Internal Mondrian Glazing System Advice

The Benefits of Using Steel-Framed Internal Glass Doors

Internal glass doors have many benefits, but why choose steel-framed doors?

 

Steel framed systems have an array of different qualities that make them a very suitable option for internal walls and doors. The internal steel systems are most commonly used to break up spaces that still require access to light, being used as partitions, doors, and windows.

Indoor glass box, steel doors wine storageThe popularity of steel can be attributed to its strength; it allows very intricate designs as the frames can support heavy panes of glass. Furthermore, due to its robust nature, it requires little maintenance and as it is an inorganic material, it will not suffer from pest damage.

Another quality of steel is its sustainability. Due to its high raw material costs, steel is commonly recycled and can be recycled almost infinitely with an almost 100% return rate. It also has a longer lifespan than other materials, especially with specific finishes. For example, galvanised steel can result in a lifespan of up to 170 years. Steel is also non-combustible; this means that it does not add to the fire load of the building.

Mondrian’s internal glazing solutions have flexible designs, allowing them to be specified to suit specific project requirements whether it’s for a residential or commercial space.

Natural light

Steel-internal-room-partitionsMany homeowners struggle with a lack of space in their homes. With factors preventing them from building an extension, it can be challenging to understand how to adapt the property to provide the illusion of a larger living area.

This issue can be solved by creating a lighter, more open space; harnessing natural light is a critical tool to creating the illusion of a much larger living space. This will reduce the need for artificial light, consequently reducing electricity bills. Other options are reducing the amount of clutter and creating open plan designs.

 When creating a lighter space, one fantastic alternative to the traditional internal wall is incorporating steel framed partitions into the home. The steel-framed partition allows natural light to flow through the glass wall. Another option is a steel-framed internal door; this functions similarly to the partitions allowing for a brighter space and reducing the need for artificial lighting.

 

Heat transfer

fluted glass in mondrian steel systems

Steel is a naturally conductive material, so heat can travel through the metal with ease; this can be beneficial when trying to heat the home. Many residential home designs utlise non-thermally broken steel doors as they allow the heat to spread throughout the home efficiently rather than creating cold spots in the home.

For commercial spaces such as offices, non-thermally broken systems are often specified as having steel framed internal glass doors with thermally broken framing and a high thermal performance is unnecessary and costly.

 

Aesthetics

 Interior box partition for commercial building Many people choose steel-framed doors, windows, and fixed screens for their appearance. The strength of steel allows for minimal sightlines, meaning more glass in the structure and, as a result, more light. In addition, the use of installations with high amounts of glass allows for a very contemporary, sleek aesthetic.

Like a wall, the steel sections of the partition can be painted any colour the homeowner desires. The polyester powder coat paint can be chosen during the manufacturing process so the colour of the steel can perfectly match the design of pre-existing design of the home. Of course, not everyone would like polyester powder paint, so there are also options for the steel to be treated with a tinted lacquer or chemically blackened.

Glazing bars are also a popular design option for steel-framed installations; they offer a vintage aesthetic. The glazing bars break up the panes of glass into smaller sections of glass.

For residential projects, the internal glazing allows spaces to be segmented without fully closing them off. This is ideal for those who work and exercise at home.

The elegant and timeless design of steel-framed glazing makes it a popular choice for commercial spaces, with many office buildings using steel-framed glass doors or partitions around offices and meeting rooms.

 

Mondrian Glazing is dedicated to creating exceptional bespoke steel framing options.  If you are interested in steel-framed glazing solutions, please get in touch with our sales team; we offer glazing for both residential and commercial projects internationally.

 

 

 

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What are the benefits of steel framing compared to…

What are the differences between Wood and Steel Frames?

When completing home renovations or a building project, you will need to consider what window and door framing materials to use. There are four main options, although this article will focus on two: wood and steel framing. Both are popular options offering an array of great characteristics.

 

Slim Steel Framed System

At Mondrian Glazing, we produce steel and aluminium framing. We are passionate about glass and creating beautiful, bright living spaces. Although we do not manufacture wooden framing products, we believe that you deserve to make an informed decision about your windows and doors.

 

The popularity of wooden frames has persisted throughout history to the modern-day, formally through necessity (as the only option for many), latterly through its respected characteristics. However, does it compare to steel?

 

 

Aesthetics

Steel-internal-room-partitions

One of the most defining features of wood is its appearance; it has a natural, organic look. Due to its prevalence throughout history, it is considered useful when completing renovations on period properties as it maintains the dated aesthetics of the building. This is also similar to steel, it is also a very suitable option as it has been used throughout history, albeit a more recent history – it can still provide a vintage aesthetic.

