Over 90 Optima windows from Epwin Window Systems have been installed in Langton Business Centre which occupies a prominent location in County Durham.

Home to around 25 business, the building’s 90 first-generation PVC-U windows had come to the end of their useful life. The landlord wanted to replace the windows to provide a more contemporary appearance and refresh the kerb appeal for the site’s occupants. Equally as important was to upgrade the thermal efficiency of the buildings to enhance sustainability.

The contractor selected for the work was Epwin Window Systems Approved Commercial Partner Swainstons Ltd. The business, which was first founded in 1964, is an established commercial contractor with an exceptional track record of delivering high-profile contracts in the region.

Swainstons manufactures the Optima system from Epwin Window Systems, and Liam McClorey, General Manager at Swainstons, commented: “Optima is straightforward to fabricate and offers the superior aesthetics and performance that commercial projects need.”

For this project, Swainstons used the Optima Sculptured Window System, which offers sleek sculptured aesthetics. The 90 windows were manufactured in anthracite grey on white and used bronze tinted double glazed units to achieve a sleek contemporary finish that sat perfectly in the surroundings.

The system features a 6-chambered outerframe and 5-chambered sash, which can be used with RCM inserts to increase the number of insulating chambers and further enhance thermal performance when required. It has revolutionary, optional centre seals to the outerframe and sash, and a 10mm overlap for improved weatherability. The slimmer frame gives more light and improved solar gain, adding further thermal advantage.

These features and more meant the system was comfortably able to achieve the project specification of a Window Energy Rating of A.

Because Langton Business Centre is home to around 25 active businesses, the four-week installation needed to be carefully managed. As a highly experienced commercial contractor, this is something Swainstons was able to handle. It undertook comprehensive risk assessments to ensure the safety of the building’s occupants and the Swainstons team throughout the installation. It also planned the works carefully to minimise the disruption caused.

The new Optima windows deliver the more contemporary look that Langton Business Centre required and have helped to enhance the building’s envelope. At the same time, thermal performance has been considerably upgraded, helping to reduce the building’s carbon emissions and enhance the sustainability of current and future occupants.