Even fewer will talk of the architectural movements which were made possible because of the essential characteristics of steel windows.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2010-06-20/AipygBoqEhHtjyCECmyrEcndmabvFDvseIGtgDksEFIEsaBhFagIbCDqEFaJ/bauhaus02.jpg.scaled1000.jpg"><img height="335" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2010-06-20/AipygBoqEhHtjyCECmyrEcndmabvFDvseIGtgDksEFIEsaBhFagIbCDqEFaJ/bauhaus02.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="500" /></a> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;">Inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright, Walter Gropius founded the Bauhaus (House of Building), one of the most influential architecture and design schools of the 20th century.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2010-06-20/fooHmIgfoxEJytehwFqkCzaAGofafxeFDmgubsnFAyJICiFouuvcvfrriDhu/Hoover_Building_Perivale.jpg.scaled1000.jpg"><img height="375" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2010-06-20/fooHmIgfoxEJytehwFqkCzaAGofafxeFDmgubsnFAyJICiFouuvcvfrriDhu/Hoover_Building_Perivale.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="500" /></a> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;">The Hoover Building a Showpiece Art Deco Design in Perivale, Middlesex</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">My love affair with steel windows, and, with that, a dislike of inappropriate refurbishment, started very early in life. I was brought up in a row of imposing, large, Victorian semi detached houses, in a North Western town. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">At the end of the row, the local coal merchant had built himself an art deco villa, with flat roof, white rendered walls, and sweeping curved corners. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;">A Typical Art Deco Villa</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Eventually I went away to university, and started working in London. Then, on a visit home, I was horrified to find that it had been split into two houses, and the new owners had modernized it. One half of the flat roof was now pitched, the render on the other half had been replaced by pebbledash, and, worst of all, the curved steel windows had been replaced by facetted plastic. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">What do you think?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;">Side view Courtesy Google Street View</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">So, how did a blacksmith’s shop in a small market town in North Essex become the world leader in window manufacture, with manufacturing plants on five continents?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Metal windows had been used since Tudor times. The Elizabethan casement glazed with leaded lights was an architectural feature unique to Britain. Glass was so expensive in Britain that people took great care to ensure that the frames were strong. They were very popular as nearly every village had a skilled blacksmith who could manufacture them, but very few had skilled joiners to provide an alternative in timber.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> <img height="208" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2010-06-20/awzgmndFgnGlrfslhvJyBezmBpqcahcgqIbmqoqficbnGFnrEdbjhGaoIjho/Elaizabethan_Casement.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="179" /> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;">Elizabethan Casement</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">With the advent of Palladio and Wren’s architectural styles, coupled with improvements in the glass manufacturing process, the fashion for larger, more dignified house building, with corresponding larger windows, grew. The double-hung wooden sash window became the window of choice for the discerning homeowner.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;">The Courts, Holt, Wiltshire</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">However, there was some dissatisfaction with timber sash windows. Complaints ranged from broken sash cords, warped sashes, and sticking, shrinking or rattling.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Crittall’s had been manufacturing metal windows for agricultural buildings, and churches using wrought iron, bronze, and increasingly with mild steel. With the attitude that epitomizes the spirit of the Victorian age, Francis Henry Crittall, with his team of skilled craftsmen, set out to develop an engineered window, made of metal, which would overcome all of the problems of the wooden sash. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">At the same time, a number of companies around the country were manufacturing metal windows. Wragge’s of Manchester were the pioneers; they were soon joined by Wenham & Walters, Williams & Williams, Hopes, and Burt & Potts.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Improvements in machine tools allowed the first change made to the design, which was the introduction of rudimentary dovetail joints for corners rather than brazing, which resulted in a considerably stronger and more reliable product than before.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Despite the improvements in the steel windows, they were not readily accepted in the residential market. However, in other sectors, the new windows were extremely popular. Projects included the National Gallery, Harrow School, the Royal College of Music, and the Public Records Office. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The next major development in the design of steel windows was the fenestra joint, which, because of its strength, allowed slimmer glazing bars, and therefore more daylight through the windows.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">In 1909 following</span><span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> rationalisation</span><span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> work carried out by Walter “Pink” Crittall, the Universal Ranges of steel sections were launched which allowed improvements in the manufacturing process, with the result that consistent manufacture of steel windows could be achieved by semi-skilled workers, rather than skilled craftsmen as previously.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> <img height="428" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2010-06-20/ofjgAnjrIrwwzhEpihBIuqjwqADcagpjpoorfmrtjofoHoooyHvcssznnBmq/1911_Catalogue.png.scaled500.png" width="337" /> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;">Cover of the 1911 Crittall Catalogue</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Further innovations followed, including the welding of corners, hydraulic straightening of bars, and a dual strike plate for handles to allow night-time ventilation with no loss of security.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">This all resulted in a better performing window, at a lower cost. However, the Universal Casement was still a luxury product at a premium price.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The First World War proved to be a turning point for the steel windows industry as a whole. Factories were turned over to the manufacture of munitions, and many lessons were learnt which would be adopted in the immediate post war era.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">At the time, steel windows were still more expensive than their timber counterparts. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">This was about to change. