Decisions that last year were considered in the market of translucent structures in the context of ideas about energy efficiency and comfort, today appear before Ukrainians from a different angle. The focus of attention is shifted to our basic needs: safety, reliability, heat conservation. The way we currently consider issues related to our own home combines living "in the moment" and foresight at the same time: we no longer postpone the important, necessary and desirable things to the category of distant plans.
However, even acting decisively and quickly, we choose something that will last not for a season or two, but for many years - because it is more reliable that way.
Facade of a commercial building in Schiffbauplatz district, Zurich, Switzerland. Architectural bureau — Baukontor Architekten
Safety is a modern comfort for Ukrainians. The homes of many have turned into fortresses, equipped with the most necessary and, as much as is possible today, protected from external threats - be it an explosive wave or winter frosts. We concentrate our safe environment indoors, and in four walls or behind two walls - it depends on the situation. However, many walls have windows. Will they be able to protect us this winter? And if so, how?
Reynaers glazing in one of the interiors of a residential building in the central quarter of the city of Eindhoven, the Netherlands. The project of the building is the Diederendirrix architectural bureau
How does it work?
Today's technologies give us a choice from a wide range of materials used for profile systems in windows and other light-transparent structures. Modern, more flexible alternatives have been added to traditional wood. One of them is aluminum. Indeed, it is a relatively new material in the market of glazing systems, but its properties give it a head start.
The load-bearing properties of aluminum make it an ideal material for systems for heavy-duty double-glazed windows. This metal is resistant to the influence of external mechanical factors, is environmentally friendly, has its own unique aesthetics and, most importantly for windows in Ukraine today, it is reliable.
The Reynaers Campus building is the company's headquarters in Duffel, Belgium. The project is by Jaspers Eyers Architects
In 1965, Reynaers Aluminum was founded in Belgium. Today, it is a market leader in the development and production of aluminum structures, in particular transparent systems such as windows, doors, partitions and sliding structures. The main pillars on which the company's approach to its own product rests are durability, environmental friendliness and safety. These principles approved the name of the company on the world market, encouraged it to expand. Reynaers currently operates in 40 countries around the world, including in Ukraine. On February 24, 2022, the leadership of the Ukrainian branch met the war together with us.
The "youth" of aluminum is its advantage compared to historical materials, because developers look at it soberly and are not burdened by "traditions"
The company constantly expands and improves aluminum profile systems, so it has a model range that is as adaptable as possible to various requests. This is what Dmytro Kaladzhiev, Reynaers' architectural consultant, says about it: "Aluminum is a "young" material in construction. When it was first used about 140 years ago, it was more expensive than gold. Currently, we drink from aluminum cans and simply throw the empty ones in the trash. Oddly enough, the "youth" of aluminum is its advantage compared to historical materials, because developers look at it soberly and are not burdened by "traditions". Reynaers' constant innovation is a testament to that."
Dmytro Kaladzhiev, Reynaers architectural consultant
When it came to preparing for winter, Reynaers had something to offer, because thermal insulation properties are one of the main criteria for the company, according to which new systems and modifications of existing ones are developed year after year - as a result of closely monitoring the dynamics of client requests. But how, in fact, does the window's ability to thermally insulate and due to what can it improve or decrease?
Bartolomeo Resort Town complex, Dnipro, Ukraine. Photos provided by Reynaers Aluminum in Ukraine © Reynaers Aluminum, 2022. Use by third parties is prohibited. All rights reserved
Bartolomeo Resort Town complex, Dnipro, Ukraine. Photos provided by Reynaers Aluminum in Ukraine © Reynaers Aluminum, 2022. Use by third parties is prohibited. All rights reserved
"The issue of thermal insulation of windows can be divided into the following components: the induced heat transfer resistance of the window structure; air permeability of the window system; window installation method. In the construction of a conditionally ordinary window, all components affect the result almost equally, says Reynaers. — But with a more detailed approach, we claim that the calculated heat transfer of the entire window seriously depends on the configuration and size of the windows, as well as on the filling of the glass unit. The Reynaers company is known for its honest and open policy of glazing thermal insulation calculations. The basis of calculations for each system and its modifications is the value of thermal conductivity of cross-sections of profiles and combinations of profiles (frame-leaf, impost-leaf, etc.), confirmed by appropriate tests.
"When aluminum was first used about 140 years ago, it was more expensive than gold. Currently, we drink from aluminum cans and simply throw the empty ones in the trash."
Air permeability, in turn, is literally an indicator of heat "sucked" outside. This happens due to the constant presence of a difference in air pressure between the street and the room. Through a leaky window, heat can sometimes be lost faster than through a less heat-insulated one."
