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InSite window system

OFFSITE WINDOW INNOVATION SPEEDS DELIVERY OF ABERDEEN’S LARGEST SOCIAL HOUSING DEVELOPMENT IN 50 YEARS

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Eurocell’s InSite system and Logik windows help accelerate the 87-home Craighill scheme for Aberdeen City Council

Building Aberdeen’s Largest Social Housing Programme in 50 Years

Aberdeen’s most ambitious social housing programme in more than half a century is being delivered with the help of Eurocell’s innovative InSite window system. Designed specifically for offsite construction, the system is helping to deliver 87 high-quality, energy-efficient homes at Craighill in Kincorth.

The development, part of Aberdeen City Council’s “Gold Standard” housing initiative, will provide adaptable, sustainable and dementia-friendly homes that integrate seamlessly with the surrounding community. Designed to meet the council’s target of reducing carbon emissions by at least 27% and supplying over half of hot water needs through renewable energy, the project also prioritises year-round comfort for residents.

High-performance window systems, with U-values as low as 1.2 W/m²K, contribute to lower heat loss, reduced energy consumption and improved thermal comfort, helping to keep tenant bills down while supporting the scheme’s sustainability ambitions. This ensures that energy efficiency and design quality translate directly into long-term benefits for residents and the wider community. Originally approved for 99 homes, the scheme was redesigned amid rising construction costs, reducing the total to 87 homes while keeping the £24–£26m project on budget.

Innovation Driving Certainty and Speed

With rising trade costs and site congestion threatening to delay delivery, CHAP Construction, Kirkwood Timber Frame, and Pinefield Glass turned to the InSite system to give the programme greater certainty.

Fraser Taylor, operations director at CHAP Construction, said:

“Using the InSite system enabled us to seal the building from day 1 and bring our internal trades onto site much earlier than planned. On a scheme of this scale, where daily trade costs can be in the region of £1,800 to £2,000, those savings quickly add up.”

The system allows Eurocell Logik PVC-U windows in Silk Grey to be factory-fitted into timber frame kits before arriving on site. Once lifted into place, the building envelope is sealed immediately, enabling internal works to start without waiting for external follow-on trades.

Collaboration in Action

Pinefield Glass fabricated the Logik windows, then transferred to Kirkwood Timber Frame’s controlled facilities where they were installed into precision-engineered panels. These were then delivered to the site ready for rapid installation.

Malcolm Thomson, managing director at Kirkwood Timber Frame, said:

“This project demonstrated how effective collaboration can be between the timber frame manufacturer, the window fabricator, and the main contractor. By integrating Eurocell’s InSite system into our kits at the factory stage, we were able to deliver timber panels already fitted with windows –  a key innovation that streamlined installation and reduced the need for follow-on trades. That brought significant programme benefits for CHAP and the Council while minimising site disruption and improving overall efficiency.”

For Pinefield Glass a Eurocell partner for over fourteen years, the project was an opportunity to showcase the value of long-term partnerships.

Bryan Yule, managing director at Pinefield Glass commented:

“Working with Eurocell and using the InSite system, we were able to provide pre-fitted window modules that performed exactly as required on site, giving the contractor and client complete peace of mind. Consistency and quality are at the heart of what we do, and this project really underlined that.”

Sustainability and Performance at the Core

Eurocell’s Logik system, integrated within Kirkwood Timber Frame’s precision-engineered panels played an integral role in meeting the Council’s sustainability and performance ambitions. Each frame contains around 40% recycled PVC-U, sourced through Eurocell’s closed-loop recycling system, which processes old frames into new ones.

With U-values as low as 1.2 W/m²K, or down to 0.93 W/m²K when specified with triple glazing, the Logik system supports compliance helping to reduce energy demand and tenant bills without compromising thermal or structural integrity.

Designed for practicality as well as performance, Logik can be manufactured offsite to minimise heavy lifting on site. Meanwhile, its contemporary Silk Grey finish delivers a durable, modern aesthetic that complements architectural visions for buildings that “sit confidently” within their surroundings.

Supporting Aberdeen’s Long-Term Housing Vision

The Craighill scheme exemplifies Aberdeen City Council’s ambition to deliver sustainable, high-quality homes that meet tenants’ needs now and in the future. The integration of Eurocell’s InSite and Logik systems has helped realise that vision more quickly and cost-effectively, supporting the Council’s “Gold Standard” housing standards and delivering long-term value for the city.

