For regions with high UV radiation

In order to make sure that uPVC windows remain stable and robust even under harsh environmental conditions, aluplast developed a special uPVC compound called Tropical Mix in the late 90's. This “tropical” formulation and the profiles have been tested and certified by AAMA (American Architectural Manufacturers Association).

AAMA tests the profiles at accredited laboratories under natural weathering conditions. The profiles are tested in three different weathering stations in Ohio, Florida and Arizona for two years where they have to prove their stability against UV light, wind load and humidity.

In artificial and natural weathering tests, aluplast proved the profiles’ outstanding durability, weather resistance, and quality, and was finally awarded with the AAMA certification. All tests, for example the Charpy impact test, were passed with ease and without any restrictions, even after two years of weathering.

Environmentally friendly calcium-zinc (CaZn) stabilizers ensure that you will enjoy your eco-friendly, high-quality aluplast window system for many years to come. aluplast has excellent verified references of more than 2 decades in the Middle East, Asia, Africa, Antarctica, New Zealand and Australia regarding the successful use of our tropical formulation.

At the beginning of 2020, the latest aluplast extrusions and colour range were sent to Allunga in Townsville, Australia. This natural weathering site boasts more than 310 days of sunshine every year and has one of the highest rates of UV exposure in Australia. This facility is used widely throughout the construction and automotive industry throughout the world as is right up there with Arizona as one of the harshest UV exposure sites globally.

Under the Vinyl Council of Australia's onerous Industry Code of Practice, accredited profile systems are required to go through a wide range of performance characteristics, audited by third party. Part of the requirement is a pre-exposure charpy impact test and after 2 years of exposure at more than 15,000 MJ/m2, another charpy impact test to ensure the profiles strength and integrity is not compromised. Not only this but colour degradation performance is closely monitored. aluplast is proud to be one of the few system suppliers accredited under this stringent standard for Australia.

Today after 4 years of ongoing, continued exposure, we are happy to confirm that our profiles and high-performance surfaces are performing extremely well under the harsh north Queensland environment, often surpassing many other industry window and door solutions in weathering performance.

aluplast supply customers worldwide with an extended tropical profile portfolio and we are able to react flexibly to the different market requirements. Stay ahead of the times with innovative technologies developed by aluplast.

For more information about the Industry Code of Practice, see below.

Australia has the highest solar radiation per square metre of land of any continent. It is therefore important that products used in Australian buildings are formulated and designed for this country’s climate.

The uPVC Window Alliance has developed an Industry Code of Practice (ICP) and accreditation scheme for the manufacture of uPVC, or vinyl, profiles to be used in windows and doors in Australia.

Although the average total amount of solar irradiation Melbourne experiences annually is similar to that of the south of France (about 5,500 MJ/m2), the intensity per hour of sunshine Melbourne receives (3.33 MJ/m2) is 85% higher than that of southern France (1.8 MJ/m2).

The ICP therefore sets specific composition, weathering resistance, colour and strength requirements for extruded uPVC profiles for use in windows and doors in Australian buildings. It aims to give specifiers, builders and consumers confidence in the durability of uPVC profiles under Australian climatic conditions and to reduce the concern that uPVC profiles will discolour.

The ICP for uPVC window and door profiles indicates that accredited profiles have been physically tested for a minimum of two years to withstand Australia’s higher UV conditions. It goes beyond the weathering standards typically applied to profiles for other regions such as northern or southern Europe, the US or China.

For example, under the European standard EN12608, the typical radiation exposure used to test profiles is 8000 MJ/m2. This is suitable for windows being used in northern Europe. EN 12608 also has a ‘Severe’ climate test for warmer parts of Europe which exposes profiles to 12,000 MJ/m2. The new Australian ICP requires testing to a minimum of 15,000 MJ/m2.

To achieve accreditation under the ICP, suppliers must have their profiles independently tested at Australia’s only natural outdoor weather resistance testing laboratory at a high irradiation site near Townsville, Queensland. Stringent maximum colour change parameters must be met by exposed profiles as well as impact strength tests.

The ICP also includes provisions related to the polymer quality and restrictions on the use of legacy additive compounds containing lead or cadmium. The use of recycled PVC in profiles is permitted providing the ICP requirements are still met