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Series 80 Horizontal Sliding Operation and Maintenance

Operation

The panels (sashes) can slide after releasing any locking catches. Avoid any fast movement or slamming action particularly with larger sashes since this could damage the stop blocks or the projecting moulded handles. If an espagnolette lock has been fitted to the interlock bars it should only be operated when the window is closed to avoid damage to the locking keeps. Panels should be closed slowly to avoid ‘nudging’ the next panel and reducing sealing efficiency. This is particularly important for multi-paneled arrangements.

Maintenance

Cleaning

The cleaning cycle will be dictated by local conditions and should consist of washing down the glass and aluminium with a non alkaline detergent in warm water using a soft cloth. The sashes can be removed to allow the rear glass surface to be cleaned. For more stubborn marks on the aluminium a soft brush or nylon pad should be used. Avoid abrasive cleaners, steel wool, strong acids or alkalis. After cleaning it is advisable to rinse the surfaces with clean water and then wipe dry. Chips or scratches in a paint finish can be touched in using a matching non cellulose paint and care must be taken not to get this into draught seals or moving parts. Repair of anodised finishes is not practical other than by touching in with a colour matched paint but the finished appearance is seldom complementary. The sliding tracks should occasionally be vacuumed and wiped down to avoid build up of dust or dirt.

Sash Removal

A full manual handling assessment must first be made. The front sash can be removed, when in the open position, by lifting into the head of the frame until the bottom edge clears the track. Gently swing towards the room and lower to allow the head to clear. The sashes run on stainless steel rollers and these must not be placed on dirty or gritty surfaces. Carefully lower the corner on to a supporting block and turn the sash on to its side. Do not drop it on its corner since this will knock it 'out of square'. It would then have to be 're-squared' using a block and mallet (see illustration). Before removing the rear panel, the small black sealing blocks mounted on the middle web of the head and cill frame must first be unscrewed. Removal then proceeds as for the front panel. If the sashes are constructed from annealed (non safety) glass, they must not be left standing at low level if other people are in the vicinity without a warning or suitable protection. Sashes are purpose made to suit each individual frame and must not be mixed up. Reinstate sashes in their original sequence with the rollers at the bottom. The central sealing blocks must be re-fixed before lifting in the front sash.

Re-glazing

This can be carried out after completion of a full risk assessment. Remove the sash as described above and lay flat on a suitable bench surface. Each corner has four taptight screws which fix the bars to angled corner cleats. Those to the vertical bars have removable plastic cover caps. Undo the screws and carefully ease off the top and bottom bars. This allows the cleats to disengage from the vertical bars which can then be removed from the glass. Obtain a new piece of glass after establishing size, thickness and type. Carefully wrap the gasket back on to the new glass. Re-apply the vertical aluminium bars using initial hand pressure and then knock on with a block and mallet ensuring that they are straight and true. Offer up the top and bottom rails with the cleats in place and re-engage with the vertical bars. Re-fix with the threaded screws ensuring that the mitre is true and 'dress' the shoulder of the gasket on to the aluminium with a smooth flat pointed object (See illustration). Replace the screw caps to the vertical bars.