Instruction manual and maintenance guide.

The following information is provided to help you extend the life of your windows, doors and conservatory. It is necessary to clean and maintain your windows, doors and conservatory to ensure optimum performance.

This booklet contains the following information;• Howtocleanallthepartsofyourwindowsanddoors,• Whatarethebestcleaningproducts• Whichpartsoflocksandhingesrequire lubrication and how this should be applied • Offersadviceonhowtoreducecondensationwithina household • Howtoimprovesecuritybycarryingoutafewsimple precautions

Please note that the advice in this book is for guidance

only.

Introduction

Glass cleaningWhencleaningglassusesoapandwatertoremoveanyexternal grime. To produce a better finish, use a household window cleaner and a soft cloth. Please be aware that any jewellery worn whilst cleaning the windows could scratch the glass if it comes into contact. Any grit or other foreign object caught up in the cloth, may also scratch the glass. Most scratches in glass can be removed with jeweller’srouge,oranequivalentrubbingcompound.

PVCu cleaningThe faces of PVC-U window frames should be cleaned every threetofourmonths.Washdownwithwarmwatertoremoveall dirt and grit (any left on the PVCu may cause scratches when washed with detergent). Then clean with non-abrasive detergents.

DrainageEvery window and door product are produced with a built-in drainage system. To ensure this system works efficiently the drainage slots must remain unblocked. These slots are located at the bottom of every frame. To ensure the window is draining correctly remove any dirt or debris that is caught between the window/door frame and cill (outside), clear the drain holes and ensure they are clear by flushing them through with water.

Weather sealsPlease ensure that you do not dislodge any weatherseals. If this occurs immediately return to correct position. If the product is damaged or broken ensure a prompt replacement.

General Maintenance

1Cleaning made by freepik from www.flaticon.com

During the glass manufacturing process, double glazed units are susceptible to a degree of surface damage. Some of these blemishes / imperfections are unavoidable even in a controlled production environment.

Blemishes and imperfections within strict limits are deemed acceptable as they are inherent in all double-glazing. These limits have been defined by the Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF). All the glass used by your installer should be of the highest standard and will conform to the requirementsoftheBritishStandardBS6262.

The following is an extract taken from the Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF) standards;

1. Transparent float glass used in the manufacture of double glazed units is identical to that used in traditional single glazing and will therefore have asimilarlevelofquality2. Bothpanesofthedoubleglazedunitshallbeviewed from the room side, standing at a distance of two metres in natural daylight and not in direct sunlight. The area to be viewed is the normal vision area, with the exception of a 50mm wide band around the perimeter of the unit3. Flat transparent glass shall be deemed acceptable, if the following phenomena are neither obstructive nor bunched: -• totallyenclosedseeds• bubblesorblisters• hairlinesorblobs

Glass Defects

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What is condensation?Condensation is caused by the production of moisture in the air, which condenses into water when it comes into contact with cold surfaces – this moisture content is known asrelativehumidity(RH).Thehigherthetemperatureinahousehold the more moisture this warm air can hold – if the RHrisestoohighmildewmayform.Inlesswell-insulatedolder properties or in unheated rooms the moisture in the warm air will condense when it comes into contact with a cool or cold surface such as metal windows or doors, cooler edges of glass sealed units, cold walls, floors or ceiling.

What is the main source of condensation?Today’s houses are built in a more energy efficient way by installing thermally efficient PVCu draft reduced windows and doors, central heating and fully insulated walls, floors and roofs – hence the moisture produced stays within the dwelling because there are no air movement or changes. So the main causes of condensation are; drying clothes on radiators, tumble dryers (not vented), boiling a kettle, bathing, cooking, breathing etc.

How can you prevent/reduce the build-up of condensation?By installing PVCu framed double glazed windows you have increased the thermal properties of the window and have therefore reduced the onset of condensation in the first place. There are also a number of activities you can limit to reduce the amount of moisture produced in your home;

• Ifyoudryclothesonradiators;confinethistoone room and ventilate the room by opening a window• Whenbathing/takingashower;trytocontainthis to one room. Close the internal door and ventilate with a circulation of fresh air

Condensation

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• finescratches,notmorethan25mmlong• minuteembeddedparticles4. Obtrusivenessofblemishesshallbejudgedbylooking through the glass and not at it, under normal lightingconditionsasdescribedin2

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• Heatinganyroomswherecondensationisformingis essential

Conservatory roofs are susceptible to condensation under certain conditions. The effects of condensation within your conservatory can be minimised by heating at a normal domesticbandingofbetween10°Cto25°Cand40%to65%relativehumidity,whichmayrequireventilationviaarooflight.

