It´s time for a new generation of doors
Robby de Wasch, Product Manager at Hydro Building Systems, explains how they took an already-successful door system and made it more sustainable. There’s more to it than just that though.
Tell us about the new WICSTYLE NG?
We’ve taken our popular WICSTYLE door and put it under a sustainability lens. Think lower carbon impact, simplifying the fabrication and fit process for less waste. as well as making it easy to dismantle, sort and recycle at its end of life.
The best features and solutions from our existing ranges have also been incorporated into the NG series plus newly developed solutions – always with the end user in mind, whether they use our doors just once or every day.
Name three ways the WICSTYLE NG is more sustainable?
1. It’s made using recycled aluminium
It is now produced using Hydro CIRCAL 75R – a range of prime quality aluminium made with a minimum of 75% recycled, post-consumer scrap (literally old aluminium doors and windows...) Its carbon footprint is among the lowest in the world: 1.9 kg CO2 per kilo of aluminium.
Traceability is important to us, so the aluminium is certified by an independent third party and supported with an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD).
2. It’s PVC-free
Even for the door’s smaller components, we’ve applied the Cradle to Cradle Certified® philosophy and used recycled and recyclable alternatives. The thermal insulation strips are produced using better performing recycled polyamide and ABS plastic for the cover caps and lock adaptors, both with lower carbon impact than the PVC used previously.
3. Up to 80% less glue and 50% less sealant
We’re also working towards eliminating the use of glue in our systems. We’ve designed and patented corner connectors for the mitre joints. This uses ball valve technology and means that when installers are injecting glue into the joints, the doses are controlled and precise to eliminate guesswork – providing an 80% glue saving! Also new is a smarter way of applying the mitred cut sealant, saving up to 50% of material. There’s more to do on this, but it’s a great step forward.
How can customers prove the door is more sustainable?
The WICSTYLE NG has been awarded the Silver Cradle to Cradle (C2C) certificate.
Also, with our software WICTOP, you can assess the environmental impact regardless of the size of your project - a whole building or a single system.
Because our EPDs are ‘dynamic’ and integrated into our quotation software, we know exactly which materials are used in all our products and their actual impacts. We work closely with our supply chain, rather than using ‘generic’ data. This ensures our EPDs are highly customised - great for demonstrating competitive advantage.
What functional improvements have been made to the door?
There’s a new simultaneous double door. This allows each door to be opened independently of the other in either an inward or outward opening configuration – normally there’s a priority to how double doors open, one before the other. Perfect for public buildings and helping people navigate doors in places they’ve never visited before – keeping things moving.
There’s also a flush threshold option to suit situations where easy access for wheelchairs and minimal trip hazards are essential.
Other new features include a technical mullion for easier integration of electronics and entrance control systems. There is also an improved electro-magnetic lock solution.
Visually, is the new door better?
Absolutely. One of the highlights for me is the concealed hinge with NO visible fixings! It’s durable yet truly concealed with no screws or components visible once installed.
We’ve put together an extensive range of design choices for specifiers. As well as the new concealed hinge, there are optical covers for the rebate area and concealed drainage – you can create a really sleek look.
This level of design detail even continues through to the handles. Our well-balanced
WICTOUCH handle range with its minimalist style and options means that no matter where you are in a building, you will always experience a consistent look-and-feel.
Are there benefits that make it an attractive option for projects?
Yes, the WICSTYLE NG is built on a modular concept – we call this the WICONA UNISYS principle. It means our systems (across different profile sizes and whether they are thermally broken or not) share common components and design details. So, fabricators can streamline inventories and manufacturing times by making use of the same processing steps, accessories, sealants and tools. This benefits all stakeholders, improving design flexibility, cost-efficiency, safety and speed of installation.
You can take a standard door and tailor it to any technical requirements or functionality for example, anti-panic or bullet resistance and much more, all while maintaining a uniform appearance across the entire building.
What differentiates the WICONA new product development process?
Personally, I think it’s the international team we have. On this project, there was me and my team in Belgium, the R&D team and testing in Germany and Belgium, with colleagues in France also supporting.
We go through the usual process of reviewing our own range, other doors on the market and trends, and we get our local product manager in each European country involved too. It’s the team’s diverse ‘local’ knowledge that allows us to collaborate and innovate at a deeper level. We work together to ensure the door suits everyone’s need – it can be tailored to different market requirements and building performance standards, it’s not specifically designed for one country as such.
Why is ‘how the door is dismantled at the end of a building’s life’ becoming more important?
When a building is demolished, the scrap may be sent for incineration, to landfill or undocumented recycling or downcycling process, which is not how a circular economy works. For the WICSTYLE NG door, we’ve worked hard to ensure you can dismantle all the components easily.
We do use glue in the joints but as I’ve already mentioned, we’ve taken huge steps forward in reducing the amount used. Hazardous substances in the chemicals we use are also avoided. There’s always more to be done and we’re constantly striving to develop new techniques.
Will fabricators need new tooling and training?
Some minor investment and training will be required to cover the new features we’ve added. But otherwise, all existing tools can be re-used.
Where is the new door available?
It is already available in the UK. And the launch is soon to launch in Germany, then France and the rest of Europe.
What technical support is available for specifiers?
There’s our technical information platform WICTIP, which gives you quick and easy access to the entire WICONA product documentation and BIM models. Also, tender texts are available for specifiers and architects. There is also a team of engineers and testing facilities for customised solutions. We’ll do everything we can to support your project.
What are the next sustainability steps for the WICSTYLE NG door?
Next, we’re on a mission to reduce the chemicals involved in the manufacture of the door and are working with our suppliers to achieve this. We’re also looking to make it even easier to dismantle for recyclability purposes.
We’ve joined forces with Saint-Gobain to lead the market towards low carbon façades with other partnerships in the pipeline.
Ultimately, we’re looking to enable the use of our CIRCAL 100R recycled aluminium for every project. This aluminium is made up of 100% post-consumer scrap with a carbon footprint of just 0.5 kg of CO2e/kg of aluminium - among the lowest in the world. Right now, it’s being used on dedicated projects but…watch this space!
Describe the new WICSTYLE NG in THREE words?
Versatile, Sleek and Sustainable!