Permadoor Showcases Energy Rated Doors at London’s Building Centre
Published: 29th February 2012
Social housing specialist Permadoor is showcasing some of the first composite doors in the industry to achieve the new Door Energy Ratings (DERs) at London’s Building Centre, as well as its popular choice of Eco Options, which further improve a door’s energy performance. Visitors to the permanent Epwin Group exhibition at the Store Street construction expo will be able to view Permadoor’s solid and glazed door sets, which carry the highest A rating under the new DERs scheme.
An independent measure of a door’s energy efficiency, DERs are based on a doorset’s U-value (rate of heat transfer) and air leakage. Performance ratings range from A (most energy efficient) to G (least energy efficient) and follow the same ‘rainbow’ scale commonly used on domestic appliances and by the well-established Window Energy Ratings (WERs) scheme. Also on display are Permadoor’s Eco Options; a range of specification choices designed to help architects and specifiers improve the energy efficiency and sustainability of housing stock through improved door performance.
Each door in the Permadoor range can be specified with up to three Eco Options: energy efficient glazing, an innovative recycled Reco22 doorframe system and recycled composite reinforcement. The options can be specified individually or in combination to achieve the desired performance criteria. Commenting on the new London showcase, Adrian Sunter of Permadoor said: “The introduction of DERs across the Permadoor range combined with our innovative Eco Options provides architects and specifiers with the complete door package – independent proof of energy performance, plus a choice of upgrade options to further improve a door’s sustainability credentials. “By showcasing these latest innovations at the Building Centre, it’s now even easier for customers in London and the South East to source the very latest product information and door specification guidance for social housing projects.”
As part of the Eco Options, specifiers can choose from Low E glass, which gives an average improvement in U-values of up to 0.4 W/M2k, and warm edge, Low E, 90% Argon filled glazing units, which deliver an improvement of up to 0.5 W/M2k, compared with the standard door glazing specification. The doorframe can also be fabricated from Reco22, which is the first framing system of its kind made from 100% post-consumer PVC-U waste, fully closing the recycling loop. Reco22 was the first window system to be awarded the Building Research Establishment (BRE) A+ rating for all sectors including domestic housing and is now being used in doorframe manufacture. The third Eco Option is a choice of frame and door cill options reinforced with recycled composite material (RCM), as a cost-effective and sustainable alternative to steel or aluminium. RCM is already included as standard in the front, rear and outhouse frame profiles.
The original composite door manufacturer and part of the Epwin Group, Permadoor has supplied composite doors to the social housing sector for 21 years. The company’s GRP composite doors replicate the appearance of timber doorsets but offer low maintenance with high performance. Highly resistant to denting, warping and splitting, the doors are secure and durable.
For more information on the energy rated doors and Eco Options available from Permadoor, visit the Epwin Group exhibition at the Building Centre or log on to www.permadoor.co.uk.
