ISO-Chemie

New building regulations coming into force this year will require windows to be made even more airtight, says Andy Swift, sales and operations manager for ISO-Chemie.

Changes to Part L of the Building Regulations which come into effect from June 2022, will see the provision for stricter standards and compliance procedures around energy and ventilation performance, contributing towards a roadmap to a net zero carbon future and new homes designed and built in-line with stricter carbon emissions targets. Specifically, to ensure continuity of the air barrier, window and door units will have to connect to the primary air barrier and the frames will need to be taped to surrounding structural openings using air sealing tape.



This comes against the backdrop where evidence points to doors and windows as the main source of the nation’s chronic energy inefficient homes. Indeed, it could be said that in the light of product innovation over the years, its perhaps ‘criminal’ that the hundreds of thousands of new or retrofit installations completed each year go unchecked or unregulated, producing a legacy of problems for years to come and costing millions of pounds to rectify. This is a pity because with advancements in cost effective, easy-to-use technologies, there is never a justifiable reason for delaying or avoiding the specification of better energy efficient window and door sealing solutions.



Air tightness improvements
ISO-CONNECT VARIO SD range is air-tight and vapour diffuse.

In this respect, the changes to Part L will have to be seen as a step in the right direction for the new build fenestration sector. It will see requirements for improvements in air tightness, forcing them from 10 air changes per hour down to 8 air changes per hour and also U value on windows shifting from 1.6 to 1.2wm2 k/H, which will require more energy efficient sealant solutions such as thermal foam tapes. The requirement also now states that the frame should be linked back to the wall with an air-tight tape.



Heat will always find the fastest exit as it comes up against the ‘A’ or ‘A+’ rated window, and invariably this emanates from the 10mm or so expansion gap left around the window following fitment. This is normally left empty, but some amount of spray foam can be injected to fill the void before a silicone trim is applied for a smart looking finish. Unfortunately, as expedient as this might seem, none of these solutions create a measurable, long term, high performance thermal, acoustic or airtight barrier - the U-Value of the installed window is simply reduced, which leads to heat escape and, ultimately, financial loss.



That’s why the house building industry and wider construction sector deserves better insulating solutions to improve energy efficiencies, especially if as predicted, the UK market stays buoyant over the next 12 months as the economy continues to recover from the pandemic and building and construction activity remains busy, particular in the face of a chronic national housing shortage and the need to build more affordable housing.



In modular construction, which is gaining increasing traction and will see continued integration with the more traditional methods of building in 2022, enabling developers to bring forward housing projects more expediently, designers and specifiers are looking at new ways to deliver low carbon structures, which use sustainable technologies to deliver measurable airtight, acoustic and thermal sealing benefits.


ISO-CONNECT BLUE LINE is airtight and produced from renewable raw ingredients

Technical innovation

Building regulation changes will have an unequivocal impact as energy ratings for buildings and property become stricter, and these include energy and ventilation standards for residential and non-domestic buildings that are far better for the environment and fit for the future - higher air and thermal standards for house construction has to be a priority.



Technical innovation through sealing technologies is one way that those responsible for fenestration specification can do more to support greater energy efficiency and meet the requirements of Part L. Indeed, as sustainability continues to be of paramount concern in the development of low carbon and eco-friendly building projects, we will see technologies such as energy foam tapes, which can add real value during the initial and post construction phases, only grow in importance as the most effective solutions for sealing window and door frame expansion joints and gaps in houses. Today, there are effective products out there to ensure that airtightness and thermal efficiency within buildings should never be overlooked or ignored - it’s simply a matter of designing in these products.

Improved energy efficiency of the whole window installation, not just the frame, can be provided this winter with ISO-BLOCO 600 self-adhesive sealant tapes from ISO-Chemie.

The pre-compressed tapes, which have been independently tested and are both BBA and Passivhaus certified, can be used on joints up to 42 mm, providing a high-performance weather tightness and thermal/acoustic insulation seal for fenestration applications as the weather gets cold.


Window installation with ISO BLOCO 600

Quickly applied by hand around the frame during fitting, ISO-BLOCO ONE and ISO-BLOCO 600 are energy rated weather tight thermal and acoustic tapes which reduce heat loss and noise ingress to a U value better or equal to the frame. This assures property and homeowners that a comprehensive ‘A’ rated installation can been completed rather than just an ‘A’ rated window supplied.



