Latest News From Granada: Issue One
A Quieter, Noisy World
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COMING IN FROM THE COLD The perils of outdoor working BACK TO LIFE: GRADBACH MILL The beautiful lodge on a windy Peak District hillside ACOUSTIC SPOTLIGHT The art and science of the Acoustician
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events
VISITORS see & HEAR THE DIFFERENCE AT GREENBUILD EXPO Manchester Exhibition brings key industry figures together to discuss green construction & sustainability issues.
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ranada gave visitors to Greenbuild a chance to hear, as well as see, the capabilities of secondary glazing.
The Dinington-based manufacturer featured a custom-built ‘Traffic Soundbox’ on its stand, using ambient noises typically experienced by its commercial and residential customers, to demonstrate Granada products’ unique soundproofing capabilities. Noise reduction is one of the key features that attracts customers to secondary glazing, complementing the cost and thermal insulation qualities that energy-efficient developers expect. The stringent noise and carbon emission legislation covering buildings such as schools and colleges brings the benefits into even greater focus, whilst the change of use of commercial property to residential, or expansion near airports, railway stations or roads is also bringing more attention to Granada’s expertise.
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Mike Latham, commercial sales director at Granada, believes the sound properties and quality of design play an important part in the attraction of secondary glazing, as the thermal insulation qualities become widely accepted. “Our U Values and Weighted Sound Reduction Indices are superb,” explains Mike, “but the numbers can be a little dry. The ‘Traffic Soundbox’ is a great way to demonstrate the fantastic properties of our products. Low frequency noise can result in actual vibration of the glazing, meaning the problem can get progressively worse. The general “rumble” of traffic noise, passing aircraft, heavy goods vehicles, train and railway noise, these tend to fall in the low frequency category. In these instances, secondary glazing with thicker glass, fitted correctly, can make the world of difference.” The reaction to the Traffic Soundbox, in what was otherwise a fairly quiet exhibition hall, was very encouraging, and
a great attention grabber. “A lot of effort went into putting it together,” adds trade marketing manager, Pat McMahon, “and it was definitely worth it. We will be taking it with us wherever we go next!” Six Granada products were on show, demonstrating the different advantages, aesthetics and properties of secondary glazing. This year also saw Greenbuild running alongside a new event - Buildings & Energy Efficiency (BEE), which was been launched to offer built environment professionals access to all the latest products and solutions to create buildings for the future. “These events are pretty hard to judge on the day,” concludes Mike, “but the opportunities to make contact with key industry players is invaluable. This time it was a great team effort and we look forward to seeing the rewards over the coming weeks and months.” www.granadaglazing.com
business
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hether it’s PPE or slip hazard signs, speed limits or first aiders, safety is now ingrained in British working life.
It’s over 40 years since the Health and Safety at Work Act came into law, and not only has it helped make Britain one of the safest places in the world to work, it’s also given rise to the Health & Safety Executive. The HSE are the body responsible for the regulation and enforcement of safety at work and pay close attention to conditions, such as those at the mercy of the UK weather, and the impact on their health. They also produce their own thermal comfort checklist, asking a number of questions such as “Is cold or warm air blowing directly into the workspace?” and “Is the workplace affected by external weather conditions?” about which it suggests if the answer to more than one is “yes” a more detailed risk assessment may need to be carried out. Fitting Granada Secondary Glazing radically improves both acoustic and thermal performance, but also has benefits for installers. The primary windows stay put so everything remains indoors and there’s none of the downsides to working in the wet or cold. For customers, secondary glazing often provides a solution to an issue that’s been festering for months and years. “Customers are usually looking for a way to solve a noise, draft or thermal problem,” says Pat McMahon trade marketing manager “but often the combination takes them by surprise. Those wanting
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The Cold Trying to get frozen fingers to fit tough frames is not many people’s idea of fun. Aside from the discomfort, there’s an increase in the potential for getting hurt. heat insulation comment on the quiet and noise insulation. Those near busy roads or train lines say the secondary glazing cuts out the noise but also increases energy efficiency.” As an alter-
native, or in some cases complementary, product to primary glazing, secondary glazing helps installers and customers alike to avoid the worst of the elements. By raising awareness of the benefits, Granada has been increasing the number of leads passed on to its nationwide network of installers. The company has also invested in new premises, technology, production and support staff, as it seeks to establish secondary glazing as a firm favourite amongst home owners. “Knowledge is key,” concludes Pat. “Customers want affordable prices, effective solutions and a clear ordering process. Installers are looking to know the support is there for them, and if they want to spend a little more time out of the cold, that we’re able to give them the confidence and the product range to make that happen.”
