EYG Commercial provides £1.2m high-performance windows at new Heathrow Premier Inn

EYG Commercial has been called upon to ensure Premier Inn’s new ‘flagship’ hotel at Heathrow Airport lives up to Lenny Henry’s famous promise of ‘a good night’s sleep guaranteed’ – manufacturing high-performance acoustic windows to mitigate the noise from aircraft and traffic at the adjacent Terminal 4.

The £1.2m glazing package for the new 620-bed hotel was awarded to the Hull-based company after it demonstrated its capabilities to manufacture and install windows capable of meeting the most demanding specifications.

Business development manager Bernard Hastie says the contract, which is with Oman-based multi-national construction firm the STC Group and commissioned by Grove Developments, is a huge endorsement of EYG Commercial’s capabilities and growing reputation.

“The STC group are in the process of building a portfolio in the UK and EYG are delighted to be part of such a prestigious development. We were obviously thrilled to secure this contract and EYG are also now working on several other projects with the STC group and looking forward to a long-term working relationship,” he said.

“We had to firstly demonstrate our capability at handling such a complex project before the contract was determined.

“Not only was there a need for us to demonstrate our ability to produce windows which performed to the very highest standard in an intense and demanding environment, but site logistics were of paramount importance as the hotel sits on a tight site surrounded by the adjacent Hilton Hotel car park, the airport perimeter road, and the A30 dual carriageway.

He said: “Extensive laboratory testing was commissioned to ensure that the systems installed complied with the demanding acoustic report at the airport.

“The testing confirmed that an external fixed light needed backing up with a high performance secondary window inboard of the external window, with an acoustically treated reveal between the windows to minimise sound transfer.

“We utilised a fixed light ALUK 72Hi section externally, with a 42mm DGU comprising two panes of specialist acoustic glass and also an ALUK 58BW Tilt Turn window as the secondary, which was again glazed with high performance acoustic glass.

Reaping the rewards of research and development

Joint managing director of EYG Nick Ward said designing, developing and manufacturing windows at its factory had been challenging for the firm, but had ultimately provided a product which can be used in many similar developments going forward.

“We now have a product which has been extensively researched, developed, tested and approved to perform at the highest of standards in the most challenging environments. We can see an extensive market for this, so the hard work and dedication has been worthwhile,” he said.

The contract, which also includes the installation of extensive curtain walling to stairwells and a panoramic glass-walled restaurant and bar overlooking the airport, is now almost 50 per cent complete, with over 500 external windows installed and the curtain walling started.

EYG Commercial, part of the EYG Group of businesses, has had its most successful year of business in 2016, including securing the largest single contract in its history, a £5.13million deal to glaze one of the UK’s biggest care homes for the St Monica Trust in Bristol.

It has also provided glazing for four further Premier Inn developments in Cirencester, Chipping Norton, Sunderland and Weymouth.

EYG’s domestic business has also enjoyed great success over the past 12 months, with sales on mainstream products such as windows, conservatories, orangeries and doors showing more than 22 per cent growth year on year.