First to be certified for fire and smoke resistance

Appearance, comfort and fire resistance come together in unique wood-aluminum window frame

With the Wood-Alu-Frame^® from WEBO, architects, contractors and facade builders choose the best of several worlds. The unique window frame combines the warm appearance of wood with the sleek appearance of aluminum and is energy-efficient and low-maintenance. What is more, the complete system is CE-certified and meets the fire resistance requirements.

Within residential and non-residential construction, there are increasingly stringent requirements for fire safety and the prevention of fire propagation. "Window frames and doors are an essential component in creating fire compartments that meet the requirements so that persons can escape a building safely and in a timely manner," says Job Huisman, Account Manager at WEBO. "For a door or frame construction, the building specifications already specify which fire resistance requirements must be met. In practice, however, this can cause problems because the various components of the frame and door construction are often purchased from multiple suppliers." Although the components individually may meet the EN 16034 standard, no certification can be issued on the complete system, he says. "After all, a correct product does not guarantee a correct system. This is because the connections and finishing also affect this. Therefore, fire safety for combined frame and door systems must always be assessed by an independent inspector. This requires a lot of time, cost and effort, for which our HoutAlu-Kozijn^® provides a fast, effective and quality solution."

30-60 minutes fire and smoke resistance

With the Wood-Alu-Frame^® contractors and facade builders are taken care of from A to Z, emphasizes Huisman. "They no longer have to worry about the system or its performance. After all, all certifications are already in house." With the HoutAlu-Frame^® WEBO is even the first supplier to be CE-certified for 30-60-minute fire- and smoke-resistant wood-aluminum window frames and doors. "The certification applies to the complete system, allowing you to demonstrate the required fire performance upfront in the construction process and no longer depend on an independent expert's statement. With this, the fire safety of a building is better guaranteed and contractors are better prepared for the new Building Quality Assurance Act (Wkb)." 

Fire tests for both door and frame construction were conducted in Peutz's laboratory, in accordance with EN 16034-1 and EN 16034-3. "This led, for example, to an EI1 classification of 15, 30 and 45 minutes and an EW classification of 30 and 50 minutes for our tilt-and-turn constructions, as well as an EI1 of 30 minutes for our fire-resistant wood-aluminum stacking doors (including an S200 smoke requirement). In order to be able to realize different configurations and sizes in practice and within the attestation, Peutz has drawn up a comprehensive scope of application (ExAp). As a result, we offer a wide range of possibilities in dimensions and design." In the new information brochure (www.webo.nl/brochure-aanvragen), all classifications (EW, EI, S200 & SA), configurations and dimensions are clearly presented.

Strength of the combination

Certified Wood-Alu-Frame^® was introduced to the market in February 2023. "At its base is a solid oak or mahogany frame with a warm appearance and excellent thermal insulation performance," says Huisman. "Thanks to a high volumetric mass of >650kg/m³ excellent fire resistance is also guaranteed. The frame is fitted with fire-resistant glass and fire-resistant seals in our joinery factory in Rijssen. An aluminum shell (cover strip) is also applied to the outside of the window frame, combining the best of wood with excellent weather resistance, shape retention and minimal maintenance. This makes the HoutAlu-Kozijn^® also ideally suited for high-rise projects."

Lots of design freedom

Those who choose the Wood-Alu-Frame^® from WEBO, benefit from a great deal of design freedom. Not only in dimensions, but also in the combination of windows and fixed glass, for example. Thus it is possible to use the HoutAlu-Kozijn^® to be equipped with a tilt-and-turn window, fanlight or sidelight, with all variants having been successfully tested and certified. For the doors, for example, an extension with stacking sills is possible. "On request, the aluminum cover frame can be anodized. Also, any RAL color is available." 

'Inventors in the carpentry industry'

With the Wood-Alu-Frame^® the innovative nature of WEBO is once again confirmed. "Development and innovation are in our DNA and we like to go a step further than the standards prescribe," concludes Huisman. "This is how we anticipate future developments as well as the challenges in construction. Not for nothing are we known as the 'inventors in the carpentry industry'.