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noise pollution
A Quieter, Noisy World No, it’s not just a sign of your advancing years; it really is becoming a noisier world.
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ind turbines, emergency vehicles, in-car sound systems, home delivery vehicles... the modern world has been getting progressively noisier, as social norms and habits have changed the way we live and tolerate certain sounds. Contrary to popular belief there is no decibel limit that needs to be exceeded for noise to be categorised as a ‘statutory nuisance’, but the European Union has set 65 dB as the maximum acceptable limit of noise a person can tolerate on a daily basis, while levels between 70-125 dB can be painful (a passing motorcycle may reach 100 dB), above that, outright unbearable. Leading the fight against noise pollution in the home is the fenestration industry, in particular, secondary glazing. Secondary glazing continues to grow in popularity, in no small part thanks to its unique soundproofing and draught prevention capabilities. Granada Secondary Glazing has helped drive the sector forward with major contracts with national partners including hotel chains, museums, banks, housing associations, the NHS and other commercial bodies, whilst gaining a considerable reputation amongst heritage and
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residential customers, and a respected network of installers. Established in 1992, the business specialises in discreet aluminium internal windows that radically improve acoustic and thermal performance, whilst remaining sympathetic to building aesthetics. As pressure grows on developers to build on brownfield sites, near busy roads or under flight paths, the issue of noise pollution has the potential to become a major cause célèbre, whilst home energy assessments have focused the home buying public’s attention on to the issue of energy efficiency. Of course, noise pollution is caused by several sources, road works, trains, industry, to add a few more, but the biggest factor is motor vehicles, estimated to cause 80% of the noise we hear on a daily basis. Recent studies also suggest that adults living in areas with the noisiest daytime traffic were 5 per cent more likely to be hospitalised for strokes than those from quieter areas, with an increase of 9 per cent for the elderly. Mike Latham, commercial sales director at Granada, believes that these low frequency noises are of-
ten tolerated far longer than they need to be. Says Mike: “Low frequency noise can result in actual vibration of the glazing, meaning the problem can get progressively worse. The general “rumble” of traffic noise, passing aircraft, heavy goods vehicles, buses, taxis, train and railway noise, these tend to fall in the low frequency category. In these instances, secondary glazing with thicker glass, fitted correctly, can make the world of difference.”
“Secondary windows provide all the thermal insulation and soundproofing that modern living standards demand, whilst preserving the character and appearance of older properties.”
With a comprehensive product range and portfolio that spans all major sectors, Granada has supported renovations to some of the UK’s most iconic, historic buildings. Here, the aesthetics are usually a crucial factor, but noise too has a role to play. “Emergency services, power tools, overhead powerlines, these higher frequency noise polluters are from the modern era and not the sorts of things that, even if they had the technology, were around for the architects of yesteryear to deal with.” www.granadaglazing.com
Today, the technology is certainly with us, says Mike: “Noise is all about our perception and how we relate to it, and acoustic glass can reduce these to a whisper. Secondary windows provide all the thermal insulation and soundproofing that modern living standards demand, whilst preserving the character and appearance of older properties.” This massive impact is certainly not lost on many of the company’s grateful customers, with comments such as ‘made a huge difference’ and ‘dramatic reduc-
tion in noise’ not uncommon. The quality of design and modern look remains an important part of all our products. Discreet, unobtrusive, strong, reliable and long-lasting, these are the characteristics that make us leaders in the field. Our product range caters for most window styles and property types, and the investment we are seeing now means that we are able to build on our position as the largest specialist manufacturer, supplier and installer of secondary glazing services in the UK.”
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interview
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What is the most important thing customers are looking for when purchasing eco-friendly products? A product that works, is a reasonable price, and is going to withstand the test of time. This is especially important in our industry where we have major contracts with national partners, including hotel chains, museums, banks, housing associations, the NHS and other commercial bodies.
