Rehau Polymer – Energy Efficiency uPVC windows [ECG-Premium] - [Cat. 3 - Office, Distributor or Agent] | ecospecifier

Rehau Polymer – Energy Efficiency uPVC windows [ECG-Premium] - [Cat. 3 - Office, Distributor or Agent]

Overview:

Durable UV and weather resistant, light weight, impact resistant uPVC windows for commercial and residential buildings.

Product Description:

Rehau uPVC windowsystems, provide thermal insulation and sound proofing qualities. Rehau Polymer uPVC windows all achieve at least 4 stars under WERS energy efficiency rating system in either heating or cooling climates. With good thermal properties, uPVC windows contribute to a reduction of energy consumption.

uPVC frame-windows are durable and are not affected by temperature or weather changes.

Click here for Supplier contact details or make an enquiry directly to the supplier using the Product Enquiry Form at the bottom of the page.

PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS

Options	Standard window sizes as well as custom design can be manufactured.
Colours	Predominately white.
Warranty	The product carries a 5 year manufacturers warranty against solar degradation. For further information, please contact Manufacturer.
Expected Life	25 years
Indicative Costs	Please contact Manufacturer regarding indicative cost
Purchase Options	Please contact Manufacturer regarding purchase cost
Constituents	Please contact Manufacturer regarding the constituents of the products
Technical Specifications	Click here
National & International Standards	ISO 9001:2008 ISO 14001:2004 BS EN 12608 EN ISO 8990:1996
Country of Origin	United Kingdom
Projects	Please contact Manufacturer for more information.
Preparation	Please contact Manufacturer for more information.

ECOSPECIFIER LIFE-CYCLE ASSESSMENT

INTEGRATED DESIGN AND POLICY ISSUES

Windows are one of the most exposed elements of buildings to sun and weather. As such energy efficiency, established by referring to Window Energy Rating Scheme (WERS), is an important environmental priority. ( Click here for reference) Rehau Polymer uPVC windows all achieve at least 4 stars (and a maximum of 7 stars) under WERS energy efficiency rating system in either heating or cooling of the Australian climates.

This will result in low energy consumption for heating and cooling, reducing costs and greenhouse gas emissions.

High performance windows can achieve significant energy efficiency benefits, especially when fitted with high performance glazing, eco-preferred blinds or screens and automation hardware. Window frame, glazing, sealing, ventilation and shading are significant contributors to overall building thermal and human comfort. .

uPVC is a poor conductor of heat which results in uPVC framed-windows having a better thermal insulation properties for a window frame than over aluminium and wooden frames. uPVC frame-windows have excellent durability properties as it does not corrode. uPVC frame-window also do not get affected by temperature or weather changes.

HUMAN HEALTH

Health

The windows use some PVC in their product, with associated environmental/health issues. Please see Glossary for more information on PVC.

Many vinyl products contain additional chemicals such as phthalate plasticizers to change the chemical consistency of the product. These chemicals may leach out of vinyl products which are harmful to human health. The windows do not use any plasticizers which reduces the risk to human health.

Comfort

The product enables natural ventilation which provides the thermal comfort level required by the client.

Indoor Environment Quality

The uPVC windows will potentially lead to increased natural ventilation. The ventilation will minimise the accumulation of VOC within the buildings, which will help to promote a healthy indoor environment. Weather seals, condensation, reduction of mould.

Electromagnetic Radiation

Not applicable.

Safety

Not applicable.

Accessibility

Not applicable.

ECOLOGICAL QUALITY

Terrestrial

Emissions – Chlorine is a key constituent of PVC and the emissions from its production consist of chlorine and hydrogen. Mercury is often used as the catalyst during the production of chlorine from salty brine, resulting in the release of mercury into the atmosphere.

Physical – Petrochemical extraction can cause localised aquatic disturbance around oil fields via mining infrastructure and dredging of the seabed. Petroleum extraction and distribution can also contribute to oil spills at sea. The physical effect of petrochemical extraction related to the product is minimal due to the amount of PVC and synthetic rubber.

Aquatic

Emissions – This product utilises a large amount of PVC, which is fabricated from fossil fuels. Fossil fuels generate both atmospheric pollutants and greenhouse gases on combustion.

Physical – The petrochemical portion of PVC (ethylene) can potentially result in sea pollution from the extraction of oil. Other aquatic emissions include methanol and butane in the production ethylene as well as mercury and chlorine in the production of chlorine (Source – Life Cycle Assessment of PVC and of principal competing materials, Final Report, commissioned by the European Union, July 2004).

Atmosphere

Greenhouse (GHG) – The thermal efficiency and air infiltration performance of this product leads to overall reduced energy consumption for heating and cooling, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Greenhouse intensity – According to figures from Bath University, a 1.2m x 1.2m Double Glazed PVC framed windows will have approximately 126 kgCO2e / per window of embodied carbon.

