19 Sep Aluminium Sliding Doors and Windows in Morocco: A Practical Design Guide

From the Atlantic seafront of Casablanca to the courtyards of Marrakech and the hillsides of Tangier, Moroccan home owners and specifiers are looking to balance interiors and exteriors in exciting new ways. Aluminium Sliding Doors and Windows are the perfect solution to this challenge; slim, robust and low-maintenance aluminium frames open up living rooms and apartments to the terrace or garden, withstand the sun, coastal salt and Morocco’s varied annual temperatures, and provide an extensive choice of sliding door and window systems. Koemmerling Aluminium Systems is one of the top system suppliers who offers a comprehensive range of aluminium sliding door and window systems, and this guide looks at things to consider when specifying an aluminium system for their Moroccan project.

Aluminium Sliding Doors and Windows for Modern Moroccan Architecture

Moroccan architecture has long balanced interior and exterior space, and this philosophy continues today with contemporary villas, apartment developments and boutique hotels featuring large glazed openings. Sliding systems are the perfect solution here.

Aluminium is a popular framing material due to its combination of lightness and robustness; slim profiles can carry large panes of glass, providing plenty of daylight and expansive views out over the surrounding garden. The metal is also durable and requires little maintenance, and can be easily recycled, a growing consideration in the Moroccan market.

Benefits of aluminium sliding doors and windows:

• Space saving: sliding sash profile means no need to allow space for swing
• Large glass surfaces: slim sightlines for maximum daylight
• Robust and durable: resistant to sun, humidity and pests
• Low maintenance: occasional cleaning of glass, profiles and tracks is sufficient to maintain
• Recyclable: retains its properties upon recycling

Design Possibilities for Homes, Villas and Commercial Spaces

Homes and apartments: A 2-3 panel sliding door connects the living room to the balcony, while sliding windows provide ventilation in the kitchen, bedroom or stairwell, where a standard outward-opening sash door would be inefficient.

Villas: Larger multi-panelled or even corner-opening configurations open up the space of the salon and dissolve the boundary between house and garden/pool terrace. Larger panes of glass, plus lift-and-slide mechanisms to handle the extra weight of these larger panels, contribute to a resort-style openness.

Commercial: Cafes, restaurants, hotels, showrooms and offices can make the most of the long, warm season in Morocco with sliding-folding doors which open terraces up fully. Slimline aluminium sliding doors and windows are also a good fit for shopfronts and commercial architecture needing a sleek, modern aesthetic.

At Koemmerling Aluminium Systems we have an extensive range of systems, including sliding windows and doors, sliding-folding doors, lift-and-slide doors and slimline doors to cover all these applications and more, so a single system supplier can cater for all of these varied requirements.

Choosing the Right Aluminium Profiles and Glass

Profiles: It’s important to specify thermally broken profiles, which break this pathway of heat from the exterior to the interior with an integral polyamide barrier. Thermal bridges are a particular concern in Morocco with its hot summers and cold mountain winters, but thermally broken profiles will reduce the risk of condensation forming on the interior glass surface.

When looking at profiles, it’s important to consider:

• Thermal bridge: How deep is the thermal insulation barrier in the profile?
• Profile depth: The deeper the profile the more glazing you can fit.
• Drainage: A fully drained, pressure-equalised design will handle driving rain more effectively.
• Gaskets and hardware: UV-resistance gaskets and anti-corrosion hardware.

Glass: Glass is the largest proportion of any sliding door system, so it should be specified to suit the needs of the project.

Glass type	Typical build	Benefit in Morocco
Clear double glazing	e.g. 4/16/4 mm	Baseline insulation and cost-effective
Low-E double glazing	Coated pane, often argon-filled	Reduces summer heat gain and winter heat loss
Solar-control glass	Tinted or reflective coating	Reduces glare on south- and west-facing openings
Laminated safety glass	e.g. 44.2	Added safety and security, with some sound reduction
Acoustic glazing	Asymmetric or laminated panes	Useful for busy streets and medinas

The thicknesses shown are a guide only, as the specification will depend on the size of each individual pane of glass.

Finishes and Colours to Complement Moroccan Architecture

Moroccan architecture has a distinctive palette of sand and terracotta walls, whitewashed facades, blue accents, and intricate patterned zellige tiling. Aluminium framing systems can either complement this palette with a contrasting colour or blend in with these hues.

Available finishes:

• Powder coating: The most versatile finish with a wide variety of colours, gloss levels and textures.
• Anodising: A natural metallic finish with excellent durability.
• Wood-effect foils: A warmer appearance for interiors and traditional-style villas 

Popular colours:

• Anthracite grey or black: A sharp contrast against the white or sand render, popular with modern villas.
• White: Classic and heat-reflective.
• Bronze or champagne: Complements warm stone and ochre tones.
• Customised colours: To match a particular brand or traditional palette.

For coastal buildings in Essaouira, Agadir or Casablanca, be sure to request a coating which is rated for coastal exposure, as regular coatings will degrade more quickly in the salty air. In hot climates it’s important to remember that darker frames will absorb more heat, so this might be less thermally efficient in an energy-conscious specification.

Performance Considerations for Morocco’s Climate

Morocco has a varied climate, ranging from the subtropical warmth of Casablanca to the snow-laden winters of the Atlas mountains. Different regions have different expectations for a building’s performance, and the thermal building regulation (RTCM) for Morocco has established thermal climate zones that have different energy requirements

Other factors worth checking:

• Air, water and wind tightness: Ask to see the technical declaration stating the pressure values for air/water/wind tightness.
• Security: Multipoint locking, anti-lift devices, laminated glass.
• Acoustics: Important for urban developments.
• Ventilation: Sliding windows with restrictors or vented profiles allow safe night-time airing.
• Shading: Pergolas or overhangs reduce the solar heat gain significantly.

Selecting an Aluminium Sliding System for Your Project

Consider the following questions to narrow down the choice of systems:

• What size and number of panels are required? – Larger, heavier panels call for a lift-and-slide system.
• What exposure will the building have? – Coastal, desert conditions will dictate the choice of finishes, seals and glass.
• What glass specification is required? – Balancing thermal, solar, security and acoustic performance.
• What finish and colour is required? – Check the coating quality and warranty.
• What about fabrication and installation?  – Even the best system will perform poorly if not fabricated and installed correctly.
• What is the lifecycle cost of the system?  – A higher initial investment can be offset by reduced maintenance costs over time.

Koemmerling Aluminium System speeds up the design process and reduces errors. It’s always a good idea to see samples and review hardware on-site and ensure that the installer is trained for the system selected. Correctly installed aluminium sliding doors and windows will provide many decades of reliable service in Morocco and retain their value and visual appeal for the life of the building.

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