The tapes can be used to seal joints providing excellent thermal and acoustic insulation properties. Product can accommodate a temperature range of -30° to +90° and is impermeable to driving rain with a minimum of 600 Pa, making it one of the best performing tapes in its class. Once installed, a building will also be better protected from elemental factors like wind, dust and moisture ingress by accommodating the changes in structural movement caused by environmental, cyclical and settlement factors.



Quick and easy-to-apply, with excellent thermal and acoustic insulation properties, ISO-BLOCO 600 can be used to provide effective gap seals to accommodate expansion and movement while remaining permeable to trapped water and water vapour in extreme weather conditions – in the same way as a flexible breathable style building façade material.


ISO-Chemie’s sales and operations manager Andy Swift

Andy Swift, ISO Chemie’s sales and operations manager - UK & ROI, said: “As sustainability continues to be of paramount concern in the development of low carbon and eco-friendly building projects, technologies such as energy foam tapes, which can add real value during the initial and post construction phases, only grow in importance as the most effective solutions for sealing window and door frame expansion joints and gaps in houses.



“So, this winter, consider products to ensure that airtightness and thermal efficiency within buildings isn’t overlooked or ignored - it’s simply a matter of designing in these products.”

The range includes various high-quality fixings that are matched to and approved for use with our supporting frame-based in front of wall installation system.

Window and door frames are fixed mechanically into our adhesive-based in front of wall supporting frame systems, which must then be additionally screwed to the wall.



We have designed a range of ISO-TOP WF FIXINGS offering appropriate screw types of various lengths and diameters. These are suitable for all the types from the ISO-TOP WINFRAMER in front of wall installation system and all standard wall materials. The screw head geometries are ideal for high-density PUR and EPS-based in front of wall installation systems. The ISO-TOP WF SCREWS are approved both for fixing the window or door frame in the supporting frame system and for fixing to standard building substrates such as concrete, sand lime block, brick, aircrete or wood.



Additional fixing as described in the ETB directive may also be needed for floor-level components and, where very large, heavy window casements are required, it may be necessary to integrate their supplementary fixings. Different fixing components are available for the type variants of the ISO-TOP WINFRAMER IN FRONT OF WALL INSTALLATION SYSTEM.



For “TYPE 1” and “TYPE 3”, ISO-TOP WINFRAMER ALUMINIUM CONSOLES can be used at the installation stage to improve the mechanical fixing, for example in the system profile as described in the ETB directive. For the “TYPE 1”, these aluminium consoles are pushed into the fold area and for “TYPE 3” they are pushed directly into the console slots.



The ISO-TOP ETB TIE PLATE EL and ISO-TOP ETB ANCHOR BA can be used to create an ETB-compliant fixing on the inside of the window reveal either during or after installation. The ISO-TOP JUSTA ETB ANCHOR BA also has an adjusting screw for adjustment, load transfer and functional blocking.



To supplement this, the range also includes the ISO-TOP JUSTA TT BEARER PLATE for load transfer and for fixing components at the sides. This is especially useful when using multi-functional tapes such as ISO-BLOCO ONE and ISO-BLOCO HYBRATEC. The ISO-TOP ADJUSTING TOOL is used for adjusting the adjusting screws for ISO-TOP JUSTA ETB ANCHOR BA and JUSTA TT BEARER PLATE; it latches mechanically to set the window position when installed.





The ISO-TOP WF FIXINGS range guarantees user-friendly, fast and reliable installation of ISO-TOP WINFRAMER IN FRONT OF WALL INSTALLATION SYSTEMS.

Improved levels of acoustic and energy insulation will be provided following specification of ISO-Chemie’s advanced sealing tape for windows at a new mixed used development in central London.

More than 1,000m of ISO-BLOCO 600 tape and 300m of ISO-BLOCO ONE tape has been installed to support the conversion of unused office space to a high-class entertainment venue at 6 Grafton Street in Mayfair, providing long-term protection against wind-blown rain ingress as well as an effective acoustic and thermal seal.



The self-adhesive ISO-BLOCO ONE, which uses so called ‘smart’ foam technology impregnated with different substances to create a measurable U-Value as low as 0.6w/m2k, can offer excellent thermal insulation and can contribute to acoustic sound reduction by 63dB.



Specified to meet stringent project sealing and quality requirements, the sealant tape is part of a fenestration installation package, which includes Schüco Jansen windows, completed by architectural metalwork engineers, Martec Engineering Ltd.



