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FAQ: The abbreviation FENSA stands for FENESTRATION - SELF ASSESSMENT. The uk dictionary definition of the word fenestral or fenestrate is " belonging to or like a window" The word fenestration is "the arrangement of windows in a building". FENSA is used by double glazing uk trade companies to certify that their replacement windows and doors installed comply with Building Regulations Document L (and more), actually checking av. 1% of all replacement windows installations. Did You Know?
"Wasting Energy Costs The Earth" What about new PVC-U windows and Doors that contain recycled plastic? The problem of discolouration of PVC-U does exist but is very rare, and I believe it is caused more by an accident, in an odd bad batch, rather than by deliberately including recycled or 'regrind' plastic in a mix. It has happened, and when it does the discolouration is known as 'Pinking' in the trade, and this can result in the affected material becoming yellow or brown. Read more about this important subject on my other page called Pinking I have heard of one well known national system supplier (NOT Zenith) who succumbed to cheapskate temptation and knowingly bought a cheap load of stabiliser from a very big U.K. chemical maker. They offered it round the trade and flogged it off cheap, and the stuff was so suspect that the deal excluded the normal 1 year guarantee. As far as I know the dodgy stabiliser compound was a poor mix of lead and Titanium Dioxide (Ti02), and that the firm that bought it up is well in trouble with a big "pinking" problem. This IS the exception to the rule, I do not believe these problems are at all widespread, so don't overly worry. I am often asked by prospective customers "Are your windows and doors made from recycled plastic" or "Do your windows and doors contain any recycled plastic". Straight away I know that the likelihood is that some dodgy 'double glazing salesman' has given them the dubious line about how pure their window system is, compared to most of their competitors that go off-colour, which is probably just another sales tactic. See Can I believe the salesperson. The facts about this subject are: It is (technically) possible for system suppliers (extruders of the PVC-U profiles that are subsequently fabricated into windows and doors) to include significantly large quantities of reground scrap and off-cuts PVC-U into the manufacturing process to bulk out their material and therefore save money on the amount they spend on virgin material. BUT in the real world I believe the practice virtually does not exist, except in the minds of the dodgy 'double glazing salesman', although the scare tactics about such a theoretical product not being U.V. stable and discolouring would be true. Now for the really interesting bit: In some parts of Europe, notably Germany in particular, it is already a Government policy to insist on the use of recycled PVC in window profiles, and many extruders in the U.K. are also keen to commit themselves to the principles of ISO4000 which covers environmental issues. With 'green' concerns in mind nobody should have any real objection to their being a content of up to 10% regrind in their new window and door frames. Indeed in the not too distant future, with facts understood, and with the expansion of the environmental conscience, I can almost hear my customers saying to me: "can you reassure me that your windows contain at least a small percentage of 'regrind' - because I care about our planet, you know, and I understand the windows will be just as good". In conclusion there is no need to worry about the scare stories of windows and doors being made out of recycled plastic and discolouring. In time, and in the not too distant future, I have no doubt that ALL PVC-U windows and doors will have to contain a small amount of 'regrind', if they do not already, and there will be nothing wrong with that. Read more about this on my other related page called Pinking
Links to other pages on PVC-U: PVC-U Colours and finishes, and repainting PVC-U Strengths and weaknesses What can I do if my windows show signs of 'pinking' as you describe? |
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