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Productivity improvements that could be gained as a result of standardisation, was the first lesson put into practice. Crittall’s closest rivals, Henry Hope, proposed the adoption of a standard design, to help the steel window industry compete to supply windows for the 200,000 new homes promised to be built by the UK government in 1919.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">A new, light, profile was designed to act as a mullion which would allow composite units to be built. Following long discussions with architects, standard units were designed, which matched the current brick sizes, and suited the height of the modern room.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The first project which used these ‘cottage windows’ was for the Admiralty in Chepstow. A typical window was sold for £1.95 including fittings which was a few pennies cheaper than the equivalent timber window without fittings. Further work was carried out for Bristol Corporation, which had a massive building programme for the post war years. The increased volume saw even further cost reductions.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> <img height="438" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2010-06-20/tIHhBGnxsnBGJriEHawlmikACADciCAosaJdjmhujxEdmisnrufctBkolfgu/cottage_window.png.scaled500.png" width="337" /> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;">Crittall Brochure for The Cottage Window</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">In 1920, following much canvassing by Valentine Crittall (later Lord Braintree), the Ministry of Health, at that time responsible for government housing specifications, agreed to include the standard cottage window in its plans for housing schemes. From then on, it was used in almost every housing scheme throughout Britain up until the 1980s.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The success of the steel window is due, in no small part, to the continuous improvement in product, and manufacturing processes. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Further innovations followed which include the development of a comprehensive range of standard metal windows, zincspra, and subsequently, hot-dipped galvanizing, to protect the steel frames, and the Duralife polyester powder coating to provide an enameled finish to the windows. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Performance improvements have been achieved by modified profiles to incorporate double glazed units, and improved weatherproofing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Today, the steel window is no longer a high volume product in mass production. As a result, there are cheaper alternatives available. But, you get what you pay for. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Today’s homeowners’ decisions on refurbishment incorporate take into account energy performance and sustainability of the materials used. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The thermal performance of the modern replica steel window has been tested and proven to be 400% more efficient than the original single-glazed window.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Steel is the most recycled material in the world (source: <a href="http://www.sustainablesteel.org/">http://www.sustainablesteel.org</a>). The mild steel which goes to make today’s steel window frames contains 98% recycled material.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">In March this year, a West London homeowner was refused planning permission to replace his Crittall steel windows with aluminium units, on the basis that modern, double-glazed steel windows were readily available. (source: Planning Magazine)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">In North America, the steel window is seen much more as an</span><span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> aspirational</span><span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> product, as can be seen by the images and comments at this popular North American interior design blog, appropriately named </span><a href="http://www.thingsthatinspire.net/2009/06/steel-windows.html"><span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Things That Inspire</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> The</span><span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> Crittall</span><span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> Windows’ North American residential customer list reads like a Who’s Who of successful businessmen, politicians, and entertainers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Crittall Windows are so successful in North America that in April this year, it was announced that they had won the coveted Queens Award for Enterprise in International Markets. This British-owned, independent company, the largest supplier of steel windows in Europe, is now the No 2 supplier of steel windows to the North American market having built a distribution network from scratch following a management by out in 2004.</span></div>
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<a href="http://posterous.com/">Posted via email</a> from <a href="http://johnkeleher.posterous.com/steel-windows-then-and-now">John's Posterous</a> </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116224179052381815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5778334197506279385.post-34349880977360926032010-05-13T09:48:00.002+01:002010-05-13T10:18:57.579+01:00BBC Report on Crittall Windows Winning Queen's Award for Enterprise<object width="500" height="405"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/d5ChJt8P5Tg&hl=en_GB&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x2b405b&color2=0x6b8ab6&border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/d5ChJt8P5Tg&hl=en_GB&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x2b405b&color2=0x6b8ab6&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="500" height="405"></embed></object>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116224179052381815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5778334197506279385.post-87489900306890701392010-04-21T08:15:00.001+01:002010-04-21T08:15:24.675+01:00Crittall Windows scoops Queen’s Award<div class='posterous_autopost'><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The last six years have been hectic for Britain’s oldest manufacturer of steel-framed windows but the outcome has been well worth it. Crittall Windows has been awarded a Queen’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade for successfully attacking overseas markets, particularly in the USA.</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">“This is in effect an award for excellence in how we have gone about our business.” says Managing Director John Pyatt. Everything is taken into account – employment practices, environmental policy, and our work with the local community – as well as our export achievements.”</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">These achievements are underlined by a significant increase in export earnings from the notoriously protective US market where Crittall windows is now the second largest steel window company operating, despite not maintaining a permanent office in the States.</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Established in Braintree, Essex in 1849 and trading as The Crittall Manufacturing Company from1924 until the mid 1970’s, when it became Crittall Windows Ltd, the Essex-based company has undergone major changes since the year 2000. Crittall Windows underwent a management buy-out in 2004 led by John Pyatt. “We acquired the business from its American owners and the existing US distribution network disappeared overnight,” he says.