It’s not a window, it’s a system. A system with a DNA. The EDGE DNA instructs the development, form and functioning of all the EDGE Architectural framing systems.
By scoping U-MAX™, MAX and GEN™ with the consistent features, our ranges can be interchangeably specified for visual unity and consistent, reliable, excellent performance. You chose the suite based on a desired U-value and maintain a consistent sightline around the building even when you alternate between frames.
Into every life a little rain will fall. By designing the EDGE commercial aluminium window and door systems with this fact of life in mind, we incorporated a more practical and reliable solution to deal with water, be it from rain, humidity or condensation.
Another EDGE innovation is our frames rainwater evacuation system, Watershed. Watershed is designed to manage and direct the flow of rainwater through the frame system to the external perimeter of the building. The concealed transom drainage system directs water over and around the edge of glass.
The Watershed methodology ensures dry interiors and prevents the build up of still water, recurring condensation and even mould that can occur in standard framing systems.
Admit it. You think those drain holes in window frames are ugly. We agree.
Beyond being ugly, drain holes in the face of a sill leaves the system vulnerable to other things. Air pressure, water, spiders and insects, all sorts of things can get in there. Where air goes, water will follow.
That’s why when we designed the legacy-free EDGE Architectural framing systems, we did the research and testing to find a more effective, more attractive water drainage system.
Framing systems in general were meant to be gutters and downpipes, but many of today’s systems designers have forgotten this. We’ve taken a best practice approach with it.
Our solution delivers a better drainage result and allows us to eliminate the drain holes. The EDGE suites are premium systems with premium drainage.
Thermally broken window and door frames offer several advantages including energy efficiency, decreased condensation and reduced radiated cold, resulting in money saved and comfort increased.
After extensive research and testing, the EDGE team determined the best results could be attained for our clients by combining both Polyurethane and Polyamide strip technology in the U-MAX thermal break window and door frames.
Long considered the “thermal wound” of a building, windows and doors notoriously allow outside temperatures inside, costing money, wasting fuels and reducing the usable space in a building. Thermal break offers a better way.
In colder climates, the thermal break reduces heating cost, as well as “cold spots” within rooms.
In warmer climates, the thermal break reduces cooling costs generated by the heat that transfers through a standard frame and radiates into a room.
In humid climates, thermally broken frames reduce condensation. Condensation on window frames results in water pooling on sills and often tracking onto walls and floors. Water damage and mould are the inevitable consequence of condensation on frames.
In contrast, condensation created by warmer, humid air inside a home contacting the glass made cooler by the cold air outside the home can be addressed by opening a window or running exhaust fans in the kitchen, bathroom or laundry area to allow the humid air to vent.
Increased energy efficiency in a building leads to lower energy costs and increased liability of a space. An environment with a more effectively controlled climate is more pleasant from wall-to-wall. The end user doesn’t find cold spots or hot spots they want to avoid.
The form and function of U-MAX and MAX get a boost from a seemingly insignificant little screw. An external screw.
Frame fixing external to the glazing rebate provides structural support of the frame and glass without interfering with drainage. Not very flash, and yet, very awesome.
Our decision for this unique screw placement means less stress on the joint, improved structural performance and ensured water tightness. The glazing pocket is set at the perfect distance to get the best strength, minimize tilt, support the load and drain water. No other Front Glazed system supports transoms as well as this.
The increased strength and decreased risk of transom torque prevents the joint from opening up and allowing water in.
Traditionally, systems either didn’t have a front screw at all or the screw came through the glazing pocket. Often meant the split mullion needed to be wider than horizontals, losing visual unity. A countersink operation was required to allow the mullion to mate.
The screw was placed central in the pocket and didn’t deal as well torsionally under wind load or take the dead weight of glass.
Without blocking off the glazing pocket, this scenario invited water to land on the screw and track underneath the pocket on top of the glass, making weathering suspect.
By breaking from tradition, we addressed all the above issues and delivered huge benefits with a little screw.
Details. They’re your key. From little details, amazing projects evolve. The EDGE team understands this. We give attention to details often overlooked. By doing so, we can offer our clients options, options, options when it comes to glazing.
Encrypted into the EDGE DNA are captive pressure glazing beads, glazing beads that rock back rather than clip in and can’t unseat.
Our captivated glazing wedge further secures the glazing bead and will not fall out.
To take that principle a step further in many cases, we can recommend the bead at the top of the light (instead of the bottom). From a performance viewpoint, systems can perform better this way.
Normal snap-in beads unclip due to poor glazing techniques or from being out of tolerance.
Our glazing bead locks into place by locating into a captive groove under pressure from a glazing wedge or foam rod in the pocket. Glazing beads can be used on the underside of transoms, ensuring water is better contained within the glazing pocket. The anti-drop out bead ensures the bead cannot dislodge. No other commercial aluminium window and door system offers this feature.
While the EDGE ranges continue to develop, all the suites rise from a foundation of international, best-of-breed features to ensure consistent performance and quality. The captivated glazing bead is one of these.
EDGE glazing wedges are high performance, co-extruded Santoprene and are colour coded for easy identification. All are captive, meaning they don’t require a captive on one side and roll in the other.
The wedge gives an audible “click” as the co-extrusions keys into the pocket, ensuring the wedge is properly seated. Santoprene is the best material available for long-term durability and anti-stretch features.
The co-extrusion backing gives an easy identifier of thickness, an audible “click” when engaging and further enhanced anti-stretch capabilities of the wedges. Our top-loaded pocket was designed for fitting the glazing wedges. When glazing, the wedge cannot be dislodged.
The inner leg on the pocket is lower than the face of the frame. This gives a perfect detail to run a bead of silicone prior to fitting the inner wedge. With the leg lower than the face of the frame, there is less chance of ooze. Pocket design is clean and uncluttered with no restricting legs inside it.
The back of the pocket is 5mm wider than the gap. This make it easier to angle glass into the pocket.
Pocket depth is 28mm on deep and 17mm on shallow, allowing for a full 12mm glass bite and edge distance requirement as perAS4555 (insulated glass units) Table E5.1.
EDGE Architectural Glazing Systems heralds a fundamental change in Aluminium Industries’ complete product range with an ongoing development of three separate product groups:
U-MAX™, the double glazed, thermally broken suite
MAX™, the double glazed suite
GEN™, a single glazed “generational change” encorporating a solid metric range and the EDGE design features.
Standard 60mm outer frame with optional 44mm frame.
Mix, match and marry for happily ever after. Different framing systems of the same depth can be used together to alter the glazing plane.
100mm or 150mm frame depths available.
The Australian architectural window market, largely has not redesigned its base commercial products since the first systems were introduced in the early 1960s. Those products followed imperial dimensions and many follow the same form today. EDGE departs from the old imperial standard. Incorporating frame and track systems, all EDGE products offer consistency in metrication.