"Planes of windows create gaps in the external facades of buildings. They bring them to life thanks to their color and relief. Both of these effects from the effect of windows on the external appearance of the building, paint and plastic, as a rule, exceed the effect of any other method of dividing the surface. The window is the most important means of shaping the shape of the facade," wrote Vykop, a professor at the Higher Technological School in Hannover, in 1935. Energy efficiency, heat and noise insulation, protection against burglary, sun protection, increasing the area of glazing - a number of technological requirements are imposed on modern windows today. They become not only a compositional point and a way of adding rhythm to the facade, but also a serious structural element that helps the designer solve a whole range of problems — from insolation to panoramic glazing and the reception of wind loads of high-rise buildings.
At one time, the simultaneous solution of two priority tasks — the improvement of heat-shielding characteristics and the manufacturability aimed at reducing the cost of products — led to the appearance of multi-chamber window profiles made of polyvinyl chloride, significantly superior in the indicated two indicators to analogues made of wood. By the beginning of the 90s, the window with a single binding and transparent filling in the form of a hermetic double-glazed unit firmly took the leading position, replacing almost all its predecessors. Since then, the glazing industry has come a long way, and to call modern window systems just windows is to limit their functional purpose and capabilities.
Dmitry Firsov, head of the VEKA engineering department
The best engineering developer in the field of window, door, sliding and facade systems made of PVC profile is the world leader — concern VEKA, which has its own subsidiary in Ukraine. "PVC windows have changed significantly over time, both structurally and functionally," says Dmitry Firsov, head of the engineering department of VEKA. — Currently, in addition to basic functions, such as access to natural lighting and ventilation, windows have a whole range of different requirements. When designing a building, it is important to initially take into account all the points that will determine the glazing during operation. Often in practice, the customer, striving to save on the cost of the product, neglects many points that may subsequently lead to additional costs. For example, this concerns the installation of recommended reinforcing profiles, which are responsible for the perception of wind load. In particular, this applies to multi-storey buildings, in which the force of the wind varies according to the height.
Let's take a closer look at several technological proposals of the VEKA company.
Optimal protection against hacking
You can forget about such a means of protection against penetration as metal bars on the windows. Today, the window itself becomes a serious obstacle for intruders. However, for this, it must have certain properties: have a high-quality profile, impact-resistant double-glazed windows, burglar-resistant fittings. An important role in the issue of window safety is played by qualified installation in compliance with all technological requirements. The VEKA company has developed separate solutions to increase the break-in resistance of plastic windows.
Thanks to the special burglar-resistant fittings, windows made of PVC profile VEKA reliably protect any room from intrusion. Therefore, the need for other protective elements such as metal gratings and rolling shutters is eliminated
Burglar-resistant window fittings made of VEKA PVC profile
One of the simple but effective ways to open the sash of a plastic window is to press it with a tool: the sash moves and the locking pins come out of engagement. Therefore, it is important that all components in the complex correspond to a certain class of anti-burglary.
For greater security of the windows, special burglar-resistant locking mechanisms with an increased number of locking pins are installed on them. In addition, the mushroom-shaped shape of the studs does not allow you to detach them from the corresponding strips, which, in turn, must be attached to the steel amplifiers located inside the PVC profile. Another weak link is the window handle, which can be drilled in order to open the sash from the outside or turn it when the sash is in the folded position. To prevent this from happening, there are handles with additional protection against drilling and passive safety against rotation. In addition, such handles provide safety from the point of view of accidental opening of windows by children, performing the function of a "child lock". Thanks to such technical solutions, metal grids and other similar elements are unnecessary.
In order for the window to become a serious obstacle for intruders, it must have certain properties: have a high-quality profile corresponding to class A, a double-glazed window made of impact-resistant glass and burglar-resistant fittings
When making a double-glazed unit, you should use impact-resistant glass: tempered, reinforced with a metal mesh, triplex. In the first case, it is ordinary sheet glass that has undergone additional processing: heated to 650–680 °C, and then quickly cooled by a stream of cold air. As a result, its strength increases, and it is much more difficult to break such glass. In the second case, a metal mesh with a thickness of 1,5–0,35 mm is inserted into the glass mass at a depth of approximately 0,45 mm from the surface. If such glass is broken, it does not crumble into fragments - the metal mesh does not allow this. Only the specific appearance of reinforced glass limits the scope of its application. It can be used in double-glazed windows installed in office premises, in door glazing, etc. Triplex (from Latin triplex — "triple") is a multi-layer glass glued together at high temperature and pressure from two glasses and a film laid between them. Triplex is very difficult to break, but even if it is broken, it retains its integrity and does not break into fragments - the inner film holds it back. A broken triplex glass unit remains in the window, preventing a burglar from entering.