</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">“We have had to re-establish a whole distribution network in the US in order to get where we are today. Then, in 2007 we moved to a brand new factory.” This involved shifting the machines, processes and some 200 employees from Braintree to Witham to recently-built industrial premises of which Crittall was the first occupant. </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The pre-recession move gave the company a state-of-the-art facility from which to run its operations in both the UK and abroad. “We continue to be the number one steel window company in the UK across a very broad spectrum of markets “says John Pyatt, noting that the recovery in Britain is a very fragile one. By contrast, in the US the economy is beginning to pick up strongly. “Things were quiet there last year but now we are seeing a swift improvement,” he says.</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The sort of projects in which Crittall Windows are specified across the pond include high end luxury housing and apartment blocks such as 300 Central Park West in New York. Also in the Big Apple is the prestigious Crosby Street Hotel. Then there are the Ivy League universities of Princeton and Yale. There are, says John Pyatt, several opportunities now in other universities and public sector buildings.</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The recovery in the US market and Crittall Windows’ success in tapping into it is demonstrated by a significant increase in export sales in the first few months of this year. </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Meanwhile in the UK the firm has remained strong in the heritage market plus the school and university sector through the Building Schools for the Future programme. “Clients and contractors are moving projects around to get best value. They are constantly reviewing technical specifications. Everyone has to win jobs on tighter margins,” he says. </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The principal difference between overseas markets and the UK is that in the UK Crittall fulfil the roles of designer, manufacturer, glazier and installer, whilst for overseas contracts Crittall acts as designer and supplies only the frames to the local glazier.</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Recent prestige projects in the UK include the University of Sussex, Grade 2 listed Lichfield Court in Richmond upon Thames, and the restored and refurbished Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon. </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The citation for the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade makes reference to the company’s employment practices, its quality control, its health and safety record and its green credentials. John Pyatt pays tribute to his loyal and hard working employees, one in ten of whom has served the company for more than 40 years. </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">“We feel proud and honoured to be recognised by the Queen’s Award for our work and success in the overseas market.” he says. “America can be seen as one of the hardest markets to compete in and this accolade is the culmination of Crittall’s long history showing how a professionally-managed private company with an excellent product, a strong brand and an enthusiastic workforce can take on the Americans at their own game.”</span></span></p> <p style="font-size: 10px;"> <a href="http://posterous.com">Posted via web</a> from <a href="http://johnkeleher.posterous.com/crittall-windows-scoops-queens-award">John's Posterous</a> </p> </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116224179052381815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5778334197506279385.post-8299149855828094292010-03-26T10:45:00.001+00:002010-03-26T10:45:07.531+00:00West London Planners Refuse Appeal to Replace Steel Windows With Aluminium<div class='posterous_autopost'> <div><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Further to my <a href="http://johnkeleher.posterous.com/is-another-art-deco-masterpiece-going-to-suff"> previous post </a> about Du Cane Court, and the effect that the proposed replacement of the original steel windows with aluminium, I found this article in Planning Magazine.</span></div> <p><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> </span></p> <p /> <p><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> </span></p> <div><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><strong>DC Casebook: Householder Development - Window loss blocked in conservation area</strong></span></span></div> <p><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> </span></p> <p /> <p><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></p> <p /> <p><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></p> <div><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Householder development</span></span></div> <p><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></p> <p /> <p><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></p> <div><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Planning, 12 March 2010</span></span></div> <p><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></p> <p /> <p><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></p> <div><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><strong>The owner of a semi-detached house in west London has been refused permission to replace three Crittall metal windows with aluminium windows on the grounds that it would harm the character and appearance of a conservation area.</strong></span></span></div> <p><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></p> <p /> <p><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></p> <div><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The inspector found an interesting mix of architectural styles on the estate, where much of the housing was influenced by the modern movement. A local design guide stated that a curved, streamlined shape, as exemplified by Crittall windows, was a feature of many houses. It identified the loss of traditional fenestration as a key factor in the deterioration of the area's special character.</span></span></div> <p><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></p> <p /> <p><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></p> <div><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">An article 4 direction restricting permitted development rights reflected the council's strict policy stance on unsympathetic development. The inspector agreed that the proposed replacement windows could not replicate the distinctive curves. The proposal would be contrary to development plan policy requiring schemes to have regard to their historic and architectural context, he ruled.</span></span></div> <p><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></p> <p /> <p><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></p> <div><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The appellant complained that curved doubleglazed windows were not readily available. The inspector pointed to the design guide's advice that double glazing could be provided by secondary glazing and that modern double-glazed Crittall windows can be obtained as direct replacements.