FastFrame shortlisted for Commercial Project award

Deceuninck fabricator, FastFrame is a finalist in the Commercial Project of the Year category at this year’s G-Awards, which take place at the Intercontinental London Park Lane on November 25.

The specialist fabricator supplied more than 1,800 tilt and turn windows and doors in a £2.1m supply-only deal to the first phase of a major new development in Watford after demonstrating its PVCU products could replace the specified aluminium ones.

This required the investment in specialist coating machinery – the only one of its kind in the UK – and close liaison with the client’s head office in Atlanta, Georgia.

Cortland Cassiobury on Ascot Road in Watford, is a 485-home build-to-let scheme, developed by American-based Cortland. The first phase of the project involved the construction of five multi-storey blocks, the largest of which has 23 floors.

FastFrame supplied products for 1,872 apertures across all five blocks. These include: Deceuninck 5000 tilt and turn windows – Decoroc-coated in umbra grey; and Balcony doors manufactured using a fibre-glass reinforced profile (Linktrusion) from Deceuninck. Decalu patio doors from Deceuninck Aluminium were also supplied.

FastFrame worked with Deceuninck to prove that the windows and patio doors were fit for purpose on the higher floors. This included demonstrating that the products would cope with the higher wind pressure at the greater height, and that they would be weathertight. This was completed via testing and simulation programmes.

FastFrame’s close collaboration with the main contractor and installer, and responsibility for the full interface design brief, were said to be instrumental in reducing the overall length of the project by nine months.

“The Cortland Cassiobury project in Watford was a perfect example of how Deceuninck’s products can be successfully used on high-profile projects to replace aluminium alternative with no loss in performance,” said John Duckworth, Deceuninck’s head of commercial sales. “We wish FastFrame the very best of luck at this year’s awards.”