The common term “PVC doors” usually means plastic entrance, interior or balcony blocks. In fact, plastic structures represent two large directions and further, we will talk about the characteristics, advantages and disadvantages of these directions. And practitioners will receive a list of manufacturing companies they can trust.
What are PVC doors and how do they differ from PVC profile structures
Entrance plastic doors
The entrance metal-plastic door is a door with a high degree of use, so another type of sash profile is used - “door leaf”. Unlike a regular window sash, the height of which is around 80mm, the special door sash profile has a height of 118mm:
This is a reinforced sash for high operational loads due to the large cross-sectional area of the weld and sash beams.
Important! This type of casement is equipped with reinforcement that is almost 2 times larger in cross-section than in windows, which SIGNIFICANTLY increases the strength of this type of door, reduces sagging, deflection, twisting, etc.
In addition, when welding door leaves, a special reinforcing PVC liner is inserted into the chambers (into the weld seam). The result is a continuous weld in the doors, and not just along the sectional contour. (in windows, the weld is welded only along the cross-section of the profile walls). All this significantly increases the technical static characteristics of the structure.
Such PVC doors are ideal for shops, offices, shopping centers, as well as a plastic entrance door to a private home or country house.
Fire safety requirements
By default, PVC entrance doors must open in the direction of movement when evacuating the premises (fire safety requirements). In order for the door to open outward, while the glazing beads remain inside the room, instead of the “Z-leaf”, a “T-leaf” is used. In this case, the door opens outward, the hinges are on the outside, and the glazing beads are on the inside of the room.
Otherwise, if the glazing beads are on the outside, it is easy to break into the door - pull out the glazing beads, pull out the double-glazed window and get inside the room without breaking the locks or breaking the glass). The drawing shows both types of sashes (Z and T sashes).
In windows, T-sashes are practically not used by any profile manufacturer. At the same time, windows that open outward (to the street) are prohibited from being installed above the first floor due to safety precautions!
Our production uses two types of profile systems for plastic entrance doors:
- Brusbox 60-3, 60mm thickness, 3 chambers, class A, front wall thickness = 3mm. The frame is used from the Brusbox 60-4 profile. Frame height 64mm, thickness 60mm. Sash height 118mm
- Rehau Termo (door frame height 68 mm + door leaf 118 mm). Thickness 60mm, 3 chambers, class A, front wall thickness = 3mm.
Features of fittings for PVC entrance doors
For plastic entrance doors, special door fittings are used:
- double-sided push set white/white or brown/brown
- or banana-type handles in white or brown.
Other color options must be agreed upon when placing an order.
- Lock key/key or key/wrap
- three large reinforced door hinges! White or brown (the hinges are always on the opening side of the door. If inward, then inside; if outward, then outside the room).
By default, almost all industries use a push set using a single-lock lock, i.e. the entire door is pressed on one side by 3 hinges and on the other side at 1 point by the “tongue” of the lock. There are no more clamps. This leads to complete non-warranty operation; the height and width of the sash can be pressed unevenly, which leads to cracks through which it begins to blow. This is NOT a warranty case - all sash adjustments are paid and are a temporary effect.
At the Leningrad Windows and Ceilings company, the cost of a single-point lock and a multi-point lock for the height of a door with a push set is the same . Those. In addition to the push set with a lock, a drive with 4 trunnions in height is installed (already included in the price). When putting an order into operation, it is necessary to specify in the technical specification what type of lock to install (single-point or multi-point at the end of the sash).
This is a huge advantage of our company. When adding a multi-point lock in many industries, the cost of a door can increase to 2 thousand rubles.
In almost all window companies, by default, this lock is not announced to the customer during pre-calculations and in the vast majority of cases, after measurements, they are also not announced.
If the customer needs to install a handle-bracket instead of a push set, then the multi-point mechanism is NOT installed. This position is agreed upon with production for an additional fee. (in fact, for almost all doors with bracket or banana handles, multi-locking mechanisms are not ordered).
Hacking protection
In order to make the door secure from intruders, you can use the following methods:
- Install additional locking mechanisms that will make it more difficult for a criminal to enter the premises.
- The double-glazed window can be equipped with glass 10 mm thick. This will not only make it durable, but will also greatly improve its ability to insulate noise and retain heat. There is another way to increase the strength of glass. To do this, you will need to install a double-glazed window with tempered or armored glass. Breaking such glass is extremely difficult or even impossible. This design will not only prevent a criminal from entering the house, but will also last for many years, since it is practically not subject to mechanical stress.
- There are special anti-removal devices on sale that are installed on PVC door blocks . This will prevent the criminal from removing the door and entering.
- Reinforced hinges not only resist burglary, but also increase the service life of the structure as a whole.
Russian and European PVC quality classes
In Europe, the standard used for classification is EN 12608 SR - Unplasticized polyvinyl chloride (PVC-U) for the manufacture of windows and doors.
In Russia, profile classification is carried out according to GOST 30673-99 PVC profiles for window and door units.
Technical conditions. GOST 30673-99 PVC profiles for window and door blocks. Specifications Download Microsoft Word Document 330.0 KB
Note that the requirements of these two standards differ. This is due to the fact that traditionally different measurement systems are used in different countries, and the specifics of construction also vary. However, the general features of these standards are the same. They necessarily determine the thermal insulation properties, durability and some technical parameters that allow profiles to be correlated with a certain class.
