PVC in Building & Construction and Architecture & Design

Polyvinyl chloride or PVC is one of the largest selling plastic materials today. It is used in hundreds of industries worldwide and more predominately, in building applications. PVC makes a major contribution to the quality, safety and cost-effectiveness of construction materials. At the same time, it helps reduce the environmental impact of completed projects and presents a lower overall life cycle cost.

In 2006, over 32 Million Tons of PVC was used worldwide. Of this, around 70-80 percent was used for building and construction applications, making PVC the most widely used polymer in this sector.

PVC is replacing traditional building materials such as wood, concrete, glass, aluminum and clay in many applications. Its versatility, cost effectiveness and excellent record of use have made PVC remain as the most important polymer in the construction sector.

Modern architects often turn to PVC in their search for innovative solutions to building design challenges. From the use of tensile roofing structures to provide air and light, to the specification of replacement window systems in building renovation projects, PVC provides a suitable material.

By combining the characteristics of traditional materials with advanced technologies, PVC boasts of a versatility that helps it meet modern and future design needs. It can be flexible or rigid, and customized applications can be made in any pattern, texture and color. PVC is durable, resistant to corrosion and inherently flame resistant. In both indoor and outdoor applications, it is easy to maintain and clean. It is energy efficient and is recyclable.

PVC is easy to work with. It can be cut, shaped, welded and joined easily in a variety of styles. Unlike wood, PVC does not have to be cut from irregularly sized logs into precise shapes. It can be easily molded into any form desired. It is suitable for a variety of indoor or outdoor, rain or shine, applications. It is also less susceptible to attacks of insects or barnyard animals. The colors or designs are molded throughout the PVC product. No painting or any other surface treatment is necessary. It needs no harsh chemicals for cleaning.

From sheets to pipes, cable insulation to window profiles, PVC is suitable for an enormous range of applications. Truly, this affordable, durable and dependable material makes our lives safer, healthier, more convenient, and more comfortable.

PVC is a preferred material for commercial and residential window and glass door installations, providing alternatives to traditional materials like wood, aluminum and steel. It provides comparable or better energy efficiency, aesthetics, design flexibility and cost performance. Various studies comparing materials for window profiles have shown that PVC has a good ecological balance as compared to wood and aluminum.

Some 40% of all European window profiles are made from PVC. Architects, designers and home owners choose PVC windows because they are tough and durable, require low maintenance, impervious to rot, rust, corrosion, blistering, flaking and infestation by termites or other insects, and resists attacks by fungus and mildew.

In tests measuring insulating ability, results show that PVC windows regularly outperform competing materials due to its excellent thermal performance.

Material U-Value
PVC 0.3-0.5
Wood 0.3-0.5
Al-clad 0.4-0.6
PVC-clad 0.4-0.6
Aluminum 1.0-2.2
Source: Vinyl Council Australia

The U-value of PVC is comparable only to wood but the latter requires more maintenance. By using PVC, less heat leaves or enters the building, depending on the season. This helps lower the cost of utilities, whether it be for heating or air conditioning.

PVC doors are available in a wide range of designs and colors and are particularly chosen because they are impervious to moisture, making them ideal for bathroom applications.

PVC pipes possess excellent technical qualities. In a range of applications from potable water supply to gutters and sewerage pipes, they are able to fulfill demanding specifications. They are competitive in terms of cost, are easy to install and require low maintenance.

PVC has very good chemical resistant properties and can be used above or below ground for the transport of many substances including oil, drinking water and gas. Based on studies, PVC pipes are more suitable for chlorinated water applications.

In domestics plumbing applications, PVC pipes are light and easy to install. They are also less likely to burst in cold weather than the traditional alternatives and do not build up scale deposits. PVC pipes have the advantages of being a poor conductor of heat or sound.

Pipes made from PVC have good abrasion resistance, are not damaged by special equipment used for clearing blocked pipes and are resistant to damage from sharp- edged backfill materials.

PVC has a high strength to weight ratio, which means that manufacturers can use less material to achieve the same strength as compared to other plastic and conventional pipe materials. As a result, PVC pressure pipes will have larger inside diameter, reducing hydraulic friction and providing significantly greater hydraulic capacity. This is turn reduces pumping costs and saves energy throughout the life of the system.

