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Specify the screen before repeating the window

On an apartment project, a window detail becomes a repeated maintenance task as soon as the same assembly appears across several floors. Buyers comparing the 105 and Series T3 120 thermal break casement windows should therefore begin with screen access, operating clearance and drainage access. The frame appearance matters, but the more useful early question is whether residents and maintenance staff can reach the parts they will handle after installation. A full-size sample can expose a problem that remains invisible in an elevation drawing.

Both products combine a thermal break aluminium window with a screen. That shared description provides a starting point for a shortlist, rather than proof that their assemblies are interchangeable. The opening arrangement, frame junctions and glazing specification still need to match the project schedule. Give each repeated opening a clear reference and connect that reference to the selected product, drawing revision and room type. This makes a later substitution easier to evaluate without losing the decisions already agreed by the architect and contractor.

The 105: review the screen and hardware together

The 105 Thermal Break Casement Window with screen includes steel mesh, a four-point locking system, an anti-fall rope and foam composite seals in its product description. Treat these as individual items to review in the proposed assembly. Ask the supplier to demonstrate how the screen opens or is removed, where the locking points engage and how the hardware is reached for service. A mesh description alone does not establish a fall-protection rating, and a hardware name does not replace a project-specific compliance assessment.

Operating direction also deserves a drawing rather than an assumption. Before approving an order, place the proposed sash and screen movements on a plan showing the wall return, curtains, furniture and any balcony obstruction. Check the full opening arc and the position needed to reach each handle. Where the same window serves different room layouts, one accepted sample may not settle every location. Record those exceptions separately so that the production schedule does not silently repeat an unsuitable arrangement throughout the building.

The T3 120: keep concealed drainage accessible

The Series T3 120 Thermal Break Casement Window with Screen highlights a narrow beveled frame and hidden drainage. Those features make it a useful second candidate when the design team is reviewing the visible frame alongside the sill detail. Concealed drainage still needs a clear route to the exterior. Request a section through the actual proposed assembly, including the supporting construction and finishes, so the installer can see where water is intended to leave and which surfaces must remain unobstructed.

Coordinate that section with the façade trade before fabrication. Sill finishes, sealant locations and surrounding cladding can affect access to drainage openings if their interfaces are left unresolved. Have the supplier identify the cleaning method and any removable covers on the sample, then confirm that the installed surround will preserve that access. This is a coordination exercise, not a claim that either window will satisfy a particular exposure rating. Obtain the relevant test evidence for the exact configuration when the project specification requires it.

Compare complete assemblies on the same basis

A useful commercial comparison gives both candidates the same opening dimensions, glass requirements, finish brief and installation assumptions. Ask each quotation to identify the proposed glass build-up, screen arrangement, included hardware and any excluded accessories. If one quotation assumes a different opening pattern or glazing option, resolve that difference before comparing totals. A lower figure is difficult to interpret when the underlying assemblies differ, particularly when a repeated window type represents a substantial share of the procurement package.

For the sample review, follow a short everyday sequence: approach the handle, operate the sash, operate the screen, close both parts and reach the areas that require cleaning. Observe where hands, tools and removed components need space. Invite the installation and maintenance teams to the same review so that access decisions do not have to be reopened after delivery. Keep photographs against the sample reference and the approved drawing, with any unresolved point assigned to a named party before release.

Turn the chosen sample into an orderable schedule

After choosing an assembly, list the opening reference, quantity, dimensions, orientation, glazing, finish, screen and hardware set together. Attach the accepted drawing revision and identify the sample that represents it. Separate genuinely identical units from mirrored or otherwise different configurations. The purpose is to let the supplier, site team and receiving team identify the same item without translating several inconsistent descriptions. Packaging labels and delivery batches should follow that reference system, especially when installation is phased by floor or building.

The final choice between the 105 and T3 120 should come from the approved assembly and its fit with the project. The 105 offers a screen-and-hardware specification worth examining closely; the T3 120 adds a concealed-drainage detail that deserves careful interface review. Neither product name settles installation access or verified performance on its own. A clearly documented sample review turns those open questions into procurement decisions and gives the site team a practical reference when the first delivery arrives.