Special projects
FIRST DREAMVU™ WINDOW INSTALLED IN ANTARCTIC HUT!
03/02/2009
A dwelling which will be located in one of the most hostile environments in the world will benefit from new energy efficient DreamVu™ windows from JELD-WEN.
JELD-WEN, one of the UK’s leading manufacturers of timber windows, was delighted to be approached by the United Kingdom Antarctic Heritage Trust (UKAHT) to supply windows for a replacement Nissen hut, which is being built at Port Lockroy on the Antarctic Peninsula.
The hut will provide accommodation for staff who work at the nearby Bransfield House, which was converted into a museum in 1996. The museum attracts over 10,000 visitors from all round the world who want to come and experience the unique Antarctic environment.
JELD-WEN’s relationship with the Antarctic began over 50 years ago when Boulton & Paul, the company JELD-WEN bought in 1999, supplied the actual timber that was sent to Port Lockroy in 1957. To mark the fiftieth anniversary of this special relationship, JELD-WEN supplied a replacement timber window for Bransfield House, the main hut at Port Lockroy, in 2007.
The Nissen hut, which will replicate the pre-fabricated steel structures used as airbases during World War II, will replace a previous hut that had fallen into a state of disrepair and had to be demolished in 1996. The new hut is being sympathetically designed and built to the same specification as the old Nissen hut and will be located on exactly the same site, helping to preserve the heritage of the area.
The DreamVu™ windows supplied for the hut were the perfect choice as they offer market leading U-values ranging from 1.1W/m2K to 0.7 W/m2K. The windows are being written into the specifications for many eco-houses which are aiming to reach Code for Sustainable Homes level six requirements. Although the code hasn’t stretched as far as the Antarctic yet, the new DreamVu™ windows will play an important role in helping to make the hut more energy efficient in temperatures that can reach as low as -80 degrees Celsius.
John Shaw, General Manager at JELD-WEN comments: “We are delighted to be supplying our new DreamVu™ windows for the Nissen hut at Port Lockroy. It just goes to show the high performance levels of these windows, which are capable of withstanding extreme weather conditions. As there were no restrictions on the specification of the windows for this new hut, we supplied the ultimate high performance timber window that offers the very best energy efficiency. This is the second project we have supplied for the Antarctic recently and we are very proud to be associated with the Trust once again.”
One of the original huts, Bransfield House, was first used as a British Government base during World War II to report on enemy activity and provide weather reports. This was part of operation Tabarin, which was a British military expedition to the region. The hut is now designated as Historic Site No 61 under the Antarctic Treaty, 19th May 1995.
Tudor Morgan, Project Manager from the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust, comments: “Port Lockroy and the wider Antarctic region is of tremendous historical importance to Britain, with Ernest Shakelton and Captain Scott pioneering exploration of the continent in the early 20th century. Therefore, restoring the Nissen hut is an integral element of preserving the history of the area and we are pleased that, as we have connections with JELD-WEN, they are supplying the windows.”
The company’s window factory has been accredited to ISO14001, the environmental standard, demonstrating its strong commitment to excellence in management of its resources for environmental benefit.
For more information contact JELD-WEN on 0845 122 2890 or visit the website www.jeld-wen.co.uk
To find out more about The United Kingdom Antarctic Heritage Trust (UKAHT) visit the website http://www.ukaht.org/.
Press enquiries: Marina Wood / Tom Underwood, Dragonfly PR, Tel: 01709 300130 or email: marina@dragonflypr.co.uk / tom@dragonflypr.co.uk
