Although the area around the well-known Wehbers Park, one of two central parks in Hamburg-Eimsbüttel and very rich in tradition, is very popular, particularly with older residents, the amount of traffic in this busy quarter creates its own problems, especially for the residents along the Fruchtallee thoroughfare which has a particularly high density of traffic at the corner of Emilienstraße which leads to Wehbers Park. Noise levels here are very high. An investigative report on noise pollution, carried out by Messrs. M+O Immissionsschutz (Oststeinbek) and its impact on the construction of the the new residential and nursing home “Haus am Wehbers Park” on the Fruchtallee road which was completed in April 2008, stated that the assessment level for the front of the building facing the Fruchtallee was 73 dB, which is very high indeed.

In order to reduce this noise exposure and to give the occupants a more protected environment, the supervisory architectural practice Böbs from Hamburg acting on behalf of its client and administrator Wilhelm Kurth Bauregie GmbH, was confronted with particular challenges in the planning of the project.

Before the attractive five story building with its 158 single and 13 double rooms plus generous facilities such as common rooms and therapy facilities could be built, the site was dominated by a dismal and ugly wartime concrete bunker dating back to 1942. Its 1.8 meter thick reinforced concrete walls were stripped down to ground level, leaving only the underground segments in place. Today they are integrated into the private underground car park. The new building of the residential home was partly constructed in the traditional style of North German red brick houses, thus blending in with the surrounding venacular architecture. The design of the balconies and facades was carried out in the best and most economic way possible taking advantage of the innovative SL Modular balcony system from Solarlux, the market leading system developer and manufacturer from Bissendorf, Germany.

Individual modular façade design, tailor-made and economic
Due to the high levels of traffic noise, the required sound reduction index (US: sound transmission class) for the windows and doors for the residential home was 45 dB and therefore very high. The large amount of window area would not be able to provide a great amount of sound energy absorption. By the fitting of Solarlux balcony modules, however, the required sound reduction index could be lowered to 30 dB. This meant that the noise-insulation class of the windows as measured by the former noise-insulation classes could be reduced by three classes: from the initial noise-insulation class 5 to the lower class 2.

The modular SL system which combines parapet units and glazing, offers a great deal of scope for design and can also be fitted with or without heat insulation. At the residential home “Haus am Wehbers Park“ 52 modules with 239 panels of the highly transparent uninsulated SL 25 glazing was installed which gave the occupants additional living space with an unhindered view of the surroundings. If so desired, the all glass panels can be opened up and moved to one side.

The parapet units and the glazing of the fitted modular SL system are primarily designed as curtain walling, pre-assembled in the works and delivered to the site ready to be installed. This is of great benefit whether the installation is intended for new balconies or for balcony renovations or extensions since this method reduces installation times to a minimum. A further advantage is the fact that projects with the SL modular system can be added later in subsequent construction stages.

What is even more convincing about Solarlux´s modular design is the tailor-made variety which is on offer, the aesthetic solutions and innovative construction which satisfies the sophisticated requirements of both architects and specifiers alike. Thus, the individual solution with the balcony glazing succeeded in providing transparent glazing across corners without any corner profiles to obstruct the view. No other product on the market can presently offer this feature. The vast choice of different designs for the parapet units makes it possible to provide projects with that individual detail which enhances the living space for years to come. For the balconies of the “Haus am Wehbers Park”, transparent parapet units were chosen which emphasize the open and friendly character of the architecture. 

Integrated into the services which the system developer and manufacturer Solarlux offers is support for its clients during the complete planning and implementation phase. When dealing with complex building projects – be it modernisation or the new construction of balconies and façades, it is reassuring for many clients to know that the task with all of its comprehensive planning and co-ordination requirements is in the hands of a competent partner. Not only is this a significant economic factor but also gives peace of mind to those who are in charge of the project.

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Solarlux´s SL Modular system was the means of achieving this successful transparent facade for the residential home “Haus am Wehbers Park” in Hamburg“. The excellent sound insulation and the increase in living space enhanced the quality of life for its occupants.

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The detail of the project was equally successful. The SL Modular system provided the residential home with a character of its own: for the balcony units the highly transparent SL 25 glazing across corners was used, eliminating corner profiles which would obstruct the view.

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The transparent balcony and facade design realised with Solarlux SL Modular system with integrated slide and turn panels.

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This balcony was created with half a module of the proven Solarlux SL Modular balcony and provides all the safety features required for the upper floor of the senior citizen home “Haus am Wehbers Park” on the busy Fruchtallee thoroughfare of Hamburg.

