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Construction is crying out for high-quality and sustainable solutions. To achieve these types of solutions, partnerships and innovations are essential. Two recent tests illustrate this perfectly. The separate test tracks were conducted by the two renowned carpentry firms Plegt-Vos and Kozijnmakers, each in cooperation with sill manufacturer Ekosiet and hardware supplier Gretsch-Unitas Nederland (GU).
Although Plegt-Vos and Kozijnmakers operated independently, both parties took a similar approach: high-quality materials, reliable partners and a strong focus on performance. Where the need for best performance was the same, however, the path to it differed. Whereas Plegt-Vos chose as its solution a lift-slide element with a timber weight of 152 mm, Kozijnmakers opted for a timber weight of 139 mm. The different details called for two different solutions, in which GU took an active role with product advice, technical support as well as supplying a custom-made sealing solution and lift-slide hardware.
Important detail: two different GU sealing concepts were used, each tailored to the specific detailing and performance requirements of the respective lift-slide element. This approach highlights the power of customization and flexibility within the GU range. This same flexibility was also sought and found with the supplier of the lower sills: Ekosite.
Inseparable from the specific detailing of the lift-slide hardware is Ekosiet's corresponding lower sill. “We are increasingly seeing that our flexibility in detailing has performance-enhancing effects on the overall element,” says Hans Kroon, general manager of Ekosiet. “In order to arrive at these details, Ekosiet has also been involved in the process from the beginning. The center lock and seal in the lower lintel are crucial for a tight ele-ment.” Proper coordination between parties is essential in this. “We sparred with each other down to 3D detail to arrive at the best solution.”
The lift-slide elements were tested individually in GU Germany's accredited test room in accordance with standards EN-12207 (air permeability) and EN-12208 (water tightness). The test procedure consisted of:
- Mounting of the lift-slide element on an accredited test cabinet;
- Simulation of wind pressure and rain loads;
- Measurement of air loss (EN-12207) and control of water infiltration (EN-12208);
- Stepwise increase in pressure levels until limits are reached.
Both tests produced impressive results:
- EN-12207 - Class 4: maximum airtightness.
- EN-12208 - Class 9A: maximum resistance to water infiltration.
These achievements prove that the right combination of design, material selection and technical support leads to top-notch results - each individually, but with a shared goal: quality and reliability.
These tests are a great example of how knowledge sharing and co-creation with strong partners such as Ekosite and GU lead to concrete results with a solid foundation for the further application of high-quality lift-slide elements.