 

Overall, steel offers more aesthetic options because of its strength. It allows for more intricate designs with more glass and smaller sightlines in the frame. The use of glazing bars offers a vintage look that will last significantly longer than wood.

 

 

Thermal Efficiency

Wooden frames are natural insulators due to the air pockets in their cellular structure. They prevent the heat from transferring quickly. Steel is naturally a conductor of heat, which means that heat will transfer from one side to the other.

This is not the most useful for exterior use; however, Mondrian have thermally broken steel glazing systems that utilise the lasted advance in thermal break technology to offer a much higher thermal performance than timber. 

Thermal break technology means that an insulating piece of plastic is installed into the frame, preventing heat transfer and substantially improving the thermal efficiency. Thermal break technology can perform better than other options like wood.

Both systems have a high thermal efficiency when steel is thermally broken. Steel is more effective when reducing the use of extra energy and is better for the environment thanks to its recyclable nature.

 

Lifespan

glass and steel framed staircase

If wooden frames are treated with stain or paint and installed in a favourable environment, they can last up to 60 years. Sixty years is an impressive amount of time, however, it does not compete when compared with the lifespan of treated steel (up to 170 years).

Wood also needs significantly more maintenance and care. Many problems arise in wood that are considered “silent killer,” which is discussed in the next section.

There are three main issues with wooden frames: rotting, insects, and warping. Stains and paints chip or wear away over time which can cause significant issues for the integrity of the frame.  Steel is not influenced by warping or insects but experiences a particular type of degradation called corrosion.

 

Rotting

Wood is the only framing resource harvested from a living organism; the fact that it is a soft tissue means it is susceptible to being broken down by bacteria over time and rotting away. The best way to prevent that is to treat the wood; this can be done by painting or staining the material. One of the most significant issues with rotting is that it could be breaking down the structural integrity from the inside, meaning it is not always noticeable until the frame has been compromised.

 

Insects

As mentioned above, wood originates in an organic environment; this results in many insects relying on wood for habitation or consumption. There are an array of beetles, termites and ants that will damage wooden frames creating inconsistencies in the frames. Any holes created will result in reduced thermal efficiency and could influence the quality of the structure.

Warping

The final disadvantage of using wood is that it is more prone to warping over time due to moisture. The wooden fibres in the window frame do not always dry collectively; some take extended periods of time. When moisture is reduced, the fibre begins to shrink. This causes tension and results in warping. Overall, wood is not as weather-resistant as other options. The environment has a direct influence on the lifespan of wooden frames.

Corrosion

Corrosion is caused by wet conditions and oxidisation. The process breaks down the steel over time and negatively influences the structural integrity. Corrosion can be prevented by treating the steel; one of the most popular is galvanisation, it is steel with a zinc coating that extends the lifespan of the steel up to 170 years.

 

 

Many people like the look of timber framed glazing systems but with the issues of maintenance and potential issues later down the line, steel is by far the better option.

fixed screen to reception area

Both materials discussed have their benefits and setbacks; but the benefits of steel framed glazing outweigh the benefits of timber by far. Steel is not only more durable, but does not encounter any of the ‘silent killers’ that can ruin wood framed glazing.

 

The steel aesthetic is also extremely flexible in design. Mondrian can utilise glazing bar designs and frame finishes to create systems with an elegant or industrial design depending on the type of project and its requirements.

 

Mondrian Glazing offers steel framing and focuses on providing exceptional quality products that last a lifetime. We offer bespoke glazing systems for both residential and commercial products; if you are interested, contact us at Mondrian Glazing.

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Steel framed-glazing or aluminium-framed glazing?

Advantages of using steel-framed glazing over aluminium-framed glazing

When searching for new windows or doors, there is a lot of information to absorb and a lot of jargon that can be hard to understand. This article has been written to try and summarise the pro’s and con’s of each in a way that’s not confusing to the reader. Both Aluminium and Steel framed glazing have excellent characteristics, so the decision is entirely dependent on the needs of the building.

What is the difference between aluminium and steel?

industrial style steel framed doorsAluminium is the most common metal globally and extracted from bauxite ore; it is not naturally occurring. The aluminium oxide goes through a process called electrolytic reduction (an electric current is sent through the material, removing other components of the aluminium oxide), creating pure aluminium.

Steel is considered one of the world’s most important construction materials and originates from Iron ore. Oxygen and other impurities need to be removed from the iron ore to create steel so, the iron is combined with carbon dioxide and a few other elements in a blast furnace-basic oxygen furnace or an electric arc furnace. After the removal of the Oxygen and impurities, steel is created, cast and rolled.  The steel used at Mondrian Glazing also goes through a process called galvanisation. Galvanisation adds a protective zinc coating to the steel; the steel is submerged in a bath of molten hot zinc. The method of galvanisation prevents rust and prolongs the overall lifespan of the steel.

