uPVC system windows
Energy-conscious, cost-effective, and easy to keep up over decades—uPVC is the workhorse of residential and light commercial façades. This page condenses the full specification story: profiles, ironmongery, glazing, and how we document performance for sign-off. Align final figures with the issued METABUILD uPVC product schedule and declaration where supplied.
METABUILD uPVC is supplied as a coordinated system—chamber design, steels, beads, and drainage are tested together, not mixed and matched in isolation. That gives predictable air and water results at the wind loads your structural engineer quotes, and a single set of details for the installer’s quality plan.
Where uPVC makes sense
New apartments and houses, schools, care homes, and replacement schemes where the brief calls for a balance of thermal performance, low maintenance, and capital cost. White or foil-finished profile faces stay stable in UV without repainting; if you need ultra-slim or fully structural curtain wall, consider our aluminium or hybrid ranges on parallel grid lines.
Profile, chambers & steel
Profiles use multi-chamber cross-sections to break thermal short-circuits. Typical characteristics:
- 3–5 internal chambers, depending on frame depth and Uf target.
- Galvanised steel reinforcements in outer frame and operable sashes, sized to span and deflection limits (L/300 or as specified).
- Corner fusion welding with corner cleaning for square geometry and even gasket compression.
- Factory-applied centre seals and glazing gaskets, replaceable in service if damaged.
Water management
Cill profiles include stepped drainage and pressure-equalised compartments where the system requires it. End dams and transom baffles (where applicable) are detailed on drawings so the façade is self-draining to the outside without relying on sealant as the primary line of defence.
Opening types in one family
Mix types on a single elevation with consistent cover caps, beads, and ironmongery backplates where possible:
- Side- and top-hung casement for ventilated rooms and stair cores.
- Tilt-and-turn for safe night ventilation and easy cleaning in multi-storey housing.
- Fully fixed and dummy vent lights for cost saving where no opening is required.
- Sliding (inline) in matching outer frames where a slide plane fits the room layout—see the dedicated sliding & lift-slide page for large apertures.
Glazing, spacers & energy
Insulating glass units (IGU) are specified to match the building’s notional and actual U-value, solar gain, and acoustic targets. We calculate whole-window Uw and g-value from the make-up: glass Ug, low-e position, argon, warm-edge spacers, and frame contributions—not centre-of-glass only.
Typical options
- Double 24–28 mm IGUs for standard residential; triple where regulations or Passivhaus-style performance demand it.
- Low-iron or toned outer panes to manage glare and g-value; laminated inboard for security or acoustics (see also Acoustic & security page).
- 16–20 mm cavity where compatible with the bead family; wider cavities agreed at structural/setting-out stage.
Declared Uw values are make-up and size dependent. Tender schedules should name each elevation’s reference window size.
Hardware, safety & security
Espagnolette (multi-point) locking, mushroom cams, and anti-tamper keeps where applicable. Hinges and strikers are chosen for the sash mass and the declared usage class. Optional upgrades: restricted openings for child safety, easy-clean hinges, and motor-ready gearing for home automation. Security ratings (e.g. RC / PAS) are quoted against a complete assembly—glass, frame, and hardware must match the tested declaration.
Acoustics (overview)
Road, rail, and neighbour noise is tackled with unit mass, asymmetry, wider cavities, and laminated layers. uPVC’s perimeter seals and tight manufacturing tolerances help achieve lab-tested line items on site, provided installation follows our backing tape and EPDM/foam backer specifications.
Finishes
Standard white, solid colours, and wood-foil laminates; dual-colour (inside / outside) for interiors that differ from the façade. Foils and paints have weathering warranties when installed with approved cleaners—details on request.
Technical reference (indicative)
The table is typical only. Bind site-specific values in the contract schedule and the declaration of performance for each order.
| Reference frame depth | ~60–70 mm platform (series-dependent) |
|---|---|
| Uw (declared, typical) | 0.9–1.2 W/(m²·K) for common residential make-ups; lower with triple and optimised spacers (project-specific) |
| Air permeability (class) | Tested to EN 12207 / EN 1026—declare class per make-up and size |
| Watertightness | EN 12208 / EN 1027; class depends on lab sample and field installation |
| Wind load resistance | EN 12210 / EN 12211; verify against CPE, dynamic pressure, and deflection at fixings |
| Standards and classes are for guidance; the legal proof is the test report and the CE / UKCA marking for the exact configuration ordered. | |
Documentation you receive
- Section drawings, typical junctions, and fixing backer positions.
- Glazing and hardware schedules aligned to room numbers and wind zones.
- Declaration of performance and marking data for the purchased system and reference year.
- Handover pack for O&M and cleaning instructions.
Contract set: for commercial sign-off, align every numeric value on the site and in submittals with the issued METABUILD product schedule, declaration of performance, and any project-specific addendum.
Need a make-up and price?
Send elevations, wind zones, and preferred opening types— we will return a schedule and indicative U-values.
Contact METABUILD