Kestrel | Product Benefits

Social Housing

Kestrel product
benefits to social
housing specifiers

Our range of roofline, cladding and windowline products - one of the most extensive available - are particularly attractive as they have low life cycle costs and comply with CDM regulations.

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One of the most important benefits of specifying Kestrel's 100% next generation stabilised calcium organic PVC-UE and PVC-U building products, is the material itself: PVC.

PVC has a place in sustainable building - even according to leading environmentalists
In an interview last year, co-founder of Greenpeace Dr. Patrick Moore provided his views on sustainable building: “Guys! It's not within our jurisdiction to eliminate an element of the periodic table!” Highlighting PVC as maligned materials in the green building industry, Dr Moore provided challenging perspectives emphasising the need for LCA (life cycle assessment) studies to identify true impacts. “There is absolutely no evidence that vinyl damages human health or the environment”, said Dr Moore. “Further, PVC is durable, low maintenance, recyclable and performs well on LCA tests.”

New BRE Green Guide finally proves PVC is the environmentally responsible choice

Click on a heading (below) to reveal further details about PVC products...

PVC the material

PVC makes a major contribution to the quality, safety and cost-effectiveness of construction materials, as well as contributing to lower environmental impacts of completed projects. It is the most widely used polymer in building and construction applications and over 50 per cent of Western Europe's annual PVC production is used in this sector. PVC is versatile to meet modern and future design needs. In addition to use in new projects, PVC also has wide application in refurbishment where PVC commonly replaces traditional materials such as clay and wood.

Strong and lightweight

PVC's abrasion resistance, light weight, good mechanical strength and toughness are key technical advantages for its use in building and construction applications.

Durable

PVC is resistant to weathering, chemical rotting, corrosion, shock and abrasion. It is therefore the preferred choice for a range of customers for many different long-life and outdoor products. In fact, medium and long-term applications account for some 85 per cent of PVC production in the building and construction sector.

Versatile, visual and tactile

The physical properties of PVC allow designers a high degree of freedom when designing new products and developing solutions. PVC can be cut, shaped, welded and joined easily in a variety of styles. PVC is an inherently tough material yet it can be processed to accommodate virtually any design requirement, allowing aesthetic integration with all building styles and locations. A virtually limitless choice of designs and the ability to tailor the PVC-U installation to specifier and architects ' needs mean PVC-U also offers great versatility in all types of housing project.

Cost-effective

PVC has been a popular material for construction applications for decades due to its physical and technical properties which provide excellent cost-performance advantages. As a material it is very competitive in terms of price. This value is also enhanced by the properties such as its durability, lifespan and low maintenance. A group of housing authorities in the UK carries out regular surveys of the cost of window systems and these show PVC-U's continuing economic benefit both in capital and maintenance costs - typically around 30% compared with softwood alternatives. Experience in Germany shows typical savings over 25 years of more than 20% against hardwood and more than 50% against aluminium alternatives.

Safe material

PVC is non-toxic. It is a safe material and a socially valuable resource that has been used for more than half a century. It is also the world's most researched and thoroughly tested plastic. It meets all international standards for safety and health for both the products and applications for which it is used. The study ‘A discussion of some of the scientific issues concerning the use of PVC' (1) by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation in Australia concluded in 2000 that PVC in its building and construction applications has no more effect on the environment that its alternatives.

Fire resistant

PVC is inherently difficult to ignite and stops burning once the source of heat is removed. Compared to its common plastic alternatives PVC performs better in terms of lower combustibility, flammability, flame propagation and heat release. In a fire, all organic materials - including PVC - produce carbon monoxide which is toxic, odourless and potentially lethal. Burning PVC releases carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, hydrogen chloride and water vapour. Hydrogen chloride is an irritant, but not a narcotic, so its presence in a developing fire situation can serve as a warning while still at levels well below those of dangerous toxicity. Self-extinguishing - Class 1 surface spread of flame

PVC-UE versus TIMBER in the Sustainability Stakes

The main alternative to PVC-UE in the building sector, especially in social housing, is timber. Both materials have similar workability, versatility and finished appearance. The most commonly used timber is softwood. When timber is considered there are two areas of concern: the ongoing maintenance cost and the initial cost of the component.

An installation of high grade softwood is more expensive than PVC-UE. Timber is also prone to decay if not properly treated and this will occur after a relatively short time. The moisture content of timber is a significant factor and the decay process will start at an elevated moisture content of 25 per cent.

When PVC-UE is detailed as a substitute for timber, it is important to understand the cost comparison including the maintenance requirement and any environmental impact of the intended replacement product over time. In addition, the comparative sustainability of the original timber component should be considered when determining the best value for the material specification.

In recent years, treated timber has become a more expensive material than PVC-UE. Because timber distribution channels are longer and more fragmented, traceability is often not possible. The existence of a demand for timber creates a motive for the unscrupulous exploitation of timber resources.

PVC-UE and timber components have an installed cost which will be largely the same.

The differences become apparent when you note that PVC-UE is a finished product with no surface coatings needed for protection from the elements. Timber will require a preparatory treatment of preservatives stains and paints to bring the long term performance up to that of PVC-UE. These treatments will be required again on a regular repeat cycle. Many local authorities use three, five or seven year refurbishment cycles. These treatments are extremely expensive and the quality and performance of the treatment can vary.

PVC-UE is fitted once and has a working life of 30 years plus with a minimal maintenance requirement. A substantial proportion of private sector dwellings are now benefiting from the application of PVC-UE products.

Timber products rely on ongoing maintenance to inhibit decay. Wood preservatives are by their nature toxic. Combined with protective paint coatings, the production process of these materials will add to pollution through factory emissions. The finished product adds to the sum of pollutants in the environment.

Kestrel product benefits to social housing specifiers

Social Housing