Our Steel Windows and Doors offer a timeless beauty that has been refreshed with new concepts, slim lines, colour range versatility and overall elegance. The refreshed and new concepts pioneered by BK Lining Systems, avoids the chunkyness and dated look of Aluminium while giving our clients unique and timeless elegance.
Our Steel Windows and Doors require very little maintanence due to the very high standard used in the process of manufacture. Besides refreshing the paintwork after several years, there is no maintenance needed on our windows and doors. By contrast, Aluminium windows and doors do require regular and on-going maintenance as a result of the way Aluminium windows and doors are constructed i.e. crimping and riveting of critical joints. This leads to joints coming loose and sagging occurs which is especially noticeable on Stacking Folding windows and doors. This does not occur on our steel stacking folding doors and windows. Aluminium windows and doors cannot be painted once the initial colour fades or is damaged. Usually, the only way to refresh Aluminium is to replace it which comes with a significant cost factor.
Steel is rated at 5 times more energy efficient than Aluminium meaning that Steel does not absorb or conduct thermal energy to the same degree that Alumium does. This energy efficiency rating is measured in
Watts per Kelvin per Meter (W/k/m). The lower the W/k/m the greater the Thermal Energy Efficiency rating is. Steel has a thermal rating of 45w/k/m and Aluminium has a thermal rating of 235w/k/m.
Thermal Breaks or Thermally Broken Windows and Doors refers to the non-contact between the main elements that make up a.) the window Frame & its opening sash and b.) the door frame & its opening leaf. Thermal breaks are essential for aluminium windows and doors due to Aluminium having a very poor thermal efficiency rating. By contrast Steel does not require thermal breaks due to its very good thermal efficiency rating. However, Steel Windows and Doors can be fitted with thermal breaks if necessary using our proprietary seals.
Airtight seals on our Steel Windows and Doors create Zero air loss / gain. The proprietary material used to manufacture our Airtight seals remains the intellectual property of BK Lining Systems. Aluminium seals are usually fibre based and they allow for air loss / gain by default.
BK Lining Systems proprietary seals also provide a Water tight seal on our Steel Windows and Doors. By contrast, the fibre seals used on Aluminium windows and doors are not Water tight and seepage does occur.
BK Lining Systems developed the 10400-XA Energy Efficiency specification of Steel Windows and Doors in both the single and double glaze options, i.e. Thermally Broken, Air and Water tight.
Tensile Strength: Steel is the clear winner regarding tensile strength. The tensile strength of standard structural steel can range from 400 MPA to 500 MPA (58,000 to 72,500 psi), while aluminium is typically around 90 MPA (13,000 psi). This means steel can withstand significantly greater tension before failure than aluminium.
Compressive Strength: Similar to tensile strength, steel outperforms aluminium in terms of compressive strength as well. Steel structures can bear loads without significant deformation or failure at a much higher level than Aluminium structures.
Yield Strength: Again, Steel holds the higher ground in this category. Steel yield strength is typically around 250 MPA (36,000 psi) for structural grades, while Aluminium yield strength tends to be approximately 40 MPA (5,800 psi).
Steel melts at 1370 Degree Celcius while Aluminium melts at 660 Degree Celcius. The fire rating of Steel is at least 2 times greater than Aluminium, making Steel a much more safer material to use for Windows and Doors.