High-quality PVC windows for home comfort that lasts decades

How can you tell the quality of a PVC window?

Premium PVC windows are characterised by lasting quality and decades of functional reliability. Even after many years, they still look like new and continue to open and close as well as they did on the first day.
The highest quality is offered by PVC windows that meet the requirements of Class A according to DIN EN 12608. Their exterior walls are 10%–20% stronger, and are therefore more stable, more robust and better suited to professional installation.
Modern, highly insulating PVC windows usually have heavy triple glazing. Class A profiles can cope with this higher load over the long term.
VEKA is the only manufacturer in Germany to produce all its profile systems in Class A quality with a 3 mm wall thickness (+/-0.2 mm).
Another key quality aspect of PVC windows is that they are virtually 100% recyclable.

At first glance, the substantial differences in quality of windows and doors can often be hard to spot. When it comes to frame and sash profiles in particular, it is mostly the internal properties that will have a lasting impact on the performance of the window as a whole

The highest quality is found in Class A profiles in accordance with DIN EN 12608. Opting for these premium profiles is worthwhile not only in new construction but especially in renovation projects: investing in new windows adds value to any property – value that lasts for decades!

First-class profile systems are the only ones able to cope with the higher loads and guarantee comfort and operational reliability in the long term. The extra-strong profile walls in Class A guarantee:

PVC windows that last
sashes that hold their shape
resilient profiles
PVC windows that stay weathertight for decades
firmly anchored fittings
windows that open and close smoothly

Increasing expectations

Wide selection

Wall thickness of profiles

Sound insulation

Class A quality

Recycling

Quality expectations for PVC windows are increasing

Today’s expectations of modern windows are high. They must keep out the rain, wind and cold, keep in the heat and help reduce energy bills. Although windows often make up only 10% of the building envelope, old windows are responsible for up to 45% of heat loss. This is why saving energy and modern PVC windows go hand in hand. The much reduced heating bills help windows pay for themselves quickly.

These days, new windows generally have heavy triple glazing. At the same time, there is a growing trend towards ever bigger PVC windows. The frames and sash profiles therefore have to cope with much higher glass loads than they did previously. This is something that only very high-quality profile systems can withstand for long. It is for this reason that all VEKA profiles are manufactured to Class A standard – the highest quality.

As the thinnest areas of a house, windows are critical weak points through which heating is lost – nearly 45% on average in the case of old windows. New, highly insulating PVC windows therefore offer great potential for energy savings.

Class A quality – what is it?

Premium profiles provide the ideal basis for high-quality PVC windows. Wall thickness is a key factor in the performance of a window profile – so it plays an important role in the relevant standards and regulations. European standard DIN EN 12608 differentiates between various classes of wall thickness for PVC window and door profiles.

Explanatory video: How to recognise top quality in PVC windows

The criteria for profiles in the highest quality category, Class A, are particularly high: the external walls must be 3 mm thick (tolerance 0.2 mm), which is 10% thicker than profiles in Class B.

The difference is even greater in the rebate and connection areas, where the specified wall thickness for Class A is more than 20% greater. Together with the external walls, these areas are important for the structural integrity of the profile. They ensure that it does not warp or become deformed, and so guarantee secure installation and long-term fitness for purpose.

Recommended: Class A quality PVC windows

VEKA is the only profile supplier in Germany to produce exclusively in Class A quality. Thanks to their thick walls, VEKA profiles are more stable and more mechanically robust than the Class B profiles on the market. This has been demonstrated in extensive studies and tests performed by VEKA on PVC windows.

The breaking strength or corner strength, for instance, is up to 20% higher for Class A than Class B. Removing screws from the PVC also requires up to 20% more force for Class A profiles than for profiles in Class B. By contrast, the bending and torsion under load are up to 12% lower for Class A profiles than for profiles in Class B.

Class A profiles are much more stable than Class B profiles. This is shown in their corner strength, their resistance to bending and the force required to extract screws.

Variety is another sign of quality

Many property developers wish they could source all their PVC windows, sliding doors and external doors from one place. For this reason, VEKA has always been committed to ensuring that its various systems and products are compatible. Everything dovetails – all the way through to top-mounted roller shutter boxes and shading systems. And even smart home technologies can be integrated without any problem.

At VEKA, quality also means offering a wide selection of colours and surfaces. Nearly 60 attractive colours and deceptively realistic wood finishes are available for PVC windows. Plus the ultra-matt surfaces and fashionable colour shades in the VEKA SPECTRAL range. The outstanding quality of these finishes is obvious at first glance.

Quality feels good

The best sign of quality, of course, is that you are happy with your PVC windows and feel good about them. Besides snug, warm rooms, something that makes a home feel comfortable and the whole family feel safe and secure is the knowledge that unwanted visitors and ambient noise will stay outside.

All VEKA profiles are produced in Class A quality. PVC windows made from these high-quality, robust profiles can not only be adapted to all individual security requirements, but also provide excellent sound insulation, which can be upgraded if required to the highest sound insulation class with special glazing and construction options.

Top-quality recycling of PVC windows

The Earth’s resources are limited. This is why one of the main aspects of the European Green Deal is the promotion of a circular economy – a system that does not permanently use up raw materials and does not generate waste. The PVC window industry is setting a good example when it comes to waste prevention and is committed to the sustainable development of the sector, e.g. through VinylPlus, an initiative of the European PVC industry.

PVC windows are already the only construction product that can be recycled without any loss of quality. And our Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) shows that more life cycle research has been conducted on PVC windows than on almost any other building element. As the absolute pioneer in this field, VEKA started operating a recycling plant for old PVC windows and doors as early as 1993. It is still the largest and most advanced PVC recycling plant in Europe.