Save your money and don't order fully reinforced frames

thinking you are buying a superior product.

SHOULD MY FRAMES BE REINFORCED?

Well, years ago when PVCu windows first came onto the market, it's fair to say, some of the frames available just wouldn't have performed well at all if they didn't have reinforcing in them. These early frames were only 50mm or 55mm deep with 2mm wall thickness and constructed with only two chambers. Nowadays it's a different story. Virtually all of the top extruders supply 70mm profiles with 3mm wall thickness and constructed with five chambers and all of them have BS, CEN and BBA certification for their products.

There are a few 60mm to 65mm profiles available, mostly used for commercial or housing developments where cost is a factor but so far as the general public is concerned, so long as you buy a 70mm profile from a reputable supplier, you should have no problems.

what's IT ALL ABOUT?

Reinforcing of frames is one of the most misunderstood things about PVCu Window and Door products. Most people, including some builders and architects (who should know better) think it necessary to specify fully reinforced frames when ordering PVCu products thinking that: -

1. They will be stronger if they are fully reinforced.
2. The frames can be used as a structural element to hold up other parts of the structure.
3. PVCu isn't up to the job unless it's reinforced.

Well they're wrong. In many cases, especially with small frames reinforcing is not needed at all. In fact for outer frames of windows, most fabricators don't consider reinforcing unless the frame member is over 1800mm in length, if it does exceed this size it is usually put in automatically, under this size it really doesn't need it. PVCu profiles are extremely strong, if you tried to bend a piece less than 1500mm in length, you would make no impression on it at all.

SO WHY ARE FRAMES REINFORCED?

Not for the reasons you may think. Again, another misunderstood point. The purpose of reinforcing PVCu frames is to control the rate of expansion and to provide rigidity to frame sections over a certain size. It is also used to provide rigidity where hardware, particularly where door locking mechanisms are fitted. Reinforcing can be specified in exposed and coastal areas where wind loading on larger frames is a consideration.

However, there is a case for fully reinforcing PVCu frames. All foiled (wood grain) products are fully reinforced as standard. The reason for this is to control the rate of expansion for these products. The dark finish and the coloured PVCu extrusions absorb heat far more than white extrusions and can deform if not controlled by reinforcing. All reputable fabricators know this and they reinforce their foiled products automatically.

WHAT ARE THE FRAMES REINFORCED WITH?

Either aluminium or galvanised steel. The choice is the preference of the fabricator and there is a small cost differential too. Aluminium is slightly more expensive but it is easier to work with and doesn't add too much weight to the products whereas steel is heavier but cheaper. The actual shape is no more than an "L" or "U" section of thin steel or aluminium and if you saw it you would understand that it won't add much in the way of strength. Also the reinforcing does not go the full length of the profile it stops several centimetres short so as not to foul or interfere with the welding process and where there are mullion or transom joints, the reinforcing is fitted in pieces and is not normally inserted as a full length.

For bay poles, bay posts and structural mullions, a thicker section is used. This is to provide strength and rigidity where frames are to be joined together and to provide a strong fixing ground. Bay poles and posts can be used in a structural situation and jacking plates are available if required.

CONCLUSION

Don't get hung up about reinforcing, leave it to your supplier to provide a correctly fabricated product that will give you trouble free service throughout it's life.

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EASIFIT WINDOW WAREHOUSE LTD