As education facilities evolve into more flexible spaces, operable walls and sliding doors are more frequently specified. An operable wall divides available space enabling flexibility whilst sound rated panels still allow for effective noise control.

Flexible Properties of Space Fluidity represents the design of space for flows of individuals, sight, sound, and air. Educators must often convert spaces to accommodate for changes in enrolment, curriculum, or pedagogy. Space designed for convertibility requires an imagination for future eventualities; it should possess a degree of modularity and open-endedness at a structural level which is open to re-design for future modifications.

Hufcor tracking systems lay the foundations for superbly finished and smooth operation. Tight tolerances demand exacting installation techniques that provide the lifetime integrity of the systems Hufcor design, manufacture and install.

Benefits of Hufcors Sliding wall:

• Top supported (manual & electric operation)
• No floor tracks
• Self activating retractable mechanical pressure seals
• Quiet in operation
• Instant privacy

The HAWA-Frontslide 60-100-140 lets you take full advantage of every functional and design-related option that modern sliding shutters have to offer. Comprehensive performance across the board thanks to its flexibility and high resilience, the smooth, quiet running properties typical of Hawa and its high-quality guiding technology. What is most significant, however, is the addition of versions for 100 kg and 140 kg to the range. Telescopic or symmetric installations with 1 to 4 shutters operated by hand or electrically allow the installation of sliding shutters up to 3200 mm in height.

• Heavy shutters are possible
• Up to 3200 mm in height
• Numerous forms of movement

When a building is inadequately ventilated, it creates a build-up of heat, moisture and chemicals that can cause health problems for occupants. Natural ventilation creates a natural airflow in the building, ensuring higher air quality and a better working environment. It’s the natural choice that’s also cost effective.

By adding high-level operable windows, which allow the hot air to escape, together with lower level windows, which draw cooler air into the building, you create a natural airflow. This provides effective ventilation and comfortable temperatures within the building without reliance on mechanical means thus reducing energy consumption and reducing emissions.

Arens International is Australia’s leading manufacturer and supplier of remote control window systems, and recently developed the Ventilation Control panel which, when used in conjunction with the electric actuators, controls the opening and closing of windows to achieve ideal conditions. This integrated system results in more comfortable temperatures and can drastically reduce energy consumption and associated costs.

Arens International ventilation systems can also be incorporated into smoke dispersal systems, with one of our first major projects being the Hong Kong Shanghai Bank Headquarters in Hong Kong twenty-six years ago.

For over 50 years Arens International  has been providing technical expertise and design advice to help architects and designers incorporate the principles of natural ventilation in their projects. We work with our clients from the design concept through to practical completion of a project – and we offer after sales service.

Our trained installation teams not only install our products, they follow the project through to full commissioning.

Acousitc assemblies control how much sound travels from one room to another or from the outside world into the room. Acoustica is well equipped to deal with both. AcousticFlex SQis highly effective against external noise from motor vehicles, rail transportation, aircraft, neighbouring properties and adjoining buildings.

The AcousticFlex SQ has good sound attenuation over full frequency spectrum with a soft and cellular structure which increases “vibration dampening” and therefore will achieve a better STL (sound transmission loss) for a given weight and thickness.

Certified by the CDSIRO division of materials science and engineering as group 1 fire rated.

Low VOC’s and made in Australia

Oxtek Colloidal Silicate is designed for time of pour applications. A single pack one application spray on system that deeply penetrates new or old concrete, provides permanent waterproofing, curing and protection. X200 Densi-Proof™ conforms to the moisture suppressant requirements as per AS1884-2012

• Will cure concrete equal to water pond curing
• Permanently waterproofs concrete from any direction
• Moisture barrier for impervious coatings and coverings
• Makes concrete impermeable, increasing longevity
• Exceptional densifier and hardener for concrete
• Increases tensile & compressive strength
• Resists freeze thaw damage
• Retards efflorescence
• Can be used on vertical or horizontal substrates
• Zero VOC, environmentally friendly, user safe
• Compatibility with most flooring systems and coatings
• After trade friendly
• Indefinite shelf life
• Reduces dry shrinkage cracking
• Stabilises concrete pH
• Minimum site disruption, trafficable after 2 hours
• Water cleanup

It is also important to note that the the Government of Western Australia have issued a directive to the builders stating that the builder is responsible for suitable moisture content of the concrete prior to the topical coating or flooring installation.

Reynaers Aluminium is a leading European specialist in the development and marketing of innovative and sustainable aluminium solutions for windows, doors, curtain walls, sliding systems. This is driven by increasing concerns for energy-efficiency and the willingness to take responsibility for the environment.

In most public buildings however, this goes even further. The accessibility of windows and doors plays an essential role. Reynaers offers several different systems with a low or a flush threshold. This means that the transition between the interior and outside is completely flat, allowing less mobile people to have effortless access to the building. On top of that, Reynaers sliding systems can be motorised and easily linked to a BMS (Building Movement System) allowing integration into multiple applications.