Andy Swift, sales and operations manager for ISO-Chemie, said: “Developers increasingly want smarter ways to deliver their construction and building projects, which use sustainable technologies. Our tapes support this, delivering measurable airtight, acoustic and thermal sealing properties.”



Up to 70% cost savings can be achieved using tapes such ISO-BLOCO 600, which enable specifiers and installers to seal windows from inside the building and avoid the need to use time consuming and costly scaffolding and ladders among other external access systems.



The tapes offer a single product ‘fit and forget’ solution for fast and effective sealing based around the European RAL principles of three level sealing - the inside seal area is more airtight than the external one, allowing any trapped moisture inside the joint, or within the wall, to escape outwards rather than into the building.



The tapes were supplied by JIT Industrial Products, the Motherwell-based independent ISO-Chemie stockist.

ISO-Chemie’s thermal insulating and load bearing bracket support system has been specified as part of energy efficiency improvements to dozens of residential homes in the West Midlands.

The move sees WINFRAMER units being retrofitted under an initiative to bring poorly insulated properties in Coventry up to current energy efficiency standards and provide better quality housing for homeowners along with long-term cost savings.



Passivhaus certified and fire rated to up to 30 minutes, WINFRAMER is a prefabricated installation frame, manufactured to accommodate cavities up to 250mm that allows windows to be supported independently from the face of the wall regardless of any external cladding being in place.



Quick and easy to install, the product’s application in Coventry is seen as part of a solution to meet a wider Government strategy to reduce carbon levels in housing that has single skin walls or non-cavity walls - these buildings have a reputation for leaking considerable amounts of energy, heat and sound.



Andy Swift, ISO-Chemie’s sales and operations manager - UK and ROI, said this type of housing needs attention.



He said: “Using WINFRAMER as a platform for the windows to be moved forward, allows a cavity wall to be created outside the existing one. This can then be filled with insulation to massively improve thermal efficiency. As it’s also very thermally efficient and airtight, WINFRAMER is proving to be an easy and cost-effective way to improve the quality of the Coventry properties.”



The composite WINFRAMER brackets can bear heavy windows loads, including bi-fold doors, to provide a reliable, strong and high-performance support frame. Installation is quick with windows attached directly and secured mechanically using either standard fixing screws or fixing lugs in the usual manner.



A hinged insulation core combines with the composite wood structural bracket to become an integral part of the overall wall structure, providing compliance with the Building Energy Act (EnEV was vaild 31.10.20) and the RAL quality assurance association.

ISO-Chemie’s new webshop recently came online at the ISO-PORTAL. The sealing systems specialist’s customers are now able to place orders around the clock – from anywhere. This brings 24/7 flexibility to the working day and simplifies the ordering process, either from the office or using mobile devices on site.

The webshop impresses with its clear design, user-friendly controls and easy-to-use navigation. The display automatically adjusts to the screen of any device – whether desktop, laptop, smart phone or tablet – making it a pleasure to use.

Comprehensive product information and time-saving filters make selecting products a simple and user-friendly process. Once you have completed your order, you can view all the order documents and your order status at the in-house ISO-PORTAL. You can track your shipments there too.

Webshop users benefit from access to a wide product range, a clear choice of products and considerable time savings with respect to order processing. With this webshop, the building sealing solution manufacturer is making ordering efficient, transparent and convenient.

The webshop is another component of the ground-breaking BAUFUGE 4.0 concept which ISO-Chemie introduced in its 40th anniversary year. For ISO-Chemie, this includes the next generation of building sealing. “With our digital service we intend to offer our customers the best possible support in planning and implementing their construction projects. For us, this requires an efficient and customer-focussed ordering process,” says Marketing Manager Inge Knorn.

In addition to the webshop, ISO-Chemie offers its users further online services on the ISO-PORTAL online platform. Here, portal users can access useful planning and calculation tools such as the ift INSTALLATION TOOL. Specification documents and BIM-ready object data for products are also available to support designers and architects. Interesting videos from the ISO-Chemie Training Center can also be downloaded. These professional instructions and tips for using the sealing products are intended to help users on site. The installation videos and tutorials can also be used for advice and training purposes. Another feature is the “ISOPEDIA” knowledge base which provides expert answers to various questions on the topic of joint sealing.

As well as these extensive online services, a team of experts – the ISO CONSTRUCTION ADVISERS – offers fast and professional personal support to designers, architects and installers for planning and implementing their construction projects. These customer services include site surveys, material recommendations, detailed planning, plus custom-fabricated special solutions and advice on logistics and stress analyses, right through to conventional e-mail and telephone support.

