Exceeding Building Standards and Futureproofing Tenants' Home

Location	St Gregorys Close, Crakehall
Installer	Newlife Windows
Year	2022
Product	TOTAL70C

Established in 1993, Broadacres Housing Association (BHA) has a proven track record of providing high quality homes. Since its founding, the not-for-profit organisation has grown significantly and now boasts a portfolio of over 6,500 homes across Yorkshire and other locations in the north of England. Stock can be found in towns like Northallerton, Darlington and Harrogate, as well as larger cities such as York and Leeds.

Even with this growth, BHA has always emphasised quality and longevity when working with its suppliers on both new build and retrofit projects. REHAU has been a key partner in this respect, with the company’s windows having been installed successfully in many of BHA’s longest-standing homes.

Until recently, a small collection of bungalows in St Gregorys Close, Crakehall were no different. Despite holding firm for more than three decades, the older REHAU windows fitted in these homes needed removing. After consultation, BHA decided to replace them with the TOTAL70C – a newer, more efficient REHAU design that’s better suited for 21^st century needs.

As James Marley, BHA’s Construction Manager, points out, the upgrades were partly driven by the organisation’s vision to be ‘the best rural housing association in the country’. However, it was also practical for the association to keep ahead of the regulatory curve by fitting homes with high-performing materials that exceed current standards. “Close attention is given to the budget and how we can use it effectively,” says James. “Any investment needs to provide maximum return, both in terms of performance and durability. That way tenants get a better home that will last, and the association saves more money over time.”

Improvements of this kind are in part driven by the Decent Homes Standard, a technical document first published in 1997. For a property to be deemed a ‘decent home’ it must meet certain criteria. This includes up-to-date facilities and services, as well as windows and doors that provide a good degree of thermal comfort through efficient insulation. A similar standard is now also planned for the private rented sector, which will require large-scale remedial action to improve the condition of roughly half a million properties across the UK.

Lasting value

While upgrades are part of day-to-day work for BHA, James believes it’s still important to take a longer-term view when upgrading homes. “We seek quality products that not only adhere to the Decent Homes Standard, but also ones that will futureproof our properties against proposed changes to housing legislation. Broadacres has used REHAU windows for many years knowing they are resilient to the country’s highly seasonal weather. This is especially important for a site like St. Gregorys where all the tenants will be living on the ground floor. Without adequate windows and doors, cold draughts and damp can create big problems later on.”

REHAU’s TOTAL70C system is ideal for organisations seeking lasting performance. Products in this range have exceptional thermal properties, achieving A+ on the Window Energy Rating system, while also surpassing the requirements set out in Part L of the Building Regulations. For windows an overall U-Value of 1.6 W/m2K is needed; the TOTAL70C sits well underneath this threshold at 1.31 W/m2K.

This level of performance, as James explains, is an advantage when working across such a large portfolio. “BHA’s current major works specification has been prepared with REHAU’s guidance. This new window makes it easier for us to meet our carbon reduction targets, while also laying the groundwork for future challenges around thermal performance in homes. We know from customer surveys that window replacement is a top priority, so it’s vital to get it right the first time, especially when you’re dealing with thousands of buildings.”

Speed and security

BHA’s decent homes replacement cycle sees it budget and plan for windows to remain in-situ for 30 years without premature failure. REHAU has proven itself against this measure. However, as Keith Hogan and Kevin Hudson, Directors at Newlife Windows, BHA’s preferred installer, point out there are other more practical benefits to using a product like the TOTAL70C system.

“Newlife is REHAU approved,” says Keith, “so our team is very familiar with the company’s profiles and what’s needed to fit them to a high standard. This familiarity also means we can replace and install the new products quickly, which is not always the case for competitors’ designs. Knowing we can enter a person’s home and be confident we’ll complete the job to schedule 99% of the time is great for customer satisfaction and our relationship with Broadacres.”

Keith’s final point, as James is keen to highlight, is key for a housing association. “No one wants to have their day disrupted with building work, but we also need to make improvements to our homes from time to time. Newlife Windows can give us a schedule and we’ll know that the work will be finished according to the timescales given. This is a big advantage when liaising with tenants and is partly down to the good design and functionality of REHAU’s windows.”

Beyond this, the TOTAL70C system also provides customers with greater resistance to break-ins. If required, the hardware used on all REHAU’s TOTAL70 range can be fixed into the steel reinforcement on both the sash and frame, increasing the security level for residents. “This installation method is simple,” says Kevin Hudson, “particularly if you’re already removing existing REHAU frames from the property. It’s important to have this feature available for properties like those at St. Gregorys.”

Frames for the future

BHA’s long-standing relationship with REHAU has been driven by product performance and longevity. However, sustainability has also been key, with the association currently working beyond the requirements set out in the Future Homes Standard. It also has its own set of KPIs based on the UN’s global development goals. These include a commitment to alleviate fuel poverty and a pledge to minimise impact on the environment.

“REHAU is a natural partner for BHA when it comes to sustainability,” says James. “We know the windows have excellent thermal efficiency, and this helps our tenants to spend less on their energy bills when the weather gets cold. Knowing the new frames are made from older recycled ones is an added bonus.”

James is referring to PVCR, which has seen significant investment in its waste management and recycling machinery since becoming part of the wider REHAU Group in 2014. PVCR collects used PVC material, such as old door and window frames, and puts it through a number of different treatment processes so it can be redirected back into the manufacture of new polymer products. In doing so, PVCR not only limits the amount of plastic that ends up in landfill but also allows REHAU, its parent organisation, to operate a self-sustaining business model inspired by the circular economy.

REHAU is committed to upgrading technology used in the treatment process and, therefore, the volume of material that can be recovered for future use. Currently 55% of a salvaged PVC window frame is converted into material used in new REHAU products, with roughly another 30% of the by-product created through shredding and granulation, being sold on to other businesses. PVCR aims to increase the amount of good-quality PVC being reused to 70% and finding viable markets for as much of the remaining 30%.

Sustainable suppliers, as James points out, “make it easier for an organisation like BHA to do its job without losing track of the bigger picture. We have our own set of CSR targets that would be harder to achieve were it not for companies like REHAU. In a market like housing, where the focus is always shifting, having reliable products made the right way is so valuable.”

James concludes: “Long-standing relationships like the one between REHAU and Broadacres are ultimately based on trust. These windows make our tenants’ lives better, which is the most important thing, but the fact we know they’ll fit without fuss and also look good once installed is what really sets them apart. REHAU is specified as standard across all our projects because we know what we’re getting, even if that means looking further when a supplier isn’t nearby.”

For more information about REHAU’s TOTAL70 system, click here.