Window and door profiles
Window and door profiles - Vinyl Council Australia
| One of the major uses of rigid PVC in construction in Europe and the United States, the use of PVC profiles for windows and doors is increasing in the Australian market because of the excellent thermal properties of PVC. Specifiers and consumers choose PVC windows because of its advantages: • strength and durability • low maintenance • impervious to rot • design flexibility • cost efficiency • insulation • sound protection • easily processed and fabricated. The main alternatives to PVC for window frames are wood and aluminium. Metal window frames conduct heat and cold, reducing thermal efficiency. Although timber frames are good insulators, they weather and need careful maintenance. Various eco balance studies have been undertaken internationally to compare the materials used in window profiles. These have shown that, in window profile applications, PVC has a good ecological balance when compared with wood and is, generally, much better compared with aluminium. The tight seals of PVC window and door profiles and the ease with which they can be fabricated for double and triple glazing make PVC an excellent choice in energy efficient buildings. |
| Retrofitting homes |
| Replacing windows with PVC double glazed windows can lead to significant reductions in carbon emissions because of improvements in energy efficiency of the building. Overseas, PVC is the dominant material in the major windows replacement markets. Australian windows are rated for energy efficiency by the Window Energy Rating Scheme (WERS). PVC windows consistently rate in the highest categories. In Australia, PVC windows are installed in a range of residential home designs and apartment buildings. |