</span></span></div> <p><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></p> <p /> <p><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></p> <div><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">DCS Number 100-066-469</span></span></div> <p><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></p> <p /> <p><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></p> <div><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Inspector Mike Fox; Written representations</span></span></div> <p><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> </span></p> <p /> <p><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> </span></p> <p /> <p><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> </span></p> <p /> <p><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> </span></p> <div><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;">The key phrase for me is "It identified the loss of traditional fenestration as a key factor in the deterioration of the area's special character."</span></div> <p><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></p> <div><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Why is it that one local authority in London can take one view, and a neighbouring one take the complete opposite. Is preservation of our architectural heritage subject to post code lottery now?</span></div> <p style="font-size: 10px;"> <a href="http://posterous.com">Posted via email</a> from <a href="http://johnkeleher.posterous.com/west-london-planners-refuse-appeal-to-replace">John's Posterous</a> </p> </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116224179052381815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5778334197506279385.post-56576185264316156942010-03-25T20:59:00.001+00:002010-03-25T20:59:41.025+00:00Is another Art Deco Masterpiece Going To Suffer Inappropriate Refurbishment?
<div class='posterous_autopost'> I heard some disturbing news today.<p /> In Balham, South London, stands a grand Art Deco apartment block called Du Cane Court.<p /> <a href='http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/johnkeleher/6NdfinKen45BYtYdNHLW484akTMPG1QzK5k9sPF6xY1YYXj292d4vmcOtW7A/ducanecourt3.jpg.scaled.1000.jpg'><img src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/johnkeleher/TCgzzqMW96UM3SIvJbkZwkhqeYEb8r1XK0WSugGE9N4ZYNS1lfYDJJznfJs5/ducanecourt3.jpg.scaled.500.jpg" width="500" height="375"/></a> <p /> Its <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Du_Cane_Court">Wikipedia</a> entry states it is, "A distinctive local landmark, it was opened in 1937 and, with 676 apartments, is the largest privately owned block of flats under one roof in Europe. It is so distinctive (at least from a great height in the air) that it was reputedly used as a navigational landmark by German pilots bombing London during <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II" title="World War II"></a>the Second World War"<p /> <a href='http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/johnkeleher/7FWkfajofFZdIM6gnFUV8XsR7Zlq0qy4RtjrsAY8BVv7msxfu1OQTrFHOJG9/ducanecourt2.jpg.scaled.1000.jpg'><img src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/johnkeleher/1o92Mo475VXty99fjvoC8NO4M4PxhFuwbl1A95LCJ5NgYew6evYoreOfPR1r/ducanecourt2.jpg.scaled.500.jpg" width="500" height="358"/></a> <p /> Further, it claims, "It is widely believed (particularly in Balham) that Du Cane Court was to be the chosen seat of government for Hitler's invasion should his armies successfully conquer the British, though no documentary evidence exists to prove this theory."<p /> There is a proposed refurbishment of this building to include replacement of the original steel windows. Following consultation with local planners, it has been proposed to replace the steel windows with Aluminium, using mock glazing bars instead of true divided lights.<p /> <img src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/johnkeleher/YCCiDHGgcSYNaacExtubpZVuXhbkwydcSBt0Eoks1j438cntW3njlo7GFphi/georgian_1_big.jpg" width="500" height="332"/> <p /> English Heritage state "Window openings and frames establish the character of a building's elevation. They should not generally be altered in their proportions or details, as they are conspicuous elements of the design."<p /> <a href='http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/johnkeleher/1UEDWoPryzuJ8rX0cexZUbNVloTzNYhdDSbTGleeNSyX4fbIXZwD1EDcaUHf/ducanecourt4.jpg.scaled.1000.jpg'><img src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/johnkeleher/o4j5rlizMmmxvW5Pt4P94ITmZVtOVhpeVqiuMupn0JMR2LnidUtl61Lg0plH/ducanecourt4.jpg.scaled.500.jpg" width="500" height="375"/></a> <p /> <a href="http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/nav.2">English Heritage</a> state "Window openings and frames establish the character of a building's elevation. They should not generally be altered in their proportions or details, as they are conspicuous elements of the design."<p /> Last year, a similar Art Deco apartment building in Richmond, West London, carried out a similar refurbishment, and decided to replace their original steel windows with modern, double-glazed replicas from the original manufacturers. The project team and residents of Lichfield Court were so happy with the outcome, that they issued a brocure which is available <a href="http://www.crittall-windows.co.uk/download.asp?id=99">here</a> in PDF format.<p /> <img src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/johnkeleher/Xc8GRQO1s1xqN3iriEnpMz3RA8ltN22eaYEgY4dFfjFa59KFIZWTZmbTj3Jn/lichfield.jpg" width="309" height="577"/> <p /> To rub salt into the wound, Crittall Windows, suppliers of the original steel windows, have been asked to quote to supply the aluminium replacements. That's a bit like asking Michelangelo how much he'd charge to paint the Sistine Chapel ceiling in white emulsion.<p /> Let's hope it's not too late to stop a totally insensitive refurbishment of part of our architectural heritage. <p style="font-size: 10px;"> <a href="http://posterous.com">Posted via email</a> from <a href="http://johnkeleher.posterous.com/is-another-art-deco-masterpiece-going-to-suff">John's Posterous</a> </p> </div> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116224179052381815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5778334197506279385.post-30121762053289484442010-03-15T21:12:00.001+00:002010-03-15T21:12:28.103+00:00Braintree’s Living Landscapes unveils new bench in Town Centre – to celebrate Crittall Manufacturing Company
<div class='posterous_autopost'> <p style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 6pt;"><span style="line-height: 150%; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">A unique steel, circular bench which celebrates the role of Crittall’s Windows in the life of Braintree, has been unveiled in the town.</span></p> <p style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 6pt;"><span style="line-height: 150%; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></p> <p style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 6pt;"><span style="line-height: 150%; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">The bench, especially commissioned by Braintree Local Committee’s Living Landscapes Project to surround a newly planted semi-mature London plane tree, was officially unveiled on Friday 12<sup>th</sup> February by special guest, The Hon Mrs Valentine Richardson - the only surviving daughter of the late Valentine G Crittall, who became Lord Braintree and was a former Chairman of the Crittall Manufacturing Company.</span></p> <p style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 6pt;"><span style="line-height: 150%; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></p> <p style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 6pt;"><span style="line-height: 150%; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">The bench, created by Essex artist Tim Ward, is inspired by the distinctive forms of Crittall windows and incorporates colour plates of images reproduced from the Crittall archive at Braintree Museum.