When choosing plastic windows for an apartment or house, the first thing the buyer should pay attention to is the profile, or rather the characteristics it has. One of the most important characteristics of a profile is its class.
The class of a PVC profile determines whether it has certain qualities laid down by the manufacturer and, accordingly, its capabilities in terms of heat conservation and sound insulation. Knowing the characteristics of the class of each profile, you can easily select the most suitable type of light-transmitting structure that meets the necessary criteria.
Existing classes of plastic window profiles
When manufacturing window profiles, manufacturers are guided by the requirements of the general European standard RAL-GZ 716/1, which divides products of this kind into three classes: A, B and C. Let's take a closer look at the features of each.
| Minimum profile wall thickness (mm) | ||
| Class | external | internal |
| A | 2,8 | 2,5 |
| B | 2,5 | 2 |
| C | any | any |
As can be seen from the table, class C profile does not have strict requirements for wall thickness, and therefore windows of this type are suitable for installation only in non-residential premises that do not require special temperature conditions, such as warehouses or balconies with cold glazing. To close the window openings of the apartment, the choice is made from the first two .
What does the number of cameras affect?
Chambers are cavities isolated from each other inside the profile.
They help improve the sound and heat insulation of frames and sashes. In this case, it is appropriate to draw an analogy with double-glazed windows, more information about which can be obtained in a special review on OknaTrade. Compared to single-chamber double-glazed windows, double-glazed windows have better heat and sound insulation characteristics. The situation is exactly the same with profile systems - the more internal insulated cavities, the warmer and “quieter” the frames with sashes will be. Today, the Russian market actually does not offer windows made from 1 or 2 chamber systems. Profiles with at least 3 chambers are used for production. Systems with 2 internal cavities can be used mainly only for cold glazing of balconies and loggias, and in all other cases modifications with a large number of chambers are used. For almost all densely populated regions of the Russian Federation, windows made of 4 or 5-chamber profiles are optimal. In northern climate zones, it is recommended to use systems with 6 internal cavities, and for southern regions, 3-chamber modifications are quite suitable. It should be taken into account that the installation width of the profile depends on the number of chambers:
- 3-chamber - from 57 to 60 mm;
- 4 and 5 chamber – from 64 to 76 mm;
- 6-chamber – from 85 mm.
When considering this parameter of profile systems, it is recommended to take into account the thickness of the double-glazed windows. Experts also say that the installation width has a direct impact on the stability of the windows - the larger it is, the more stable the structure.
Class A and B differences
At first glance, the difference in wall thickness between class A and B profiles is not so significant - only three millimeters. However, the difference in characteristics is fully manifested: the strength and ability of a class B profile to maintain its original shape in comparison with A is reduced by about 20%. Thus, the service life of plastic windows, the basis of which is a profile marked “Class B”, is less than the service life of PVC structures equipped with a “Class A” profile. Also, a higher class provides better resistance of the product to mechanical loads (shocks).
With the same pin pressure from above, the plastic profile of class B bends more than A.
Why do consumers sometimes choose a profile of a lower category? It's all about cost . Not every one of them is ready to pay a significant increase due to the characteristics: a class A product, despite its undeniable advantages, costs noticeably more, which is reflected in the final price component of the PVC window.
links to materials that complement this article: What shapes are window profiles?
Are plastic window profiles harmful or safe for human health?
German PVC profile - the best solution for an apartment
Reinforcement of PVC profiles
In many situations, the thickness of the walls and the presence of internal ribs are not enough to ensure the required rigidity of profile structures during operation, so additional reinforcement is required.
This is achieved through reinforcement with special reinforcing liners. This profile for plastic windows copes with loads much better. Hollow steel liners with an anti-corrosion coating are usually used as reinforcing elements. They give the windows additional rigidity and allow the profile to maintain its shape even in adverse conditions. At the same time, due to the properties of the metal, steel liners have a drawback - they reduce the level of thermal protection of the profile. In view of this, manufacturers began an active search for alternative reinforcement options. To date, the best results have been shown by systems made using innovative fiber material RAU-FIPRO. This composition was originally developed for the aircraft industry and Formula 1 racing cars. The use of this material made it possible to reduce the weight of profile systems and improve their energy efficiency.
The wall thickness of the reinforcing liners should be in the range of 1.2-1.5 mm. At the same time, the use of two or more separate pieces of liners in one solid profile is not allowed - the reinforcement must be solid. It is difficult to check this in the finished product, but it is better to inform the manufacturer that the customer is aware of the above requirements
In what cases do you choose class A, and in which cases B?