Foamed PVC pipes have solid PVC inner and outer walls which enclose a cellular core layer. This technique can save up to 35 percent of material weight.

PVC liners and inserts can also be used to repair damaged concrete or clay pipes.

The extrusion process, plus the fact that PVC is light in weight, can allow long sections of pipe to be made, minimizing the number of joints which reduces the cost of assembly.

PVC pipes are also used as ducting in the telecommunications industry for carrying cables and wiring.

In the US and Europe, PVC pipes account for 60-70% of the total plastic pipe market.

PVC cladding is usually designed to last very long and require little maintenance. Due to PVC’s durability, high thermal insulation, excellent weathering performance and good resistance to UV light and ozone, PVC cladding can remain in place for many years.

All PVC roofs are light in color and reflective. This means that they reflect heat and light away from the surface of the building. Research by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Energy has found that up to 40% decrease in air conditioning expense can be achieved by installing PVC reflective roof.

PVC roofing membranes are easy to install, totally water-proof, maintenance free, and economically priced. They are typically reinforced with woven fabric, making them more durable. They naturally fire retardant have long service lives and can have dirt resistant coating.

Wall Covering

Vinyl coated wallpaper offer durable, washable wall coverings. They are long lasting and available in a wide range of colors, patterns and textures.

PVC is the main plastic used for sheet and tile flooring. PVC flooring is hardwearing, warm underfoot, cost-effective and easy to keep clean as it has a pore-free surface. It is low maintenance, needs no polishing or treating, and is hygienic and fire resistant. It is also easy to join separate sheets together by welding, which prevents water or moisture from seeping through gaps. In design terms, it is available in a wide variety of colors and finishes which can stimulate tiles, wood or stone.

PVC is also a material of choice in healthcare settings because it is easy to clean and keep sterile. Its tough and smooth surfaces prevent the harboring of air pollutants and allergens. PVC is inert and non-toxic, and does no more to degrade indoor air quality than all the other interior products available.

Among the newest and fastest growing applications in the building and construction sector today is that of PVC fencing, decking, railing and other outdoor living products such as gazebos, trellises, bridges and the like. In these applications, PVC again provides remarkable product characteristics that are driving the demand for these types of PVC outdoor living products. Foremost of these is its excellent durability and lower maintenance as compared to the traditional materials that have dominated these products, including wood and metals.

PVC fences are available in traditional and innovative designs and can look just like any ordinary wood fences. PVC decking, on the other hand, has all the components of a wood deck including planks, rails and steps and will more closely color-match the exterior treatment of a building or house. Its overall smooth surface can be etched to provide slip resistance. Meanwhile, PVC railing can be similar in appearance to metal or wood railing.

In countries such as US and Europe, other outdoor PVC products are also gaining popularity and market share in applications such as marine docks, arbors, shade pergolas (an arbor with lattice-type roof) and trellises. PVC outdoor furniture such as those made from PVC boards is also making headway in various markets today.

While PVC alternatives, in some instances, may still have higher initial cost today, the lower lifecycle cost due to lower maintenance needs makes it a cost-effective choice.

Wiring and Cable Insulation

Almost one million tons of PVC-based compounds are now used in cable manufacture in Western Europe, representing some 75 percent of all insulating and sheathing compounds used in its cable industry.

PVC has low conductivity, is durable and can be made flexible. Due to its chlorine base, PVC is difficult to ignite and will not continue burning in the absence of an external ignition source. Its spontaneous ignition temperature is over 450°C, which is well above that of most construction materials. PVC is sometimes referred to as self-extinguishing because the products of combustion immediately combine with any available oxygen, thus starving the flame.

Compared to its common plastic alternatives, PVC performs better in terms of lower combustibility, flammability, flame propagation and heat release. The flame spread is low, and there is low smoke generation, as compared to some other materials. This ultimately slows the growth of fire to allow occupants more time to escape.

Studies show that the most important cause of fire deaths is the rapid release of heat from a burning material. PVC has one of the lowest rate of heat releases compared to other plastic materials and more so, with traditional building materials.