A better word start from you and from green thinking.
Design seen as an instrument for making the spaces surrounding us more attractive and liveable is the significant value Giorgio Senatore also ascribes to the space common to all, namely the Earth. Responsibility in the use of resources, the utilization of renewable forms of energy and the recycling of waste materials make this value a concrete commitment that gives life to Giorgio Senatore’s GreenThinking
Premio Impresa Ambiente is an initiative that came into being to give recognition to both public and private business activities which have especially distinguished themselves within a perspective of sustainable development with regard to the environment and social responsibility.
It represents moreover the Italian section of the European Business Awards for the Environment, instituted by the European Commission’s Director General for the Environment in 1987, to promote those organizations which have contributed towards sustainable development. In 2010 Giorgio Senatore was awarded this recognition for the best process/technology innovation, by bringing about a reduction in waste, eliminating the use of adhesives, recycling wood wastage for energy-giving purposes and by limiting pollution.
WOOD
In keeping with the production procedure attentive consideration is given to the eco-compatible systems. Giorgio Senatore has introduced into his own organization products which use tree species and types of wood coming from plantations in which a balance is activated and in force between tree-felling and tree-planting, and which respond to certain sustainability requisites, FSC a/o PEFC Certificates.
VARNISH
In using varnishes, two aspects in Giorgio Senatore’s view are fundamental and inevitable, namely: attention to durability and respect for safety, in working and domestic areas. The varnishing process only with water-soluble varnishes is characterised by: a three-coat application, always, for all essences and finishes; a uniform application, with the same amount of varnish on every part of the profile eliminating differentiations among parts seen and otherwise.
GLASS
All the models of the company’s windows project preserve their own building characteristic intact thanks to high wood thicknesses (68 and 78mm), and are able to support glass panes from 28mm to 43mm, in function of their destination type. The needs to which our products respond are:
Protection from the heat, thanks to the use of sun control glass panes, with a metallic/reflecting surface layer which prevents overheating the environments allowing the introduction of economies on the functioning of the air-conditioning plant and thus promoting energy-saving and home comfort. Their efficiency is quantified by the g value, or rather the solar factor; the lower the factor, the greater the performance.
Protection from the cold, thanks to the use of glass low emission discharge with a superficial covering layer of colourless metal, which prevents the dispersion of heat towards the outside, making the temperature of the ambiences more homogeneous and contributing towards reducing heat consumption.
Heat-cold protection thanks to the use of glass with a selective deposit which improves home comfort by interacting with the summer and winter heat flows, thereby ensuring an optimal performance throughout the seasons.
These features allow the use of our windows in any climatic zone and also for buildings parameterized to the values of the Passive House.
Thanks to the use of glass panes stratified with sound PVB, which in acting as a cushion between the two sheets of glass reduces vibrations significantly, eliminating the problem of the field of critical frequencies. The compositions in insulating glass window, albeit maintaining the heat insulation features indicated earlier, with the utilization of this special system of joining the panes, guarantee high performances of soundproofing, of up to Rw = 45 dB without increasing weights and thicknesses excessively.
Panes of glass can bring about two disadvantages: when breaking they create sharp fragments, often the cause of injuries, and represent a weak point where it is easy for the criminally-minded to enter. On French windows only tempered or stratified glass is utilized, i.e. made up of two sheets of glass glued together by one or several interleafed plastic sheets named PVB. In case of breakage this special plastic holds back fragments of glass preventing dangerous injuries or falls into empty gaps. With a greater number of PVB interleaves excellent results are achieved against break-ins.
Ironware
Quality and ecological compatibility blend together in our products through maximum durability hinges applied to our windows and to the use of materials and components enjoying a longer life-cycle. Just as each profile of our windows is carefully varnished on its every side and with the same care in its every corner, likewise we have made a similar choice for the ironwork, irrespective of its destination of use. Exposure to the atmospheric agents, humidity, but also factors like pollution and poor ventilation, may bring about corrosion and give place to rust formation.
For this reason, every cremon bolt, every ward, every padlock and every other element of ironwork utilized on the Giorgio Senatore window undergo a special surface treatment which strengthens its resistance capacity against corrosion. Results that can be obtained thanks to the overlaying of several protective layers (galvanization and organic varnishing) which form an unassailable barrier against outside agents.
This process has led to the awarding of the DIN EN ISO 9227 certification with European validity and the certification of acceptability in accordance with the ASTM B117 norm relating to the territory of the United States.