Purpose of blocks
The PVC door block can be used both indoors and outdoors. External doors include doors bordering the street or located in the vestibule. Indoor units are structures installed in rooms, bathrooms, kitchens, that is, located directly inside the building.
The design of door blocks may differ. Most often you can find two types of it:
- Single-leaf: it can open to the right or left, has the appropriate fittings, in other words, it is similar to a conventional door.
- The double-leaf model can open in both directions; this also requires the installation of a hinged system. Most often, such doors are used in rooms with high traffic.
- The threshold may or may not be present.
- The door transom can be on the side or on top.
Types of door blocks by purpose
Price
The price consists of the following components:
- Manufacturer of metal profile and its type.
- Number of sashes, their area.
- Availability of lamination.
- Number and type of hinges, lock.
- Complexity of design.
- Type of glass unit. Armored frosted glass or designer stained glass costs more than the rest of the door.
- Additionally, they take into account how much you will have to spend on installing a door closer, platband, reinforcing the threshold, purchasing and connecting an intercom and alarm system.
Video review of various types:
The products successfully compete with traditional wooden ones. In terms of durability and practicality, they have significant advantages.
Advantages of laminated PVC profiles
The advantages of such designs include durability, a large selection of shades, and the ability to adapt to any interior. This should also include all the advantages of PVC windows and doors that remain relevant for structures with lamination. According to manufacturers, covering the window frame and door leaf with laminated film only improves their quality. Disadvantages: high cost compared to the classic white version.
How to choose high-quality plastic doors
The entrance door leaf is selected taking into account a number of criteria:
- Appearance. It is important to remember that once you choose the color of a product, you cannot repaint it.
- Structural features: thickness and configuration of profile, frame; glass unit parameters; insulation; quality of fittings.
- Assess the tightness of plastic entrance doors in the closed position.
The height of the structure varies between 2000-2300 mm. The width depends on the number of sashes. When choosing single-floor products, pay attention to options within the range of 800-950 mm. In the case where it is planned to install plastic double-leaf structures, the following models are considered:
- one and a half;
- double-field.
The first group includes PVC entrance doors with a width of 1000-1300 mm. Double-floor plastic products occupy an opening of 1400-1800 mm. Functionality depends on the quality of the plastic, seal, and fittings.
Design Features
The frame and frame of the movable sash - these elements must be reinforced, for which metal parts are included in the structure. They are located in corner areas and along the entire perimeter. The door leaf differs in the thickness of the frame wall. For a plastic entrance door, 3 mm or more is considered sufficient. This is a necessary condition, since such products must ensure reliability.
Service life of the structure
The standard provides for different service lives for different structural elements. For example, a high-quality profile should last at least 40 years, a double-glazed window should last at least 25 years, and the gasket is the most short-lived: its service life is only 10 years. However, these are only approximate requirements; the quality of some manufacturers' products may exceed them.
PVC door blocks can have different strengths depending on the class to which they belong. Products of categories A, B and C differ. A-class is the most durable and high-quality product, the wall width is 3 mm. If the canvases are welded, the width of the walls will exceed 600 mm. Typically, such a structure needs to be reinforced with metal liners to make it more rigid.
Which profile for plastic windows is better?
To answer the question of which plastic windows are better, you need to consider the main characteristics of double-glazed windows. Based on the technical parameters of the profile, you can evaluate its quality at the time of purchase, so as not to make a mistake with your choice.
Material and profile uniformity
Plastic window structures are made from a material that belongs to the group of thermoplastics - polyvinyl chloride. During production, stabilizers, modifiers, plasticizers, and pigments are added to powdered PVC. They make the window structure durable, resistant to ultraviolet radiation and other atmospheric influences. All additives in PVC are harmless and do not harm human health.
But you should not choose cheap profiles - usually low-quality plasticizers are added to them. Therefore, when purchasing a window system, it is important to pay attention to the presence of an unpleasant odor and too cheap a cost - in this case, there is a risk of purchasing a product with a questionable composition.
To give strength and rigidity to the structure, it is reinforced with metal from the inside. Externally, the buyer will not be able to distinguish a high-quality, reinforced structure from a non-reinforced one, so you can check the presence of metal inside it using a magnet.
The coating of a high-quality profile should be smooth and uniform. A grainy surface with streaks or a gradient is a sign of a fake.
Conclusion:
A high-quality PVC profile is characterized by uniform coloring, a smooth surface, and does not have an unpleasant odor. The composition and environmental safety of the window profile must be indicated in the manufacturer's product certificate.
Wall thickness
The thickness of the walls of the PVC profile determines how long the window will last and how it will retain its shape from loads during operation. In accordance with the thickness of the external and external walls, three groups of structures are distinguished:
Type of door leaf filling, differences and features
External plastic doors, like internal ones, may differ in the type of filling. They can be of the following types:
- The plastic blind door does not have glass; there is insulation inside it.
- Glazed structure, which includes a double-glazed window.
- Light glazing: in this case, the top is made of double-glazed glass, and the lower part of the door is blank. Most often, this design is used for balconies.
Door leaf options by filling type
The PVC door profile itself can differ significantly in the number of chambers (from one to three or more) , and the type of profile finishing. The following types are found:
- Standard white or colored. This profile is considered painted.
- Painted with paint or varnish.
- Laminated.
