Choosing glazing for buildings that are not dwellings requires commercial aluminium windows and doors because commercial buildings have significantly more traffic, people and intensive use than our homes’ windows and doors. Whilst it is possible to use residential quality windows and doors in projects such as housing developments when it comes to specifying new windows and doors for offices, shops, schools or factories, commercial aluminium windows and doors are the correct and fit-for-purpose product. Here is why.
Commercial aluminium windows and doors vs domestic glazing
There are many reasons why commercial aluminium windows and doors meet the requirements of all types of commercial buildings. In many cases, no residential window can meet specific functional or performance requirements as a commercial-grade product can. However, there are certain areas where both residential and commercial aluminium windows and doors are similar.
Meeting Building Regulations for insulation and energy efficiency means insulated aluminium profiles. Most aluminium windows and doors come with a thermal break. The thermal break works in partnership with the highly insulated glass units, providing the required U-Values for the window or as part of the overall U-Value required for the entire building. Or there are higher insulation windows using more advanced insulation when the highest performance is required.
The powder-coated or anodised colour finish, the glass units, and the window and door components all meet specific standards, just like domestic windows and doors. Commercial aluminium windows and doors also come tested to the latest security standards, weather performance tests, and air and wind resistance.
The benefits of commercial-grade windows
For offices, factories, retail, transport, healthcare or education, commercial-grade windows are designed to meet the performance, security and individual functions. Crucially, the design of these windows takes care of factors such as many unrelated users of windows. Compare this to a dwelling where only a few people routinely use the same doors and windows.
Commercial aluminium windows also work best when a client has a particular requirement. Windows and doors in secure units, such as prisons or other buildings that must provide enhanced protection, require products with hidden hardware or anti-ligature furniture. Office buildings may require windows with build-in ventilation or shading or the control of high-level windows from floor level. There are even windows designed for fire, bullet and blast resistance. Only commercial aluminium windows and doors meet all these different requirements.
Why commercial doors are the best types of doors
Whilst simpler in design to domestic doors, commercial aluminium doors give you the best possible experience when you need doors in any building that is not a dwelling.
First of all, commercial aluminium doors are designed like no other to be the best public access doors. Consider how many customers will go in and out of a busy shop. Schools have hundreds of pupils streaming through the same set of doors at break times, lunchtime and at the end of the school day. Hospital doors are being used by hundreds of people, and transport hubs are used by even more.
Commercial aluminium doors withstand these higher-traffic environments with added features. These doors meet accessibility requirements for wheelchair users, the elderly, and even the visually impaired. Commercial doors provide access control, letting only authorised users enter or leave a building. These doors also provide valuable safety when fitted with panic exit devices or panic bars. You can even use these doors louvre doors or panelled doors for plant rooms, server rooms and other types of areas in factories, offices or warehouses.
You can even automate these doors, sliding or swing, so they provide accessibility and a warm welcome in hotels, shops or anywhere else where you don’t want the user to push or pull the door. Few, if any, doors you see in dwellings can ever meet these demanding requirements.
Shopfronts, facades and curtain walling
Also available within commercial aluminium windows and doors are screening and window systems such as shopfronts, curtain walling and facade glazing. The design of these screens is designed to provide the right glazed elevation to a building whilst at the same time integrating fully with the different types of commercial windows and doors already mentioned.
Curtain walling is a highly cost-effective way to ‘clad’ the outside of a building whilst giving it a distinctive design, infinite colour and glass choices, and totally flexible in the size, shape and performance required.
Specialist suppliers of commercial aluminium windows and doors for construction and fenestration
C & A Window Systems manufacture, supply and install commercial aluminium windows and doors designed to meet the needs of high-traffic buildings and demanding commercial environments. Our commercial doors, windows and screens are tried and tested in schools, offices, retail premises and numerous public buildings.
Safe, secure and Building Regulations compliant commercial doors, slimline CWCT-compliant curtain walling, reliable shopfronts and screens and all numerous options for high-performance windows and doors. Our commercial glazing systems meet architect and client requirements for all types of buildings, with comprehensive colour, glass, hardware, and opening options.
We provide a full service to the construction sector, developers and building designers, using the renowned Senior Architectural and Reynaers range of products, both tried and tested and highly specified in the commercial glazing sector. Contact us today to discuss your project.
