Fakro GB Ltd

About the projectA stylish and unique ARC™ modular eco-building has been installed at Colchester Hospital after the Clinical Team specified a unit with an eclectic look that offered plenty of space. Now complete, the unit has opened up opportunities for patients to step away from a potentially busy hospital environment at a time in their lives when calmness and relaxation should be reflected in their surroundings. This can help improve the quality of life both for patients and their families.Working closely with KLH Architects, the Green Unit provided an environmentally friendly and highly energy-efficient home for patients requiring palliative care. The striking ARC™ building is certainly an abstract work of art and not one that can be ignored. Natural light has a proven positive effect on both mental and physical well-being, and installing FAKRO roof windows within the unit helps patients and carers stay naturally comfortable and bathed in daylight.What FAKRO products were used?To complement the eco-friendly connection with the natural environment, the unit features two FTP-V P5 roof windows which have been used within a combination structure. P5 is a very popular choice for those who prefer a more insulated option with its triple glazing offering a u-Value of 1.01 W/m²K.Glass construction from outside to inside = 4HS-Tg10Kr-4HT-Tg8Kr-33.2T:• 4mm toughened glass outer pane with an easy maintenance layer• 10mm warm TGI spacer filled with inert Krypton gas• 4mm centre pane which is toughened with a low-emission coating• 8mm Warm TGI spacer filled with inert Krypton gas• 6.2mm internal pane is an anti-burglary class of laminate 33.2 (class P2A, EN 356,1(B)1 wg EN 12600), complete with a low-emission coating

About the projectFrisby Lakes Lodge Park is an award-winning East Midlands site with a plan to develop 59 luxurious Finnish Log lodges made from 100% renewable material. Situated in the beautiful Leicestershire countryside with lodges overlooking a large fishing lake, this stunning park has a lot to offer for those wishing to move to an upcoming, safe-haven location for the over 45’s including beautiful electric-operated FAKRO roof windows.These timber-built Finnish Log lodges use materials sourced from managed forests and other controlled sources, which are crucial to sustainability and are FSC® certified. FAKRO roof windows add to the eco credentials as they use FSC-certified pine to make their high-quality pine frames.Which FAKRO products are installed?Installed into the luxury lodges are FAKRO’s FTW-V P2 Z-Wave roof windows with ARF Blackout Z-Wave blinds that are controlled remotely. At the flick of a switch, residents are able to specify the airflow through the room as well as automating the operation of the blinds, giving them the best of both worlds in one window system! Why were FAKRO products chosen?The eco-credentials of FAKRO windows were very important to this build. In terms of environmental impact, FAKRO products are designed to provide the highest standards of thermal efficiency while being manufactured using replenishable natural resources.

Bespoke FAKRO conservation roof windows have been used in the multi-award winning Advocate’s Close project in Edinburgh. Winner of the Andrew Doolan Prize 2014 for ‘Best building in Scotland’, the restoration involved redevelopment of 16th and 18th century listed buildings in the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town.

A show home at the 2016 London Ideal Home Exhibition featured 22 FAKRO FTP non-vented roof windows. The Arc, by The Green Unit, demonstrated modular, eco construction which can be used for residential, commercial, education, leisure and a host of other purposes.

Allan Corfield Architects' design of a SIPS eco-house in Biggar, South Lanarkshire sought to create a traditional looking brick building with a contemporary twist. The project features various roof windows and technical support from FAKRO.

FPP-V U3 top hung and pivot and FTP-V U3 centre pivot roof windows have been used in Heb Homes design of a SIPS home in Abernethy, Perthshire. Alisdair Stephen, Director of Heb Homes commented, “FAKRO windows were chosen for their quality but also because they offered superior security”.

There can be no better recommendation for a roof window that one from your builder and this was the case with Tan Jeraj when choosing products for the conversion of his bungalow in Mitcham. The 1950s house has been transformed in a design he co-ordinated and project managed without the use of an architect.

