When developing a new window or door system, it can be tempting to leave hardware decisions until later in the process. But doing so exposes your project to delays and quality risks.
In the development of doors and window systems, profiles often take centre stage, while fittings get treated as bolt-ons. The reality is different: late hardware choices frequently cause delays, redesigns, and compliance challenges.
If you’re working on a new system suite, the best time to specify hardware is early - before tooling, and certainly before you find yourself in front of a PAS 24 rig hoping the components will perform.
Here’s why it matters, and how Titon can help.
Having to re-engineer a system for hardware isn’t just inconvenient - it has serious consequences. If a hinge doesn’t have the correct screw retention, or if the hardware cannot offer a standard cam height, you’re back to square one.
That means going back to the drawing board, new tooling, and potentially another round of PAS 24 or BS EN 6375 testing. Developers could be forced to delay new systems if hardware geometry is overlooked - for example, location of fixing points , or when common locking backsets can’t be accommodated within the profile design.
The result? Months lost, increased costs, and credibility damaged with fabricators and clients alike.
Hardware is not decorative - it’s what ensures the system meets the requirements of:
- PAS 24 (security and resistance to attack, linked to Part Q in England and Wales, Standard 4.13 in Scotland)
- Building Regulations Part F (and other national ventilation requirements)
When specified early, hardware can be factored into sash geometry, reinforcement design, and sealing arrangements. That makes compliance an integral part of the system, rather than a last-minute patch.
At Titon, our hardware is designed and proven as part of window and door systems tested to PAS 24 standards. We provide full hardware suites - locks, keeps, hinges, handles, restrictors, and ventilators - designed to work together and proven as a set, not just as individual parts.
Development timelines are always tight. Launch windows are fixed, test dates are booked, and there’s no margin for unexpected failures.
That’s why more systems houses are working with Titon earlier in the cycle, using pre-tested hardware solutions. These are proven products, supplied with drawings, test evidence, performance data, and guidance - removing guesswork and avoiding untested combinations.
With decades of experience in the fenestration industry, Titon’s specialists provide in-depth technical advice at every stage of development — helping systems houses make informed choices and avoid costly redesigns.
Compliance with Building Regulations Part F (and other national ventilation standards) introduces additional requirements: background ventilation, airflow targets, and noise attenuation.
That’s where solutions like our SF Xtra Sound Attenuator and Trimvent trickle ventilators are essential. These are passive ventilators, tested to provide defined Equivalent Area (EA) performance and, where relevant, acoustic performance. By specifying them early, you can ensure that sash and frame profiles are designed with sufficient height to accommodate the ventilator body - for example, acoustic units may require 35 mm or more - avoiding situations where slimline sections cannot take a compliant vent.
When you work with Titon, you gain more than just a hardware supplier — you gain a partner in system development.
We provide the technical data and support you need: performance information, test evidence, dimensional details, compatibility guidance, and fitting and maintenance instructions.
We also offer technical support, including CAD files, and field support where required. That’s what reduces rework. That’s what helps systems pass testing first time.
Specifying hardware at the start of a system project gives you control, not complications. It’s the difference between launching with confidence and scrambling to fix late-stage problems.
If you’re developing a new window or door system, talk to Titon early. You’ll benefit from proven hardware solutions, expert technical support, and a clear route to compliance — so you design once, test once, and get it right the first time.