ISO Chemie’s thermal insulating and load-bearing bracket support system has been specified for a new energy-saving pilot project being carried out by Cambridge City Council.
The move sees WINFRAMER units retrofitted around new windows currently being installed at council-owned properties in the Ross Street and Coldham’s Grove area to bring them up to a net zero carbon standard. An insulation layer is also being installed in front of each unit and clad over to significantly reduce heat loss and improve energy efficiency.
The improvement works are part of a wider initiative by the council to reduce a third of residential-based carbon dioxide emissions in the city, providing improved housing and wellbeing for homeowners along with long-term cost savings.
As well as reduced energy consumption and emissions, the project aims to deliver a consistent and comfortable indoor temperature throughout the year for tenants, better ventilation and indoor air quality with no damp or draughts, together with attractive homes in a state of good repair.
Passivhaus-certified and fire-rated to up to 30 minutes, WINFRAMER is a prefabricated installation frame, manufactured to accommodate cavities up to 250mm that allows windows to be supported independently from the face of the wall regardless of any external cladding being in place.
Quick and easy to install, the product can be integrated alongside other systems to achieve Passivhaus-certified window perimeter sealing performance.
The Cambridge project comes as the Government’s strategy continues to push to reduce carbon levels in housing that has single skin, cavity or non-cavity walls – these properties have a reputation for losing considerable amounts of energy, heat and sound.
The ISO Chemie products are expected to deliver improved levels of air tightness and thermal performance across the properties when the work is completed in July 2025.
The WINFRAMER together with the windows are being installed by Lincolnshire-based manufacturers and suppliers of windows, doors and conservatories, Synerjy Ltd. The company’s managing director said Cambridge City Council’s sustainability strategy outlines a roadmap that leads to its housing stock achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2030.
He added: “With the sustainability programme in mind, we are retrofitting these properties to help the council achieve zero carbon-ready standards. This work is scheduled to be complete this summer and ISO Chemie’s products will undoubtedly prove their value in delivering long-term beneficial energy efficiency improvements.”
Nick Thompson, ISO Chemie’s technical adviser, said: “As new building regulations continue to take effect, property owners and landlords are increasingly requiring smarter ways to deliver their refurb projects through sustainable technologies. Our products can support this activity, providing high-performance airtight, acoustic and thermal sealing solutions.”
The composite WINFRAMER brackets can bear heavy window loads, including bi-fold doors, to provide a reliable, strong and high-performance support frame. Installation is quick with windows attached directly and secured mechanically using either standard fixing screws or fixing lugs in the usual manner.
A hinged insulation core combines with the composite structural bracket to become an integral part of the overall wall structure, providing compliance with window energy-saving regulations (EnEV) and the RAL quality assurance association.