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How much importance do you place on Eco-solutions? Visitors to the exhibition are constantly looking for Eco friendly –solutions, and although they place great importance on improving their green credentials, they still want the basic questions answering, such as how does the product work, what are my options and how much does it cost? Nowadays eco-friendly products are readily available in a variety of industries, it is expected of businesses to have fantastic green credentials including ours. What is important to us is the excellence of our products. The quality of design, and modern look remains an important part of all our products, giving our customers unique benefits and advantages. Discreet, unobtrusive, strong, reliable and long-lasting, these are the characteristics that make us leaders in the field.
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What are the advantages of secondary glazing over Double Glazing? The most obvious is the cost. Double glazing is considerably more expensive, requiring entirely new units. It might also not be possible, due to conservation issues or messy and difficult to achieve due to the original building or a need to remove all the old frames. Secondary glazing installation is quick and simple, and the cost-savings are instant. Double glazing also does not perform
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Q&A with Mike Latham, Commercial Sales Director
Bringing It Home: The Rise & Rise of Secondary Glazing
anywhere near as well at insulating sound, which is one of our customer’s favourite features. 4 What are the main advantages of installing secondary glazing? • Low cost way to reduce carbon footprint • Lower operating costs due to reduced heat loss by up to 65%. • Comfortable working environments
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Drastically improved acoustic performance Eliminates draughts Quick, clean, non disruptive installation.
What are the key areas of concern for your customers? The main areas are reducing their energy costs, being warm and comfortable, and sound prevention. A huge portion of our carbon emissions come from buildings, the UK now has strict carbon reduction targets in place, this places energy reduction up there as a key issue for our customers. Another concern is sound prevention. More and more people are living, working and studying in buildings that just do not suit the demands of modern day life. That’s why our secondary glazing products are ideal.
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‘Green Issues’ have become mainstream for quite some time now, do you really think there is any need to continue educating businesses about them? Don’t they already have all the information? We absolutely should keep talking about it. It may not be a new concept but it’s certainly still an important one. Specifiers and developers respond to precedent, and rightly ask us to prove the business case. We’re constantly improving and the smart money continues to look at energy efficiency as a complementary way of reducing costs and proving the business case.
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How do you test the efficiency of the products you fit? All our products are independently verified through acousticians, whilst our major customers are constantly putting our ranges and bespoke designs to real world tests. You could say we sing for our supper on a daily basis!
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Where do you see the future heading for the fenestration sector? It’s only going to get better. Materials, techniques, capabilities are always improving, the concepts may be well-proven, but the challenge is to keep methods of production and installation simple and low-cost to encourage continued interest.
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What are the advantages of coming to a show like Greenbuild? It’s a great opportunity to get feedback from customers, potential customers and their distributors. Although information and specification details for all our products is readily available, you cannot underestimate the value of seeing and hearing it in the flesh, talking to experts and really getting a feel for how our products can help improve your project.
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What can we expect to see next from Granada? Advancement in product development, some exciting projects coming up in properties old and new. www.granadaglazing.com
Why Granada? We may be the UK’s number one manufacturer of bespoke secondary glazing, but we don’t rest on our laurels.
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rom the very beginning we have been firmly focused on the guiding principles of being a trusted advisor as well as the very best manufacturer. Our aim is to provide the best possible product, together with excellent service. To that end we’ve been focused on delivering great quality, value and service to our customers for over 20 years. No other manufacturer has the wealth of talent, products, experience and support to deliver a better secondary glazing solution to your home or premises. Whether it’s for the added security, condensation control, noise reduction or energy efficiency, our products provide years of robust, trouble-free ser-
vice. Our confidence in our products is backed up by an industry-leading five year warranty on frames and glazing and two year warranty on moving parts. We continually invest in technology and production to ensure you can buy in complete confidence. Granada products not only provide excellent thermal and noise insulation, our choice of finishes and styles have a discreet, unobtrusive finish that is sympathetic to the surroundings and most existing window styles. Our local partners cover the whole of the UK and we pride ourselves on the knowledge and backup we provide. And as our many testimonials show, the work we undertake makes a real difference to our customers’ lives.
