Senior Architectural Systems, the UK’s largest privately owned fenestration systems company, has been recognised for its commitment to the responsible and sustainable sourcing of its aluminium extrusions with an accreditation to BRE Global’s BES 6001 standard.

Established by BRE Global, the independent internationally-renowned certification body, the BES 6001 Framework Standard for Responsible Sourcing aims to make it easier for specifiers to choose building materials and products that meet the growing requirements of sustainable construction, both in terms of their social and environmental impact. 

Senior is committed to using recycled aluminium across its product range and the audit of the company’s sourcing procedures including evaluations of its quality and operational management systems, environmental policies, legal compliance, commitment to upholding high standards of health and safety and supply chain collaboration.

Commenting on the accreditation, Melanie Jopling, Senior’s group QuEnSH manager said: “As part of our service to our clients, it’s important that our products not only perform well but that we can also provide evidence that the aluminium we use is responsibly sourced. We are extremely proud to have met the requirements of the BES 6001 standard and to be able to reassure our clients that their commitment to sustainable construction is mirrored by our own initiatives.”

Benefiting from the inherent strength and infinite recyclability of aluminium, Senior’s wide range of aluminium fenestration systems have been designed to offer the highest levels of aesthetic appeal and technical performance.  Senior’s commitment to the continuous improvement of both its product range and manufacturing techniques has also seen the company develop some of the most innovative solutions available to the UK market, including the patent PURe^® aluminium door and window system.  The PURe^® system is the first in the UK to benefit from an enhanced thermal barrier manufactured from expanded polyurethane foam (PUR).  Traditionally used in cladding and insulation products, the innovative use of PUR as a thermal barrier in windows gives the PURe^® system the potential to achieve U-values as low as 0.71w/m2k when calculated as a commercial CEN standard window and 0.93W/m² K when calculated as a CEN standard door.  Fully recyclable, the PUR thermal barrier can also be re-used as fillers for other products, with no requirement for landfill.

As well as developing energy-efficient glazing solutions, Senior has also invested heavily in reducing its own carbon footprint and recent investments include an in-house PUR processing line, a more efficient grey water system to recycle water used in manufacture and a new £150k waste reducing powder coating line which is the most environmentally efficient of its kind, saving over 22 tonnes per year of product being sent to landfill.

Other initiatives that have been introduced include the installation of a new Biomass boiler heats the warehouse, fuelled by waste timber from wooden packaging and the manufacture of Senior’s Hybrid timber aluminium composite systems.  Senior has also been able to reduce the environmental impact of its delivery fleet by investing in 17 five star eco vehicles and installing on-site electric car charging points for both staff and visitors.