</span></p> <p style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 6pt;"><span style="line-height: 150%; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></p> <p style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 6pt;"><span style="line-height: 150%; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">At the unveiling, Hon Mrs Valentine Richardson said:”I wouldn’t have missed this for anything. I love the bench - its clean and simple design is really attractive. This has been a really special occasion.”</span></p> <p style="margin-top: 6pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></p> <p style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 6pt;"><span style="line-height: 150%; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">The new bench and tree planting were made possible thanks to Braintree District Council’s Braintree Local Committee which established the Living Landscapes project to introduce new tree planting and associated benefits into the town. </span></p> <p style="margin-top: 6pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></p> <p style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 6pt;"><b><span style="line-height: 150%; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold;">Cllr Wendy Schmitt, Chairman of Living Landscapes</span></b><span style="line-height: 150%; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"> “</span><span style="line-height: 150%; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Tree planting and environmental improvements are the things that the local people of Braintree most supported at our public meetings. So this is great news for the town – we know that trees can boost the ‘feel good’ factor of a town, appealing to shoppers, visitors and traders alike.</span></p> <p style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">“Not only do people love to see trees in towns, they help off-set the effects of climate change too, by creating shady areas for visitors and shoppers, making streets and buildings cooler in summer, </span><span style="line-height: 150%; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">cleaning the air we breathe and helping to reduce wind speeds.” </span></p> <p style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">To plant the London plane tree, Stewart Landscape Construction used specialist urban planting techniques including ‘root cells’ which provide an adequate rooting area without impacting on paving and nearby properties</span></p> <p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></p> <p style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Braintree District Council’s Landscape Services team is managing the Living Landscape project which set aside funds from Local Area Committee and Essex County Council to achieve a number of green initiatives. Work to date has included planting new trees along Pierrefitte Way to create a ‘green gateway’ into the town; traditionally managing woodland at Kings Wood at Marks Farm; improving local green spaces and planting new plane trees in Braintree town centre. Work continues this spring with more tree planting and new seating at Great Square. </span></p> <p><a href='http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/johnkeleher/Im0pWPTx2b05Xm0aRkAeLFyQAXJClFeTrkjvoqpgCNe60bNOyy9vJrG9Qvvr/SMALL_Unveiling_of_the_new_ben.jpg.scaled.1000.jpg'><img src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/johnkeleher/7qyurpzIlhXAX7DPnpdYkGSarpBgMcyy2jb5Pq9YhWrVYRJTd1BQiAcuEnlm/SMALL_Unveiling_of_the_new_ben.jpg.scaled.500.jpg" width="500" height="359"/></a> <a href='http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/johnkeleher/FP8VQlaX2wD4Q17vdinGgb13Kjut8HkYzejn0LHoOnz574fuCV0uQBwU86dH/Detail_of_the_Crittall_bench_S.jpg.scaled.1000.jpg'><img src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/johnkeleher/BsjAJsN5zKOiF9rFq3w8i6HIlyYJvXSQXDUkAKXnF0q3RB7F3IMX5rsT7qkh/Detail_of_the_Crittall_bench_S.jpg.scaled.500.jpg" width="500" height="750"/></a> <a href='http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/johnkeleher/Xg40kZDeBc7Ohu6BSjQqBbQAjmQ60azWeoJfX6XUmFaYbap8fpNp1ybGnBZi/SMALL_L-R_Tim_Ward_Valentine_R.jpg'><img src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/johnkeleher/6gKC3lRsmfD3AMimuD7cOwf6SenVAZPbhQLz5vA9yYURMEtzIWuJuxHhQNgN/SMALL_L-R_Tim_Ward_Valentine_R.jpg.scaled.500.jpg" width="500" height="649"/></a> <a href='http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/johnkeleher/1sw8dCnHNxwzAS8DWuivICtepMeUb3fx69ZNwDBUwxo6WmQa3L5YOZ2roA31/SMALL_The_new_bench_in_Little_.jpg.scaled.1000.jpg'><img src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/johnkeleher/THK0b0RiDD6dgitL38tstbg68qOn5oFh0gz0RGK6bPEfR1wb3Q0LIMGowv19/SMALL_The_new_bench_in_Little_.jpg.scaled.500.jpg" width="500" height="750"/></a> <div><a href='http://johnkeleher.posterous.com/braintrees-living-landscapes-unveils-new-benc'>See and download the full gallery on posterous</a></div></p> <p style="font-size: 10px;"> <a href="http://posterous.com">Posted via email</a> from <a href="http://johnkeleher.posterous.com/braintrees-living-landscapes-unveils-new-benc">John's Posterous</a> </p> </div> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116224179052381815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5778334197506279385.post-58529310349459343072010-02-02T08:52:00.001+00:002010-02-02T08:52:26.804+00:00How Essex CC build a path through a council estate, and a private estate
<div class='posterous_autopost'> <p>Over the last 4 months, Essex County Council have been widening and extending an existing footpath that runs alongside Salary Brook Local Nature Reserve from the Greenstead (“magic”) Roundabout to The Beehive pub on Bromley Road, a distance of about 2 miles.</p> <p></p> <p>On Sunday, I walked the length of it with the dogs, and was surprised, and disappointed, to see the different ways that the contractors had treated the land alongside the new path. Here are some pictures:</p> <p></p> <p><a href='http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/johnkeleher/PjB5m6QpQcck7t9niEJhA9QkkULJ84NsDS0ZhnEUbSnFOLSWAJv4gZEaQQu8/image001.jpg.scaled.1000.jpg'><img src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/johnkeleher/IbYEG0R5wu36F7Ai8mQESSh5i4funst324jNTX6Y2bP0aspSOGCsyzLf1jSR/image001.jpg.scaled.500.jpg" width="500" height="375"/></a> </p> <p></p> <p>This is the path as it runs through a green area in Longridge Park, an estate of privately owned houses.</p> <p></p> <p><a href='http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/johnkeleher/DLaYEvOd47vy6xslxCE9FNuHCtLO1cTFgQmZRPGqzdeFbnfWNVSDfgomQPWw/image002.jpg.scaled.1000.jpg'><img src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/johnkeleher/G3CDIW8xSWMsSp8tz4NTifJxtzCPKi7GYxm7CG2n369j3Ahjj864RERUiiOV/image002.jpg.scaled.500.jpg" width="500" height="375"/></a> </p> <p></p> <p>This is the path running behind a council estate, approaching a children’s play area, which is heavily used.</p> <p></p> <p><a href='http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/johnkeleher/5ShmOB6nI771TaWbDfItcQBkry4aUPff3JJjHK5xHuwp9T66dpgYy8ES8LUD/image003.jpg.scaled.1000.jpg'><img src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/johnkeleher/FlXTsoGvHnXYF6EdqyhBvHptPAtVsANoMNzELKoIdTw9zjI8j4CxqwTgVXds/image003.jpg.scaled.500.jpg" width="500" height="375"/></a> </p> <p></p> <p>This is the grassed area leading down to the children’s play area.