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Brio gets Specified By

Brio, a global leader in sliding and bi-fold door hardware, is continuing its marketing communications aimed at architects and specifiers with a commitment to the web portal ‘Specified By’.

Specified By was created to help specifiers find and research building products and materials through modern search, comparison and information management tools. By providing well-structured, open data for thousands of products, the site is ready access to one of the most comprehensive databases of products and materials in the UK. It is designed to save architectural and specification professionals lots of time in the whole process.

“Life is lived online these,” says Dave Newton, UK head of Brio,” and we wanted product range and technical information readily available on ‘Specified By’ as it is purely for specification professionals. Our product range lends itself to adventurous architectural ideas that easily unfold into exciting reality.

“Brio is dedicated to shaping the spaces in which people live, work and play. With central operations in Sydney, Australia and subsidiaries in the UK and USA – Brio is recognised by architects worldwide as a leading design and manufacturing company.”

The company is approaching its 50th birthday, having been established in the early 1970′s. It has consistently innovated and developed new products for the global market, producing cutting edge designs such as Weatherfold exterior folding door hardware.

Brio’s R&D department continues to bring a strong design element to the business, developing and testing ground breaking concepts that continue to be at the forefront of the industry.

“It’s no surprise our name Brio translates to Energy, Spirit and Vitality – the core values that drive us to always discover new solutions for our customers.

We are committed to the continuous improvement of quality. That is why Brio UK is certified to Quality Management System ISO 9001: 2001”, says Dave Newton.

For more information on the full range visit www.briouk.com
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Brio UK strengthen sales team

With increased growth in sales, Brio, the leading global brand name in sliding and folding gear for interior and exterior door hardware, has recently appointed two experienced sales personnel to manage and support the company’s sales activity. The two new appointments – Daryl Curtis and Nigel Walsh – bring with them a wealth of knowledge and product expertise.

Brio’s two new Business Development Managers, Nigel and Daryl, share more than 65 years of building industry experience, with particular emphasis on door, sliding door systems, fixings, sliding door gear and architectural hardware.

Both have spent time with leading industry manufacturers at management level with Daryl experiencing time overseas in Hong Kong and Malaysia.

The move to Brio for both of them was an easy decision as the company’s level of service and commitment to research and quality of product range would undoubtedly push forward the continued growth and success.

Brio’s General Manager, Dave Newton commented on the appointments: “Nigel and Daryl are a fantastic addition to the Brio team, with their practical experience and solid sales background, they will be an integral part of Brio UK’s future growth plans.”

For more information please visit http://briouk.com/
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Brio runs forward with soft finish

New additions to Brio’s Zero Clearance and Single Run systems bring useful 100kg weight bearing capabilities to the ranges as well as a soft close option and a clip stop. Both these features are also available on Single Run 80 and Zero Clearance 80.

Zero Clearance and Single Run work with various panel types and provide numerous guide options and cope with panel weights from 80kg to 350kg.

The new Zero Clearance 100 and Single Run 100 hangers work with Brio’s existing hardware including the 80CS clip stop and 100SCT soft close for 100kg applications. Brio’s clip stop holds panels in their parked position while the soft close device fits discreetly inside the track and controls the panel’s momentum when closing against the jamb, protecting little fingers from slamming doors.

Brio’s new weight capacity is ideal for commercial or residential living spaces and the fittings are easy to install and operate with the use of precision bearings and the option of stainless steel hardware for exterior applications.

Single Run is available in a number of weight capacities – 60, 80, 100, 120, 180 and 350KG per panel while Zero Clearance may be obtained in 80, 100,120 180 and 350kg per panel for timber panels and 80KG, 100, 120 and 180 Kg for frameless Glass panels.

“We will have other new features to add to our straight sliding range during 2017 and 2018 – so watch this space,” concludes Brio UK’s David Newton, adding that Brio offers an unbeatable 10-year warranty on its hardware.

For more information please visit www.briouk.com.
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Brio CPD for sliding and folding door hardware and tracks

Brio, the leading sliding and folding door architectural ironmongery designer and provider, is hitting the CPD trail with a module designed to familiarise architects and specifiers with the different types of sliding/folding interior and exterior door systems.

Brio has signed up with the RIBA CPD Providers Network to offer specifiers the opportunity to view and understand the different applications of each door system, and where they can be used.

The course, presented by Brio’s expert tutors, also clearly explains terminology; for example, the different applications of bi-fold, bi-passing, bi-parting, multi-directional, single folding and single run doors to name just a few.

