A centre of excellence for special educational needs is improved with excellent secondary glazing by Selectaglaze.
Set in the area close to the imposing 600-year-old Chester Cathedral, two Georgian buildings have been carefully and sympathetically renovated to become ‘Abbey School for Exceptional Children’. Grade II* Listed and within the surrounding conservation area, Cheshire West and Chester Planning Authority, Chester Cathedral’s Fabric Design Committee and Historic England had to be consulted and approve any changes that were to be made to the buildings.
Most of the original windows were single glazed, which provided little thermal insulation for the students who would be occupying the spaces and allowed external noise to enter the rooms.
Architects, Barron Design contacted Fenestral, trusted partner of Selectaglaze, to discuss options, suitable treatments and install the units thereafter.
The specification of the secondary glazing included 6.8mm laminate K glass. The choice of glass thickness and type, and installation of the units with a cavity of well over 200mm from the primary glazing will result in a noise reduction in excess of 45dB.
70 units were installed over three floors in the two buildings, in classrooms, sensory rooms, dining areas and accommodation. The arrangement of the secondary glazing units to meet the original sightlines of the primary glazing, saw seven different systems used.
Series 46 fixed lights were used below sill level transom coupled to either Series 60, where there are off set sashes, or Series 20 where the sashes are of equal size. For the exceptionally large windows, over 3m, Series 90’s were specified.
All units were fitted with locks to prevent unauthorised operation by pupils; these included fitch catches for the Series 20 and 60, flush locks for the Series 45 and Series 90.
U-channels were also included in all the vertical sliding units to not only keep running tracks clean and clear but adding another element of safety.
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