"Safety is an important criterion in our life, and windows make an important contribution to this issue," —
Dmitry Firsov
When making a double-glazed unit, you should use impact-resistant glass: tempered, reinforced with a metal mesh, triplex
"Safety is an important criterion in our life, and windows make an important contribution to this issue," notes Dmitry Firsov. "The use of reinforced profiles, double-glazed windows with triplex glasses, special hardware with sensors and handles allow you to significantly increase the burglar-proofing class of the home."
Of course, it is reasonable to add a security alarm system to the above-described technological means of protecting windows from burglary and intrusion.
Will ensure silence
To protect residential premises from noise, the VEKA company recommends soundproof double-glazed windows, in which glass and distance frames of different widths are used, which reduce the sound transmission capacity and suppress both low-frequency (motor traffic and traffic signals) and high-frequency noise (construction and road work, voices , sounding through speakers, etc.).
Energy efficient window
The profile system, double-glazed windows and correct installation work — each element of the system works to improve the energy efficiency of VEKA profile windows. The SOFTLINE 82 platform, thanks to the optimal basic installation width, allows you to integrate energy-efficient windows into the energy-saving system both in new constructions and in buildings undergoing renovation.
"The issue of thermal insulation is currently very relevant, and the window manufacturer has a wide range of PVC systems and special double-glazed windows to solve such problems, which, in turn, also provide noise protection," —
Dmitry Firsov
A special innovative coating applied to the inner surface of the glass retains heat. It works on the principle of a mirror. Coming into contact with the "heat" radiation emanating from the heating devices, it "reflects" its movement and directs it back. The radiated heat remains in the room, and the need for heating intensity is almost halved. Spraying is invisible to the human eye, but perfectly transmits the visible part of the solar spectrum into the room.
"The issue of thermal insulation is currently very relevant, and the window manufacturer has a wide range of both PVC systems and special double-glazed windows to solve such problems, which, in turn, also provide noise protection," says Dmitry Firsov.
Note that all window systems offered by VEKA are energy efficient. Needless to say, such windows not only retain heat, but also reduce heating and air conditioning costs: the room is warm in winter and cool in summer. That is, there is no need to purchase powerful heating devices, and this, in turn, optimizes costs.
All window solutions from PVC profile offered by VEKA are energy-efficient and perfectly integrated into the building's energy-saving system
In the manufacture of double-glazed windows, the so-called warm frame is used to reduce heat loss - a distance plastic frame, which, in contrast to the traditional aluminum frame, has a lower thermal conductivity. Therefore, in the places of contact of such a frame with glasses, when the temperature drops significantly outside the window, frost does not form, and consequently, freezing of the double-glazed unit is excluded. In addition, on double-glazed windows with a "warm frame" the risk of condensation is significantly reduced.
Be in the spectrum
Since the German design engineer Heinz Pashe patented the first polyvinyl chloride window profile in 1952, there have been repeated attempts to change it from traditionally white to colored. The most famous way to do this is lamination, various color overlays on the profile. VEKA, as the industry leader, has its own developments in this field. In addition to the extended range of shades and the Renolit laminating film, which is produced according to the special method of SST — Solar Shield Technology, which reflects infrared radiation, which reduces the ability of the profile to absorb heat, and therefore minimizes the risk of its deformation, the company in 2014 developed in its own laboratory profile, where instead of lamination or painting, a polymer composition is used, which includes varnish. The technology was called VEKA SPECTRAL.
Silky and pleasant to the touch, reflecting infrared radiation, which prevents thermal deformation, resistant to atmospheric and mechanical influences - this is what a colored PVC profile made using VEKA SPECTRAL technology looks like
Thanks to its special design, unique velvety texture and sophisticated technical features, VEKA SPECTRAL surface technology now gives PVC windows a new aesthetic dimension. Windows with the VEKA SPECTRAL surface have gained well-deserved popularity in Europe among architects and designers who are looking for non-standard solutions and strive to always be at the forefront of modern and popular trends in window and architectural fashion.
Ever since the first PVC profile for windows was invented in the 50s, there have been many attempts to change it from traditionally white to colored. VEKA, as a leader in innovation, developed the VEKA SPECTRAL technology, according to which the profile is already formed from the colored mass, acquiring additional properties
"In addition, in constructions made of colored PVC profile, there can also be special reinforcement, different from what is installed in constructions made of white plastic: it is responsible for the perception of temperature effects on the window. And this point should also be taken into account. In addition, with a competent approach, windows are perfectly integrated into a single "smart home" system, allowing you to enjoy the comfort of your home, controlling the lighting and microclimate, which, in turn, not only gives a good mood, but also helps to be healthy," says Dmitry Firsov.
In constructions made of colored PVC profile, there can also be special reinforcement, different from what is installed in constructions made of white plastic
It is obvious that the current window systems significantly affect the engineering and operational characteristics of the building as a whole, therefore it is important to understand at the design stage what specific tasks and functions they will perform in this project in order to attract relevant specialists in a timely manner and anticipate all the moments that may arise in the process of implementation and subsequent operation of the object.
/The material is published on the pages #30 of volume PRAGMATIKA.MEDIA/
