Selectaglaze’s expertise has assisted in creating more comfortable working spaces in a former chapel and outpatients building for Oxford University.
The University approached Selectaglaze to support its renovations to St Luke’s Chapel and the former outpatient building on the Radcliffe Observatory Quarter site. Both buildings face each other across a courtyard and are both Grade II Listed. The chapel dates back from 1865 and outpatients from 1913.
As is often the case with older buildings, both suffered from significant heat loss due to the inefficient original glazing. High energy prices have put budgets of all sizes under strain and longer term indicators suggest that energy prices will remain high. As the original windows had to be retained, the University approached Selectaglaze, the leading specialist in the design manufacture and installation of secondary glazing, to help resolve the issues.
Selectaglaze installed 82 units across the two buildings using an assortment of products from its range to meet the required specification. In the chapel the stunning gothic arched windows posed an interesting challenge to Selectaglaze, as the planning authorities were particularly keen to ensure the aesthetic impact of the secondary glazing was kept to a minimum. Selectaglaze collaborated with the architects and designed solutions that would work and compliment all the various styles.
Low emissivity glass was used throughout both of the buildings which in combination with the primary window achieves a U-value of 1.8, reducing heat loss by approximately 60%. As secondary glazing is used in combination with a wide variety of primary windows, U-values are calculated using modelling software.
Furthermore, the application of secondary glazing achieved a reduction in noise egress and ingress. Thicker glass has greater mass and will provide better performance. Acoustic laminate glass will show further improvements particularly at higher frequencies as it provides further dampening. Ideally the secondary glazing should have a different thickness of glass to the primary window to avoid sympathetic resonance which will increase noise transmission.
Selectaglaze has been established for fifty years and in that time gained extensive experience with working on all building types from new build hotels to Listed museums. It was granted the Royal Warrant in 2004 as a testament to the quality of its products. Selectaglaze offers a technical advisory service along with RIBA approved CPDs to ensure that the building is warmer, quieter and safer.
Contact Selectaglaze on 01727 837271/ email: enquiries@selectaglaze.co.uk or visit: www.selectaglaze.co.uk
