Commercial shopfronts and screens are large windows designed for retail premises, office buildings as well as providing sidelights toplights and framing for commercial aluminium doors.
Available in insulated thermally broken or solid, non-thermal versions, these screens come in all manner of sizes, configurations and powder-coated finishes.
Aluminium commercial shopfronts and screens for retail, and public buildings
While particularly suitable for shops, these shopfronts also work well in many other uses. Ground floor framing systems, shopfronts and screens while mostly used in retail also provide general screening solutions. They’re simple to make, fast to install and often come at a lower cost solution than aluminium windows. The flexible glazing arrangement also makes these screens ideal for glass, panels, letterbox arrangements in flats, security screens and even display units.
For entrance doors to apartments, a suitable shopfront and screening system provides side panels and an area for buzz entry systems, letter boxes and a glazed window for more light.
At ground or first floor level, these products also provide cost-effective windows. Their 45-50mm face thickness makes them ideal as contemporary glazing. There’s also the option for insetting opening windows.
Simple to fabricate, easy to fit and long-lasting, these tried and tested systems are specified and installed in many types of buildings. Examples include
- Retail premises
- Leisure
- Educational establishments
- Blocks of residential apartments at ground level
- Transport hubs
Completely flexible in design, these aluminium commercial shopfronts and screens also suit extensive modification. It’s possible to create shapes, curves and even accompany door sets with automatic operation. Their simple design also makes them popular for internal partitions, showroom sample stands and many other uses. Ground floor framing provides a solution where the more costly facade and curtain wall glazing isn’t required.
Typical Specifications of commercial framing systems
Depending on the aluminium system company and product, these come with several options for glazing.
The pocket or shuffle glazed system remains the most popular. There’s also beaded systems where shuffle glazing isn’t suitable such as internal glazing or where alternative panels or glass thicknesses are required.
Aluminium extrusions meet standard requirements for quality, thickness and conformity. The powder coated surfaces additionally meet specific coating standards depending on the applicator and polyester powder used.
Providers of Commercial Shopfronts and Screens
Virtually every major aluminium systems company provides a commercial system of ground-floor framing, shopfronts and screens. Some of the best known systems and providers of these products include:
Aluprof UK
The commercial framing products by Aluprof are broad ranging and extensive. From basic shopfront systems to fire-rated and high security products, Aluprof is well-known and established in the field of commercial doors, framing and facades. The MB system offers all manner of products including office partition systems.
AluK Systems
Complementing the AluK GT55 TB Thermally broken commercial door and the GT55NI non-insulated system is the GT55 TB GFT and GT55 NI GFT. These are highly specified ground floor-framing systems and widely used in all market sectors.
Comar Architectural Aluminium Systems
The Comar name is synonymous with commercial doors and framing, having started over fifty years ago in this sector. Complementing their Comar 7 and Comar 7 P.i Insulated Door Ranges are four different systems.
Comar 1 provides single glaze solutions. The Comar 3, Comar 4 and 8 systems provide both pocket/shuffle glazed solutions as well as the more traditional nib and bead system.
Exlabesa Systems
Matching the Exlabesa KSF Non-Thermal door system or the KTS thermal system is a matching commercial ground-floor treatments suite. Exlabesa is well-known and widely used by fabricators offering shopfronts and commercial doors to the trade as well as commercial markets.
Jack Aluminium Systems
Coventry based Jack Aluminium design and extrude fine quality commercial shopfront and framing systems.
The TD68 suite provides installers and the trade with thermally broken shopfronts and ground-floor framing. For projects requiring a non-insulated product is required, this comes with the JD47 system.
Like other commercial shopfronts and screens providers, Jack Aluminium products are proven in high-traffic buildings and premises requiring a reliable, tried-and-tested product.
Kawneer Systems
High specification Kawneer products are the choice of many architects and their shopfront systems enhance the well-known 190 commercial door, 350 Heavy Duty commercial doors and the latest Dual Moment product.
For shopfronts you’ll find the Trifab, EnCORE, IR500, IR501 as well as other solutions where projects demand a top-brand commercial system.
Kestrel Aluminium Systems
Kestrel Aluminium Systems provides non-insulated, insulated and low-rise curtain walling systems, all suitable as shopfronts and ground floor framing. It’s another system widely available through a nationwide network of suppliers for the trade.
Metal Technology
Ireland-based Metal Technology serve the commercial sector for their innovative aluminium products comprising great engineering and design. System 10 commercial doors from Metal Technology are robust and flexible commercial aluminium doors available at wide ranging sizes and glazing options.
Reynaers Aluminium
When used commercially, Reynaers shopfront and ground-floor framing systems provide high-tech glazing systems designed for architecturally appealing projects.
With several different versions available, including the popular Vision 50, Reynaers remains the architect’s choice as well as high-end retail, leisure and other commercial buildings.
SAPA Building Systems
For many years and previously under the Glostal name, SAPA shopfronts and ground floor framing come under the well-known Stormframe ST II and the 202 non-thermally broken system. Also available by SAPA and widely used in high-performance installations is the WindowWall range. SAPA products now come under the Technal brand.
Schuco Aluminium Systems
Matching the vast Schuco door range is a range of framing solutions. These enhance multiple commercial door products. Examples include the ADS90.SI, ADS75.SI, ADS 75 HD.HI, ADS71.HI and ADS70HD suite of doors. Each of these comes with a thermally enhanced and highly engineered shopfront and commercial framing system.
Widely used in apartment buildings, office blocks and industrial buildings, the Schuco name is well-down and widely specified.
Senior Architectural Systems
Doncaster based Senior Architectural Systems is another well-known system company for commercial shopfronts and screens.
The Senior Architectural range comes well-designed, affordable and widely used commercially. Matching door systems include the SFG and SD products as well as the highly insulated PURE heavy duty door.
Smart Systems Shopline
Shopline is a non-thermal system by Smarts used in shops, entrance screens and industrial buildings. It’s a brilliantly designed modular system with the signature 50mm sightlines. It’s benefits include rapid fabrication and installation as well as flexible design options.
Technal Systems
Now including the SAPA brand name, Technal Systems provides the PY55 system of commercial shopfronts and screens.
More information about Commercial Shopfronts and Screens for installers and the trade
Installers, construction professionals and the wider trade can get in touch using our contact form for suppliers and more information about shopfronts, ground-floor framing and commercial doors.