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The site on which the residential home for senior citizens can be found today was previously occupied by a dismal and ugly concrete bunker dating back to 1942 during the war. It was stripped down to ground level, leaving only the underground structures in place which today serve as an underground car park for the newly built residence which was completed in April 2008.

Apeldoorn with its 160,000 inhabitants is situated in the Dutch province of Geldern and is regarded as a garden city offering high quality living standards. Since its economic boom years in the early 60s, the city has seen great changes in its architectural environment. In the district of Zevenhuizen in the North-Eastern part of this sprawling city a considerable number of residential blocks that originated from this period have been handed down. Since the beginning of 2007 here, as everywhere in the city, extensive renovation and modernisation projects have been taking place with the aim of upgrading the out-of-date accommodation – not least in order to prevent the area from becoming run down.

The entire residential area to be renovated
Under the planning direction of the renowned architectural practice Groosmann Partners, Rotterdam, a green quarter is being created in the medium term with a variety of special living accommodation with restrictions on traffic. The idea is to create a variety of city dwellings such as terraced houses with gardens, semi-detached houses, residential flats, flats to work in and apartments. In total, 450 new dwelling places are planned, 100 of which are for rental accommodation and 350 as owner-occupier flats. Of the six 10-story blocks of flats with external stairway access which coin the style of the old centre of Zevenhuizen, five will be demolished in the next ten years in order to create space for new and more modern housing. The only multistory block which will stay is the “De Valk“ that has been refurbished from scratch. It is a deliberate choice by the residential building cooperative responsible “Ons Huis” of Apeldoorn, as Rob Greve, its representative in charge of developments explains: “It is a quarter with history. On one hand totally run down, but on the other hand a quarter in which many people liked to live. By renovating a block of flats, the people are given the opportunity to own it once again.“

Transparent façades for a feel good factor
The former “De Valk” was stripped down to the bare bones. All that remained was the concrete structure. Originally, the building consisted of a 100 meter long residential block, 10 stories high, and in the middle a stairwell including entrance hall and lifts. The newly refurbished building has been optically cleverly divided up into two residential blocks of 50 apartments each, the glass façades of which are either pointing to the East or the West. The concept of external stairway access was retained. An important aspect in the redesigning of the residential block, which has now been given the name “t’Podium“, was the wish of the property owner to achieve optimum transparency and the greatest visual openness of the building exterior. The decision was therefore to go for an innovative façade solution, as offered by the market-leading German system developer and manufacturer Solarlux of Bissendorf, whose tailor-made glazing systems also meet the high standards of commercial projects in terms of build-quality, functionality and design. In high-rise buildings, for example, the systems must withstand increasing winds.

The project was carried out by Solarlux´s subsidiary, Solarlux Netherlands at Nijverdal, who worked in close co-operation with the architects. Uppermost in the planner´s mind was to give the occupiers for the future a light and bright living space which connects the inside in a harmonious way with the outside, increasing quality of life in the long term. To achieve this, each flat was equipped with a glass folding façade which extends over the full width of the living room. Altogether 200 units of Solarlux´s well-proven System SL 60e were installed, a system which features slimline aluminium profiles, excellent thermal insulation and a high degree of impermeability to wind and rain. Each glass folding façade creates for every residential unit an almost four meter wide glass front which, together with a parapet of fixed units of the same profile series, creates a very attractive, transparent façade unit. In order to contain the strong winds on the building and to give the glass façades sufficient stability, special anchoring systems were developed. As project manager Wim Doppenberg of the contractor Draisma of Appeldorn, which is undertaking the work, put it: “The anchoring system really played an important part – after all we are dealing with glass façade modules of approximately 3 meters in height and 8 meters in length. For this an anchorage was developed from which you could suspend an elephant.”

Ease of operation of the glass folding façades and excellent use of light
The panels of the glass folding façade can be folded away completely with effortless ease like a concertina, thus providing maximum openings and excellent use of light. For safety reasons the decision in Zevenhuizen was to choose inward opening panels. Stainless steel runner assemblies and track ensure extremely easy gliding of the glass units. The folded-up panels can be stacked to the side, to the right or left, taking up very little room and without having to move furniture and plants out of the way. Thus the glass folding façade meets almost all room management requirements. Since the Solarlux-System SL 60e has been designed with removable hinge pins, it is easy to clean the outside panes of the top hung panels from the inside – a clear advantage in terms of easy handling and easy daily operation by the occupiers of “t’Podium“.