The water that enters the system before the water barrier is led outwards through special drainage slots, pressure equalisation within the system and results in no water accumulation. These slots are covered with drainage caps. Another option is to use Reynaers integrated gutter profiles, ensuring an invisible drainage system.

The flexibility that operable walls offer can significantly lower building costs. The quest for increased space is becoming more prevalent and the demands to do more for less cost increases. Space adaptability and effective space management is critical. Issues pertaining to privacy are also addressed with the used of flexible space solutions. The benefits of operable walls include:

Hufcor operable walls have acoustic properties thus creating excellent noise barriers, which in turn provide a temporary privacy solution when required between rooms and apartment to apartment. Consider an operable wall that maximises sound control for a theatre room which can then be converted into a dining area. Rooms can easily be transformed immediately.

Operable walls allow the occupant to have a flexible space whilst being cost effective when considering change. A well-engineered and operable wall track can make a big difference to the lifetime of the wall and provide years of integrity.

Access for light, air and people must be created and implemented in every building. Hawa slides are made for every requirement and every building situation. For example, the single leaf version is a visually irresistible, space saving solution for doors weighing up to 60, 100 or 140kg. Then there is are Symmetric versions, which make it possible to move two or four sliding shutters synchronously. The sophisticated slide ‘Telescopic’ range, moves up to four shutters simultaneously with one movement. All systems are available in both manual and maintenance free automatic options, which are supported by the quietest sliding shutter drive on the market. The wind and weather resistance is also impressive. Tested for corrosion and for wind resistance class 6.

As an innovative leader, Hawa recognises emerging design trends and turns them into solid, reliable and long lasting sliding solutions. Hawa offer Façade screens for individuality and climate conditioning, as well as ensuring user comfort with silent sliding doors and ease of motion.

Acoustica’s QuietWave® noise – use of the minimum amount of materials required for function.

Acoustica has developed a revolutionary membrane system for acoustic insulation for use in plasterboard wall systems.

In developing the QuietWave® acoustic membrane, Acoustica has adhered to the foregoing environmental, design strategies. The result is the development of a sustainable product – QuietWave® plasterboard composite for higher levels of environmental performance from design through to a quite living environment.

The use of QuietWave® has enabled the construction of a dry wall system with the highest acoustic rating with the smallest possible footprint and lightest weight.

A 1.2mm thick, the QuietWave® membrane sandwiched between two layers of plasterboard on each wall face replaces 30kg/m2 of plasterboard and achieves more Sound Transmission Loss (STL) than any other dry wall system with a saving of 30-50% in thickness.

The QuietWave® wall system achieves the highest possible acoustic rating of Rw+Ctr = 55 with the smallest possible footprint for a dry wall system.

Eliminate bulky Fibreglass cavity insulation for more greenhouse savings – 1kg of CO2 for every m2 of wall and exceed the NCC performance for attached dwellings with a Rw+Ctr = 52 rating.

Manufacturing impacts

Less embodied Energy

QuietWave® has very low embodied energy with savings of 37 kWh/m2 (37kg of CO2/m2) of wall.

Less use of Water

Water savings of >18 Litres of water/m2 of wall built. Global savings of 10,100,000,000 litres per year.

Distribution impacts

Less Transport Energy

Save up to 30% on transport costs with weight and volume saving of composite QuietWave® plasterboard for superior acoustic performance to alternative dry wall systems.

Less land fill

Savings of 4kg/m2 of wall built (12% of landfill is plasterboard)

More embodied energy savings in building structures

Less building weight

Less embodied energy in building materials used (concrete and reinforcing steel)

Sustainable Product Development – QuietWave® Plasterboard composite for higher levels of environmental performance from design through manufacture to the quite living environment.

The economics – not just the savings in construction cost but with the extra bonus of usable and sellable floor space, savings can add up to thousands of dollars per apartment. QuietWave® wall system provides a saving of 50% in the width of the wall against a comparable acoustic rated wall system. Gain 1m of floor-space for every 6.6 m length of wall to reduce the overall footprint of the apartment block. QuietWave® an acoustic wall system that delivers more Sound Transmission Loss (STL) than any other dry wall construction method.

For More Info

We’re very excited to welcome you to the newly designed Hufcor Australia website, built from the ground up utilizing the latest design trends. We’re ecstatic with the results and we think you will be too.

Visit the Site

Our goal with our new website is to provide our visitors with an easy way to navigate our range of products and make informed selections for their projects.

Our new Website gives access to brochures, finishes, and technical information including engineering and acoustic data. End Users can access Owners Manuals and Architects can access BIM downloads and fillable Specifications. Both current and prospective clients will find our website to be a valuable resource of information pertaining to Operable Wall products.