Simplifying balustrading installation
SkyForce, the Juliet balcony system from Bohle, reduces handling weights and simplifies installation, according to Norwich Glass.
“For us, it has to ultimately be about what the customer wants,” James Neill, managing director of Norwich Glass, said. “We see a number of advantages in SkyForce but also use Bohle single point fixings. Each looks fantastic, so which we go with is about end-user choice.”
Norwich Glass offers a range of services from commercial fit out and emergency repair to splashbacks and shower screens. With balustrading and balconies making up an increasingly significant part of its product offering, its partnership with Bohle as a hardware supplier has been important in supporting the glass processor.
This includes SkyForce, the Juliet and French door balcony system launched by Bohle earlier this year.
“We’re doing more balconies,” James said. “Where SkyForce delivers the biggest benefit is that it can be fitted direct to frames using dedicated fixings for different materials, for example timber, PVCU or aluminium. You also get dedicated fixings for masonry and brickwork.
“That means that you aren’t necessarily always having to run across the full width of the installation.
“For example, if you have inward opening French doors with sidelights either side, you would, using a traditional fixing system, have to run the full-width of the opening even though a lot of that glass is serving no real purpose because it’s running across a sidelight.
“That adds a lot of additional cost to the customer but also weight which makes handling and installation much more complicated.”
Tested to General Building Inspection Test ABP and BS6180, SkyForce accommodates single glass width of up to 3,000mm using one complete two-part aluminium fixing and glazing system.
It’s supplied by Bohle in three pre-assembled profile sets for glass heights of 900mm, 1,000mm and 1,100mm. These can accommodate multiple glass thicknesses from 12mm to 21.52mm, depending on the rubber glazing set selected.
SkyForce is supplied by Bohle in anodised aluminium, anthracite grey and mill-finished options. The latter, delivering the flexibility to powder coat aluminium sections to installation specific finishes.
Norwich Glass used SkyForce in a recent installation in East Tuddenham, just outside the city. The residential development combines a contemporary aluminium-clad gable-end with traditional timber cladding.
“We powder coated the system to match in perfectly to the aluminium cladding and it looks seamless and absolutely fantastic,” James said. “The mill finish gives you the flexibility to deliver very bespoke finishes down to individual customer requirements. You aren’t constrained by a limited choice of colours.”
