Blog - MPS Windows & Doors

What is Nickel Sulphide Inclusion?

Nickel Sulphide Inclusion is a naturally occurring phenomenon in glass. Impurities can still be contained in the glass pane after its manufacture and toughening processes. Small particles of Nickel Sulphide can still be present in the glass at point of installation.

Visually, you will not able to see these tiny particles of metal but they can still be present in the glass until they are aggravated.

Nickel Sulphide Inclusions have two main states: Stable at high temperatures and stable at lower temperatures. When the glass is heat soaked, the heat converts the Nickel Sulphide Inclusion to the high temperature state. When the glass is cooled quickly, the Nickel Sulphide Inclusion isn’t able to change to the lower temperature state. The transformation to the lower temperature state can occur over time, therefore a glass breakage caused by a Nickel Sulphide Inclusion can happen if the inclusion is large enough and if it is located within the central portion of the heat soaked glass.

A very simple way to determine whether a glass breakage has been caused by Nickel Sulphide Inclusion is to watch out for the ‘Butterfly Effect’ pattern on the glass. The implosion will centre around a singular point on the glass and will fan out in a butterfly wing formation.

What are the odds of a piece of glass having Nickel Sulphide Inclusion?

Unfortunately, there is no way to totally remove the risk of Nickel Sulphide inclusion. In a standard pane of glass, the estimated risk of a Nickel Sulphide Inclusion is 1m2 in every 10,000m2 of glass (estimated by the GGF). But you can reduce the risk of an NSI breakage by putting the glass through a finishing process called Heat Soaking.

The Heat Soaking process includes thermally treating the glass further after completion, in large heat soaking ovens. The glass is heated to very high temperatures in an effort to force any panel with Nickel Sulphide impurities to shatter. The resulting glass that survives the testing therefore has a lower chance of containing a Nickel Sulphide Inclusion, reducing the risk of broken panels to the end user.

You should note that the Heat Soaking process will increase the cost of the glass and increase lead times but will reduce the risk of a Nickel Sulphide Inclusion down to 1m2 in every 1 million m2 of glass.

NSI Breakages and Warranties

Nickel Sulphide Inclusions are a rare yet accepted anomaly within glass manufacturing and no glazier processors or suppliers are able to provide a warranty against breakages from this phenomena. This then means that MPS Glass & Windows Ltd are not able to pass any warranty onto our customers.

Bi-Fold Doors VS Sliding Doors

In this post MPS explain the difference between Bi-folding and Sliding Doors and how both can be a benefit to your home renovations or newbuild, allowing you to make a more informed decision.

What’s the difference?

Bifold doors fold back against themselves, concertina-style. Typically, more than two panels are connected by hinges and run along a track within the door frame. Sliding doors tend to be made of two or more large panes of glass which slide sideways to the end of a frame. Due to the bi-fold opening up the aperture to create a seamless transition between indoors and out, the doors will require space for the panels to be stacked to one side or both sides, either indoors or outdoors. Sliding doors will always remain within the track, taking up less room but not allowing you to open up the complete space.

Above is an example of a four section bi-fold door. The existing patio has plenty of room to accommodate the door leaves when open, transforming the space with a seamless transition between indoors and out.

Above is an example of two six-section sliding aluminium doors. Two sections sliding in to the third either side, giving a large open space without the intrusion inside or outside the property.

Available Colours?

We offer many, many various colour and finish options to suit your home. Weather it’s subtlety or statement, we are sure to have what you’re looking for. For aluminium bi-folding and sliding doors you have the choice of hundreds of RAL colours as well as textured finishes. uPVC is a little more restricted but still a vast array available from modern shades to traditional woodgrain finishes. All colours are available to view in our showroom.

What materials are available?

We manufacture both bi-folding and sliding doors in aluminium, which is a premium product and now the go-to material for newbuild homes and extensions/conservatories. Homeowners are seeing the benefits from the ultra slim and sleek look that aluminium offers and you only have to look at the samples in our showroom to see why it’s the product of choice. We also offer sliding doors in uPVC, which is a more cost effective option. uPVC is more restricted in both size and colour but still a great option is you’re on a tighter budget. One of the more popular colours in uPVC is Anthracite Grey, giving the modern look of aluminium. Although not as slim and sleek profile as the aluminium alternative, it’s still a great option and one to consider. We do not offer bi-folding doors in uPVC due to the insufficient performance.

How much are they?

uPVC is more cost effective than aluminium and a popular option for replacing an existing door. As with most projects, your sizes and specifications will dictate the overall cost. With various colours, furniture finishes, tinted glass colours, thermal/acoustic glass options, integral blinds and installation type, it’s difficult to give an estimated cost without knowing your exact requirements. We are happy to provide an accurate quotation online through our contact form, or we can arrange to visit your property at a date and time to suit you. We are aware that budget is often a deciding factor and we are on-hand to talk you through the available options and offer our expert advise as market leaders for 30 years.

Adding value to your home

We demand a lot from our homes, they need to accommodate the ever changing number of occupants, through various stages of our lives. We look at why homeowners are adapt their homes.

Do I need planning permission for a conservatory?

Whether you are looking to accommodate an ever growing family or create additional space whilst avoiding full scale building work, a new conversatory can offer the perfect solution.

Do I need planning permission for windows?

Before starting any building work or home improvements it is essential to obtain the correct planning permission – failure to do so can result in expensive. In our recent series of planning permissions guides we have covered the regulations around extensions, now it time to look at planning permission for windows.

How does double glazing work?

In this post MPS explain how double glazing works so if you are in the process of planning your own home renovation this post will provide you with the information to make an informed decision.

What type of windows are the most energy efficient?

When renovating your home installing energy efficient glazing is a no brainer, it helps reduce your bills and carbon footprint. This can be achieved through the use of double, triple glazing, secondary glazing or even thicker curtains.

Adding value to your home

We demand a lot from our homes, they need to accommodate the ever changing number of occupants, through various stages of our lives. When our houses fall short of our needs we start trolling through RightMove however increasingly owners are looking to adapt their homes.

Do I need planning permission for an extension?

Whether it is the costs associated with moving, potential interest rate changes, or a growing family, many people will see staying put and adapting their home as the most viable option.

If you are considering building work you will probably be doing your research into the type of extension you wish to make.

Our series of buying guides aims to give you as much information around our industry and products before you get a quote. So let’s begin with the basics…

Christmas Offer 2019

MPS want to give a little back to our customers this winter and if you place an order with us between now and 30th November 2019 for installation in January 2020, you will be eligible for one of the following items…

The difference between composite & uPVC doors

Are you looking to replace the front or back doors in your home but aren’t quite sure about the differences between composite and uPVC doors? In this post we will cover the key differences, allowing you to make an informed decision and ultimately choose the best product for your needs & budget.

Window & Door Maintenance

Whether your new windows or doors are made from aluminium or uPVC, they will give you many years’ trouble free, low maintenance service. However, a few simple items of regular maintenance will prolong the life of many of the components and will avoid invalidation of the guarantee.