Window Issues

Window Design & Colour

Window Security & Safety

Facts About Glass

Window Guarantees

One of the most important considerations is the design of the windows and doors. Within the UK there is a vast number of different architectural designs of houses, flats, maisonettes, bungalows, etc. and windows that would suit one design, might look extremely out-of-place in another. Therefore the first thing to consider is the design of the existing windows. If the existing windows are not original, then try looking at similar surrounding properties for the original windows. By doing this you will see the structure as originally intended by the architect and you may want tofollow that design. Whilst you are outside try envisaging what your property will look like with different types of windows. Taking a photo of the property, which you can use to compare with the pictures in brochures may also be a useful exercise. The BPF Windows Group have a design guide to assist in this process - available from the bookshop for £5. Reference W365/1.

The PVC-U profile can be extruded in almost any colour. However, most systems opt for applying a decorative laminate layer to the profile after it has been extruded. This coated profile is then fabricated into a window, or a door, in the normal manner. Decorative laminate layers can also be applied to PVC-U profile to give a textured finish, e.g. wood grain affect. Special paint-type systems are also available, which can be used to apply a paint finish before or after fabrication of the window or door. However, such systems should only be applied by appropriately trained or qualified personnel as incorrect application can severely damage the window profiles.

To find out more about how PVC-U windows are made please click here.

What about Security & Safety of PVC Windows?

In today’s world it is important for windows and doors to be secure against the opportunistic burglar. In order to provide a measure of whether a window is secure or not, the window and door industry developed standard tests based on high loads being applied in various ways to simulate the attacks an opportunistic burglar would carry out. In addition, attempts are made to manipulate locks and glazing beads to gain entry.

These tests and requirements are given in two standards; BS7950 for casement and tilt/turn windows and PAS24-1 for single doors. If enhanced security is important to you it is essential that windows and doors are made in accordance with these standards. Ask your installer for evidence.

Independent tests by the Fire Research Station show that PVC-U windows do not exhibit any aspects of performance which could create new hazards in building fires.

For more information on the performance of PVC in fires, please click here to download the overview note "PVC in accidental fires".

Click here to purchase a copy of 'PVC in Fire', a comprehensive scientific report on the performance of various PVC products in fire.

It is important, however, that increasing security does not compromise the ability to escape in case of fire. If you lock a window or a door that is intended to be an escape route in case of fire with a key that is subsequently removed, then make sure everybody in the house knows where the keys are kept. Additional advice is available in BS 8213-1.

Glass is Glass Though Isn't It? 

When it comes to glass there are two main issues to consider, namely the appearance of the glass and the performance of the glass.

The appearance of the glass can be altered extensively and be used to add to the character of a property. Features such as Georgian bars and lead can be added to glazing panels to match the period styling of the property. Other ornamental features can be added, including bevelled and colour glass, to give the look of a classic "stained glass" window. All of these features are increasingly common, in a wider variety of styles and are no longer as costly as they once were.

The performance of the glass is a more complicated issue, with the different types of glass all looking the same to the untrained eye. There are really four main aspects of glass performance that you need to be aware of. These are:

• Low emissivity glass - The use of "low-e" glass has become almost mandatory since changes to the Building Regulation in April 2006. This type of glass has a microscopic metal or organic coating, which results in up to 30% less heat being lost through the window, by reflecting it back into the room. An energy rating scheme for windows has been developed using the A-G catagorisation commonly seen on white goods - www.bfrc.org.

• Toughened glass - This type of glass is up to seven times stronger than normal glass and is created using a special cooling process. Another advantage of toughened glass, is that in the unlikely event of it being broken, the pane will shatter into tiny, blunt pieces (similar to a car window), rather than the large razor-sharp shards ordinary glass breaks into. It is also worthwhile considering using toughened glass anywhere that the young or infirm may be able to reach.

• Laminated glass - This type of glass consists of a sheet of film sandwiched between two panes of glass. Because the film remains intact once the glass has been broken, similar to a car windscreen, it can help to prevent opportunistic burglars from climbing through without a lot of noise and wasted time. Safety glass must be used anywhere in a pane that extends below the height of 800 mm (31 inches) above ground level, and within 300mm (12 inches) of a door.

• Acoustic performance - For many people this will be one of the main reasons for have replacement windows fitted in the first place. Most people know that double-glazing keeps out more noise than ordinary single-glazing, however, not so many people know that the effectiveness of the double-glazing depends on the size of the air gap between the two panes of glass. Simply, the larger the gap the more sound it will keep out.

Is the Guarantee Really a Guarantee?

Everyone has heard stories of dodgy double-glazing firms who duck out of their guarantee obligations by folding the company and then starting it up again under a different name. In order to combat this practice and give consumers some come back "insurance-backed guarantees" have been introduced. Basically an insurance-backed guarantee works because the insurance company, and not the installer, takes responsibility for the guarantee and so will honour it if the installer folds.

Not all insurance-backed guarantees are the same however and you must ensure that the guarantee offered to you is underwritten with an insurance policy issued by a DTI authorised and approved Insurer, and rigidly subject to the following criteria. Any departure from any of those prerequisites will so weaken the entire cover as to reader it worthless

• There must be no cancellation clause since otherwise the Insurer will be able to "escape" the risk if so desired.

• The insurance must take the form of a direct contract between the Insurer and the insured without the involvement of any other party in the relationship.

• The ten-year term must be fully prepaid to the Insurer at the outset by way of a single premium.

• Any arrangement whereby a scheme administrator pockets the ten years premium and then renews an annual policy indemnifying him personally is not acceptable.

• Full documentation must be issued to the Insured and where this consists of a certificate of insurance issued by the administrator and a master policy issued by the Insurer, then both documents must be issued. Without this safeguard false claims and omissions in the administrator's certificate of insurance will go undetected.

• The benefits of the insurance must be freely and automatically transferred to subsequent owners of the property.

• There must be no overall claims ceiling or limit since this sum could be exhausted thereby leaving later claimants without indemnity, and each installation (and particularly commercial installations) must be fully insured for its entire individual value, including VAT where applicable.

• All parties to the insurance - administrator, broker, insurer - must be clearly identified in the documentation.

• No part of any claim (apart from minor excess, paid by the claimant) must be payable by any party other than the Insurer, and any arrangement whereby the administrator is responsible for the first tranche of claims is unacceptable. This avoids the situation where an administrator who is responsible for, say, the limit of £250,000 of claims ceases trading and avoids his liability, or simply "disappears" thus leaving no cover in force since the Insurer only becomes liable after the first £250,000 has been paid.

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