 - PVC-U windows are tough, durable and a long life material which the Building Research Establishment (BRE) has given a service life of at least 35 years.234
- PVC-U windows and doors are low maintenance so they do not need to be painted and maintained over their lifetime like windows made from alternative materials. This reduces the requirement for working at height.
- With advanced design and styling, including a wide range of natural colours and textures, PVC-U windows and doors can be specified to perfectly complement every housing type from traditional to modern.
- Over 80% of home owners and tenants prefer PVC-U to any other option.
-
 In the fifty years since PVC was first introduced for windows and doors, the material has benefited from continuous improvements in manufacturing as well as advanced engineering and profile design.
- Continuous development has led to considerable improvements in thermal efficiency – with significant savings on home heating costs, reductions in energy loss and a commitment to sustainability
- PVC-U complies with all the latest health & safety and security requirements including, when specified, compliance with Secured by Design, the UK Police initiative supporting the principles of 'designing out crime' by use of effective crime prevention and security standards for a range of applications.
- The PVC-U industry leads the way when it comes to continuous improvement of security, health and safety measures integrated into its windows and doors and advanced locking mechanisms meaning high levels of safety and security
- PVC manufacturing processes go beyond the strictest UK and EU legislation through a Voluntary Commitment by the PVC industry to sustainability.
- PVC-U windows and doors are low maintenance through out their service life compared to alternatives. This avoids the ongoing environmental damage associated with the cleaning chemicals, solvents and paints needed to protect and maintain windows and doors made from other materials
 PVC-U windows are being recycled at the end of their service life in to other useful products.- The industry has developed highly successful recycling systems for PVC, including construction materials and has targets to recycle increasing quantities of PVC every year across Europe
- In the UK the Recovinyl Scheme has developed an infrastructure of 130 collectors and 30 recyclers of PVC construction materials to recycle products at the end of their service lives.
- A study by the Government funded Waste and Resource Allocation Programme (WRAP) suggests that some alternative materials are practically impossible to recycle efficiently, due to the paints, solvents and putties used to install and protect them during their service lives.
 PVC is an inherently tough material yet it can be processed to accommodate virtually any design requirement allowing aesthetic integration with all building styles and locations.- A virtually limitless choice of designs and the ability to tailor the PVC-U installation to specifier and architects needs mean PVC-U also offers great versatility in all types of housing project.
- Advanced locking mechanisms mean high levels of safety and security, whilst a range of tilt and turn options bring the benefit of fresh air ventilation whilst acting as a robust deterrent to opportunist theft.
 PVC-U windows and doors provide exceptional cost-effectiveness.- The Northern Consortium of Housing Authorities in the UK carries out regular surveys of the cost of window systems and this shows PVC-U’s continuing economic benefit both in capital and maintenance costs – typically around 30% compared with softwood alternatives.
- In addition to minimal installed costs, their low maintenance attributes mean PVC-U windows and doors avoid the need for costly cleaning chemicals, varnishes and paints.
- PVC is the world’s most researched polymer with numerous life cycle analyses conducted in the UK and the EU indicating the material is as sustainable as any other option.
- The major ingredient of PVC is common salt – an abundant natural resource. PVC-U window products are fully recyclable at the end of their life.
|