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testing
The Acoustician Has Left The Building The science of sound has a vital role to play in the work we do, and you might say acousticians are the support act to our attention-grabbing headline spot
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ound insulation can be crucial in the development of new commercial properties or the conversion of old buildings for new use. The perception of sound, in what is termed critical listening spaces, is as much about the physical design of the space itself as it is about the quality of reproduction equipment and loudspeakers. Acoustic design may therefore be equally about comfort and control as Hollywood sound effects. Acousticians are often involved in the management, control and regulation of sounds in the workplace.
Some work with commercial enterprises to keep sound in, minimising music noise transfer to residential spaces. More often than not, however, it’s all about ways of insulating schools, hospitals, hotels and homes from the variety of noises which we take for granted. Acousticians have been central to work we’ve carried out on converted workspace at Heathrow Airport, as well as providing guidance on how secondary glazing can improve the comfort levels for student accommodation in Liverpool. Maintaining good noise insulation standards in our homes allows us to enjoy a
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good night’s sleep or hold a conversation without having to shout. Beyond these accepted levels, the issue of noise can seem fairly subjective. The human ear responds differently to high and low frequencies, often filtering the worst effects, so that’s where the acoustician comes in. Part artist, part scientist, the acoustician balances creative, scientific and practical skills to deliver practical advice for architects and other engineers, usually in the form of noise surveys, but also using computer and physical models, project management, site supervision and commissioning of the finished projects. Typically, the noise survey will highlight peak noise events, or exceedances, over a 24 hour period and advise a client on how many of these can be nullified by design features such as secondary glazing. In high noise areas, the issue may be a legal one, ensuring the right levels in order for the new use to be approved by the local authority. At other times, it’s a decibel level the client expects, such as in the case of hotels or theatres. Correctly specified acoustic glazing will greatly reduce the volume from external sources, eliminating it completely or reducing it to a whisper. When a market leading acoustic business tested our products, they found them capable of re-
listening. One example is a hotel and Granada customer in the middle of Park Lane, surrounded by traffic. Airports too typically have transport and cargo links, aircraft maintenance and turning bays, and other sources of noise that give surrounding hotels food for thought.
ducing noise levels by over 50db – that’s enough to make a passing motorbike sound like a purring cat. It’s also one of the most obvious benefits that our residential customers mention to us after we’ve renovated their home.
With different noise sources requiring different types of secondary glazing solutions, the task can be a challenging one, particularly when aesthetics and thermal insulation also require consideration, but generally the results make for happy
With the help of the acoustician, we’re called in to such properties even if they are brand new buildings. One thing you can be sure of is that when the acoustician has left the building, everything has been done to ensure that the only noise you hear is the right kind.
dealers gather at granada
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istributors from across the UK were invited to take part in a factory tour, as well as discuss product development, recent successes and future marketing. Head of trade sales, Deborah Beeley, says the event gives everyone a much valued opportunity to share opinions and get to know the organisation a little better. Says Deborah: “We’ve invested in new people, operations and product demonstration facility here at Dinnington and we’re delighted with the results. Trade sales are vital to us, and by inviting our distributors to see what’s been going on, we’re
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able to give them more confidence in our commitment to the sector.” A new purpose-built website – www. granadaglazing.com – is also helping to drive enquiries to trade distributors, whilst highlighting the sustainable qualities of its timber, aluminium and glass-based products.
green credentials, and it’s something that our distributors can be proud of.” With secondary glazing gaining plaudits for its ability to reduce energy bills and carbon footprints, Granada is also emphasising its products being made from recyclable materials and encouraging renovation over replacement.
A new sister-business, Granada Architectural, has been spun off to focus on corporate projects, after 15 years of trading as a division of Granada Secondary Glazing.
“Clearly, we believe that our products help a building be more habitable and boost the energy efficiency potential of any home,” concludes Deborah. “But it’s also about manufacturing quality products at affordable prices, and making the quotation process as clear and simple as possible, to allow distributors and installers to maximise their appeal and business potential.”