The choice of a PVC profile of one class or another is based on the consumer’s need to have certain characteristics in his plastic window, as well as on his financial capabilities.
A profile belonging to class A is chosen when:
- maximum quality is required;
- The budget allocated for the purchase is not limited.
The choice of a B-class profile is appropriate in the case of:
- no need for reserves on strength and thermal insulation characteristics;
- the presence of certain restrictions on funds.
In our country, only all products, without exception, belong to class A. Other manufacturers provide the buyer with the opportunity to choose between the highest and lowest categories of window profiles, varying the class from model to model of a plastic window.
Profile Manufacturers Rating
The manufacturers' ratings will help you figure out which profile for plastic windows is better. In this case, the rating can be compiled based on the popularity of the product, its cost, levels of heat and sound protection, strength, etc.
General ratings do not always accurately reflect the place of some brands, since it is difficult to evaluate in specific figures the various consumer properties of a product. They are mostly subjective.
There is also a commercial factor involved. Some manufacturers buy sites from sites in general ratings, which is difficult to do when ranking products based on one indicator. Therefore, so that the portal’s editors are not suspected of a commercial approach to ranking windows, we will create two types of ratings: for global brands and Russian manufacturers.
Rating of the world's best manufacturers of plastic windows
Various specialized sites put KBE, Rehau, Century, Salamander, Mont Blanc in first place. It all depends on the indicators that were taken as a basis. But these manufacturers are distinguished by nuances, and it may turn out that the leading Rehau is not exactly suitable for a particular buyer. Therefore, we will consider the products of these companies without determining a specific place in the ranking - they all deserve to be in first place.
Salamander
In terms of popularity on the Russian market, it is inferior to all the companies listed in the rating, since there is no plant in Russia. In terms of technical indicators, it is not inferior to any manufacturer.
Produces profiles with a width of 60-76 mm:
- Design 2D - 60 mm, number of cameras 3.5 (4);
- Design 3D - 76 mm, number of cameras 4.5 (5);
- Streamline - 76 mm, 5 cameras.
- excellent design;
- European quality control;
- control of sales points (dealers) throughout Europe.
The main and only disadvantage is the high cost (compared to Veka and Rehau, it is 35-40% higher).
A famous German company with factories in Russia (the cities of Voskresensk and Khabarovsk). Experts did not find any differences in the quality of windows from the products of competing companies, with the exception of some nuances.
Attention: the company has come up with an excellent marketing ploy - it issues an “Official Partner Certificate” to the best window assemblers, which does not give any guarantees to the customer regarding the quality of the windows.
The factories offer the customer a fairly impressive line of profiles, with a width from 58 to 127 mm:
- “Engine” and “Etalon” - 58 mm, 3 cameras;
- "KVE-Expert" - 70 mm, 5 cameras;
- “KVE-88” - 88 mm, 6 cameras;
- “KVE-Expert+” - 127 mm with 5 cameras in the frame and sash and 4 in the impost.
Among the advantages it should be noted:
- democratic price - products are available to mass consumers;
- high quality;
- launch of the greenline technological line.
No disadvantages were identified either in consumer reviews or in the expert community.
MONT BLANC
Austrian manufacturer of budget, high-quality products. After the construction of a plant in the Moscow region (Elektrostal), it became well known to the Russian consumer.
Produces a line of 7 types of profiles with a width from 58 to 120 mm:
- “Logic” - 58 mm, 3-chamber;
- "Tempo 60" - 60 mm, 5-chamber;
- “Nord 70” - 70 mm, 5-chamber;
- "City 120" - 120 mm, 5-chamber.
- budget price;
- long period of operation without loss of consumer properties;
- wide range of produced profiles.
Among the disadvantages, one can note the shortcomings of the marketing service - for 15 years the company has not made any attempts to obtain an ISO certificate for the products of the Russian plant.
The German company with half a century of experience is one of the sales leaders. Built in the Moscow region. It produces white and colored profiles with a width from 58 to 90 mm, which do not turn yellow when exposed to UV rays.
The profile line consists of a number of models with a width of 58-90 mm:
- “Euroline” - 58 mm, 3-chamber;
- “Proline” - 70 mm, 4-chamber;
- “Swigline” - 82 mm, 5-chamber;
- "Alphline" - 90 mm, 6-chamber;
- "Softline 82" - 82 mm with 7 cameras.
- Consistently high quality;
- large model range.
Criterias of choice
Only a specialist can determine by eye which profile is better. For the average buyer, criteria are offered that will help avoid mistakes when choosing a high-quality PVC profile that suits the given conditions. You should pay attention to the following points:
- the presence of the manufacturer’s marking with its logo and information about the place and time of manufacture;
- homogeneity of the plastic - it must be completely smooth: graininess indicates a low level of technology or the use of low-grade types of PVC, counterfeit goods;
- quality of coating - the color is distributed evenly over the entire surface of the frame without stains or unpainted areas.
