Casement Windows Brochure 23

6 Softly, softly We’ve only got one planet. It’s a fabulous place and we’re doing our bit to keep it that way. PVC-U is a much greener product than many people think. Its main ingredient is common salt! It can be recycled, over and over again, with no loss of function and has a really long lifespan. It needs no noxious chemicals or paints to keep it looking good and it has such great insulating properties that you need less energy to heat your home. Ultimate efficiency Because windows and doors can be built and glazed in various ways, a standardised banding system is used to demonstrate their thermal performance. Developed by the British Fenestration Rating Council, it offers homeowners a simple method of comparing windows and doors. It covers thermal insulation, solar gain and air leakage. Originally the scale ran from A to G, but standards have now improved and now Safeguard Window and Doors can achieve up to an A+ rating. The Safeguard system is capable of achieving this A+ rating, and not only that but a U-Value as low as 0.93 W/m²K. This measure, which looks at insulation, is sought by the Passivhaus movement which aims to produce buildings which need very little heating or air conditioning and which, therefore, have very low running costs. For ultimate thermal performance and a comfortable home, Safeguard is ideal.