Offsite Benefits Realised On Site

The offsite-first approach has delivered clear and tangible results on site. By sealing buildings from day 1, internal works were able to start sooner, accelerating the overall construction programme and helping keep the scheme on schedule. This early weather-tightness also protected the budget by reducing costly downtime, safeguarding against volatile trade rates that can quickly escalate on projects of this scale.

The change in methodology also led to cleaner, safer sites. With less onsite handling and fewer overlapping trades, the working environment became easier to manage, improving both health and safety outcomes and overall site logistics.

In addition, the specification of Silk Grey Logik windows provided a consistent, high-quality finish across all homes, aligning with the design team’s material palette and aesthetic ambitions. The recycled content within the frames supported Aberdeen City Council’s wider social value and environmental goals, contributing to a more sustainable development that will serve its community for decades to come.

The scheme remains on track for completion by April 2026, setting a new benchmark for how offsite innovation can bring cost and programme certainty to complex public housing projects.

If you have any questions or would like more information then please email: newbuild@eurocell.co.uk or call 0870 120 3003.

Eurocell’s InSite window system, revolutionising construction efficiency in Inverness

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  • Eurocell’s InSite system transformed window installation for a block of four terraced houses in Inverness
  • Windows were manufactured at Pinefield Glass incorporated the InSite hinge with the cavity barrier
  • Kirkwood Timber Frame integrated the windows into timber frame panels
  • The panels were then transported to site and erected over two days; speeding up the process of achieving a weatherproof structure
  • The only window system suitable for timber frame that has been fully tested to prevent the spread of fire and smoke from, or to the cavity
  • Approved for use in accordance with the guidelines by NHBC.

Challenge

Affordable housing provider Places for People needed to construct a block of terraced houses near Inverness swiftly and efficiently to control costs and accommodate residents promptly. However, the conventional construction process, with its multitude of stages, prolonged time on site, and diverse specialised tasks, posed significant challenges to meeting tight deadlines.

Solution

The InSite system introduced by Eurocell, comprising a specialist hinge and sealant, a cavity barrier and window, enables house construction to be expedited by manufacturing within a factory environment. The windows were manufactured with the cavity barrier and InSite bracket fitted, at Pinefield Glass, Elgin. These were then integrated into timber frame panels at Kirkwood Timber Frame in Sauchen, Inverurie. The panels were transported to the site and erected over a two-day period (12 – 13th December 2023).

InSite streamlines the installation of fully glazed, finished windows into wall panels during the factory production process, and enables transportation to site easily as the window sits within the frame cavity, reducing damage, movement in transit and the need to pack between the panels.

This innovation also reduces onsite disruption and working at height, reduces Health and Safety concerns, minimises labour costs, and accelerates build schedules – the window sits within the cavity, so when craning panels into place, the panel sits vertical making it easier to place into position.

Once erected on-site, the window is pushed out to its finished position, ensuring the 50mm cavity. The window is then plumbed and squared, locked off, sealed and the exterior of the building is ready to be clad.

The entire panel assembly can then become wind and watertight within one day, allowing interior trades to commence work immediately. Noteworthy features include improved safety, reduced site traffic, reduction in movement of scaffolding lifts and compliance with relevant Building Regulations.

The InSite system has been tested by Warrington Fire [part of Exova Group] to .BS 476 Part 20, 1987 This certifies that when all of the approved parts within the system are used together the InSite system prevents the spread of fire and smoke from or to the cavity. This is the only system of this type to hold this fire certification.

Result

The build was completed 9 days quicker than typical timber frame construction of this scale:

Faster and easier: Reduces on-site disruption and labour costs, accelerates build schedules, and allows immediate commencement of interior trades.

  • Safer: As the whole commissioning operation of the windows can be carried out from inside the building, this eliminates working at height, moving windows about on scaffolding, enhances site safety and security and reduces site traffic with no separate window deliveries.
  • Peace of mind: Compliant with Building Regulations, thoroughly tested for air, water, and wind pressure and independently tested for Fire and Smoke resistance, assessed for load-bearing capacity.

Read the full case-study here: Insite Case Study (eurocell.co.uk)

If you have any questions or would like more information then please email: newbuild@eurocell.co.uk or call 0870 120 3003.