An introduction to
the fenestration industry

An introduction to the Fenestration industry

Fenestration refers to the design, construction and placement of windows and doors in a building. It originates from the Latin word ‘Fenestra’, which directly translates as ‘window’, and has grown to include to both indoor and outdoor windows, doors, skylights and any other openings designed to allow light from one space into another.

The UK fenestration industry is worth approximately £4.6 billion annually and is made up of a vast array of sectors. Like other industries, fenestration is heavily influenced by changes in society and culture. Below we take a look at the two most popular trends in the industry right now and discuss how Sunsquare is keeping up.

Sustainability

This year sustainability is a huge priority and each company has a responsibility to play their part. Historically, fenestration has not been at the forefront as an environmentally-friendly industry and customers becoming increasingly environmentally conscious has led the sector to consider new ways it can meet changing demands. The future of fenestration is therefore being shaped by sustainability and how the industry can honour its commitment to protecting the environment.

A recent evaluation of our processes at Sunsquare concluded that 97% of our waste was able to be recycled or re-used. Our entire product range is designed using the latest 3D software allowing us to minimise our wastage further and we are aiming to lessen deliveries to our factories to reduce our carbon footprint. We also make sure to only work with other companies that share an environmental policy similar to ours. Sustainability is also not something that we’ve only just begun to strive for at Sunsquare, as in 2015 we were awarded the Bronze Level Suffolk Carbon Charter Status which recognises organisations that take their environmental responsibility seriously. Find out more about our sustainable practises here.

Innovation

Smart technology has become hugely popular within the fenestration industry. Smart technology refers to technology that goes beyond usual processes and offers the consumer more interaction and control through the use of the internet. This includes anything from fingerprint or face recognition to entire home management systems. The world has evolved and the introduction of technology such as Apple, Android and Google Home has meant individuals are able to check on the status of their home via their phones and there is an increasing demand for the fenestration industry to offer the same level of products.

Sunsquare is at the forefront of smart technology in our industry.  We have recently introduced our Smartsquare, the world’s first smart skylight that allows you to fully integrate with other smart appliances. It is an industry first, and is easily linked to Siri, Amazon Alexa and Google Home meaning you can open and close your skylight from anywhere with a touch of a button. It can also be used to instruct your roof windows to open and close automatically based on weather conditions, humidity, inside temperature and even how close you are to the building. Our Smartsquare is wifi-enabled, easy to install and will instantly elevate your skylight equipment.

Want to find out more about our Smartsquare? Call us today on +44 (0)1284 723377 or get in touch here