Are plastic windows harmful to human health? What is included in their composition? Which windows are better - wooden or plastic? What kind of windows are installed in Europe? There are many questions, the main thing is to know the right answers and dispel all the myths among buyers.

12/10/2010

European manufacturers are not only leaders in production plastic windows but also in their consumption. Information that Europe is switching back to the old wooden windows, just a myth. Today on the market there is a huge range of windows from a profile of European production, which, according to appearance and the texture resembles a tree. Such “visually wooden” windows are based on the same design and composition as in ordinary white plastic windows.

The information that lead is added to windows, which is harmful to health, is also not justified. Yes, indeed manufacturers produce PVC profile with the addition of a small amount of organic lead salt, which is dangerous only during production, and not in finished product. The plastic profile is also "harmful", like ordinary glass.

Featured on modern market plastic windows are characterized high quality and harmless impact on the environment. European Union and the Commission for Protection environment advocated environmentally net production. Therefore, since 2005, manufacturers have been replacing lead salts in the production of PVC with a composition of calcium and zinc, which is a completely new standard and maintains a clean environment at all stages of production and profile processing, as well as during the operation of windows. In Denmark, Switzerland and Austria, the ban on lead has long been in place, and manufacturers do not use these mineral salts.

Plastic windows are an environmentally friendly component for the construction and design of premises, which has a lot of advantages. The function of energy saving and sound insulation already justifies the choice of plastic windows. Durability in operation, no additional annual maintenance, air flow adjustment, a variety of shapes and designs, protection from dust and insects, affordable prices on plastic windows - all these are the advantages of plastic windows.

Just think: noise, drafts, insects, additional maintenance and financial costs for maintenance, coating wooden windows with paints and varnishes, fragility in use ... Do you want to have all these problems and worries? European residents choose comfort, health and economy - and this is another reason to take a good example.

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Problem: The housing society I belong to is forcing me to install plastic windows in my apartment. As an asthmatic, the quality of the air I breathe is very important to me and I am very concerned about the harm of PVC.

PVC - polyvinylchloryl or "vinyl", as it is also called in abbreviation - is one of the most popular types of plastics used in modern world, it can be found everywhere, from toys to computers. But, it is also considered a potentially hazardous material. And here's why: the main problems of PVC are the initial stage of production and the expiration of its shelf life. During the production process, the main components, such as ethylene dichloride and vinyl chloride, are emitted into the atmosphere as gases. These are carcinogens and cause damage to the liver, kidneys, and nerves.

But that's not all, when PVC is disposed of, say by burning it, dioxin, one of the most toxic substances in the world, is released.

And this is where your health concerns come in, and this is not surprising, because there are a lot of reasons for concern.

The main commercial move in sales window frames PVC is that they cost virtually nothing to maintain. But ultraviolet radiation, ultimately making the material brittle and loose. And as it degrades, PVC releases toxic fumes like vinyl chloride that inevitably enter the home.

But beyond that, PVC contains a wide range of toxic additives, such as heavy metal stabilizers, fungicides, and "plasticizers." Plasticizers are phthalates and are believed to contribute to gas emissions and impart the characteristic odor to vinyl. Most phthalates are used to soften PVC, but they are sometimes added as hardeners to prevent brittleness of PVC such as window frames.

More toxic than PVC itself, animal studies have shown to cause thyroid and kidney cancer, possibly due to their effects on the endocrine system. Being fat-soluble, they have the ability to accumulate in the body. And steps have already been taken to ban phthalates from plastic nipples on baby bottles, children's toys and plastic pipes in hospitals. However, a broader ban is yet to come.

Recently, a Danish-Swedish team conducted a study of more than 10,000 children and found that phthalates may be one of the key factors in the dramatic increase in asthma and allergies in childhood. They found that asthmatic children lived in homes with high concentrations of phthalates in house dust.

In 1995, Sweden introduced a ban on all PVC products, and Denmark introduced a tax on PVC products and phthalates. More than 150 communities in Europe have already banned PVC or are pursuing a policy to phase it out in public buildings.

Is there an alternative to PVC windows? Yes, traditional wooden windows. Modern, high performance timber windows require minimal Maintenance and will last more than 50 years, while PVC windows are only 20-25 years old. (Once positioned as a "lifetime warranty" product, PVC deteriorates faster than expected, meaning that the release of toxic gases is much greater than originally thought.)

In addition, wooden windows can be restored after 50 years, while plastic windows must be completely replaced in every generation.

Wooden windows are much cheaper than uPVC and do not need to be replaced as often as uPVC. Show this article to your local housing cooperative, and if things don't move, then it's time to move this topic yourself.

http://www.healthy.net/

Where did the expression "window to Europe" come from? The author of the famous phrase is an art critic, Italian Francesco Algarote, who lived in the 18th century. He named the city of St. Petersburg in this way, describing his journey in the essay “Letters about Russia”. The city on the Neva, founded by Peter I, was the first seaport connecting Russian state across the Baltic Sea to Europe. The phrase itself became popular and famous after A. S. Pushkin used it in the poem “ Bronze Horseman». Modern meaning catchphrase- a metaphor for trade or cultural interaction with Europe.

From Europe came to us and. Plastic was invented in the 19th century, but the material itself began to be used in industry only in the 30s of the last century. And in the 70s, PVC windows were already used here for housing construction as one of the ways to save energy. And what windows are popular today in European countries?

The European consumer's approach to the choice of windows is dictated, first of all, by high energy prices. Accordingly, the main thing that draws attention to is the energy efficiency of translucent structures. Plastic windows with a 3-chamber profile and a simple double-glazed window have long gone from the European market. Warm 5-8 chamber glass is used for housing glazing. window profile with a width of 70 mm or more, double-glazed windows of complex configurations with and argon are in demand. Colored plastic windows make up the largest part of sales, and shades and tones are of great variety. It should be noted that in countries with a temperate warm climate (Spain, Italy, Greece), wooden windows with double-glazed windows are also popular.

