“Intelligent, Multi-functional & Energy-saving Hardware is the Future”

By: George Jia, Guangdong Kin Long Hardware

Selection and Importance of Architectural Hardware for Fenestrations

What are the criteria for selection of architectural hardware for fenestrations?

Door and window hardware is a general term for various metal and non-metal parts installed on the exterior windows and doors of buildings. They play a key role in opening and closing doors and windows. The surface is generally treated by electroplating or spraying, which is sturdy, durable, flexible, economical and beautiful. Door and window hardware are selected based on the design, requirements and profiles of the project. The hardware accessories must meet the engineering stress requirements as well as the overall sealing performance of the door (window) including engineering cost, service life and appearance.

What kind of services can the door and window hardware supplier provide to customers?

In the project design stage, assist customers to improve the design of profiles and provide reasonable advice
Selecting hardware, combining project profiles and requirements
Provide suitable hardware products
Provide face-to-face explanations and consultations on product features and functions
During the construction phase, the supplier can provide installation guidance services to customers on site
To settle customer complaints

Please tell us about the latest technologies in hardware products?

In recent years, there have been incidents of major casualties caused by construction fires. As the “eyes” of buildings, the fire-resistant and complete performance of building doors and windows has received increasing attention. In order to solve the fire safety of high-rise buildings and take into account energy-saving requirements, the main material required is the right profile.

What are the tests and test methods for deciding the quality of the hardware used in windows and doors?

Door and window hardware testing usually include mechanical testing, service life testing and corrosion resistance testing. The specific testing depends on the selected criteria of the project, different standards correspond to different tests, and there are certain differences between the testing items and methods.

What are the key safety parameters to look for while selecting hardware?

Burj Khailifa Tower, Dubai – Kinlong supplied three main entrance glass façade fittings, including stainless steel tension cable, tension rod and glass clamp. The glass clamp is customized for this project. The three main entrances make double glass curtain wall design. This is designed for better insulation

Door and window hardware selection should pay attention to the opening area of doors and windows, door and window weight, wind pressure and specific standards and physical properties of doors and windows.

What are the various testing done to check air infiltration and water penetration?

As a hardware company, it generally cooperates with the door and window company to make a complete set of sample windows and conducts watertight and airtight detection according to the standards set by the project in a certain qualified institution.

Please tell us about the standards (certifications) one should look for while buying hardware used on windows and doors? What are the differences in these standards (certification)?

Door and window products have different standards (certifications) in different countries, such as Germany with RAL certification and IFT certification. In the development process of door and window hardware, the requirements for product use and safety are more and more comprehensive, but due to the different living environments, climatic conditions, economic development level and living habits, there are certain differences in standard content.

Tell us about the future of the architecture hardware industry for façades and fenestrations?

According to the current development trend of the door and window industry, the future door and window industry will gradually develop towards intelligent, multi-functional and energy-saving products. As people’s quality of life continues to improve, electric devices will gradually enter the daily life of people. Energy-saving awareness, future door and window accessories will gradually become more intelligent.

Please point out few hurdles faced by your company and the industry?

In some markets, the price control is strict, which causes some customers to start to press the price of the material supplier. Due to the price reduction, the industry is full of a large number of low-end products, which makes most “mid-high-end” products lose in the market competition. The disadvantage is that, for some enterprises that are committed to improving the quality of the industry and strictly controlling the quality, the development faces certain obstacles.

What are the innovations you may have witnessed over a decade in architectural hardware?

In the past ten years, the door and window industry has been continuously improving in the following areas:

Hardware Accessories: With the development of society and the improvement of people’s quality of life, the requirements for the performance of doors and windows are also constantly improving. Hardware products are becoming more and more humanized, such as product intelligence, product installation and so on.

Profiles: In order to meet the ever-increasing new window type and energy-saving requirements and large load-bearing hardware accessories, the profiles on the market have gradually evolved from the previously common 50 series and 60 series profiles to 70 series, 80 series and 90 series. Profile changes meet the installation space of more hardware accessories and improve the overall physical performance of doors and windows.

Glass: Glass consists of ordinary single-piece tempered glass to hollow tempered glass. However, with the improvement of people’s awareness of energy conservation and environmental protection, low-E glass has gradually appeared in people’s field of vision: Low-E glass is also called low-radiation glass. The surface of the glass is coated with a film product of a plurality of layers of metal or other compounds. The coating layer has high transmission of visible light and high reflection of mid-range infrared rays and has excellent thermal properties and good optical properties compared with ordinary glass and conventional architectural coated glass.