A British company, and British design expertise is helping the German windows industry towards a greener future.

In their drive towards achieving Passiv Haus standards, the Germans have turned to Thermlock reinforcing profiles, designed by UK building systems company L.B. Plastics Ltd to deliver the 0.8wm2K window performance they require.

Until now, the German window industry has been forced to use 90mm or 100mm deep PVC window frames incorporating thermally broken steel reinforcing to achieve the Passiv Haus but this has resulted in frames which are simply not commercially viable.

Now, the UK company has revolutionised German thinking.  Using Thermlock thermally enhanced reinforcing in Sheerframe 70mm multi chamber window profiles, 0.8 and even 0.7 values are being achieved on tilt & turn windows, eliminating the need for expensive and bulky frames.

Says L.B. director James Litchfield: “There was clearly a case of German over-engineering in the solution they were seeking to reach their own version of zero carbon homes.  Taking a technology we have pioneered in the UK over the past five years, we have delivered a solution which makes Passiv Haus a commercial reality, even with continental window styles.”

The Litchfield Group, of which L.B. Plastics and its Sheerframe and Thermlock brands are a part, is now supplying reinforcing profile into Germany via its Herbstein-based group company, L.B. Profile GmbH.

Thermlock reinforcing not only reduces heat transference through PVC frames; it provides better pull out values for fixings and is lighter and easier to handle than traditional steel or aluminium reinforcing profile.