BS EN 12608-1:2016+A1:2020

What is BS EN 12608-1 about?

BS EN 12608-1 discusses unplasticized poly (vinyl chloride) (PVC-U) profiles for windows and doors. BS EN 12608-1 specifies the classifications, requirements, and test methods for PVC-U profiles with light coloured surfaces intended to be used for the fabrication of windows and doors.

Note 1: BS EN 12608-1 is applicable to PVC-U profiles with the colorimetric co-ordinates measured on the visible surfaces, as follows:

• — L* ≥ 82 (chromaticity co-ordinate Y ≥ 60),
• — –2,5 ≤ a* ≤ 5,
• — –5 ≤ b* ≤ 15.

Note 2: Profiles made from PVC-U materials with reinforcements (e.g., glass fibres) are not part of this scope.

Who is BS EN 12608-1 for?

BS EN 12608-1 on PVC-U fabrication for windows and doors is useful for:

• Manufacturers and distributors of PVC-U products
• Dealers and suppliers of PVC-U products
• Product design engineers
• Quality control personnel  

Why should you use BS EN 12608-1?

PVC-U is valued for its lightness, robustness, and low-maintenance. BS EN 12608-1 helps you with guidelines about the classification, requirements, and test methods for PVC-U fabrication for windows and doors with light coloured surfaces.

The requirements section gives you details about appearance, dimensions and tolerances, wall thickness, nominal shape, and linear weight, among others. The test methods section elaborates on tests for appearance, dimensions, linear weight, and the thickness of a coextruded layer. Using BS EN 12608-1 guidelines, you will be able to manufacture high-quality PVC-U windows and doors.

What’s changed since the last update?

BS EN 12608-1:2016+A1:2020 supersedes EN 12608-1:2016+A1:2020 (E), which is withdrawn.

BS EN 12608-1:2016+A1:2020 includes some technical and editorial changes with respect to EN 12608-1:2016+A1:2020 (E). These include:

• Change in structure of definitions (general, profile, geometrical and material)
• Included a new material (non-UV resistant virgin material)
• Addition of a class (no performance determined) for the classification of main profiles according to the resistance to impact by falling mass (Table 2)
• Complete review of 5.1, giving the requirements for materials, establishing the distinction between UV resistant virgin material (5.1.1), non-UV-resistant virgin material (5.1.2) and reprocessed (previously reprocess able), recycled (previously recyclable) materials and non-UV resistant virgin materials (5.1.3) with the addition of Table 4 which defines the uses allowed according to the type of material)
• Review of the test of Charpy impact resistance of main profiles (5.8); Introduction of dependence on classes of wall thickness