Profile 22 systems fabricator and installer Astra Windows was appointed to deliver a major window replacement scheme at Rivington and Blackrod School, Bolton. The brief involved the replacement of 160 frames throughout the nineteenth century building.

This included the installation of new advanced glazing to the south facing and front elevation of the school with the aim of delivering advanced heat retention in the winter keeping classrooms warmer but also to reflect heat in the summer.

Challenges:

• The project was made all the more challenging because it was delivered during term time and disruption to the teaching of the schools 1,650 pupils had to be kept to a minimum. At the same time health and safety had to be an absolute priority.
• Dating back to the mid-nineteenth century it was also important that the character of the building was preserved.

Solutions:

• Astra resolved the health and safety challenge by screening off the area in which it was working and brought in a crane platform based outside the site which meant that installation teams were able to remove and bring material to and from site without having to carry glass through the school eliminating the risk to pupils.
• As part of the project Astra not only adhered to strict deadlines for delivery but also introduced a special cleaning team to ensure that classrooms were ready for use and occupation as soon as the job was completed, rather than the school have to take responsibility for cleaning.
• Using Profile 22’s fully integrated 70mm system Astra was able to manufacture detailed replacement windows preserving the building’s character.
• Astra was also able to preserve original glass window lights dating back to the building’s construction as part of the project. Removing them from their original fittings the company cleaned and prepared the glass before ‘sandwiching’ it between two new glazed units to form a ‘triple glazed’ window which delivered the same high thermal performance of the new installation but retained the character of the original construction.

Benefits:

• The project was completed in term time with minimum disruption to the school’s 1,650 pupils.
• Using the Profile 22 70mm system Astra was able to install advanced glazing and high performance products for heat retention to make class rooms warmer in the winter and to dramatically reduce summer temperatures by reflecting solar heat.

Comment – Terry Chadwick, asset manger for Rivington and Blackrod School:

“In selecting a partner supplier it’s absolutely critical to get your specification right, to make sure your suppliers stick to it so that you’re comparing like-for-like so that you’re delivering Best Value – and while price is important if the contract runs over through poor management it takes second place.

“Most importantly from our perspective was that Astra turned up when they said they were going to turn up, worked with and around roofing contractors on site so that the two teams dove tailed, and delivered when they said they were going to deliver.

“The Profile 22 system provided high performance products that exceeded our expectations.

“Together this made it much easier to minimise disruption to the national curriculum. School suppliers need to be organised, Astra are and that made the project a success.”