Overall, the newly refurbished building presents itself with a highly transparent façade which provides the best light efficiency for the dwellings. The slimline Solarlux aluminium profiles tie in with the geometrically arranged wall covering in white producing an attractive combination of flowing lines which also highlight the conceptual and architectural potential of the innovative glazing systems from Solarlux.

An integral part of the system developer´s and manufacturer´s range of products and services is the support the company gives to its clients throughout the entire planning and implementation process even when there are technical challenges to be faced. Thus, in the course of the Zevenhuizen project, the large glass folding façades and parapet units were delivered by Solarlux Netherlands on special trestles in order to be lifted by crane for direct installation in the building. “We worked without any scaffolding whatsoever and without any additional safety measures. Due to excellent logistics we were able to fit out two stories in a fortnight, managing to get ahead of the time schedule by a few weeks” Fred Mak, the manager in charge of the Dutch Solarlux office confirms the excellent teamwork of all partners in the project. This is just one of the many reasons why Solarlux Netherlands is a well-known and sought-after partner among Dutch architects.

High transparency and visual openness were created with the newly refurbished t’Podium in Apeldoorn, Netherlands, by using Solarlux´s innovative glass folding façades.	This is the dismal appearance of the „De Valk“ block of flats in Apeldoorn prior to refurbishment.

Tailor-made logistics:
Solarlux Netherlands delivered the large glass folding façades on special trestles which could then be directly lifted by crane to lofty heights and anchored safely in the structure of the building.

Cross-section of the installed Solarlux SL 60e glass folding façades.

Star architect Sebastian Mariscal who lives in America became famous for his houses, where the building materials were essentially reduced to concrete and timber and with which he aimed for a smooth transition between the inside and the outside. “Architecture is about space”, he says, “and the more material you use, the less you are aware of space.” It was quite natural that Mariscal would use his own house, which was completed in 2007, to celebrate open space incorporating the spectacular backdrop of the Pacific Ocean into his everyday living experience.

The means to carry out such ideas are provided by units such as the horizontal sliding wall SL 50-HSW from the German system developer and manufacturer Solarlux in Bissendorf. Twenty five panels of the top hung aluminium profile system were installed on three outside walls of Mariscal´s residence. They can be simply moved out of view, thus creating maximum openings which quickly extend the living room into the garden. The special feature of the Solarlux design is that all the glass panels can be slid out of the way and around the two outside corners in order to disappear in an inconspicuous parking niche. The house then stands on pillars and the inside, which is at ground level, continues seamlessly into the outside environment.

The flexible individual glass panels are smooth running and extremely easy to handle. And if the occupants do not happen to feel like being “al fresco“ they can just move individual panels or step outside through the integrated entry / exit panels. 

The fascinating view of the landscape with the view of the Pacific Ocean can be appreciated at any time and in any weather due to the extraordinary transparency of the Solarlux system since the SL 50-HSW is thermally insulated and provides inner tranquillity even in stormy weather. In California, however, the climate is so mild that the occupants of the “Fay Residence“ open up their glass façades much more frequently so that they can dine in their central kitchen as if in the open air.

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Even when closed, the flexible SL 50-HSW Solarlux glazing is stunningly beautiful in its transparency. Integrated entry / exit panels facilitate easy entry and exit.

photo: Hisao Suzuki

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The flexible glass panels of the SL 50-HSW system from Solarlux are simply moved out of the ways so that the living room space flows seamlessly into the open.

photo: Hisao Suzuki

The Solarlux SL 60e glass folding façade can be provided with runner as-semblies either at the top or bottom. In the design of doorways in modern facades the bottom track can be recessed into the floor for unhindered ac-cess.

Due to its wide choice of features, its excellent protection from driving rain and its notable heat insulation, it is possible to use the system in challenging projects. Decision makers in the residential property sector, architects and specifiers alike can trust in Solarlux to give them both individual solutions and comprehensive support.

The heat-insulated version of the SL modular balcony system together with the integrated SL 60e Solarlux folding façade helps to make the most of a property: it offers greater space for enjoyment. The glazing can be opened up over the full width and special removable hinge pins facilitate the cleaning of the external panes.	The significant heat insulation capability and the impermeability to weather conditions coupled with the flexible way, in which its pa-nels can be opened, make the SL 60e glass folding façade from Solarlux a convincing feature of modern façades, not least for large projects.

