Wood Window Alliance is launched

The wood windows industry launched a campaign to champion advances in the design and manufacture of timber windows to professionals and consumers, who they believe remain blinkered to wood.

The Wood Window Alliance, the group primarily of manufacturers with installers and maintainers and administered by the British Woodworking Federation (BWF) invited major house builders, architects, council and sustainability officers to the event at the 100% Detail show at Earls Court in London on September 20.

An advertising campaign with the slogan: “Wood. At the Heart of a Good Window” is about to begin with a second push planned for next spring. The results of a major consumer research project will be released in October.

BWF chief executive Richard Lambert said: “How come people still believe you cannot get wood double-glazed windows? Why is PVCu seen as superior product? We have not told people sufficiently well. Our sole purpose is to bring together the largest wood window marketing campaign there has ever been.”

Chris Wood, sales director of founder member Mumford & Wood, said: “We aim to change the face of the fenestration industry as we recognise companies that are dedicated to the highest standards and promote the efficiency, durability, sustainability of 21st century wood windows.”

Karl Zierold, managing director of member company Rationel Windows & Doors UK, said later that although the alliance raised standards it was more than a Kitemark scheme. “It goes beyond accreditation and certification, which it needs to, because the industry has gone beyond that. We have the products and we have to get the message out.”