COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, September 21, 2015

MOTION NO 10.

MOTION: Councillor B. Leech

That this Council upgrade it's specification for all new windows and doors to PVC for all new infill housing and retrofit same where necessary.

REPORT:

Specification of materials for building projects has become an increasingly complex activity taking into account European performance standards, energy regulations, durability, life-cycle and disposal as well as green-procurement issues such as amount of carbon generated in manufacture, embedded energy and miles travelled. On top of technical manufacture, there remains the issue of cost, procurement, contractors substitution rights under the Government GCCC Contract as well as existing contracts in operation to supply windows to maintenance/retro-fit programmes.

Window design and materials also reflect and influence the design language of the buildings involved. Timber, aluminium, PVC are all used by South Dublin County Council and chosen individually against a series of criteria in each case. There is no objection to the use of PVC windows and doors per se but quality of these products varies widely. A perceived absence of maintenance in PVC is also available from aluminium which performs better in terms of handles and fittings being less likely to shatter than PVC. Overall, it is recommended that a blanket specification be avoided. PVC will be used increasingly for a number of good reasons but other solutions should also be available if they are more suitable across a range of technical compliance and design criteria.