CMS Helps Fife Council Deliver Quality Homes In Flats Transformation

Date: 8 December 2015

CMS Window Systems has delivered an extensive housing upgrade programme which has transformed the lives of tenants and helped to reduce the risk of fuel poverty in more than 200 homes in Dunfermline.

The leading window, door and curtain walling manufacturer and installer, who also installs external wall insulation and cladding as part of comprehensive building envelope upgrade programmes, has completed the project at Broomhead Flats.The three 50-year old blocks had reached the point in their lifespan where they either needed significant investment to bring them up to the current Scottish Housing Quality Standard, or needed to be demolished and replaced with new build properties.

Following a tenants’ consultation, residents favoured refurbishment and in May 2014 Fife Council’s Housing and Communities Committee gave the go-head for this project to begin.

The multimillion pound improvement project has transformed 216 properties which are housed within the three 12-storey blocks. The building fabric has been brought up to a much higher thermal standard, utilising product technology which was simply not available in the 1960s. And that primarily involved the £5.1 million CMS contract for the replacement of windows, doors and curtain walling, application of external wall insulation (EWI) and replacing balconies.

CMS was appointed as the main envelope contractor to deliver these improvements after winning the competitive cost and quality based tender. For Fife Council, this helped simplify the procurement process and supply chain from the outset. CMS was able to help develop a specification for the windows, and their appointment ensured consistent quality, trouble free interface integration and clear communication channels – all proving important to the success of this extensive refurbishment project.

Every flat now benefits from A-rated, highly insulating windows which are manufactured with Sheerframe lead-free PVCu profiles and feature thermally superior low-e softcoat double glazed sealed units. With a low U-value, the energy rating (WER) of these fully UK-made windows represents a huge improvement in thermal performance.

CMS also manufactured and installed aluminium curtain walling which spans up to eleven floors on each block, enclosing all communal walkways – equating to more than 2,000m2 of curtain walling. The superior quality Metal Technology System 17 was chosen, fitted with low-e double glazed sealed units, and replaced existing steel balustrades and steel screens in communal areas to raise the quality and visual appeal of both interiors and exteriors.

A third component to the structural elements was the replacement of balcony enclosures on every property. This was also a significant undertaking completed by CMS with more than 1,700m2 of enclosures across the three blocks. More than 200 balcony enclosures were created using Windoor System 1000 balcony enclosures featuring ‘Light’ glazing systems. The design of these enclosures allows tenants the freedom to use their balcony all year round. The upper part of the balcony system consists of sliding and folding glass whilst the lower part consists of slender powder-coated aluminium profiles.

Completing the transformation of the building fabric, CMS was also contracted to over-clad the external walls with a mix of insulated render and render only, as required. This work was carried out by CMS installers using mast climbers for safe access and to ensure speedy delivery with minimum disruption. With total wall coverage of more than 11,000m2, this extensive over-cladding work has improved the insulation level of all walls to complement the performance of the windows, doors and curtain walling.

John Rodigan, Senior Manager of Building Services at Fife Council added: “the Housing and Neighbourhood Service of the Council are demonstrating great foresight in their decision to invest in the energy efficient measures at Broomhead.

“It’s also no coincidence that one of our most environmentally committed companies won the contract, it’s been the perfect partnership with all stakeholders sharing the same objectives. The result for the Broomhead tenants will be significant in terms of reduced energy costs and increased comfort. These works have made a substantial contribution to Fife’s green agenda as well as supporting local employment and trade apprenticeships – the delivery of this project has been a real triumph for the Council.”

Find out more about CMS Window Systems at www.cmswindows.com.