Casement – Centered and Offset Crank Locations
Most of our customers know that our 105 Series Casement products are available in either a “crank out” handle operation or a “push out” handle operation. What many customers are not aware of is that our “crank out” handle location is available to be installed in two different locations on the frame of the casement. We want to walk you through the benefits and drawbacks of each option so that you can make the best choice for your project. The two options are:
- Centered in Frame Crank Location (Standard)
- Offset in Frame Crank Location (Option)
Read below to learn more about how each option may work for your project
- Centered in Frame Crank Location (Standard)
Our standard location for the crank is to be centered in the frame of the window due to its many benefits. Customers often prefer the aesthetic of having the crank hardware centered on the opening, as it then matches the location of Awake 105 Series Awning windows that may also be in use on the project. On top of aesthetic and symmetrical benefits, by placing the crank handle in the center of the frame, this also enables us to build exceptionally large casement heights. We have shipped casement windows as tall as 120” but require any window over 72” in height to utilize our centered in-frame crank location.
One of the potential drawbacks of the centered in-frame crank location is that the casement windows are not able to open as wide as a traditional offset crank handle. For example, to meet a 20” clear opening, the centered in-frame crank location has a minimum width of 29”. When fully cranked open, the sash will only have an opening angle closer to 40 degrees. As such, customers requiring a 20” clear opening that are hoping to achieve that in a width smaller than 29” may have to choose our offset crank location. Same with customers that desire an opening angle closer 90 degrees, an offset crank handle may be a better choice (a push out casement is also an option in this instance).
- Offset in Frame Crank Location (Option)
Our custom option for offset in frame crank location allows customers to move the crank handle from being centered in the width of the casement, and places it offset in the frame and closer to the hinge side. By moving the crank operator closer to the hinge, the main benefit is that the sash is able to open wider (closer to a 90-degree angle, though not quite). By being able to open wider, this means that smaller widths can achieve a 20” clear opening. The downside is the aesthetic trade off and loss of symmetry of the crank location, and also that heights are limited to 72”.
Deciding the right crank location for your casement windows is an important decision in your Awake orders. We are proud to provide multiple options to give you maximum flexibility to meet the unique needs of your project.
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