</p> <p></p> <p><a href='http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/johnkeleher/rqDD3l3cCA6wetECRx4oJHsSai8bSccTwxUC8HkwtktvncNnyE6m0jjyfmzH/image004.jpg.scaled.1000.jpg'><img src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/johnkeleher/NCuy57T7tk1bWO2s24mQ8h0vCRUFts223kiJ6uZQsi6eyj1bWMOI3fqK3JUC/image004.jpg.scaled.500.jpg" width="500" height="375"/></a> </p> <p></p> <p>This is a new section of path, through a previously fenced off, grassed area which was safe for smaller children to play, and was used in Summer for community barbecues.</p> <p></p> <p><a href='http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/johnkeleher/Qbu7xeiuKJ56ItEEBgTS6dx6GUjBCEegaBU5SlP3FrsxuhgfLnK7mcGIG3lU/image005.jpg.scaled.1000.jpg'><img src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/johnkeleher/JOla5V4uMAL9hssEiBarmHYeDmmwiN0pg4yUY0zvEJDlDtr7YWD91oFKZO8N/image005.jpg.scaled.500.jpg" width="500" height="375"/></a> </p> <p></p> <p>This is the section of the nature reserve that they used to get from one section of the path they were working on to another.</p> <p></p> <p>I know that over time the land will recover, but the question I have to ask is, why treat the path through the private estate with so much more care than through the council estate? The only people I ever see on the green area have been dog walkers, whereas the other areas are well used by the residents.</p> <p style="font-size: 10px;"> <a href="http://posterous.com">Posted via email</a> from <a href="http://johnkeleher.posterous.com/how-essex-cc-build-a-path-through-a-council-e">John's Posterous</a> </p> </div> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116224179052381815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5778334197506279385.post-62826520642875855022010-01-06T19:42:00.001+00:002010-01-06T19:42:16.323+00:00Steel Windows Cause Condensation Don't They? - No They Don't
<p>This morning, during a conversation on Twitter about Crittall Windows, I was asked, "<span class="status-body"><span class="entry-content">are they still made of metal? coz metal windows tend to cause condensation."</span></span></p> <p><span class="status-body"><span class="entry-content">My reply was to point to the article on condensation on the <a href="http://crittall-windows.co.uk">Crittall</a> website that I had written.</span></span></p> <p><br />I decided to republish it here, with some updates.</p> <p>Steel windows have a reputation of creating condensation. However, this is a fallacy. Condensation will appear on any single-glazed window. The paragraphs below explain what creates the conditions for condensation.</p> <p><strong>Condensation Explained</strong><p />Condensation occurs where humid air comes into contact with air, or a surface, which is at a lower temperature.<p />Air contains water vapour. The warmer the air, the greater is its capacity for carrying water vapour. When warm, moist air comes into contact with a cooler surface, or cooler air, it drops in temperature, and loses some of its capacity for storing moisture, so some of it is released to form condensation in the air, as steam, or on the surface, as water droplets.<p />We usually observe condensation on surfaces that cannot absorb liquid, e.g. windows, ceramic tiles etc, but it can form on any surface, and it may not be noticeable until mould appears, or the material starts to rot.<p /><strong>Where Does The Moisture Come From</strong><p />Day-to-day human activities generate warm, moist air. An average family can generate as much as 10 litres of moisture without really trying:<p /> * Breathing,<br /> * Cooking,<br /> * Personal Hygiene,<br /> * Laundry<p />In winter, the moisture content can be increased because of heating, which can also generate moisture, as well as increase the capacity of the air to carry water vapour.<p />Moisture can also be drawn from the fabric of the building itself, where faults have developed because of, for example, a failed or missing damp proof course, or damaged drainage systems.</p> <p><br /><strong>Reducing Condensation</strong><p />The most effective ways to reduce condensation are:<p />1. Check and repair the structure of the building,<p />2. Reduce the moisture content of the air, by:<p /> * After a bath or shower, open a window to the outside, and close the bathroom door.<br /> * Where possible, dry washing outside, where not possible, ensure a window is open to provide ventilation to the outside.<br /> * Add powered ventilation/extraction to areas which generate high levels of moisture e.g. kitchen, bathroom etc.<p />3. Provide good ventilation, to increase the circulation of air.</p> <p>4. Replacing old single-glazed windows with modern double or triple glazed-units will reduce the appearance of condensation on the glass. However, the moisture in the air is likely to condense somewhere else, quite often behind furniture, or in cupboards. I have also seen complaints about condensation appearing on the <a href="http://renegadeconservatoryguy.co.uk/a-rated-windows-problem/">OUTSIDE of A-Rated windows</a>, which is just as unsightly. <p />It is highly unlikely that a house will ever become condensation-free, but by ensuring the building is maintained in good condition, and by adopting relatively minor changes to lifestyle then it can be reduced.</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p style="font-size: 10px;"> <a href="http://posterous.com">Posted via web</a> from <a href="http://johnkeleher.posterous.com/steel-windows-cause-condensation-dont-they-no">John's Posterous</a> </p> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116224179052381815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5778334197506279385.post-32494698321636896002009-08-11T14:21:00.022+01:002009-08-13T15:33:48.686+01:00Celebrity Endorsement v ISO 9001 Certfication<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.davidharper-tv.co.uk/prods/pc8.html"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 320px; float: left; height: 320px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368696737174871874" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_P6O72cy3jZo/SoFxPOYbX0I/AAAAAAAAAC8/kIhMUVsWxCU/s320/dharper.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Wingdings; panose-1:5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0; mso-font-charset:2; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:0 268435456 0 0 -2147483648 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} p.MsoTitle, li.MsoTitle, div.MsoTitle {margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:center; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; font-weight:bold;} p.MsoBodyText, li.MsoBodyText, div.MsoBodyText {margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:justify; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Arial; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {color:blue; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {color:purple; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} @page Section1 {size:612.0pt 792.0pt; margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt; mso-header-margin:36.0pt; mso-footer-margin:36.0pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} /* List Definitions */ @list l0 {mso-list-id:553928277; mso-list-type:hybrid; mso-list-template-ids:-866353740 67698695 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693;} @list l0:level1 {mso-level-number-format:bullet; mso-level-text:; mso-level-tab-stop:36.0pt; mso-level-number-position:left; text-indent:-18.0pt; mso-ansi-font-size:8.0pt; font-family:Wingdings;} @list l1 {mso-list-id:983659469; mso-list-type:hybrid; mso-list-template-ids:-1587128732 67698695 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693;} @list l1:level1 {mso-level-number-format:bullet; mso-level-text:; mso-level-tab-stop:36.0pt; mso-level-number-position:left; text-indent:-18.0pt; mso-ansi-font-size:8.0pt; font-family:Wingdings;} @list l2 {mso-list-id:1817722635; mso-list-type:hybrid; mso-list-template-ids:-866353740 67698703 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693;} @list l2:level1 {mso-level-tab-stop:36.0pt; mso-level-number-position:left; text-indent:-18.0pt;} ol {margin-bottom:0cm;} ul {margin-bottom:0cm;} --> </style><br /><p style="text-align: justify;font-family:times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Celebrity endorsement is a tried, and tested, method of promoting a product. It can give it a vene</span><span style="font-size:100%;">er of quality.