104 Selectaglaze windows have been installed at the Comet Hotel, situated in Hertfordshire, to improve thermal and noise insulation for its guests
The Comet Hotel is located in Hertfordshire, at the junction of the Barnet by-pass with St Albans Road, five minutes away from the Selectaglaze office and factory.
The Art Deco, Grade II Listed building was designed in 1936 by E.B Musman in the shape of the iconic de Havilland Comet DH.88 aeroplane. At the time of construction, the de Havilland airfield and aircraft factory was situated just opposite the hotel.
Formerly known as the Ramada Hatfield, the Comet Hotel’s multi-million pound refurbishment which began in 2017 is now complete. The works were delivered by contractor ISG Bristol and designed by architects Stride Treglown. A replica of the Comet Racer is mounted on a 20ft high pylon outside the hotel.
The refurbishment retained the building’s original crittal sash windows but they did not offer the required level of noise insulation to a number of the guestrooms and function spaces.
Selectaglaze secondary glazed windows
To rectify this, Selectaglaze installed 104 secondary glazed units, with a cavity between the existing primary windows and the secondary units to considerably improve the level of noise insulation. The windows included four different systems, modifying the units specifically to the project’s needs.
The Series 20 vertical sliding units were faceted onto the curved bay windows on the ground and first floors. The Function room was fitted with the Series 15 three-pane horizontal slider, which can support thicker glass when higher levels of noise insulation are needed.
The majority of the hotel guestrooms were treated with the Series 10 horizontal sliding unit, which provides easy access to the outer window. This has not only allowed for quiet rooms thanks to noise insulation of 45dB but will also reduce heating costs, thus improving sustainability.
Four of the smaller windows on the first floor were also treated with Series 45 side hung casements, with no new sight lines making it very suited to the hotel’s listed status.
The secondary glazing to the Comet Hotel will lower energy bills and allow guests a good night sleep, along with those visiting the hotel guaranteed a pleasant and comfy experience.
Refurbishments like the Comet Hotel are often fast track projects requiring teamwork between client, contractor and specialists. Selectaglaze has experience working in listed buildings and offers a technical advisory service and specification advice to ensure correct interface with other trades.