Finally, thanks to the 13 mm shifting locks, the ironwork axis is found in a position further inside the profile, which leads to greater stability in fixing the wards, which are found further inside the lock, so that the screws are positioned centrally and deeply into window-frame body, a significant advantage for obtaining a greater hold against forcing and lock-picking.
It is possible to increase the safety inherent in the window project thanks also to the use of a series of self-regulating fungi-shaped pawls which, in combination with specific wards, increases the resistance level against window housebreaking, bringing it up to the highest standards envisaged for wood windows .
ASKETS AND SILICONS
In order to guarantee the long duration of our windows we have projected gaskets by utilizing extremely durable materials in respect of their high-performance efficacy. In particular, for gaskets, the choice of the material has fallen on a thermoplastic elastomer coextruded with a closed microcell structure, characterized by:
— maximum compatibility with water-varnishes and no blocking effect
— high recovery of tolerances
— excellent dimensional stability
— reduced closure strain and reduced wear and tear of mechanical parts of the fastening
— increased elastic memory (also at very low temperatures) (EN 12365 – 3)
— excellent resistance against high and low temperatures, oxidation, UV rays and atmospheric agents
These findings laboratory-tested (with 30,000 functioning cycles) in compliance with the strictest of norms can be achieved also thanks to the closed microcell structure, which, unlike the open-call one, prevents humidity absorption. Thus the dangerous “sponge effect” is avoided which may lead to water infiltrations into the profile and to the detriment of the fastening. Moreover the closed microcells are not subject to air leakage in the compression phase, for which there is a better elastic return. Our gaskets are soft and easily compressed, with a marked improvement in the ease of lock closure. Moreover, the force rotator for window closure, normally around 6Nm has been lowered to 4Nm.
Likewise the choice of quality and durability for external silicon sealing, glass door, characterized by: resistance against the atmospheric agents, UV rays, ozone, rain, snow, sunlight, resistance against extreme temperatures, no solvent, no odour, compatibility with water-based varnishes. Hence the choice of a mono-component silicon sealant with low-module neutral reticulation, which for the effect of the atmospheric humidity forms a long-lasting elastic sealant. The data are confirmed by the test of exposure to the atmospheric agents for 6,000 hours according to the DIN 53 387 norm. Also with the passing of time the functionality of the sealant remains unaltered. Once vulcanized the product maintains its elasticity at temperatures between -40°C and +120°C, and does not undergo any alterations if exposed for a brief period to higher and lower temperatures. Finally, the aging and the atmospheric agents do not modify the physical and mechanical features of the product to any great extent.
maximum compatibility
ALUMINUM
For years now Giorgio Senatore has been meeting the customer’s demands through continuous in-depth search for sustainable design, also in the aluminum utilized for his windows. The aluminum industry obtains its raw material from two sources, namely a primary one fed by bauxite, which is processed to become aluminum oxide, from which the metal is extracted by means of electrolysis (primary aluminum); the other, the secondary one, consists in metal used deriving from products at the end of their life- cycles or in scrap iron coming from the production or from its working (secondary aluminum).
The term “primary” or “secondary” in itself does not classify the quality, but provides an indication relating to the metal’s origin. The recycling of the aluminum grants saving 95% of the energy required for producing it starting out from the raw material. In order to obtain 1 kg of aluminum from bauxite it takes 14 kWh, whereas to obtain 1 kg of new aluminum (secondary aluminum) from that used 0.7 kWh are required. Nowadays, the availability of natural raw materials is still rather unlimited considering the current consumption levels, while scrap aluminum, for the production of secondary aluminum, is a primary material whose availability may not be increased at will. It is in fact possible to collect and recycle only the quantity of aluminum which has already been utilized previously, and which has reached the end of its life-cycle as a product.
Thus secondary aluminum cannot represent 100% of the material available on the market. In order to follow up saving primary materials and making a lesser use of energy, Giorgio Senatore utilizes for all the aluminum profiles, whether they be drip caps for windows, window- door thresholds, window-covering profiles or Woodandal (wood-aluminum), the highest percentage of secondary aluminum available on the market. Moreover the protection of aluminum through varnishing is fundamental, which is carried out in keeping with the technical directives of the aluminum employed in architecture, identified by the Qualicoat quality trade-mark. For projects with a higher environmental stress, in contrast, the procedure follows the Marine quality specifications.
