[MassHistPres] Windows-Marvin Infinity

[djdewitt at rcn.com]

Brookline has approved pultruded fiberglass casement windows that have 
been specifically designed to mimic the steel casements that were popular 
between the wars because 
a) steel casements are relatively short lived (beginning to rust out in 50 
years)
b) they are very expensive to replace or repair
c) the pultrusions are a very close imitation of the rolled steel sections.  

There is a slight difference in appearance because they are designed to 
accept IG.  The pultrusions are black which is the normal color that steel 
casement is painted

While PVC is a cheap material that is easy to fabricate (It is heat welded), it 
can be assumed to have a 25 year life span because of UV effect and 
embrittlement.  Some countries in europe now consider PVC as hazardous 
waste.

Pultrusions are Fiberglass and should have at least double the lifespan.

it is important that any window made with pultrusions be designed so that 
the IG can be replaced when it fails because even the very best IG 
definitely will not last anything like 50 years.

We would not accept pultruded sash windows if only because they would 
not be painted.  But I would also suggest that once they were accepted for 
sash it would be impossible to explane to the public why vinyl 
clad was unacceptable.  The difference, which is real, would not be 
understood.

Dennis De Witt