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;font-family:times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;font-family:times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:0;"></span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;font-family:times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">A presenter of a television programme associated with the product</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> range can be regarded as a great find. They can lend an air of authority to the endorsement.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;font-family:times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"> </p><p style="text-align: justify;font-family:times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Of course, it is worth remembering, that many presenters get their role because they are good at presenting television programmes, not necessarily because of their in-depth knowledge of the subject.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;font-family:times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;font-family:times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">In a society that is obsessed with celebrity, fame is fickle. Life as a celebrity can be very short-lived. Which is why “PR gurus” like Max Clifford are employed to maximise the earning potential of their clients during the short period that the public are still interested in them.</span></p><p face="times new roman" style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p face="times new roman" style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Celebrity endorsements rarely come free of charge. They tend not to be unsolicited testimonials. In many instances, a PR agency will have actively promoted their client to obtain some kind of payment, in return for an endorsement, and may well be using an endorsement in the process of developing their client’s own brand. <a href="http://www.cmmol.net/celebrity_endorsement.htm">For example</a><br /><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;font-family:times new roman;" class="MsoNormal" >I am not anti celebrity endorsement. I believe that it is a perfectly valid form of promotion. It is just one, of the many tools, a company has, to promote their products. Who wouldn’t want to say “This is the exact same (<em><span style="font-size:85%;">insert product name here</span></em>) as (<em><span style="font-size:85%;">insert celebrity name here</span></em>) has in his/her house.”<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;font-family:times new roman;" class="MsoNormal" ><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal" face="times new roman">The key phrase in that last sentence is “exact same.”<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal" face="times new roman"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal" face="times new roman">How can I be sure that the widget that is in my house will be made to the same standard as the one in the celebrity’s? Any craftsman can make a special effort to produce a perfect, one-off, hand-built special. In a volume production environment, there has to be a system in place to ensure consistency in each of the processes that are carried out.<br /></p><p face="times new roman" style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p face="times new roman" style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">ISO 9001 is one of the most well known standards in the world. Together with ISO 14001, it has been implemented by more than a million organizations in 175 countries. (source: <a href="http://www.iso.org/iso/iso_catalogue/management_standards/iso_9000_iso_14000.htm">www.iso.org</a> <span style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">)</span><a href="http://www.iso.org%20%29/"><br /></a></p><p face="times new roman" style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: times new roman;" class="MsoNormal">According to the International Organization for Standardization, <span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" ><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><em>“The ISO 9000 family addresses ‘Quality Management.’ This means what the organization does to fulfil:</em> </p><ul style="font-style: italic;" face="times new roman"><li>The customer’s quality requirements, and</li><li>Applicable regulatory requirements, while aiming to</li><li>Enhance customer satisfaction, and</li><li>Achieve continual improvement of its performance in pursuit of these objectives”</li></ul><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" ><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" ><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal" face="times new roman"><span style="font-size:100%;">ISO 9001:2000 certification, and registration demonstrates to an organization’s customers, and suppliers that an it has successfully implemented a quality management system which adheres to the principles of the standard.</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" > </span><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: times new roman;" class="MsoNormal">Certification and Registration can only be achieved by successfully carrying out a series of audits by an independent, accredited body. The audits are carried out regularly, and cover all areas of the business, which affect the quality of the final product.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: times new roman;" class="MsoNormal">For the last 30 years, I have only worked for companies that were ISO 9001 or BS 5750 (its UK predecessor) certified. This has not been a conscious decision, but happened simply because, the kind of organization that achieves certification, is more likely to be one which can produce a genuinely better quality product, more consistently, than one that isn’t certified. As a result, it is more likely to be successful, in the long term, than one that isn’t.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: times new roman;" class="MsoNormal">Without certification, there is no nationally, or internationally recognised standard, by which I can measure the success of an organization’s quality management systems. So, an uncertified company has to rely on word-of-mouth, or create what appear to be, independent endorsements from nationally, or internationally, recognised celebrities, But which are, in the main, to all intents and purposes, a service which has been paid for.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: times new roman;" class="MsoNormal">How can I, as a consumer, be confident that a company will deliver a finished product, that meets my requirements, both aesthetically, and functionally, and will provide satisfactory customer service? The short answer for an uncertified company is that I can’t. Even if I have heard great things from someone who has a good experience with an uncertified company, how can I be sure that they will be consistently good? If they don’t have a quality management system in place, <span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">they</span></span> don’t even know what my experience will be.