“The new approach is aimed at bringing a stronger trade focus,” explains Deborah, “as well as a clearer message to end users. We have a very well-respected product range, with superb
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case study Nestled on the edge of the beautiful Peak District, alongside the banks of the River Dane is the tiny hamlet of Gradbach. At its heart is Gradbach Mill, a stunning building set amongst 16 acres of land, steeped in history and heritage dating back to the silk spinning days of the late 1700’s
Back To Life
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t various times the Mill has played its part as a youth hostel, cow shed, farmhouse and doctors surgery (simultaneously!) in addition to its original purpose as a flax and silk mill. In 2013, it was acquired by Newcastle under Lyme College who had been taking groups of its engineering students to the youth hostel for a number of years to participate in ‘outward bound’ type activities in the area. The College set to work upgrading the property to transform it into a centre for experiential and outdoor learning, which will be operated through a subsidiary company, Gradbach Limited. Thanks to the vision of College Vice Principal Craig Hodgson, assisted by Head of Estates Martin Bostock and Architects Ellis Williams, the buildings have been beautifully refurbished, and the main accommodation, which during its hostel days had catered for 80 guests, will now sleep a much more comfortable 30. “We wanted a facility that was appropriate for this amazing setting,” said Martin. “Something that would provide a great educational resource for Newcastle under Lyme College, as well as
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for other schools and colleges, whilst at the same time appealing to corporate and private guests.” To raise the quality of the accommodation to such high standards was understandably difficult, particularly given the challenges presented by the isolated location. Where possible, the College has chosen to use local craftsmen to support the local economy and their skills are evident in the quality of the masonry, joinery and dry stone wall restoration. Being faithful to the Mill’s underlying aesthetics was extremely important, but as you might expect for an exposed building almost 300 years old, this presented a greater challenge when it came to the existing windows, as Martin explains: “The original windows were in a poor condition and were extremely draughty. The building, particularly the bedrooms, were perishing in winter. Those Youth Hostellers were a hardy bunch, but even they could not have failed to notice the scale of the problem. A new heating system was essential, but the glazing quality would mean much of the energy would have been lost if we hadn’t tackled the windows.” Granada set to work
“you’d be forgiven for thinking the outside elements are much gentler than they are” - Martin Bostock
providing horizontal sliders from its Heritage range to completely transform the noise and thermal insulation. Not that the surrounding noise was an issue – the picturesque surroundings provides complete silence – but a large air gap was still utilised to provide maintenance and cleaning access to the primary windows, via a centre pivot opening. It was the draught prevention that first impressed the team. “It has to be seen to be believed,” says Martin. “The original windows were no longer up to the job, but even so, with the secondary glazing installed, you would be forgiven for thinking the outside elements are much gentler than they often are!” In addition to the high-tech fixtures, 6.4mm Low-E glass was also used, to add to the thermal performance. In independent tests, the addition of secondary glazing with Low-E glass has proved to transform windows with C ratings or lower to A Rated — a 63% boost in heat insulation. Smooth sight lines, ease of operation and maintenance and an extremely smooth installation process also made a positive impression on Martin. “We are absolutely delighted with the results,” he concludes. “To bring this project to completion has been a real delight and the results are there for all to see, enjoy and experience for years to come.”
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travel hotel
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he failure of the UK to adopt an integrated transport policy is such a long-standing one that the seminal 1980s sitcom, ‘Yes, Minister’ devoted an entire episode to it. In ‘The Bed of Nails’ the savvy Sir Humphrey points out that such a plan takes ten years to carry out and benefits everyone ‘except the Minister that introduces it’. Thirty-five years on and transport infrastructure is firmly on the political agenda, thanks to Crossrail, Heathrow and the flagship rail policy, HS2, one of the biggest infrastructure projects Britain has ever seen. With so much construction, traffic and noise expected, the project has attracted its fair share of criticism. Advocates point to a boost to the economy, bridging the north-south divide, the transformation of cities into ‘knowledge-economy powerhouses’ and extra jobs. Detractors say it’s a noisy waste of money (£121m per mile, by some estimates), threatens endangered wildlife and will drain the West Midlands of talent, if evidence from France, Spain and South Korea is anything to go by. Whatever your political leanings, your thoughts on HS2 might largely be determined by where you live in relation to it. Noise will certainly be a factor for those nearby. It’s the surrounding air particles, which vibrate or collide, that pass sound energy from its source to our ears, and if there’s one thing that trains certainly do, it is vibrate and make noise. Leading the way in noise pollution reduction is the fenestration industry, in particular, sec-
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On The Quiet Track ondary glazing. Thanks to a sealed void between inner and outer panes, secondary glazing’s unique soundproofing and draught prevention capabilities make it ideal for homeowners seeking extra comfort and quiet, and those along the HS2 route certainly have a good reason to want that.
however, there’s some cause for comfort. Granada Secondary Glazing has a fantastic (if you will) track record, having already supplied bespoke noise reducing windows in a major refurbishment of The Great Northern Hotel, adjacent to both St Pancras Station and the new Western Concourse of Kings Cross Station.
