REHAU announces that its proprietary RAU-FIPRO® glass-fiber reinforced PVC material, similar to that employed in aerospace and motorsports for its outstanding strength and load capacities, is now available on two innovative product lines for windows and doors – Geneo® 4700 tilt-turn and Aspekt+™ 1800 outswing casement.
“The RAU-FIPRO portfolio is not only designed to meet strict Passive House building requirements, but it is also on trend with up to 33% larger window and door openings, superior thermal comfort, acoustic insulation and structural performance,” said Katherine MacNevin, marketing manager with REHAU’s window solutions division in North America. “Its energy efficiency, noise insulation, durability and superior weatherability make windows and doors made with RAU-FIPRO the choice for both developers and owners who are seeking to create a sustainable and enjoyable building.”
Windows and doors made with the RAU-FIPRO hybrid material, including REHAU Aspekt+ 1800 out-swing casement and REHAU Geneo 4700 tilt-turn, feature co-extruded profiles with the company’s proprietary North American uPVC formulation on exposed surfaces and glass-fiber reinforced PVC at the core. The resulting units have the natural insulating and weathering capabilities of PVC with the strength of fiberglass for building larger units.
The calcium-zinc fortified PVC on exposed surface is specially engineered to withstand the demanding climates of North America, requires no coatings or paint and is chemically inert, so it cannot rot, decay, mildew or degrade from UV exposure. Designed to meet stringent Passive House requirements, these systems contribute to ultra-tight building envelopes and are resilient in the face of North American weather challenges with stabile profiles that expand and contract 60% less than PVC.
The RAU-FIPRO core combined with unique profile design yields excellent stability and torsional rigidity. Profiles feature internal ladder-like parallel walls with rungs that increase the strength of the overall unit and act as screw bosses for extra-strong fastening of hardware. This integrated reinforcement makes it possible to build larger than standard PVC units without steel inserts that detract from thermal performance. For the most expansive window and door designs, reinforcements can still be integrated.