Westhill Community Church in Aberdeenshire was a new, green field project. Its highly contemporary style was designed for maximum functionality and to encourage use by the wider community. 33 FAKRO roof windows were discreetly positioned to flood the stage with natural light as well as illuminate a cluster of buildings which form the sanctuary, low rise foyer and adjoining offices.

In 2016 Mr Smith visited a self build show in Edinburgh and a long house design for a 11/2 story building caught his eye. With it being a new build house, this opened up an opportunity to use energy efficient SIP panels and to provide accommodation within a comfortable retirement home.

Dualchas Architects’ design of Taigh Learaige in Stanley, Perthshire shows the benefit of being able to install FAKRO roof windows at varying depths. The visual aesthetic is greatly enhanced by their low profile in a structure which takes the timber from the roof into the walls with no visible rainwater goods. Eight non-vented, triple-glazed FTV U5 centre pivot windows were used with thermal combination flashings and XDP fitted underfelt collars around each window.

Sort Trae is a new build Passivhaus set in a steeply sloping site in Thurgoland, Barnsley. The owner is a former architect and designed the scheme up to planning. HEM Architects were commissioned to turn the design intent into an ultra-low energy and comfortable home and to administer the contract on site. The house is a 2-bed home, with the lower storey set into the hill. There is an attached weaving studio where the owner works. The house takes advantage of the beautiful views to the south and is a bold, contemporary home clad in black timber and open jointed stone.The rooflights set on top of the studio are a key part of the roof, visible from the entrance to the site and the house. Their crisp design met the architects desire for an elegant and unfussy roofscape.FAKRO flat roof windows were chosen for their thermal performance and the performance of the integrated kerbs.Paul Testa, Director at HEM Architects told us, “We have always specified FAKRO on our projects where possible. They have always led the market in terms of thermal performance and there is excellent technical support”.The FAKRO windows used were: 2 x FAKRO DXF-DU6 02K flat roof window – 600 x 900mm unit size 1 x FAKRO DXF-DU6 11k flat roof window – 1200 x 2200mm unit size 1 x FAKRO DXF-DU8 04k flat roof window – 800 x 800mm unit size Paul added, “We enjoy working with FAKRO and find that the products are delivered to site very well packaged and are very easy to install. Working directly with the manufacturer rather than builders’ merchants also means the contractor has much better manufacturer support should they need it”.HEM Architects is a practice of 10 staff, based in Sheffield. They have a reputation for Passivhaus design and gaining planning on difficult sites.The practice is on a mission to help everyone live in beautiful, practical homes that have minimal impact on our planet. They specialise in creative, sustainable residential architecture. Taking inspiration from the mess and joy of everyday life, they design homes for living and that delight every day.

About the projectIn the summer of 2016, Paterson Gordon Architecture were approached to renovate an existing steading that stood in a derelict state. However, the stunning views of Loch Lomond created an inspiring opportunity to design and build a modern family home.Which FAKRO products were used?This property required an increase of natural light for a dark space within the building which could not fulfil its highest potential. By specifying DMF-D U6 and DXF-D U6 flat roof windows, Paterson Gordon Architecture was able to deliver a substantial proportion of natural light into the central hallway. DMF - D U6 Manually-operated Flat Roof WindowManual opening flat roof windows.The type F window is equipped with an energy-efficient triple-glazed DU6 glazing unit.The external glass is 6mm toughened while the internal glass is laminated and anti-burglary P2A Class.Heat transmittance co-efficient for the whole window is U-Value 0.88W/m²K. (glass U-Value 0.5W/m²K).Acoustic rating 34Db (-1.-3).The multi-chamber UPVC upstand is RAL 9010, the internal finish is RAL 9010 white PVC.The step and profiles are in black 9005, the glazing edge colour, called darkness, effect which comes from RAL 9005 (black) the coating has hue of grey.Can be used on roofs with pitches between 2-15°.DXF-D U6 Non-opening Flat Roof WindowNon-opening flat roof window.The Type F Window is equipped with an energy-efficient triple glazed DU6 glazing unit.The external glass is 6mm toughened while the internal glass is laminated and anti-burglary P2A Class.Heat transmittance co-efficient for the whole window is U-Value 0.88W/m²K. (glass U-Value 0.5W/m²K).Acoustic rating 34Db (-1.-3).The multi-chamber UPVC Upstand is RAL9010, the internal finish is RAL9010 White PVC.The step and profiles are in black 9005, the glazing edge colour, called darkness, effect which comes from RAL 9005 (black) the coating has hue of grey.Can be used on roofs with pitches between 2-15°.The existing part of the barn specified conservation-style roof windows to suit the original roof openings. To meet this requirement, FAKRO conservation windows were specified and installed. The characteristic feature is a black vertical mullion bar down the middle of the window and its black cladding. Making it suitable for traditional construction. Most of FAKROs standard windows are available as a conservation window.Why were FAKRO products specified?Primarily, the appearance of the flat roof windows was behind the reason for choosing FAKRO, along with the diverse product range and the ability to install the windows onto zinc, slate, and single-ply membrane roofs.