The correct choice of Europrofile is an important stage in the arrangement of a window structure. It is equally important to involve a professional in the installation of the assembled window: poor-quality installation can destroy all the charms and advantages of the PVC profile. It is also useful to find out information about reliable companies engaged in the production of profile systems. It is recommended to buy the entire set of crossbars, posts and sashes from the same brand.
Double-glazed plastic window
Today it is believed that two glasses in a frame are not enough. Not so long ago in Ukraine it was completely prohibited to install such windows in heated rooms. The following characteristics depend on the thickness of the glass unit and the number of panels in it:
- Sound insulation level.
- Heat transfer resistance.
It is clear that with an increase in the number of glasses, the weight increases (which is already quite large), and the package itself becomes thicker. In standard Economy windows, the diameter of the insert is 30-32 mm. If we take thicker profiles, then the glass unit is wider. This can be 36 or 47 mm, as is the case with Deceuninck. Many complain that the Bautek profile is difficult to distinguish from Favorit. Indeed, the only difference there is class. And the glass unit is the same. In other words, this part of the window is completely independent in the manufacturers’ lines.
Simple double glazing
It may be noted that for better sound absorption, argon or other inert gas can be pumped inside. The same move increases resistance to heat transfer and eliminates the possibility of dew falling inside. The assembly of double-glazed windows follows the same technology. A frame made of a spacer with silicone balls that absorb moisture is sealed at the ends with liquid rubber. When the composition dries, the structure is ready for installation.
The point is that glass can be for special purposes. The hardened ones are very durable, and the anti-burglary ones are covered with a special film to make it more difficult to break. Energy-saving k-glass allows you to save money by reducing radiation losses. Because a regular package only reduces convection and conduction losses. K-glass reflects or absorbs heat, thereby reducing leakage in the infrared range. This is very important, ask any builder working with thermal imaging where the main source of energy loss in the house is. These are not walls, or even doors.
How to quickly determine the class of a plastic window
Knowing the requirements of the standard, dealers often indicate parameters that directly or indirectly indicate the class of a plastic window. For example, according to the value of heat transfer resistance, products are graded as follows:
- Heat transfer resistance more than 0.80 m2 x °C / W.
- Heat transfer resistance from 0.70 to 0.79 m2 x °C / W.
- Heat transfer resistance from 0.60 to 0.69 m2 x °C / W.
- Heat transfer resistance from 0.50 to 0.59 m2 x °C / W.
- Heat transfer resistance from 0.40 to 0.49 m2 x °C / W.
According to the documentation, the name of the profile usually includes an indication of the material used in manufacturing, and the thickness of the outer walls also helps determine the class (see the list at the beginning of the review). Thus, it is logical to initially select plastic windows according to the gradation according to GOST, and then pay attention to the fittings. The heat transfer resistance of a double-glazed window is generally a separate topic for discussion, and it is not related to the profile. If you wish, try to evaluate the leaks, but it is unlikely that any of the dealers will remember the infrared part of the spectrum during the conversation. They usually forget that glass, unlike plastic, is a transparent material.
That is, you need to understand that we said a lot about profiles, but 70% of the area is occupied by the package. And its characteristics also need to be taken into account in order to make the right choice of plastic windows.
Quality of plastic window fittings
Deceuninck representatives say that their windows in the middle zone last up to 50 years. It is clear that all this is good, as long as the fittings can withstand it. This is the name of the metal braid of the window, thanks to which the sashes are locked, swung open, and opened like a window. The fittings must be thick and durable. The burglary-proof window also has a special shape. The lock tongues fit tightly into the latches, and you can’t break them out even with a crowbar. The handles usually have a locking mechanism, and if necessary, the window can be locked with a key. This is very useful, especially if there are small children in the house.
Good fittings (for example, Maco), just like metal tiles, consist of many layers. A passivating layer is applied over the galvanization, which is covered with a molecular film of wax lubricant. This allows the parts to function like a watch for many years. Try all frames and sashes. A regular profile with double-glazed windows and a set of fittings can weigh about a pound. Windows are a very heavy structure. It is not without reason that many people prefer to use an aluminum profile that does not require reinforcement for their shaky balconies, or even make do with frameless solutions.
It’s good when the fittings provide not three, but four window positions:
- Locked.
- Open.
- Window mode.
- Ventilation through cracks around the sash perimeter.
