Packer’s are important to install windows professionally, as they are designed in cooperation with window manufacturers often for the specific window profile to work safely over its guaranteed period.

The design, hardness and compatibility of packers is key to performance of their designed role. The construction of the packer and it’s compatibility with the rest of the frame materials is important that is why our materials are tested and developed with window system designers and are manufactured from prime materials, to exacting hardness and dimensional tolerances.

Location is also key and they should be used a minimum of 30mm from the frame cormers.

But what does the packer do?

As support blocks they carry the load of the glazed unit and spread that into the base frame profile.

As location blocks they ensure the glazed unit is plumb and square to the frame and are used in certain window types as support blocks to hinge and locking points.

They increase security around fixing points to prevent the deflection of the frame extrusion. Packers are designed to work with Bridge packers to maintain drainage and ventilation in the window frame rebate.
Packers are also used to Toe and heel glazed units, doors, bi fold and patio door sets.

The bridge packer, in essence does just that. Prevalent in U-PVC systems the bridge packer provides a flat surface for the use of setting blocks. Whilst maintaining the water escape and ventilation routes around the insulated glazed units. A minimum of two per fixed light, positioned not to interfere with drainage rebates. Additional packers are generally required for window sizes over 1500mm. Certain UPVC profiles have specific bridge packers designed for the system and you should refer to the manufacturer for guidance.

Glazpart drain hole covers now come in a range of moulded colours to meet referenced RAL, BS or foil reference numbers. This means a significant reduction in the need for the paint spraying of drain hole covers to match profile colours.

Where a moulded colour is not available from stock, our paint spraying service can colour match and supply finished, sprayed drain hole covers within your quoted lead time.

Drainage

Most double glazing frames are designed with an inbuilt drainage system, comprising of slots within the profiles that allow any water ingress to flow to the outside. To ensure an efficient system these slots must remain unblocked. Therefore, periodically, dirt should be removed, drain holes cleared and drainage operation checked by flushing through with water.

Drain hole covers are required for drained or drained and ventilated window systems. These window systems are designed to minimise the amount of water that enter the rebate. The drainage system of the frame ensures the removal of water from the rebate platform.

In timber windows this is achieved by incorporating a sloping platform, a slope of 1 in 10 (6°) is recommended. For aluminium or PVC-u frames, gutters with holes may be used A typical system will include drainage holes at least 8mm in diameter, or slots at least 25mm x 5mm to ensure water escapes. (see GGF Figure 5 for examples).

Ventilation

It is difficult to ensure the removal of all water from the glazing rebates by drainage alone. Water may be trapped, or may be held by surface tension, either as droplets or between opposing surfaces, even though the design should prevent this happening.

Ventilation may be necessary to dry out these areas. This is particularly true of frames with horizontal platforms, or where moisture may collect on the top edge of an IGU. The degree of ventilation achieved is not only dependent upon the size of the ventilation holes or slots, but also upon their position and accessibility to prevailing winds. Slots of 20mm x 3mm can be adequate for ventilation in exposed parts of the window, but further ventilation is probably necessary in more protected parts. To prevent winddriven water being carried into the frame section, all exposed holes and slots should be protected, either by fitting drain hole covers, or by forming the slots in a position in the frame where they are not subject to direct wind and weather.

These glazing packers are available in a range of sizes and heights. These sloped wedge packers interlock to tighten the insulated glazed units within the sash or frame. They are particularly used to increase security and reinforce windows where movement may be an issue E.g. Tilt and turn windows.

A Glazing shovel is mainly used for the professional installation of insulated glazing units to Toe & Heel to prevent dropping and dragging. The shovel is manufactured from a heavy duty plastic compound and measures approx. 255mm in length by 69mm wide.

They are also used to correctly locate glazing and wedge packers.

Glazpart have designed a diverse range of glass corner protectors to fit a range of glazing thicknesses from 9 mm to 32 mm. The glass corner protector is used by window fabricators to prevent corner damage of the glass during handling and transit from the fabricator to the installation site. Some are installed as they leave the heat treatment production lines prior to gassing the double or triple glazed units and for single pane applications. These protectors reduce such damage to a point where, due to the reduction in rework and customer complaints – overall the use of such protectors pays for itself.

Some of the glass corner protector range are designed to add value and more value and are designed to act as corner or wedge packers within the corners of window for use during installation of the glazed unit into the frame. This is particularly beneficial when toeing and healing glazed units.

Glazpart have designed a diverse range of frame protectors to fit 60 mm and 70 mm window profiles. The frame corner protector is used by window fabricators to prevent corner damage of the frame during handling and transit from the fabricator to the installation site. These protectors reduce such damage to a point where, due to the reduction in rework and customer complaints – overall the use of protectors pays for itself.

A range of universal profile versions are available and are installed using a screw fixing, typically through the center of the frame corner protector. Versions are available for 60 mm and 70 mm profiles. In addition Glazpart has a range of clip in systems which are typically profile specific. The benefits of these designs over their general product benefits are that;

No need for a screw fix in the frame. This removes a water ingress route into the frame once the frame corner protector is removed during installation on site. Installation and removal of the clip in frame corner protector is much faster. The clip in frame corner protector can typically be installed in half the time.

No use of hand drills thus reducing the risks and monitoring of hand arm vibration during installation and removal. The clip in versions can be reused, if they are returned from site.

These are designed to attached a drip at the foot or the head of the window.

This is a special design of run up block, designed to fit into a full depth euro groove.

Manufactured in PA6, this assembly strengthens the area around the installation of a friction stay. This spreads the load associated with the use of a friction stay hinge into the frame more evenly, reducing stress and frame deflection in use.

The locking wedge works with the window locking system and sits within the window frame. The window locking systems are designed to engage the locking wedge to allow for the sash window locking mechanism to be locked into the frame securely. The locking wedge reinforces and locates the lock bolt into the window frame.

The transport handle packer works with the window locking system and sits on the surface of the window frame whilst in transit to site. During transit the ingress of water and dirt is prevented and they can be used to retain the lock in place until removal at site during installation.