Balco Climate is a double glazed window wall with clear glass on the outside and heat-absorbing glass on the inside. Aluminium extrusions are used in such things as windows, frames, railings, fittings and floor modules.

Started in 1987, Balco is one of the pioneers in the field of glazing for balconies. Over the years the company has established a position as one of the market leaders in Europe and today offers a complete range of both glazed and open balconies for new buildings, renovation work and extensions. With its head office in Växjö and sales offices in Stockholm and Gothenburg, Balco also has subsidiaries in Denmark, Norway, the UK, Germany and Poland. The company had a turnover of about SEK 540 million in 2009/2010 and a staff of 160.

Innovative solutions

Innovative and functional solutions are characteristic of Balco and among the finesses that benefit both builders and users are telescopic mountings, unique drainage systems, glazing that keeps a façade clean and combined sliding and hinged windows. Aluminium extrusions are the principal construction material and are used in things like windows, frames, railings, fittings and floor modules.

“When you’re involved in the development work for a company that encourages innovative thinking and is not afraid to break new ground with various solutions that increase the way people use glazed balconies then it’s reassuring to be backed up by a company like Hydro,” says Per Carlsson, product developer at Balco. “They’re only too willing to share their detailed specialist knowledge and experience from a variety of applications.”

The balcony system from Balco combines architectural beauty, a better living environment and lower heating costs!

Optimised balcony environment

A new system launched recently, Balco Climate, makes it possible to maintain a comfortable environment on the balcony  throughout the year while cutting energy consumption. Balco Climate is a doubleglazed window wall with clear glass on the outside and a heat-absorbing glass on the inside. At the bottom are fans driven by solar cells which blow the air heated by the sun between the panes upwards. This warm air can then be vented to the outside or let into the balcony by dampers at the top. In the latter case it becomes an extra source of heating in the apartment thus reducing heating costs. Venting to the outside keeps the balcony cool on warm, sunny days.

Glazing saves energy

Energy consumption and environmental issues are given high priority at Balco. One example is the fact that the bulk of the materials used are maintenance free and can be recycled, and all the balconies are modular to minimise unnecessary transport. In terms of energy, glazed balconies are generally seen as saving energy. A glazed façade can cut an apartment’s heating costs by 10 per cent. The balcony’s windows and air act as insulation which means that the intake air is heated before entering the apartment. The result is to reduce floor draughts and an increase in the temperature. Balco has also participated in a project where architects have integrated solar cells into façades to store and exploit the heat from the sun. Balco also has its own system under development to integrate solar cell panels into its balcony products where the window wall and façade are used to cut heating costs. Good prospects for a product system that combines architectural beauty, a better living environment and lower heating costs!