WindowmadebyEucalypfromwww.flaticon.com

The profile we use to make the windows and doors has been specificallydesignedtomeetthesecurityrequirementsoftherelevantBritishStandards.Theserequirmentsarethereto protect your home from intrusion;

• BS7950-Thespecificationforenhancedsecurity performance of casement and tilt and turn windows for domestic applications• PAS24:2012-Thegeneralperformancerequirementsand enhanced security performance for door assemblies

Eventhoughourwindowsanddoorsmeettherequirementsofthe relevant British Standards, we recommend that you take sensible precautions at all times, these include;

• Ensuringallwindowsareclosedwhenleavingyour home unattended• Lockallwindowsanddoorswhicharenotcurrently being used, this will then stop you from forgetting to do so when leaving the house unattended• Lockalldoorswhenleavingthehouseunattendedor at night• Lockallwindowsandremovekeyskeepingthemoutof external view but easily accessible in an emergency• Makesureallmembersofthehouseholdknowwhere to find the keys for windows and doors in case of an emergency

Security

Keyhole made by freepik from www.flaticon.com5

Toattainoptimumperformance,allmovingpartsrequireperiodical maintenance and lubrication. The hinges, pivots, slidingshoeandtracksshouldbecheckedevery6-12monthsto make sure that they continue to be lubricated, free from dirt & debris and unobstructed at all times.

Casement windowsOperatinginstructions;

To open the window Depressandholdthebutton,rotatethehandlethrough90°and push the window outwards. To close the window Pull the window to its fully closed position and turn the handlebackthrough90°.

Tilt and turn windowsOperatinginstructions;

To tilt• Rotatehandle90°untilhorizontal,windowwillnow tiltTo turn• Fromtiltposition,pushclosewindow(donotreturn handle to closed position)• rotatehandle90°untilpointingverticallyupwards, window will now turn

Maintenance - Windows

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Maintenance – Doors (excluding Patio doors)

Toattainoptimumperformance,allmovingpartsrequireperiodical maintenance and lubrication. The locks, hinges, handlesandletterboxesshouldbecheckedevery6-12months to make sure that all visible, moving parts continue to be lubricated, free from dirt & debris and unobstructed at all times. Do not attempt to lubricate the locking cylinder.

Operatinginstructions;To lock• Insertkeyintocylinder• Pushthehandleupwards• Rotatekeyincylinder• Thedoorwillnowbelocked

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Maintenance – Doors (excluding Patio doors)

Entrance made by Retinaicons from www.flaticon.com

Vertical SliderOperatinginstructions;

To slide• Unlockandopenthelatch,situatedontopofthe bottom opener• Holdingthetopofthebottomopener,gentlypushthe opener up. If you have ring pulls, use those to open• Forthetopsash,unlockandopenthelatchasabove, then hold the sides of the opener and pull down, or if you have finger pulls you can use thoseTo tilt• Followtheslideinstructionsforthebottomopener• Pushthebuttonssituatedonthetopofthebottom opener, out to the side and gently tilt forward• Toclosegentlypushbacktoplaceensuringthatpush buttons securely in to position

Clear gutters of leaves and debris to avoid obstructing drainage as this could then cause overflow problems. Under no circumstances should anyone venture onto the roof of a conservatory.

Polycarbonate/Standard glass roofPlease note; Do not follow this for Self- cleaning glass roofs

Use the same method of cleaning for the roof as you would for the PVCu. A common cause for leaks is the build-up of moss along rafters and lead flashing, so it is a good idea towashtheroofevery4-6months,makingsureyouuseanon-abrasive cleaner. Glass roofs need to have a pitch ofatleast10˚,anythingbelowincreasesthechanceofcondensated units and leaks and affects the effectiveness of self-cleaning roofs.

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Maintenance - Conservatory roofs

Covered swimming pool with roof made by freepik from www.flaticon.com

Toattainoptimumperformance,allmovingpartsrequireperiodical maintenance and lubrication. The locks, and handlesshouldbecheckedevery6-12monthstomakesurethat all visible, moving parts continue to be lubricated, free from dirt & debris and unobstructed at all times. Clear any dirt or debris from the drainage and track but do not attempt to lubricate the wheels or locking cylinder.

Operatinginstructions;To unlock• Insertkeyintolockcylinderandrotate• Pushuptheleveronthehandle• Slidethedoortoopen

To lock• Slidethedoorbacktothefullyclosedposition• Pushtheleverdownwardsuntilitstops• Turnthekeytolockthedoor

Maintenance – Patio Doors

Self-cleaning roofsUNDERNOCIRCUMSTANCESSHOULDANYCLEANERSORABRASIVEMATERIALSBEUSEDONTHESEROOFS

These roofs have a chemical film on the outside surface of the unit which activates when wet, clearing muck and dirt. During dry spells or if the roof is sheltered from the rain, it is important that you water the roof periodically to reduce the build-up of muck and dirt. The self-cleaning property of these units can have difficulty with bird mess, it is advisable that an infected area is watered as soon as possible.

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The information supplied in this booklet is for guidance only. Window Designs Ltd is not respon-sible for any action carried out based on the

contents of this booklet.