The first annual report on a research project testing the timber windows of the future will be published shortly.
The three-year Best of Breed Showcase Project, run by the British Woodworking Federation (BWF) in partnership with the Building Research Establishment (BRE), is testing 35 factory-finished and factory-glazed windows at the BRE‘s Garston site, close to the harsh conditions of the M1. The first report will be out in July.
Samples submitted by members of the BWF’s Timber Window Accreditation Scheme (TWAS) include heat-treated, laminated and finger-jointed timber, in addition to traditional softwoods. New coating systems are being tested on some of the windows, as well as different timber profiles to learn about the affect of water run-off and stretching on finishes.
BWF technical manager John Hedgecock said the aim was for members’ warranties to be extended so long ife and low maintenance were “no longer even an issue in people’s minds”.
He said: “It is making members able to really evaluate what’s going in a more formal way. It gives them a chance to look at research results with a direct application to their products.”
A pilot scheme testing 21 standard windows off the production line involved 10 TWAS members and was described as a useful exercise by Mr Hedgecock. The windows are remaining at Garston for extended testing.