However, such demands are easily met by the SL 80 glass façade from the system developer and manufacturer Solarlux. This product is well placed to meet the highest expectations. The applications for these heat insulated folding façades are numerous: they can be used as external walls for living rooms which can be opened up completely, as the vertical glazing of winter gardens, as business entrances or for swimming pool glazing and make therefore the ideal product for forward looking façade design.

The profiles of the glass folding façade offer improved U values and can accommodate glazing up to a thickness of 40 mm and even triple glazing, which is developing into the new standard with a Ug value of 0.7 W/m2K or even more enhanced Ug values than that.

The slim frame and panel profiles (with a panel joint of a mere 104 mm) fitted with special glazing reach a sound attenuation value of R´w=45 dB.

High specification runner assemblies, locking mechanisms and door furniture are all flush and inconspicuously integrated into the design of the system. A complete window system is also available from Solarlux which matches the SL 80: as tilt and turn, parallel slide and tilt units or as fixed units. The SL 80 glass folding façade offers maximum transparency and at the same time the largest possible flexible openings for modern architectural concepts.

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The profiles of the SL 80 glass folding façade offer improved U values and can accommodate glass thicknesses of up to 40 mm. Even triple glazing with a Ug value of 0.4 is possible.

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The SL 80 Solarlux glass folding façade provides maximum transparency and at the same time flexible openings with improved U values.

Solarlux´s modular design is convincing with its tailor-made range, the aesthetic solutions and innovative designs of which meet the complex needs of architects and specifiers. For a special solution, Solarlux´s parapet units can even have the glazing fitted across the corner – without having corner profiles to obstruct the view. So far, this concept gives Solarlux a unique place in the market. The huge choice available in the design of parapet units makes it possible to provide building projects with individual details which enhance their appearance through attention to detail and which give greater scope for enjoyment of the living space for the long term.

Part of the system developer´s and manufacturer´s service is to support property owners during the phases of planning and implementation. Whether the decision is to modernise or construct new balconies and façades, this is a decisive factor in terms of cost and can be a great advantage for the client who can rely on the fact that they are in the hands of a  competent and accessible expert who undertakes the comprehensive planning and smooth co-ordination and implementation of a proposed development – even in complex projects.

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Solarlux´s SL Modular balcony system provides modern balcony and façade solutions with great scope for design variations.

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With its transparent glazing across corners offered by Solarlux the SL Modular balcony system commands a unique position in the market.

Since the balcony glazing is fitted with the SL 60e flexible glass folding façade which can be pulled to one side in its entirety, the character of a balcony is retained and the absence of any obstructing posts means that the maximum vista is maintained. The aluminium glazing system, with its wraparound slim frame helps to impart a particularly light and elegant impression. Continuous seals within the system as well as on the outside ensure impermeability to driving rain and prevent draughts. Removable special hinge pins in the balcony area make it possible to clean the outside panes from within.

Solarlux´s modular design is the obvious choice with its tailor-made range, where aesthetic solutions and innovative designs meet the complex needs of architects and specifiers. The great choice available in the design of parapet units makes it possible to provide building projects with individual details which enhance their appearance through attention to detail and which give you enduring enjoyment in your living space.

Part of the system developer´s and manufacturer´s service is to support property owners during the phases of planning and implementation. Whether the plan is to modernise or construct new balconies and façades, this is a decisive factor in terms of cost and can help considerably, knowing that the comprehensive planning and smooth co-ordination and implementation of a proposed development, which may be complex, is in the hands of a competent and accessible expert.

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The heat insulated version of the SL Modular balcony and façade system from Solarlux transforms balconies into fully-fledged living spaces. The SL 60e glass folding façade which has been retro-fitted can be opened up over the full width, thus retaining the original character of the balcony.

The type of properties which are particularly affected are those where the balconies were built with exposed concrete. After years of service, frost has left its toll by breaking up surfaces and necessitating costly renovation work in order to maintain their structural soundness. Also affected – although to a lesser extent – are buildings constructed with precast concrete. Constant weathering caused by penetrating moisture and temperature fluctuations (from subzero temperatures in the winter to as high as 70° C building surface temperatures in the summer) result considerable damage and expensive renovation work in the long term. Although the balcony elements supplied by Solarlux cannot remedy the damage caused, they can offer lasting protection and are therefore a preventative solution.

A further plus is offered by our modular system in the form of curtain walling. Construction from the 1960s until the late 80s means that concrete cantilever slabs were not usually separated from the remaining building structure by thermal insulation, thus forming a permanent “cold bridge“ over which heating energy is wasted. In such cases the Solarlux curtain walling type modular systems can also reduce energy loss.