Transport intensity – Product is manufactured in United Kingdom. GHG intensities for shipping product are shown below. Shipping port from country of origin is Liverpool. Destination port is Cape Town.

Product weight	Distance to destination port	Energy Intensity - Container Shipping	GHG Intensity - Container Shipping
40 kg / per window	11213.86 km	0.000135MJ / kg.km	0.000011kgCO2e / kg.km

Greenhouse Intensity for Container Shipping of product – 4.93 kgCO2e / per window

Table below provides land transportation greenhouse intensity figures to help calculate the greenhouse gas intensity of land transportation from shipping port.

Light commercial vehicle	Rigid Truck	Articulated Truck
0.001451kgCO2e / kg.km	0.000195kgCO2e / kg.km	0.000169kgCO2e / kg.km

Transport intensity figures sourced from Australian National Greenhouse Gas Inventory 1990, 1995 and 1999 and WWF International, Inland Navigations and Emissions, 2005.

Operational efficiency – Not applicable.

Re-use Efficiency –The product is able to be re-used. PVC recycling facilities have limited commercial capabilities.

Toxics and Pollutants –PVC is highly toxic if burnt and is known to generate Hydrochloric acid (HCI) and dioxin emissions. Emissions from ethylene production consist primarily of ethylene and propylene.

Ozone Depletion – Not applicable.

Urban Heat Island Effects – Not applicable.

Noise – Has noise reduction features.

Biodiversity

Product contains PVC originally derived from petroleum based polymers. The synthetic batting materials generate biodiversity impacts through the atmospheric emissions generated during the extracting and manufacturing processes. These have not been quantified in terms of impacts on biological systems, except in the case of oil-spill impacts which, while rare, can have significant long-term, localised impacts.

RESOURCE DEPLETION

Resource Efficiency

Product is PVC-based which is based on a non-renewable fossil fuel petrochemical polymer (ethylene).If the product were to be recycled (after usable life) this investment in resources would be partially off-set through reduced material use in the future.

Product is based on virgin stock material. As such it would be more resource efficient if the material was manufactured utilising recycled PVC.

Embodied Fossil Fuel Energy

By calculating just the PVC frames referencing the embodied fossil fuel energy of PVC from Bath University, the PVC frames will have an approximately 2624.8 MJ / per window.

Transport intensity – Product is manufactured in United Kingdom. GHG intensities for shipping product are shown below. Shipping port from country of origin is Liverpool. Destination port is Cape Town.

Energy Intensity for Container Shipping of product – 60.55 MJ / per window

Embodied Water

Unavailable.

Durability

The product is expected to last 25 years.

Reusability

The product can be dismantled and used in the other projects.

Repairability

The product can be repaired.

Design for Dematerialisation

No.

Design for Disassembly

The product can be easily broken down.

Recyclability

The products can be recyclable after its end-of-life.

Maintenance

The product requires standard windows maintenance requirements.

Product Takeback Scheme

No.

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)

No.

CORPORATE AND SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY

Audits and Environmental Reporting

No.

Convictions

Unknown.

Environmental Policy

Yes.

Social Enhancement Programs

No.

Technology Transfer Programs

No.

Environmental Management Systems (EMS)

Yes.

ECOSPECIFIER ISSUES OF CONCERN / RED LIGHTS

Red Light Comments:

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) -Product contains titanium dioxide. This comment relates to in-factory OH&S only (titanium dioxide is bounded in the profile frame).

In 2006, the IARC reclassified titanium dioxide as possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B). This issue of concern relates to the inhalation of powdered and ultra-fine titanium dioxide dust. Precautions for workers such as reducing exposure to product in dust form and using appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) mitigate potential issues to low risk in accordance with an ecospecifier Risk Assessment. Refer to Material Safety Data Sheet for further information. This is not an issue in use as titanium dioxide is fully bounded in the profile frame.

Aluminium magnesium zinc carbonate hydroxide – This product contains a certain amount ofAluminium magnesium zinc carbonate hydroxide. As the substance is an inorganic compound, it will not be biodegraded. This substance is classified as harmful to aquatic organisms, may cause long-term adverse effects in the aquatic environment. The classification is based on results from an algae test. Rehau Polymer’s manufacturing plant has received certification for ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems, which will monitor the water emissions of the chemicals and are required to meet the environmental regulations set by the government. Aluminium magnesium zinc carbonate hydroxide is fully bounded in the profile frame and will also not cause an issue to the end-user of the product.

ECOSPECIFIER GREENRATE GREEN BUILDING SCHEME PRE-ASSESSMENT

Green Star SA™ Office Version 1