48 Optima casement windows, 24 insulated 70mm insulated panels and 240 metres of Epwin Window Systems’ curtain walling were installed at the John Ruskin School as part of the school’s refurbishment programme. A thriving community comprehensive secondary school, John Ruskin is situated in the heart of Coniston, within the Lake District National Park in Cumbria.
The school’s windows and curtain walling system were originally constructed from single glazed timber and were in a very poor state of repair with poor thermal performance and limited ventilation, which was negatively impacting on the learning environment.
The school appointed experienced local contractors Top Notch Contractors to manage the full programme of refurbishments. The window and curtain walling element of the contract was awarded to World Group. Based in Carlisle, World Group is a family-owned business with a highly skilled workforce experienced in carrying out commercial contracts.
The purpose-designed Epwin Window Systems Curtain Walling System combines quality, sustainability, aesthetics, price and performance – making it the ideal choice when creating large areas of fenestration. Furthermore, the Curtain Walling system incorporating Epwin Window Systems’ window products, offers a cost-effective solution compared with a full powder coated aluminium system, with typical savings of between 10%-15%. And in the current economic climate, cost savings to the education or local council sectors is crucial.
Due to John Ruskin School’s exposed location, the product specification was exacting. As such, World Group worked closely with Epwin Window Systems’ Specification Manager Gary Millership who designed a solution that met the project requirements. The solution gave a U value of 1.3 W/m²K, exceeding the requirements of Part L of Building Regulations and helping to make the school more thermally efficient by design. In order to meet the requirements of Part F of Building Regulations, which covers building ventilation, the number of opening windows were increased, and additional trickle vents were incorporated.
To avoid term-time disruption, a strict three-week timescale was required. From the initial design and pricing, through to survey, fabrication and installation, the technical team at Epwin Window Systems and the commercial management team at World Group worked together closely to ensure nothing slipped from the schedule.
Happily, the experience and expertise of all involved meant that the project was successfully completed on time.
Gary Millership concluded: “When you consider that this project was awarded to World Group at the eleventh hour, with the aim of installing the new curtain wall screen and windows during the school summer holidays, this was a great success and a testament to all parties involved. The professionalism and skill of the installation team at World Group was second to none and we are delighted to have helped them deliver this first-class refurbishment project.