The ISO-Chemie webshop can be found at: shop.iso-chemie.eu

ISO-Chemie has a great new addition to its in-front-of-wall installation system. These boards can be used to produce special design components when fitting windows in the outer thermal insulation level.

ISO-TOP CONSTRUCTION SHEETS WF3 are made from high-density THERMAPOR, i.e. the same material as the TYPE 3 from the ISO-Chemie in-front-of-wall installation system. These boards can be customised and adapted as required to create installation and sealing details in the ISO-TOP WINFRAMER IN-FRONT-OF-WALL INSTALLATION SYSTEM. They can be used either as adapter boards in combination with the system profiles or individually as supporting profiles, packing strips or window sill shaped parts. They can also be used to adapt roller shutter casings and venetian blind boxes. With a strength in excess of 650 kPa, the ISO-TOP CONSTRUCTION SHEETS WF3 offer excellent load-bearing capacity for a window or door.

The boards are available in thicknesses from 20 to 100 mm and can be sawn or cut to size and shape to suit the specific needs on site.

The ISO-TOP CONSTRUCTION SHEETS WF3 can be combined with components of the ISO-TOP WINFRAMER in-front-of-wall installation system and provide the ideal basis for 3-level sealing with multi-functional joint sealing strips or the other products from the ISO³-WINDOW SEALING SYSTEM from ISO-Chemie.

ISO-Chemie has extended its primer range with a new environmentally-friendly version that offers outstanding adhesive strength. As the product name (ISO-TOP SPRAY PRIMER) suggests, this is a spray-on bonding agent.

This spray primer is based on synthetic rubber and was specially developed for preparing bonding surfaces for window connection foils, joint sealing strips and multi-functional joint sealing strips. ISO-TOP SPRAY PRIMER also offers excellent initial adhesion, is fast-drying, easy to use and quickly creates a secure bonding substrate. It can be used universally on surfaces such as wood, metal, rigid plastics, rubber, cork and other general construction materials.

The main advantage of ISO-TOP SPRAY PRIMER is that no additional tools are needed to apply it, and the economical primer can be sprayed in a thin and uniform coating. The 500 ml spray can has a very handy swivelling spray nozzle, allowing it to be used with one hand, even when working overhead. Another great feature is that this new primer contains no chlorinated or fluorinated compounds and so will not damage the ozone layer.

ISO-CHEMIE’s WINFRAMER thermal insulating and load bearing bracket support system for the rapid installation of windows, has gained British Board of Agrement (BBA) certification.

The news, which follows ISO-BLOCO ONE self-adhesive weather tight tape for window frames also achieving BBA product approval, confirms the thermally efficient, airtight WINFRAMER system can accommodate at least 200 kg/m and provide an air-tight cavity support.

WINFRAMER, which is Passivhaus certified and fire rated to up to 30 minutes, is a prefabricated installation frame, manufactured to accommodate cavities up to 250 mm. This allows windows to be supported independently from the face of the wall regardless of any external cladding being in place.

Andy Swift, ISO-Chemie’s sales and operations manager – UK and ROI, said BBA certification, which is recognised throughout the construction industry as a symbol of quality and reassurance, reinforced the product’s outstanding installation qualities and long-term technical performance.

He added: “BBA certification is another significant achievement for us and follows ISO-BLOCO ONE also gaining certification. It clearly demonstrates that ISO-Chemie is committed to providing customers with high-quality, high-performance and innovative specification technologies.”

The composite WINFRAMER brackets can bear heavy windows loads, including bi-fold doors, to provide a reliable, strong and high-performance support frame. Installation is quick with windows attached directly and secured mechanically using either standard fixing screws or fixing lugs in the usual manner.

A hinged insulation core combines with the composite wood structural bracket to become an integral part of the overall wall structure, providing compliance with window energy saving regulations (EnEV) and the RAL quality assurance association.

ISO-BLOCO ONE offers a single product ‘fit and forget’ solution for fast and effective sealing based around the European RAL principles of three level sealing - the inside seal area is more airtight than the external one, allowing any trapped moisture inside the joint, or within the wall, to escape outwards rather than into the building. Product comes with a 10-year guarantee.

ISO-Chemie, the sealing specialist, now has an environment and climate-friendly organic product range. The new ISO-CONNECT „BLUE LINE” bio-based window connection foils offer sustainable sealing both inside and outside the window.