In many respects, the country that pioneered rail travel might be a little late to the party. Japan’s shinkansen bullet train is over 50 years old, Spain has built 3,100km of high speed track since the 1990s and the whole thing may prove irrelevant in the age of Skype, Uber and self-driving cars. Nonetheless, the smart money expects the project to get full approval at the end of 2016, with construction beginning in 2017. In fact, ‘pre-qualifying’ for a £350m partner role contract started in March, with a £900m contract for enabling works also already out to tender.
“The brief with all our hotel projects usually includes optimum noise insulation to ensure every guest can sleep undisturbed,” says production manager, Martyn Tams. “For the Great Northern, it was no different. High specification secondary glazing offered a great solution to the acoustic issues at this busy location, whilst remaining discreetly sympathetic to the renovation of a well known Grade II listed building.”
Campaigners object to the environmental damage to much of rural England, yet pressure to reduce noise has led to almost a fifth of the 140 miles of track from London to Birmingham being enclosed in tunnel. Unfortunately, the extra noise will still be a factor for those alongside the rest of the track and the many around expanded train stations, like Euston. E v e n there,
The new windows varied greatly in size, the largest being 2.7 meters in height, meaning the secondary glazing had to be both robust and light. Frame sizes were kept to a minimum with frames detailed to be hidden behind new internal window mouldings, further reducing their impact within the guestrooms. “The beauty of our range,” adds Martyn, “is their bespoke nature. It means we can just as easily apply this level of improvement to homeowners and local residents to keep the noise at bay.” With such impressive results, perhaps the Minister’s bed of nails could have provided a good night’s sleep after all.
Goodnight, sleep tight... Like pretty much every other living thing on the planet, you have a circadian rhythm, or “body clock” that regulates many biological processes over a 24hour period.
the pale for most grumpy grandads doing little as they do for neighbourly relations, but the fact is that some are more easily distracted than others. For the average person, maintaining good noise insulation standards in our homes allows us to enjoy our privacy undisturbed, hold a conversation without having to shout, watch TV or listen to music at a comfortable volume and most importantly, get that good night’s sleep!
Your preference for late nights or early mornings will largely be determined by that clock. Perhaps at 9am you’re only functioning at half your ability until the coffee is flowing and the biscuits are kicking in. Or maybe you’re a “morningness” type, and wonder what all the fuss is about. There are, of course, many in the middle, neither one nor the other, and where you fit on the scale may also be largely be determined by your age. For Dr Paul Kelley, of Oxford University’s Sleep and Circadian Institute, that’s what’s keeping him awake at night. He’s one of a team of researchers that have been warning us that not enough Z’s is turning us into a ‘sleep-deprived society’. The problem stems from the 9 to 5 pattern that the working world has almost uniformly adopted. It only really suits the over 55s, definitely not children and teenagers, and in order to decrease our anxieties (and improve GCSE results), schools should start at 10am. Not that we are completely against that, but as Lenny Henry is fond on telling us, other factors can influence how comfortable that night’s sleep can be. For starters, there’s no need to let the outside world intrude on your peace and quiet (and secondary glazing, as we will see, can help with that) as no one likes a noisy neighbour. With the nights now drawing in, we are just about at the time
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But we are all different. The human ear responds differently to high and low frequencies, often filtering the worst effects, yet correctly specified acoustic glazing will further reduce the volume, eliminating it completely or reducing it to a whisper. It’s one of the most obvious benefits that our customers mention to us after we’ve renovated their home.