The junction of large-format Reynaers glazing with the floor in one of the interiors of a residential building in the central quarter of the city of Eindhoven, the Netherlands. The project of the building is the Diederendirrix architectural bureau
Universal soldier
In response to the inquiry about warm windows, Reynaers presents a wide range of systems and their modifications. The main position in this list is the Masterline series. In 2015, the company launched a completely new window and door system, created on the basis of the most modern knowledge, technologies and construction requirements. This is the Masterline 8 system. Like all Reynaers products, it is distinguished by a focus on comfort, durability and the embodiment of the principles of modern, concise aesthetics. Advanced test results for tightness and strength have made the Masterline 8 system ideal for residential and public buildings. And high manufacturability, production speed, and variability determine the fact that the system can be widely used in mass construction projects, especially large-story ones.
D. Kaladzhiev: "As of today, the capabilities of the Masterline systems are in some cases even higher than the current market demand"
"The basis of Masterline 8's energy efficiency is the 4th generation thermal insulators based on the patented technology of the tunnel type with a depth of 40 mm in the profiles of both frames and sashes, as well as the full possibility of inserting a glass unit of extraordinary thickness up to 62 mm and the weight of a tilt-and-turn sash up to a record 200 kg. Serial systems consistently prevail, especially in small and medium-scale projects, while the share of project solutions at our Ukrainian facilities is growing every year.
Serial systems are accompanied by ready-made tests, which is convenient for use in most projects. And for individual cases with higher requirements or with their unique combination, we make individual project tests of a given size and configuration of structures. Tests are performed in Reynaers Aluminum's own Test Center, which gained new space and capabilities after the 2019 expansion," says Reynaers.
Sectional diagram of the Reynaers Masterline 8 profile system
Currently, the latest modification of the Masterline series is the Masterline 10 system. It has improved thermal insulation performance - almost twice as high compared to the basic version of Masterline 8. Reynaers systems of the Master generation are also designed to significantly reduce air permeability up to its complete leveling in HV ("hidden sash") modifications . This modification is already available in the Masterline 10 system.
Sectional diagram of the Reynaers Masterline 10 profile system
“Masterline 10 is the maximum that the market currently demands. For a more heat-insulated window system, the appropriate thermal insulation of double-glazed windows has not yet been invented. The capabilities of the Masterline generation are at some points even higher than the current market demand. In the near future, it makes no sense to invest in tests to improve systems, because already existing maxima are rarely implemented," Dmytro Kaladzhiev notes.
Not "what", but "how"
The removable method of installing the window structure is the third component without which an effectively insulated window is impossible. Among the suppliers of aluminum profile systems in Ukraine, Reynaers became the first company that actively promoted the solution of remote installation. This issue is emphasized and important, because even the most technological system can lose its advantages if related factors, such as the quality of installation, become an obstacle to heat preservation.
The building of the Bartolomeo Resort Town complex, Dnipro, Ukraine. Photos provided by Reynaers Aluminum in Ukraine © Reynaers Aluminum, 2022. Use by third parties is prohibited. All rights reserved
"The main purpose of external installation of aluminum heat-insulated systems is to align the temperature positions of the dew point in the window frame and the composition of the wall structure. The dew point is modeled according to norms (average daily lowest temperature) or according to the calculation of the probable coldest day or a limited number of hours in a specific area, specified by the customer or the designer - in the case of highly qualified individual design.
Even the most technological system can lose its advantages if related factors, such as the quality of installation, become an obstacle to heat preservation
The combination of the position of the dew point temperature ensures the continuity of the thermal insulation contour of the house and completely excludes the possibility of condensation on the window slopes, - explains Dmytro Kaladzhiev. — Continuity of the thermal insulation contour itself evens out the temperature differences inside the construction joints and on the interior surfaces of the walls and window frames, thus reducing the movement of steam and air. All this ensures a significantly better tightness of building joints."
New campus of the collegium of the Ukrainian Catholic University, Lviv, Ukraine. Design — AVR Development company
Currently, all Ukrainian installer companies cooperating with Reynaers can offer both ready-made Reynaers articles (support brackets, base profiles, various connection profiles, etc.) and solutions from specialized suppliers, most of which are already adapted for use with Reynaers systems. Complexity is important for quality, and the Belgian company with almost 60 years of experience in the world market is aware of this and actively demonstrates it in its own approaches to work at all its stages.
Windows today are not only about a panoramic view or filling rooms with light. Today it's about safety and warmth. So, about the feeling of comfort and security in your own home. We are looking for solutions to complex questions that ideally should not be asked. But what is important, there are those who have answers: complex and reliable.
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