Fearnach House on The Black Isle in the Highlands of Scotland was designed by architect Iain Macbeath, and built by the firm’s sister company, Thermopassive.The house is a 190m² new house, built to the architect’s “Thermopassive” specification with larch timber and render walls and profiled metal roofing. It has PV solar panels with a “diverter” heating up water and charging an electric car. High levels of thermal capacity storage in an insulated concrete floor slab (so it stays warm and flattens out rapid temperature fluctuations) and very good air tightness.There are no cold bridges (which is more important than you would think) and also a heat recovery ventilation system for fresh air.This project uses FAKRO top hung and pivot window preSelect MAX and L-shaped combination windows.When asked, why Fakro roof windows were specified for the project, Ian McBeath told us, “We have been specifying and buying Fakro roof lights for many years. They are well-priced compared with competitive products and of excellent quality and design.The positioning of the handles at the bottom of the window is also a major factor. It makes it much easier to operate a window with the handles at the bottom rather than the top of the window, which is often out of reach of many shorter and disabled people. The windows are also very well insulated and airtight.”The windows have helped achieve an extremely energy-efficient home as well as flooding the upper floor rooms with an abundance of natural light. And the client loves the internal and external finishes.Based in the North of Scotland, Thermopassive Ltd is an architect-owned company which specialises in highly insulated buildings (better than passive house standard) constructed in Structural Insulated Panels (SIPS).

Another highly insulated, airtight home to use FAKRO roof windows is a self-build for Michelle Sutherland and Neil Thompson in fashionable North Berwick. 14 FAKRO FTT triple-glazed roof windows were specified for the home by Certified European Passivhaus Designer Julie Wilson of Dunbar-based Brennan and Wilson Architects. They were installed on the south-facing roof alongside solar PV and solar thermal panels, the combination of which provides high thermal efficiency and net credit on energy bills.

In mid 2017 the brief was set to rebuild a busy community church in Dumfries, Dumfries and Galloway to make the most of a busy space much in need of modernisation, with the need for natural light being central to the success of the project.

Westhill Community Church was a new, green field project in Aberdeenshire. Its highly contemporary style was designed for maximum functionality and to encourage use by the wider community. Natural light and climate controllability were the central considerations for the clients of McLean Architects during initial discussions - a common request for high ceiling, large space developments.The architect, McLean Architects (based in Glasgow), had used FAKRO roof windows on a number of other projects and specified FAKRO products because of the excellent technical support and the option to specify matching zinc flashings.33 FAKRO roof windows were discreetly positioned to flood the stage with natural light as well as illuminate a cluster of buildings that formed the sanctuary, low-rise foyer, and adjoining offices.Products included electrically operated FTP-V U3 windows with a rain sensor, specially constructed EFW Kerb Upstands were made to enhance the internal light with combination flashings, Smoke Vent windows, wall switches, and remote controls.