Why is it worth ordering the installation of windows according to DSTU?

Manufacturers and sellers of metal-plastic structures increasingly recommend ordering the installation of windows according to DSTU. And this is quite justified, since the growing requirements for energy efficiency of structures cannot be implemented using a traditional installation scheme.

On the other hand, the installation of windows according to DSTU is associated with high costs and requires more professionalism from the masters. Proper installation of structures is possible only if you have special knowledge and proven skills. Therefore, it is worth ordering the installation of windows according to DSTU only from companies with a proven reputation.

Why is high-quality installation so important

Installing a plastic window involves performing a number of operations:

• First, the window opening is being prepared for the installation of the window — for this, the old structure is dismantled, and the edges of the opening are strengthened and leveled.
• The new window is placed in the opening and aligned in three planes using support pads and mounting wedges.
• The structure is fixed in the opening — anchors, mounting plates or other elements are used for this.
• The gap between the edge of the opening and the structure is sealed — and a three-layer mounting seam with selective permeability of the layers to moisture is formed according to the DSTU.

After the installation is completed, the masters finish the slopes — for insulation and giving them an attractive appearance. When installing the structure , several tasks are solved at once:

• Firstly, the window is fixed in the right place and in the right position.
• Secondly, the fasteners prevent the displacement of the window and its deformation, providing resistance to loads.
• Thirdly, the mounting seam is designed in such a way as to reduce heat loss and protect the room from moisture penetration. At the same time, the vapor permeability of the outer layer of the mounting seam must be preserved.

The solution of the first two tasks is also possible with the use of a standard installation technique. But if you just fill the mounting seam with foam (as masters often do), then you will not be able to keep warm and provide a comfortable microclimate in the room. According to the regulations prescribed in the DSTU, steam and waterproofing of the seam are also needed - and this involves installation according to an improved procedure.

Installation of windows according to DSTU: three layers of the mounting seam

According to the building regulations in force in Ukraine, when installing a plastic window, the masters must form a three-layer mounting seam:

• The inner layer is waterproofing and vapor barrier. It protects thermal insulation materials from any contact with moisture — both with water droplets and with steam contained in the room air. To form the inner layer, butyl rubber or foil mounting tapes are used, which are glued to the profile and fixed at the edges of the opening.
• The middle layer is a heat—insulating polyurethane foam. In addition to protecting against heat loss, foam is also responsible for sound insulation. It is advisable to use high-quality low-modulus foams, and when installing in the cold season, use specialized formulations that retain adhesion and high polymerization rate at subzero temperatures.
• The outer layer should provide waterproofing while maintaining vapor permeability. For its formation, PSUL (pre-compressed sealing tapes), as well as vapor-permeable sealants are used. Water vapor permeability is very important — through the outer layer, moisture exits the mounting seam and does not accumulate in it.

The advantages of arranging a three-layer seam when installing windows according to DSTU are obvious. On the one hand, thermal insulation receives protection from moisture, and the foam does not get wet — which means that its thermal conductivity does not increase. On the other hand, moisture will not linger inside, so that the natural ventilation of the mounting seam will be preserved.

Incorrect installation: consequences

Installation errors are just as dangerous as an incorrectly selected window configuration. Moreover, incorrect installation can lead to the fact that even a high—quality PVC construction will not serve with the required efficiency.

Possible consequences of saving on installation:

• If the frame is incorrectly fixed in the opening, the window will incorrectly perceive loads. The result is the gradual destruction of the mounting seam with increasing heat loss, damage to the slopes, difficulties with opening and closing due to frame deformation.

Pay attention! In rare cases, the structure may fall out of the opening. This requires the maximum negligence of the masters, but it is impossible to exclude the possibility.

• If the rules of the installation seam arrangement are violated — and sometimes even a single layer of foam is blown out by the masters with errors — heat losses will increase. Any breach of tightness at the junction of the frame to the wall will become a place of blowing and a bridge of cold. In severe frosts, ice may form in front of such a gap in the mounting foam.
• Violation of the rules for sealing the mounting seam (according to the rules, vapor barrier materials are inside, vapor permeable outside), natural ventilation is violated. The result is the accumulation of moisture, an increase in the thermal conductivity of the mounting foam and the appearance of mold. First, the mold appears under the slopes, and then comes out.

In 90% of cases, these problems can be solved in one way — by dismantling the window and installing it again according to all the rules (including using the materials specified in the DSTU). This task is time-consuming and complex, besides costly. That is why it is not worth saving on installation, entrusting it to amateurs or using the cheapest materials. Installation of windows according to GOST, performed by qualified craftsmen, is a guarantee that the structure will last a long time, and the mounting seam will be reliably protected from heat loss.

You can order a high-quality professional installation of metal-plastic windows by following the link