Despite the fact that glazing with plastic windows in Europe has reached its limit, the PVC window industry is developing rapidly. The fact is that a European resident changes windows as often as necessary to maintain effective heat saving. The production technologies and design of windows are being improved more and more, the demand for high-tech window systems with enhanced functionality.

The departure from standard shapes and sizes greatly distinguishes outwardly European windows from those used in our country: the wider the architectural possibilities of buildings - more custom designs. The design of the windows is characterized by minimalism and sophistication of lines. Stained glass glazing from ceiling to floor with massive translucent structures is popular. The latest developments in the window field are represented by models with hidden sashes. The window profile is invisible from the outside, almost the entire surface of the plastic window is double-glazed. This design creates a visual openness of the windows, does not burden the structure and fits seamlessly into the modern architectural style, in addition, the light-transmitting capabilities of windows increase. A special installation technology with this type of glazing allows you to achieve high energy saving parameters. Simple turn-and-turn and tilt-and-turn fittings can no longer cope with the growing demands of the consumer for a locking and security system - they are becoming more and more high quality and sophisticated.

The increased demand for designer windows in Europe and the improvement of energy-saving capabilities of systems give a new impetus to the development of the window industry, replenishing lineups new product line with unique features.

Plastic windows have spread all over the world. The combination of price, functionality and reliability has made them very popular. However, each country has retained its own "window traditions", in accordance with which PVC windows are produced and installed.

british plastic windows

In Britain, narrow and high window openings are traditionally made, under which PVC windows are created. If you are building your house in English style, then take care of finding just such windows, since for our realities this is a rather non-standard form. English window structures are made up of small square sections that do not have hinges and move on special wheels. Even the British, as a rule, do not install double-glazed windows, despite the fact that the average annual temperature in the country is quite low.

PVC windows in France

The French put windows that open into the room. The number of gates must be even. The French love it when the room is well lit. sunlight and when the room can be quickly ventilated. Popularity in France panoramic windows, floor-to-ceiling and attic structures.

scandinavian windows

Scandinavians are not used to PVC windows. They most often use ordinary wooden windows, which are very similar in design to Soviet ones. In connection with the cold climate, windows with double frames and a single locking mechanism. The outer frame has single glass, while the inner frame contains double glazing.

Plastic windows in Germany

The Germans are famous for their practicality in everything, including the approach to glazing their own homes. In Germany, it is customary to install windows made of metal-plastic profiles, absolutely airtight, which will last at least 50 years. As a rule, these are single-frame structures with the possibility of opening the sash vertically and horizontally. Such windows are widely used in our country.

Italian plastic windows

In Italy, very often window openings are in the shape of an arch, so arched windows are often called Italian. An Italian window is a wide arched structure, sometimes with aluminum profile. In order to keep the room cool, the windows are placed deeper in the wall than, for example, it is customary with us.

American tradition

Inhabitants North America are accustomed to using window structures without hinges with a vertically sliding opening mechanism. We often see such windows in American films.

Where to order PVC windows?

Glaze your home in an original and high-quality way. When ordering windows from us, you get high quality products. Decide on the style, and if you need any advice, call us!

In most cases, our attention is drawn to German manufacturers of window profiles. After all, Germany has always been famous for the high quality of its products. And then you involuntarily wonder what kind of windows the inhabitants of Germany themselves prefer to put in their homes? Is it true that Europeans in general, and Germans in particular, are last years Do you prefer wooden windows to metal-plastic ones? It turned out that this is not entirely true.

In Germany, indeed, there is a large number of residential buildings with wooden windows. But this type of glazing at home can often be found either in the provinces or on houses that are the cultural heritage of Germany.

The Germans, known for their pedantry, are very scrupulous about the financial side of any issue. And buying windows for your home is no exception. Wooden windows are much more expensive than metal-plastic profile windows. In addition, the tree requires careful care, protection from moisture, sun rays, insects. And all these activities will bring financial and time costs to the measured life of the German family.

However, some wealthy Germans install wooden windows with sealed double-glazed windows in their homes. In their choice, they are guided by the fact that wood is an environmentally friendly material, and wooden frame windows promotes natural ventilation premises. Here plastic windows lose, as they are completely airtight. And, nevertheless, the issue of high-quality ventilation without drafts is solved by installing a climate control valve on such windows.

Windows from the PVC profile are not at all capricious in operation, and are much cheaper than wooden ones. There is also no doubt about their environmental friendliness. Polyvinyl chloride, from which the window profile is made, is completely non-toxic, withstands large temperature fluctuations, and is resistant to water and insects. As for the aesthetic component of the interior, the choice of colors and textures for PVC profile windows is so diverse that the question will not arise here either. Many residents of Germany install metal-plastic windows, which are visually impossible to distinguish from wooden ones.

A hallmark in use plastic windows in Germany is that the Germans have not used a 60 mm wide window profile for a long time. Almost all windows are made from a profile with a width of 70 mm. This is due to the fact that such a window has great heat and sound insulation qualities, and thus saves energy.

What kind of windows are installed in Germany? First of all, reliable, inexpensive, low maintenance, meeting high German requirements, both in terms of quality window construction and issues of energy saving indicators. Those that will make the house beautiful, cozy, warm and save the wallets of their owners. These windows are produced by our company. In our production, we use only high-quality German window Rehau Profile, excellent German window fittings and professionalism of our qualified specialists. Our windows will be envied even in Germany.