The CPD module also sets out the three basic rules for choosing the right sliding door hardware for any job as well as getting to grips with BS EN 1527 for sliding and folding door hardware. Those three basic rules are that top hung sliding door hardware is specified whenever possible, in preference to bottom roller; door weight should be carried by two hangers only; and, sliding door hardware suitable for the door weight should be specified as system capacity is based on a single door, not the sum of the doors.

The CPD also has useful guidance, for example, on what should happen after deciding on the type of system required, informing course delegates what the next steps are to select the fixing requirement – soffit, face fix or other – then indicate the size of the opening, number of panels required and the panel configuration. Whether timber, aluminium or composite, specifiers will need to know the weight per panel and whether the opening is in or out.

Delegates will also hear why it is important to specify ‘regional’ hardware – is it to be used in a coastal or non-coastal area? Architectural ironmongery that can stand up to salt erosion that is robust enough to handle the constant buffeting of strong winds over its lifetime is essential for coastal areas.

The Brio CPD is a worthwhile and interesting module that will leave delegates more confident about specifying the right architectural ironmongery for the job and with a good understanding of the products on the market that can help them turn their design vision into practical reality.

Information on construction health and safety/CDM, sustainability and environmental issues is also covered in the CPD seminars.

For more information please visit www.briouk.com.
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Brio puts a curve in it

Brio architectural hardware made an adventurous curved door project a reality for an innovative wedding venue in north Devon.

Tunnels Beaches is a network of hand carved tunnels leading to sheltered beaches and a tidal Victorian bathing pool at Ilfracombe, the location of a breath-taking beach front wedding venue operated by Devon Beach Weddings. The bespoke building curving out of the rock means there are no concerns about the UK weather and whatever turn it takes it is all visible through curved bi-folding glazed doors – whether opened or closed.

The owner had the idea to refurbish and at the same time to extend the upper story of the curved building by 2 metres, installing curved bi-folding glazed doors and thereby increasing capacity from 130 guests to 160. With a full house for weddings in 2017, (120+ weddings booked), over 100 weddings already booked for 2018 and prime dates in 2019 booking fast, the extension was a must.

Awlwood Joinery already had a good relationship with the owners Jamie and Zoe McLintock having worked with them at the Tunnels Beaches Bath House – an old Victorian bath house – which was turned in to wedding accommodation for the venues guests, so when the scheme was mooted to install curving bi-folding doors the McLintock’s turned to David Wray at Awlwood Joinery. “It wasn’t anything we had done before but we are skilled guys and the concept is not beyond the reach of man – after all we can send men to the moon – so we undertook the commission. The architect, RGP of Barnstaple, came up with a scheme and we did as they instructed – but with fewer doors (two sets, opening out). The design included wood cladding and lots of steel.

“We opted for the Brio Weatherfold 4s system after talking to Bob Harrison at Hebden & Holding architectural ironmonger and the Brio team which takes panels up to 1 metre wide. The decision was led by the architect’ plans and the constraints of the timber as you cannot have huge pieces of curved timber so we had to make up the doors from smaller pieces that would eventually be bolted together on site. The actual frame was put together by the owner’s site carpenters.”

David Wray says: “I am very pleased with the results especially with Brio’s new dual point locking mechanism. Most bi-folding doors are locked top and bottom which means reaching up and bending down to operate. The new Brio system is a finger locking mechanism. I am so impressed with it I am using it on all jobs. It may be more expensive but it is well worth the investment for the huge improvement and simplified operation and it looks so much better.

Brio’s 286 Dual Point Lock system launched last year has been joined by Brio’s 288 Lever Furniture to give joiners a deluxe option to offer their customers who now, more than ever, are looking for aesthetics as well as practicality.

Brio’s 286 Dual Point Lock is suitable for Brio’s tough exterior folding system Weatherfold 4s with timber or aluminium panels and for single hinge panels, such as French doors, up to 3.5 metres high, offering an alternative to the standard flushbolts. It is both ultra secure and aesthetically pleasing.

Rather than having the standard flushbolt at the top and the bottom of the door system on the inside of the property the end user can now choose a more sophisticated finish with the 288 lever handle readily accessible in the central part of the door so there is no reaching up or bending down to operate bolts.

“I am also impressed with Brio R&D – they are always coming up with new ideas and fixes. Best on the market. The solutions are effective and the Brio representatives are helpful and thoughtful – that’s a one-off!”

According to David Newton, General Manager UK at Brio, the demand for bi-folding and sliding exterior and interior doors is set to continue apace, with a variety of aesthetic demands from delicate ‘floating’ glass systems to commercial style projects such as this example in North Devon. “What this means in practice is that Brio, with its range of product and flexible attitude, will continue to keep pace with the architect’s need for innovative product that can transform anything they design on paper into reality,” he says.

For more details on the BRIO product range visit www.briouk.com
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