Case Study: New Charter – Communal Entrances

For this communal entrance refurbishment project, the team at Droylsden Glass worked closely with social housing management company New Charter.

The award-winning New Charter Housing Trust has properties throughout Tameside and the Northwest. Employing over 200 people it was responsible for one of the biggest housing stock transfers, taking on responsibility for nearly 16,400 homes.

Large-scale residential housing refurbishment project

The project on New Charter’s Yew Tree Lane properties in Denton was to replace the existing wooden main entrance ways on 12 two-storey communal blocks.

The new entrances were specified as the latest, state of the art, low maintenance aluminium doors. The project involved removing the old entrances, bricking up part of the wall to create a single door space and fitting smart new PVCu canopy covers for extra weather protection.

Secure and stylish new communal aluminium entrance doors

The stylish new doors were specially manufactured from anodised aluminium for a seamless and attractive appearance. Their 6.4mm laminated glazing units ensured a high level of security and safety while anti finger trap door stiles and non-hold transom closers were also incorporated into the specifications.

For additional ease of access without compromising security standards, the doors were each fitted with failsafe electronic solenoid bolts. These were operated either via a remote keypad or push-button controls. For this element of the project, we worked with renowned security specialists ASSA ABLOY Security Solutions.

Electric Solenoid Bolts to maximise security

The commercial division of Droylsden Glass worked alongside ASSA ABLOY to install Adams Rite 1391 Electric Solenoid Bolts on 24 doors at New Charter Home’s Yew Tree Lane properties.

The 1391 Electric Solenoid Bolts were easily integrated as part of an access control system or through remote control equipment like a push button, keypad, or timer. This ease of integration caused minimal disruption at the tenanted properties, making it an ideal solution for this communal housing application.

Facilitating the remote access and exit control of aluminium, timber and steel doors, the Adams Rite 1391 Electric Solenoid Bolts allow for door status and lock sensor monitoring. This was a key part of ensuring tenant safety, whilst allowing access for authorised visitors and other building users.

Ongoing collaboration between Droylsden Glass and New Charter

A short time later, when New Charter were planning similar entrance improvements for several of their properties in Hattersley, Hazlehurst, and Cambridge Road, they again turned to Droylsden Glass to supply and fit the new components.

This time, in addition to the aluminium access doors, which incorporated similar safety and security features to those in Denton, Droylsden Glass also built and installed glazed top and side screens incorporating laminated safety glass to provide a bright, attractive entrance way for the buildings.

By operating to a carefully agreed and managed working schedule with New Charter, the team at Droylsden Glass ensured that there was minimal disruption for the residents.