So, what are the functional difference between steel and aluminium frames?

Strength and Sightlines

One of the main differences between steel-framed glazing and aluminium framed glazing is strength; overall, steel is three times stronger. The increased strength of steel-framed glazing allows for more intricate designs compared to the aluminium framed alternative. Steel windows and doors can be significantly larger with smaller sightlines (the visible areas of aluminium or steel around the door or window). This means that it is easier to create expansive panoramic views and invites a vast amount of natural light into a home, restaurant, or office. Due to the strength of steel-framed glazing, arched designs for windows and doors are usually an option with steel framing. An example of the sizing difference is our Mondrian Glazing steel framing; sightlines start at 47mm compared to our smallest aluminium frame starting at 120mm.

Weight and Accessibility

mondrian belgium door

Complimenting the pre-existing aesthetics of a home or commercial project is essential when choosing what metal frame is best, as there is quite a difference in the look and feel of aluminium and steel-framed glazing. Many argue that the look of steel framing cannot be compared to any other metals. Many architects prefer the weight behind the steel framing as it provides a more sturdy, stable feel. Steel is heavier than aluminium overall, meaning the doors and windows will take more effort to open and shut. If accessibility is a concern, lighter aluminium framed doors and windows will be significantly more suitable than the steel counterpart as they are easier to use. 

 

Design and Aesthetics

Another consideration when choosing window or door frames is the range of colours available; fortunately, both aluminium and steel frames have the same range of RAL colour options as any PPC RAL finish can be applied to either frame material. If intricate designs are more of an interest, then steel framing allows for arch designs rather than the regular rectangular/square shape of windows and doors. Both options also allow bespoke glazing bars.

Maintenance

The galvanised steel has a protective coat and has a lifespan of 34-170 years. Wiping down the steel will prevent the chemical compounds from reacting and causing rust in the future.

 Aluminium framing is cheaper in comparison to steel and does not rust but, overall, has a shorter lifespan. The lifespan for raw aluminium is 30-60 years, excluding the paint finish. Although it is unlikely for aluminium not to have a paint finish, this further increases its life span by up to 20 years. The paint coating used at Mondrian glazing is a polyester powder finish and is known for its resistance to chemicals, corrosion and weather.

Fire Resistance

Mondrian CWS-50-Slim Frames

Safety will be a priority for many when deciding on what metal to choose. Both steel and aluminium frames are non-combustive, so the metals are incapable of igniting and burning when subjected to fire. However, steel has a greater fire resistance due to the higher melting point of around 1500 degrees, so it is often the base material for fire rated installations.

 When a Steel is fire-rated, it means it prevents the fire and some smoke from spreading quickly. Steel doors can last from 30-240 minutes under fire temperatures depending on the system.

Aluminium framing is not known for its fire-rated capabilities and is not used for fire-resistant systems. This metal has a melting point of around 600-660 degree celsius, so is not suitable for these important installations.

How sustainable are aluminium and steel?

Overall, steel accounts for 7-9% of all global emissions and aluminium accounts for 3.5% of global emissions (Less aluminium is produced, meaning it is no more sustainable than steel production). The initial creation process of aluminium and steel leaves a lot to be desired when considering sustainability. However, many argue that if the metals are kept in reasonable condition, they can be recycled and reused many times, resulting in a reduced carbon footprint.  A positive is the recycling process has a significantly lower energy cost; aluminium only uses around 5% of the energy required during initial production.

Both aluminium and steel frames can be thermally broken; this reduces the amount of heat that escapes from the windows and doors. Thermally broken metal saves energy, cost and is sustainable.

 Steel and aluminium framing is more sustainable when compared to other materials commonly used for frames. The steel and aluminium frames last longer than timber framing and can be recycled more times than timber and plastic options. Plastic options last from 20-25 years, and timber frames last for up to 60 years but are not commonly recycled as many times as iron and aluminium can be.

Cost

Cost is a defining factor for many when choosing the right door or window frames. It is well known that steel is a more expensive raw material, and galvanisation (required to provide a non-corrosive finish) further increases the price.

Typically, thermally broken steel-framed glazing is three times more expensive than an aluminium alternative. However, there is no comparison for the strength and aesthetics of steel.

It will depend on what is important on the project (design or cost) as t what the best solution for each specific project. If aluminium is preferred, we recommend the Sieger Legacy range, which offers a minimal steel design but in an aluminium frame. (please note that size and weight restrictions apply due to the lower strength aluminium).

 

 If you are interested in adding steel or aluminium framed windows or doors to your residential and commercial project, contact Mondrian glazing.

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