Individual balcony solutions for new and old properties
If you are wanting to increase the value of your property and provide more comfort and convenience to its occupiers, you will find that balcony glazing is the perfect answer.
You will be able to see a variety of modern balcony renovation methods which are on offer today, systems which are economic and which will provide reductions in energy costs for tenants and landlords alike. Solarlux, a manufacturer who specialises in this field, manufactures their systems in Germany and are certified according to ISO 9001 and offer systems, including test certificates from reputable national and international institutes such as ift Rosenheim, Architectural Testing, SHR etc.

Solarlux, the system developer, offers a comprehensive portfolio of balcony glazing systems for any specification – from cold glazing to thermally insulated modules in accordance with the latest energy saving regulations. With well-engineered and well-proven profiles and fittings, the company offers innovative glazing solutions for almost all balcony types. Uninsulated, transparent glazing or panels with extremely slim frame profiled glazing ensure maximum transparency and can be installed on existing parapets without difficulty. Within this thermally insulated system you can turn your balcony into an extended living space which can be used all year round.

Large openings – maximum flexibility
Solarlux´s glazing features generously dimensioned and variable openings. When opened, the original balcony character is restored, when closed, an additional room is created, protected from wind and weather. In addition, the feeling of comfort markedly increases as the enclosed space gained by the glazing acts in winter as an effective heat buffer. Energy savings that can be made in this way reduce the cost and help the environment.
Noise pollution, due to large traffic volumes, can be substantially reduced since the glazing has effective sound absorbing qualities. Without insulation the sound attenuation amounts to more than 20 dB (decibels), and with thermal insulation to as much as up to 44 dB.

Uninsulated glazing systems
Within the range of uninsulated systems there is a choice of three systems: the slim line slide and turn elements (SL 25 and SL 25R) and the SL 35 folding facade system.
The SL 25 system is an elegant, frameless all glass system whereas the SL 25R system is a glazing system with slim panel frames. The slide and turn panels are provided at the top with two horizontal ball bearing runner as-semblies which can slide around any balcony angle over 90°. Thus, both glazing systems are suitable for straight and angled configurations (seen in plan view). The high performance runner assemblies ensure easy sliding of the glass panels and are flush and inconspicuously integrated into the design of the system, as with the locking system and the window furniture. The glass panel can be opened effortless towards the inside so that the outside glass pane can be cleaned from the inside of the balcony.
The profiles which have a depth of 27 mm can be fitted with standard glazing (single pane safety glass) of 6, 8 or 10 mm thickness. Both variants are provided with trickle ventilation, are protected from driving rain, and achieve a noise reduction of up to 17 dB or up to 25 dB respectively. A noise reduc-tion of 10 dB is perceived by the human ear as a noise reduction by half.

In contrast to the slide and turn panels, the uninsulated SL 35 facade is opened up like a concertina. The opening direction can be chosen to be inwards, outwards, to the left or to the right. The folding facade features a thickness of 35 mm, a slim frame and slim panel profiles as well as high stability tongue-and-groove joints and solid corner connectors. Standard glazing is of 5 mm float glass but the system is capable of accepting sealed unit thicknesses up to 24 mm. Ventilation of the uninsulated folding facades is classified as class 2 and its impermeability to rain as class 7 A.

Thermally insulated balcony glazing
Increase your conveniences and comfort, conserve heat, use less energy. By contrast to cold glazing, thermally insulated folding facades, which can be mounted in the same way on existing balcony parapets, make things more comfortable and offer greater savings in energy – not only due to the additional air space which acts as a heat buffer, but also due to the heat-insulated parapet panels in combination with the heat-insulating glass. Thus, the balcony can be used all year round as a living space – a completely new concept which can be realised not only in the case of balcony renovations but also when building new balconies. The entire unit – the thermally insulated Solarlux profiles, the parapet panels and the glazing meet the stringent requirements of the German energy saving regulations EnEV. In terms of sealing, the statutory requirements are even surpassed.

The smooth and easy operation of moving the folding facades is achieved by high performance ball bearing runner assemblies. The panels can be folded inwards, outwards, towards the right and / or the left and stacked at the side out of the way without taking up any significant space. Thus it is possible to fold up a 10 m wide glass wall to as little as 1 metre. It is also possible to have the folding facade combined with tilt and turn panels. If the outer glass panes need cleaning, removable pins can be pulled out of the special door furniture so that the outside panes open towards the balcony in order to be cleaned from within with little effort.