</p><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"></p><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_P6O72cy3jZo/SoF1tLaZokI/AAAAAAAAADU/kYByXBXb2gU/s1600-h/203.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 166px; float: left; height: 97px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368701649820426818" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_P6O72cy3jZo/SoF1tLaZokI/AAAAAAAAADU/kYByXBXb2gU/s320/203.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: times new roman;" class="MsoNormal">I have seen statements like, “manufactured to ISO 9001” on promotional material. But, without the approved ISO 9001 logo and certificate number, the statement is worthless.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: times new roman;" class="MsoNormal">If a company has a quality management system, which meets the requirements of ISO 9001, why not get certified?</p><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><a href="http://www.crittall-windows.co.uk/">Crittall Windows</a> is ISO 9001:2000 certified and registered. The company is currently working with BSI to achieve ISO 9001:2008 certification. The regular audits that are carried out cover all areas of the order process, from Site Survey and Design, through Manufacturing, and finally to on-site installation. </span><br /><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:10;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116224179052381815noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5778334197506279385.post-60509393628474178572009-08-06T16:02:00.004+01:002009-08-06T20:09:33.750+01:00How I use Twitter, and why I won't be following 30,000 people eitherThere have been a lot of comments today about <a href="http://twitter.com/markshaw">@MarkShaw</a> performing a mass un-follow of many of the > 30,000 "friends" he has built up on Twitter. I thought I'd add my point of view.<br /><br />Mark has been described as a Twitter guru, he offers advice to companies and individuals on how best to use Twitter.<br /><br />I'm sure his advice will have changed over the time he has been using Twitter. He says himself, he started with a policy of automatically following anyone who followed him.<br /><br />That may be a fine idea when you are trying to build a network of friends and followers, and trying to understand how people are using it. However, over time (if you are successfully using Twitter), as your reputation grows, your follower count will grow. If you autofollow, the stream of tweets that you are presented with each time you enter the site will become increasingly irrelevant, it will be difficult to engage with your network, and many of the benefits of Twitter will be lost to you.<br /><br />Of course, I want to promote my business using Twitter, but I try to achieve that by adding value to my followers, and those whom I'm following. No one is going to walk up to <a href="http://www.crittall-windows.co.uk">Crittall Windows'</a> reception and say, I was so impressed with John's tweets that I want to give you an order. I tweet links to news items, and to things I find of interest, I retweet requests for help, I engage in conversations about current issues, I enjoy some light banter, and where I have relevant knowledge or experience, I offer help and advice to anyone who needs it. In short, I am networking, as I would in the real world, but using a tool which provides me with the ability to reach more people, in a wider geographical area.<br /><br />I'm also trying desperately to win a year's free pies from <a href="http://twitter.com/hollandspies">@HollandsPies</a>!<br /><br />My objective is to build a network of people with common interests, from whom I can learn, and with whom I can share my experience. If I follow too many people, then that just wouldn't be possible.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116224179052381815noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5778334197506279385.post-35342459988277829802009-04-02T15:54:00.015+01:002009-05-28T14:42:35.996+01:00My Introduction to Steel Windows<div><div><div>I am the IT Manager at <a href="http://www.crittall-windows.co.uk/">Crittall Windows Ltd</a>, the UK's largest supplier of steel windows and doors.<br /><br />Although my job title is IT Manager, I have a responsibility as a manager of the business, as well as in my own particular specialization. This means that I need to understand the markets in which the company operates, and the products and services that the company provides to meet the demands of those markets.<br /><br />This blog will be drawn from my experience within Crittall Windows, and, of course, many of the examples I provide will be based on Crittall products and services. However, I will, wherever possible, give information from and about other suppliers to the market.<br /><br />Without realising it, I became a supporter of the steel window quite early in life. As a teenager, I was brought up in a town in the North West of England. We lived in a row of imposing Victorian semi-detached houses. At the end of the row was a typical 1930s modernist house with flat roof, white rendered walls, curved corners, and curved steel windows. It had always been a talking point, and, for some reason, I liked the fact that it was there.<br /><br />Eventually, of course, I moved away. I went to university, then worked in London. On one of my visits home, I was absolutely horrified to see that someone had, in my view, desecrated the house. The white render had been pebble-dashed, the flat roof was now a pitched roof, and the steel windows had been replaced with PVCu. The beautiful curved windows were now faceted with vast expanses of white plastic. The whole effect was to destroy the original design.<br /></div><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321303468899636002" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; height: 229px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_P6O72cy3jZo/SdkRT73REyI/AAAAAAAAABA/c0VTX0zQ3_0/s320/w20.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div></div><div>It's clear that some designs just don't "work" without the slim profiles of steel windows, and shapes that can be created. This is as true of some modern buildings, as it is of older ones. </div><div> </div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321302773799944786" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; height: 216px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_P6O72cy3jZo/SdkQrealglI/AAAAAAAAAA4/18PKWUypi0A/s320/wharf.jpg" border="0" /> A little later, it was brought home to me again, when I visited a friend who was renting a large detached 1920s Arts and Crafts-style house in West Sussex. As it was a rental property, it had not been updated by the owner, and still had the original single-glazed, standard metal windows. Next door was identical in design and layout, but was privately owned and had the original windows replaced by PVCu.<br /><br /><div>The contrast between the 2 houses, from the outside, was striking. The unadulterated house looked so much better, the PVCu windows seemed to completely dominate the whole elevation, whereas, the steel windows blended in to the building.<br /><br />Today, it is possible to replace original, single-glazed steel windows with a double-glazed replica with improved performance, which will maintain the integrity of the original design.</div></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116224179052381815noreply@blogger.com0