Centrafix™ Installation System.
A game changer in thermal performance.
The Centrafix™ installation method is an alternative BRANZ appraised and Codemark Certified solution to the New Zealand Building Code (NZBC) standard installation method.
Centrafix™ recesses aluminium doors and windows back inside the building wall, aligning all insulation elements—wall, aluminium window frame, and double glazing—preventing cold air from circulating around the frames to improve thermal efficiency and reduce the thermal losses common in typical installations.
Codemark Certificate CMNZ10033
BRANZ appraised. Appraisal No. 1188 (2023)
New Zealand Des. Reg. No. 429382
Centrafix™ is available exclusively to our Metro Series range of aluminium joinery. With clean lines and flat surfaces, Metro Series offers minimalist aluminium doors and windows with a heavy-duty design that ensure weather and water resistance.
What does Centrafix™ do?
Centrafix™ enhances the quality and function of your aluminium joinery, improving the overall performance and energy efficiency of your home.
Increases the thermal performance in your home by over 20%.
This innovative installation method aligns the insulation elements of the wall, aluminium window frame, and double glazing, preventing cold air from circulating around the frames and significantly improving the thermal performance of the entire window system.
Offers clean, contemporary lines.
The aluminium joinery perimeter sits flush with the exterior, while the window itself is recessed, creating a sleek and contemporary look for your project.
Complies with the NZBC.
Centrafix™ is a BRANZ Appraised and Codemark Certified alternative solution to NZBC E2/AS1, offering enhanced performance for aluminium door and window installations.
Completes your thermal window system.
Your windows and doors operate as a complete system, with each component—including frames, insulated glazing units, and installation—contributing significantly to your home's overall performance and comfort. We provide ThermalHEART® thermally broken frames and The AGP System® double glazing to enhance thermal performance. Additionally, by installing your thermally broken aluminium windows using the Centrafix™ method, you can improve your home's energy efficiency by an additional 20%.
System Features.
The Centrafix™ installation system offers a range of unique features that set it apart from the standard NZBC method, including:
- Is recessed relative to the cladding and building cavity
- Has glazing and thermal insulators in the aluminium window frame aligned with the wall insulation
- Features a protruding fixing fin that overlaps the exterior face of the structure
- Is face-fixed through the fixing fin to the structure, over any underlays or rigid air barriers
- Is typically taped on three sides to the flexible wall underlay or rigid air barrier via the fixing fin
- Self-seals to the flexible wall underlay, rigid air barrier, or floor edge at the sill
- Has integral frame facings that connect to the cladding using familiar methods
- The integral facing extends 58mm from the outer surface of the building structure
- Accommodates most generic and proprietary cladding systems within the fixed facing position
- Can work with claddings requiring more than 58mm via specially designed connections to the window or door facing
Centrafix™ Installation vs E2/AS1 Installation.
E2/AS1 Installation
When comparing the installation methods side by side, you'll observe that the full face of the E2/AS1 frame and glazing panels extends beyond the wall, aligning with the cladding and leaving them fully exposed to colder external temperatures. The E2/AS1 cavity construction method is the standard installation approach outlined in the New Zealand Building Code.
This method, along with alternative solutions based on its principles, often causes misalignment between the insulating elements of a window or door and the surrounding wall. Additionally, external air can circulate around the aluminium joinery, bypassing thermal insulators in the aluminium window frame, creating thermal bridges and reducing façade efficiency.
Centrafix™
The Centrafix™ window installation system addresses these issues by safely recessing aluminium door and window units into the building wall, aligning insulation elements between the aluminium joinery and the wall. It also eliminates external airflow around frames and integrates a sill system to maintain weathertightness and airtightness, helping to protect it from the external temperatures and preventing heat loss through the aluminium window frame.
Unlike other systems, Centrafix™ connects to the building's drained and ventilated cavity, enhancing performance.
Additional Information.
For additional technical details about the Centrafix™ installation method, including installation types, wall underlay specifications, opening preparation, unit installation, cladding details, and full-height sill information, please refer to the brochure below.