Both ISO-CONNECT INSIDE „BLUE LINE” and OUTSIDE „BLUE LINE” are produced from renewable raw ingredients. The polymers used to manufacture them are based on sugar-containing plants such as sugar beet, sugarcane, corn, maize and other similar species. The particular benefit is that these types of plant are able to absorb large amounts of CO2 while they are growing. Actively harmful greenhouse gases are reduced as a result —an important aspect of climate protection.

As Andreas Lange, Technology and Training Manager at ISO-Chemie explains, “Sustainably produced window connection foils such as ISO-CONNECT INSIDE and OUTSIDE „BLUE LINE” provide the same technical properties as foils that are manufactured from purely synthetic raw materials. There are thus no disadvantages in terms of functionality.”

ISO-CONNECT INSIDE „BLUE LINE” is used as an air tight level for bonding over window connection joints on the inside of the building shell. A test has demonstrated that there is no measurable passage of air. The bio-based internal foil also creates a vapour diffusion barrier, thus avoiding the risk of condensation and mould build-up in the functional area.

ISO-CONNECT OUTSIDE „BLUE LINE” is suitable for the external sealing of connection joints on windows, doors and panels. This flexible and resilient special foil allows vapour diffusion, thus allowing moisture to escape from the joint to the outside. The foils meet the requirements of the energy saving ordinance (EnEV) and the RAL window installation guidelines.

Both window foils are resistant to driving rain, impermeable to water, airtight and windproof and are highly stretchable. This flexible adaptability allows it to reliably absorb joint movements. The foils have low inherent rigidity and are also very tear-resistant. As a result, they can be applied easily and accurately, even on angled constructions. A special fleece surface allows the sealing foil to be easily plastered, painted and glued over. The soft and very adaptable window connection foils have a self-adhesive strip for quick and effective application to the window frame. For bonding to walls, the manufacturer recommends using ISO-TOP FLEX-ADHESIVE SP or XP. Both inside and outside foils are available in 30 m rolls and 70, 90, 145, 180, 235 and 290 mm widths. ISO-Chemie offers a 10-year functional warranty for the emission-free new Blue Line foils which are designed to create a healthy living environment.

In keeping with its motto “The new green is blue”, ISO-Chemie is making a name for itself on the market with its new organic product range. The manufacturer has been renowned for years for its energy-efficient and sustainable sealing solutions. With these new products, it shows that it continues to lead the way and remains true to its cutting-edge “BAUFUGE 4.0” concept and the company’s “Use the blue technology” claim.

You will find further information on our digital exhibition stand at portal.iso-chemie.eu/getdigital

Andy Swift has been appointed as head of UK and Republic of Ireland operations for window and door sealants and air tightness specialist, ISO-Chemie.

Heading up a national team, Andy Swift, who brings more than 20 years’ experience in the window and conservatory manufacturing industries to the role, will continue to oversee strong growth and expansion.

Since joining ISO-Chemie in 2014 as national sales manager, he has been at the forefront of building the brand in the UK fenestration sector, raising awareness of thermal leakage around windows. In particular, he has been involved in promoting the energy efficiency and installation benefits of sealant tapes among sector decision makers and installers.

Targeting architects at the design stage and installers during the fitment of windows and doors, he will together with technical advisers Nick Thompson and Marc Barton, continue to focus on highlighting to the construction sector the benefits of using specialist technology to secure air-tight solutions.

The company’s range of advanced fire-rated structural products such as ISO-TOP WINFRAMER “TYPE 1” E30, which can protect the entire window area from fire for up to 30 minutes, will also be a key focus in the light of forthcoming changes to building regulations.

Andy Swift said: “The future looks bright despite some challenges and changes in the market. With the current energy saving movement raising voices in governments across the globe, I am relishing the chance to further use our products and knowledge to create more energy efficient buildings.”

ISO-Chemie is one of Europe’s main producers of impregnated foam sealants, specialising in the manufacture of foam products from polyethylene (EPE), polypropylene (EPP) and polyurethane (PUR) using the latest production techniques. With hundreds of pallets in UK stock for next day delivery, the company can service the whole industry.

More at https://www.iso-chemie.eu/en-GB/home/

Reader enquiries: Andrew Swift, tel. 07837 337220, email a.swift@iso-chemie.co.uk

Media Enquiries: Contact Andy Bruce on 0191 233 1300 or email andy@mhwpr.co.uk