'Valuable contribution to healthy indoor environment'

Mechanical window controls safeguard historic aesthetic Amsterdam gymnasium

For a healthy indoor climate in school buildings, good natural ventilation is essential. Window openers are indispensable in this regard. To guarantee optimum air quality in the monumental Barlaeus Gymnasium in Amsterdam, Teleflex from Tiel recently fitted 66 windows with high-quality mechanical window openers.

The Barlaeus Gymnasium, located on the Weteringschans, is one of the oldest schools in the Netherlands, founded in 1885 and named after the Dutch writer Casparus Barlaeus. The monumental building, designed in a classicist style, has a rich history and is an important part of Amsterdam's heritage.

At many windows, the manually operated window openers were in need of replacement. To ensure the historic aesthetics of the building, the gymnasium hereby opted again for such mechanical window controls; these are based on cables and tubes used to transmit pulling and pushing force from the control box to the window opener. 

Simple operation

Teleflex was commissioned to equip as many as 66 windows in the historic building with high-quality Teleflex Clearline mechanical window controls. "This involves both push-out windows and internal casement windows," says Teleflex BV operations manager Jesse Verheem. "Our range includes sets for windows with one pressure point or windows narrower than 1500 mm and sets for windows with two pressure points or windows wider than 1500 mm. In the case of the Barlaeus Gymnasium, incidentally, it was exclusively narrow windows. "With our mechanical window controls, windows can be easily opened and closed up to 25 cm by a simple turn of the handle. For adjoining windows, it is also possible to open two windows simultaneously with one lever; all with a view to optimum ease of operation."

Optimal ventilation

When it comes to the health of students and staff, educational institutions leave nothing to chance. Not for nothing has Teleflex had schools from all over the Netherlands as customers for many years. "Also at the Barlaeus Gymnasium, our mechanical window controls ensure optimal ventilation and a healthy indoor climate," Jesse knows. "Moreover, our window controls comply with SKG quality mark class 2, which is of great importance for burglar resistance and the conditions set by insurers for hardware."

Phased approach

The installation of the mechanical window controls by Teleflex's own mechanics took place in several stages. Jesse: "This was necessary because of course our work should not disrupt the daily educational practice. That's why we started the installation during the summer vacations and then completed the project completely during the Christmas vacations." The end result is quite impressive: thanks to the mechanical window controls, the historic aesthetics of the building have been preserved, while at the same time comfort and functionality for the users have been improved. "We are therefore proud to have been able to contribute to the preservation and modernization of this prestigious institute," said the operations manager. 

Wide application field

In addition to mechanical window controls, Teleflex also specializes in electric window controls. As part of the Railtechniek van Herwijnen Group, the company also manufactures and installs overhead conveyor systems around the world. Jesse: "Our broad field of application is further underlined by the fact that we are the official dealer in the Benelux of the Swiss top brand GIS, a leading manufacturer of electric chain hoists and lifting solutions. For this we represent the complete hoisting and lifting equipment program."