62
HARDWARE & SECUR ITY
An unacceptable solution
Dependable with excellent service
www.ggpmag.com January 2020
Modplan
introduces Mila
Prosecure hinge
Modplan has introduced the
Mila Prosecure hinge across
its door range from November
2019. Neil Gater, marketing
and communications manager
at Newport-based Modplan,
said: “Following an extensive
evaluation period, which
included the presentation
of the Prosecure hinge
direct to our customers, the
response was overwhelmingly
positive due to the speed of
installation and impressive
guarantees. As a result, we
have switched over to the
high-security Prosecure hinge
across our door range with
the exception of our 58mm
system.”
The Mila Prosecure hinge
claims to be faster to t
than any other security
door hinge on the market
and is said to be the only
hinge supplied in one-piece,
ready to install straight from
the box. It incorporates a
number of new and patented
features including ‘glider’
technology and ‘effortless’
front adjustment. The hinge
offers two installation options,
slide on or front t and a
captive hinge lid pivots open
and close for fast and easy
installation. The security
features mean it exceeds the
current required standard and
offers a 25-year mechanical
guarantee and Secured
by Design accreditation.
Available in 13 suited nishes,
the Prosecure hinge offers
a 10-year surface nish
guarantee for powder coated
nishes and ve year on
plated nishes.
Toby Staff, managing director of
Newstar Door Controls, comments
on the use of sub-standard window
restrictors.
As a supplier of widow restrictors,
I always check out what’s been
installed wherever I am. So you can
imagine my shock when I stayed in
a hotel run by a large hotel group
in Torquay over the summer to see
a standard plug chain, washer and
screw fi tted as a window restrictor
instead of a restrictor that’s been
designed for the purpose of limiting
the opening of windows. Next to the
makeshift restrictors, there was also
a sign from the hotel’s maintenance
team saying: ‘Caution!! Do not open
due to safety reasons!!’
I cannot believe that an
organisation who should have the
safety of their customers as their
primary concern would think it is
acceptable to fi t such an ill thought
out solution to the problem of injury
or death caused by falling from
windows. In addition, the cost of
providing their proposed solution
probably greatly outweighed the
fi t and proper solution – fi tting a
purpose-built window restrictor that
has be tested to the relevant standard
BS EN 13126-5:2011.
In fact, the liability to the hotel is
compounded by such poor solutions
to mitigate risk. What if a guest
doesn’t heed the advice and opens
the window with the inadequate
restrictor and accidentally falls or
deliberately jumps out? Was the
hotel taking reasonable precautions
by installing an inadequate device
and warning signs? Would the
insurance company say the hotel was
at fault for not installing standard
purpose-made products that are
readily available?
These are valid questions, and
not ones I would like to answer,
especially after the type of trauma
involved. I imagine in such a
case, the fi rst place an insurance
investigator would look would be at
the window restrictors.
There are no reasons to do any of
this. Off the shelf window restrictors
are not expensive and they are
tested to BS EN 13126-5:2011. This
standard specifi es the requirements
and test methods for durability,
strength, security and functionality
of devices that restrict the opening of
windows. It means that any window
restrictor on the market must be
tested and pass these standards.
It’s not good enough to rely on
makeshift products, and I urge hotel
managers, owners and shareholders
to check their window restrictors
to ensure they comply with the
regulations.
Carl F Groupco has been selected by
the Sovereign Group to supply Roto
NT tilt and turn fi ttings. As one of
the hardware distributor’s longest
standing customers, Sovereign is
said to have chosen Carl F Groupco
for the company’s dependable
delivery promise and excellent
service. Roto’s tilt and turn system,
which comprises modular NT face
fi x hardware and a Designo fully
concealed hinged option, supports
demand for premium quality tilt and
turn windows.
Dave Fitton, production director
for the Sovereign Group, said:
“Carl F Groupco has supplied
our organisation with hardware
for nearly 40 years and the level
of support provided has always
been at a consistently high level.
The distributor is one of our most
reliable suppliers and we can’t give
enough praise to Julie Warner, Carl
F Groupco’s product manager for
the Roto range and to the rest of the
company for the back-up provided.
“With regards to the transition
to Roto hardware, Carl F Groupco
has invested considerable time
in understanding our stock
requirements to ensure continuity of
existing and planned contracts. In
conjunction with Roto, the products
were fully tested and demos were
provided. Training sessions were
also organised and display boards
have been supplied to assist rapid
component identifi cation on the
factory fl oor.”
Roto’s tilt and turn hardware,
which was added to Carl F Groupco’s
catalogue in February 2019, provides
an adaptable solution for Sovereign.
The fi ttings enable the company
to offer the most appropriate
hardware for projects including
facefi x or concealed components
for sash weights up to 100kg, heavy
duty components can achieve up
to 150kg. The modular system is
PAS 24 security tested and Secured
by Design accredited giving total
fl exibility for Local Authority and
New Build installations.
Carl F Groupco’s product manager for the
Roto range, Julie Warner, demonstrates
Sovereign’s tilt and turn window
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