Shortest installation times due to modular balcony system
For new balconies – as well as on existing residential property – Solarlux has developed a modular system which links the balcony parapet to the glazing in a unique manner. The balcony modules are designed predominantly as curtain walling, are preassembled in the works and delivered to site as complete units and installed in this way. Thus it is possible to reduce scaffolding and installation time at the site by up to 40 per cent. Parapet panels and glazing can be installed in subsequent stages of construction. The advantages of this SL type of modular construction by comparison with the conventional method (railings and glazing) are evident:

• visually attractive • short installation times due to the streamlined installation of modules • wraparound connecting joints – covered at the inside and outside • highly transparent –allowing maximum light, additional glass panels in the balustrade • face of concrete components protected • retrofitting of glazing on the parapet is simple • easy replacement of parapet panels with GL system (glazing bar)

Single source tailor-made balcony solutions
Building work – whether it involves new buildings, refurbishment or face-lifting – always requires substantial organisational input on the part of the client. In order to reduce this work to a minimum, the manufacturer offers “single source balcony renovation or glazing” which means that all the work – from the survey to scaffolding and final installation – is carried out by one company. Housebuilders therefore have only one single contact for com-prehensive renovation projects and this contact with his experienced project team, not only works out individual glazing solutions for the building to be renovated but also co-ordinates and handles all stages of the work and acts as facilitator between the architect and the property management company. Thus the prompt and smooth operation of all projects is ensured.

Balcony glazing – a worthwhile investment
Whether the payback for glazed balcony is achieved in two, three or five years depends on which system is used and which factors are used in the equation – whether energy saving, improved letting opportunities, increased value of residential property etc. For the property, the owner and the tenant the investment is always worthwhile.

Because of the stability of stainless steel and the particularly solid construc-tion of all our door furniture, more weight can be carried which means that larger panels can be designed (up. to 1.2 m wide and 3.5 m high). In order to withstand wind loads, movement and attempts to break in, with such unusual sizes, the entry/exit panel of the SL 70e lock sidewise into the frame or the adjacent panel. Wrap-around continuous gaskets inside the structure and a second sealing level on the outside ensure a high degree of protection from driving rain (Class 9A according to EN 12 208) and wind (Class 3 according to EN 12 207). For additional protection and ease of operation the wrap-around frame is provided with a brush seal which has a flexible central sealing fin.

The improved folding façade system, which can be opened either inwards or outwards and folded away to the right or to the left, is particularly suited for large openings and for applications such as business entrances, window façades for living spaces and for swimming pool glazing as well as for win-ter gardens. The bottom runner track can be provided with or without up-stand and can also be sunk into the floor for unhindered access. For busi-ness entrances or “unobstructed access” such as for wheel chairs, the up-stand in the bottom track can be eliminated in accordance with DIN 18025. The system is capable of compensating for height discrepancies and for expansion without impairing its proper functioning.

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Quieter, easier to operate and with a longer life: By changing the runner gear material to stainless steel, Solarlux has improved the properties of its SL 70e folding façade classic.

The newly developed slim aluminium roof members are recessed from the uprights and from the eaves purlin thus creating the impression of weightlessness. The clever “minimalistic” design transfers the load-bearing function from the outside, which is usual, to the inside. The result is a stunningly sleek roof line. The open ends of the roof members are capped with matching cast aluminium stops so that there are no visible screwed joints. The overall impression is of an uncluttered and simple design. Stepped glass panels do away with profiles at the glass edge thus enhancing drainage and self-cleaning capacity. This and other clever design features simplify the installation, making for better economics.

To enhance the overall design concept, the manufacturer offers high specification spotlights and light fittings. As in the case of all Solarlux roofing systems, our well established folding façades can be integrated thus catering for the vertical aspect of the structure. By simply folding them away maximum space can be opened up, creating an entirely new feel to the space.

The exclusive designer roof which allows roof pitches to vary from 5° to 45°, has been available since November 2006.

Illustrations: The elegant SDL Nobiles roofing design

SDL Nobiles roof line.jpg: The entirely new and ingenious “minimalistic” design of the roof members, transfers the load-bearing function from the outside, which is usual, to the inside. The result is a stunningly sleek roof line.	SDL Nobiles roof members.jpg: High-class Solarlux SDL Nobiles roofing system. The newly developed slim-line aluminium roof members give the impression of a weightless structure.
SDL Nobiles detail.jpg: So far we are unique: The slim design roof members of the Solarlux SDL Nobiles wintergarden roofing system gives the appearance of being suspended weightlessly above wall and eaves purlin.