GENERATIONS OF ARCHITECTS HAVE SPECIFIED STEEL WINDOWS FOR VIRTUALLY EVERY SETTING ‐ RELYING ON THEIR UNIQUE, TIMELESS QUALITIES TO SHAPE BUILDINGS THAT EVOKE CLASSIC, OLD‐ WORLD THEMES OR SHOUT BOLD, MODERN STATEMENTS. Steel windows offer narrow sight lines, strength and proven durability and are at home in any residential or commercial building, including churches, schools, hospitals and public buildings. There are many reasons why steel windows and doors are an excellent choice for architectural applications.

NARROW SIGHTLINES. No other quality is more readily associated with steel windows and doors than their narrow sightlines. Architects have incorporated this attribute in every sort of building over hundreds of years, and have designed the gracefulness of steel windows into countless architectural styles. Ironically, the minimal aspect of steel windows and doors is derived from the incredibly massive strength of the material. The aesthetic virtues achieved by use of steel cannot be duplicated in aluminum, wood or vinyl alternatives. The look of steel windows and doors is not simply distinctive, it is unique....

VERSATILITY. Steel windows have been selected for use in the most contemporary settings, in very traditional structures, and in gothic themes. They can be used on the building exterior and/or the interior. Steel windows and doors have been used in municipal buildings, museums, churches, private homes, commercial buildings, schools and universities, transportation terminals, manufacturing facilities, hospitals and retail stores.

STRENGTH. Steel windows and doors are stronger than any alternative material. By direct comparison, they are three times stronger than aluminum. This advantage permits the use of immense glass lights, often in spectacular openings, while maintaining narrow sightlines. Hardware fastened to steel windows and doors will not pull out.

FIRE RATING. Steel windows and doors are a natural choice when it comes to fire rated designs. Fire rated windows are not confined to fixed lites but can be fabricated in a variety of operable designs.

HISTORIC REPLACEMENT. The design flexibility offered by steel windows and doors, together with exceptional durability and life cycle, makes steel windows and doors an excellent choice in renovation projects. Original steel windows can be replaced with units which match historically, while offering state of the art finishing pretreatment and factory applied finishes, improved weather stripping, new muntin designs, and glazing with high performance glass. Steel is often selected to replace wood windows to improve sightlines or provide extended durability. In fact, ...

FACTORY FINISHES. Modern technology with metal pretreatment processes and top coats enable manufacturers to produce steel windows and doors which will remain virtually maintenance free. By choosing stainless steel as framing material these windows and doors become almost eternal and will outlive the building.

CLASSIC HARDWARE. Hardware options are not limited by the nature of the window material. Steel windows can accept any style, any type of hardware that can be imagined. Architects have access to a seemingly unlimited variety of handles, operators and closing devices. In addition, exact hardware replacements for windows half a century or older are often available. Just as important, the hardware fastened to steel windows does not tear out or loosen with heavy use.

LIFE CYCLE. Because steel windows and doors are inherently more durable than almost any alternative material used in construction, their life cycle is unsurpassed. In Europe, classic architectural examples over a century old contain original steel windows and doors. In the U.S., steel windows, which remain highly functional after three generations, have been replaced in certain cases only to make use of new glazing, finishing or ventilator technology. So steel windows and deterioration are essentially contradictions in terms.

SECURITY APPLICATIONS. Steel windows and doors can be designed to meet the most stringent building requirements for both blast resistance and impact resistance. The strength and durability associated with hot rolled steel sections make the product an ideal choice for security application.

INSTALLATION. Any building team that has experienced project delays caused by racked, inoperable or otherwise damaged windows can appreciate the relative problem‐free installation of steel windows. Almost without exception, steel windows arrive at the job site without the kinds of structural defects associated with alternative materials and can be installed just as economically. Depending on building design, steel windows often add to overall structural integrity.

THERMAL PERFORMANCE. The thermal performances of steel windows without a thermal brake have proven to be more than sufficient in many geographical areas and climatic conditions. The total window surface area constituted by the frame is so small that the effect of the material is almost negligible. The thermal performance of a window is mainly a function of the type of glass and glazing procedure. For countries with very stringent regulations on thermal performances, steel windows are thermally enhanced by replacing the steel web with a GRP web.

SUSTAINABILITY. Sustainability is at the top of our product development agenda – and steel is increasingly proving its value for meeting the challenges ahead caused by rapid global warming. Undoubtedly, steel's reputation is making a comeback as a viable construction material for all types of fenestration. Its green credentials are second to none, and here are a number of facts that support this argument for specifying steel windows and doors on your next project: Iron is the most abundant element on Earth. It makes up about 5% of the earth's crust; the earth's core is believed to consist largely of an iron‐nickel alloy constituting 35% of the mass of the Earth as a ...