Design Life Durability - Patent Glazing, Roof Lights

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Which system to use?

Unheated Spaces, canopies, station and platform glazing SkyGard should be your first choice if using 6 to 7mm thick glass. If considering different glass thickness, then PlasGard would be your next choice

Heated Spaces
ThermGard is our thermally broken system providing excellent Uvalues and air-tightness when combined with insulating double glazed units for compliance with Building Regulations Part L.

Self-supporting Lanterns or SkyLights
SpanGard self-supporting rooflights feature extruded cill, ridge & hip members to provide you with a complete kit pre-fabricated upto 6m wide by infinite length without the need for additional support, other than a load-bearing curb.

If using Polycarbonate
PlasGard offers a range of glazing bars & accessories for use with ‘plastic’ glazing materials for unheated spaces. If you require a thermally broken system, then please see our ThermGard ALM500 Series

Rafter Glazing
If fitting glazing bars on top of continuous timber rafters, then section reference ALM100/WF suitable for single or double glazing from our ThermGard range, provides neat, low-profile appearance combined with excellent weather tightness and low-maintenance.

Need ventilation?
GlazaTherm roof vents can be incorporated in sloped glazing and fitted with manual, electric or smoke actuators. Alternatively we can provide casement vents in the upstands of lantern lights when required.

Design Life Durability

Aluminium Patent Glazing systems are tried and tested. Many installations installed forty to fifty years ago are still giving adequate service, although now are likely to require refurbishment. Railway stations are good examples. We suggest a 35 year design life is realistic for aluminium patent glazing and single glazing. For double glazed situations, advice should be sort from the sealed unit manufacturer as many double glazed units are only warranted for 5 years. Whilst the weather tightness & integrity of the glass roof is likely to remain viable for 35 years, it is likely the thermal performance of the double glazed units will decrease. Please refer to our Cleaning & Maintenance Manual for further information. Life cycle costs are exceedingly favourable due to the low-maintenance nature of Lonsdale systems. However, care should be taken at the design stage to consider access arrangements to avoid costly scaffolding costs that may be required to ensure maintenance may be carried out safely.