of year when it’s no longer essential to have an open window to make sleep bearable, all the while hoping that all-too-near barking dog has a sore throat tonight. And yet, an uninterrupted night’s sleep is not a guarantee. Even pensioners are using noise as a weapon these days, as the perplexing prosecution last week of 75 year old Thomas Flowers proved. Playing loud music and deliberately using power tools in the early hours led to magistrates confiscating his, er, drill. Late night DIY and Kylie Minogue may thankfully be beyond
One of our favourites said: “The Secondary Glazing is beautifully made. It is barely visible and the noise is so quiet. Amazing!” whilst another noted: “Thursday night was the first night we have slept a complete night through since we moved into the flat!” It may be that as you get older, you notice the benefit of a little quiet more. Or that you’re experiencing less ‘slow wave’ or deep sleep, as older people are prone to do, and you’re alert to the benefits. Either way, your tolerance to noise whilst sleeping, it would seem, resides deep within your brain and as a result of your genes. For a lucky few, ‘the sleeping brain’s spontaneous activity heralds individual resilience to disruptive stimuli’. For the rest of us, we’ll need to use our head in a different way... time to give us a call?
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case study
From Past To Present
As more and more people fall in love with the romance of buying and renovating a listed property, so is the increasing need for expert support and advice, with customers seeking the right help at the right price.
TV programmes such as, All Change at Longleat, Downton Abbey and Antiques Road Show brings into sharp focus the pros and cons involved in maintaining a stately home in the modern age. For those that have their own palace, mansion or perhaps slightly less grand, Grade II or Grade I listed building, it may come as no surprise to see large open spaces that are difficult to maintain and heat gracing their television screens. Such properties were built in a time before the phrase ‘energy efficiency’ was invented or when modern materials were widely available, and the design aesthetic perhaps overruled any desire to keep heat inside and draughts out. Granada Secondary Glazing has supported renovations to some of the UK’s most iconic, historic buildings, for commercial and residential property owners. Much of the Granada range has been specifically designed for listed building windows, conservation areas and heritage properties. “Owners of listed properties
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are used to dealing with craftsmen” says Granada’s Steven Mansell, “and although our materials make the most of modern technology, we still apply a great deal of care and attention to detail.” Aesthetically, the detailing is of paramount consideration. Minimal site lines, thanks to slimline aluminium profiles, a high level of additional security, condensation control and easy access to the primary glazing means these windows are practical and generally approved. Concludes Steven: “You can see that owners take a great deal of pride in their management of a listed building,
and secondary glazing not only remains faithful to the period, but means owners can comfortably utilise the property for many years to come.” Warmth is a valuable commodity, and creating a second barrier to the elements is a proven way to reduce wasteful heat loss. There’s nothing better than the comfort and warmth of your own home and, as the nights draw in, Granada installers will undoubtedly bring both, not only to those that are the Lord and Lady of the Manor, but to many just watching them on TV.
architectural Through our sister business, Granada Architectural Glazing, we are also a leading proponent of architectural fenestration - from curtain wall systems and windows, to brise soleil and canopies - for leading construction businesses.
Above: Stokenchurch Care Home. Combining 21st century specialist architectural design with country house style, This purpose-built care home enables residents to enjoy life and be cared for in a safe, comfortable and tranquil environment.
prestigious projects
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ith over 15 years’ experience in the industry, we have worked on a host of major projects with architects, contractors, project managers, developers and cladding consultants across the UK. The assignments we help to deliver are synonymous with quality and efficiency – both in terms of cost and time management. Our ethos is simple – to mean what we say and to be the best in what we do: source, supply and install quality glazing products. We regularly work with many of the sector’s leading players, including Bam Construction, for whom we’ve recently been chosen as glazing contractor for two prestigious projects:
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Sheffield City Council health & leisure facilities: BAM Construction is to transform Graves Leisure Centre in Sheffield under a £16million contract with Sheffield City Council. The contractor will build a range of facilities to complement an existing tennis centre. New amenities will include a 25m swimming pool, a training pool, a gym and fitness suite, trampoline space, dance studios and X-ray and clinical exam rooms.
University Technical College, Leeds: An £11 million investment to create a modern college environment for 600 pupils aged 14-18. UTC Leeds will also become an integral part of the growing educational hub in the city’s South Bank area where Leeds City College and Leeds College of Building are already based.
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