Hello everyone! Many through feedback are asked to tell about impost in plastic windows. Finally carved out an evening to write a blog post.
I hope someone will find it useful!
Having appeared on our market relatively recently, plastic windows quickly gained recognition among Russian consumers, which in turn affected their full-scale production throughout the country.
If we consider a plastic window from the technical point of view, then we can definitely say that it is a complex structure that has many technical solutions.
They depend on a combination of many factors, such as: location, climatic conditions, the purpose of the premises, the size of the openings and, of course, the wishes of the customers.
The modern consumer has changed his attitude towards plastic windows, he began to delve into the features of the designs and be interested in their differences.
Manufacturers of plastic windows today compete with each other not only in the price range, but also in the desire to convince consumers that their product has the best operational and technical advantages in comparison with others.
More on topic Panoramic windows in a private house
This was not spared by such a structural element of plastic windows as impost. And the fact is that the technology of fastening the impost, in other words, which is better, a "welded impost" or an impost on a mechanical connection, has become the subject of controversy.
What is an impost? An impost is a vertical part of the window frame, which is a support for the sash (unless it is for the entire window opening) and visually dividing the plastic windows into several parts.
The standard window provides for the location of the impost in the middle and as a result, the window is divided into two parts.
The technologies by which plastic windows are produced provide for two ways of attaching the impost to the window frame. The first is to weld the impost into the window frame from below and from above, the second is to fix the impost using mechanical fastening. Both methods are endowed with both their advantages and disadvantages.
All statements that the welding of the impost gives a more rigid fixation does not correspond to reality.
The reason is that the main part of the window frame of a plastic window, which affects the rigidity of the entire structure, is a steel reinforcing element located inside the plastic frame, and not polyvinyl chloride walls, the rigidity of which is several orders of magnitude lower.
When the impost is welded in, it is fixed with polyvinyl chloride walls 3 mm thick, and when performing the mechanical connection of the impost, a steel bolt with a diameter of 6 mm is used, which is screwed into a one-piece embedded part located in the reinforcement chamber of the impost itself.
Therefore, the choice of one or another method of fixing the impost does not affect the strength characteristics of window structures.
Source: lzsk.ru/faq/raznovidnosty_imposta_plastikovih_okon.html
What is it?
As for plastic windows, today these are far from standard designs. They are divided in many ways. However, the main terms are still general. Impost is one such concept that is used for all window systems.
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In order to make the right choice and not regret the installed window, you should still be aware of the specific terms used by the employees of window workshops. And the one we are analyzing is among the most important here.
Impost is an internal plastic profile. In other words, this is the name of the reinforcement, which can be mounted vertically or horizontally inside the profile. In simple terms, an impost is a support, a kind of bridge for window sashes. Now to the next topic.
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Impost - what is it in plastic windows? The essence of this concept reveals both the definition and the photographs of the element given in the article. Now let's move on to the technical part - the location of the element.
The impost is located in the structure, based on the number of doors that will be installed. If this is a standard plastic window, then the profile of the impost will vertically divide it into two halves.
Outcomes
By installing a shtulp plastic window, each interior can be made aesthetic and individual. As for the use, this type of construction will be distinguished by incredible practicality and resistance to burglaries, since the locking system is reliably hidden from strangers. All qualities are provided by high quality fittings. It is clear that double-glazed windows will also be excellent, and therefore do not refuse installation by specialists in order to prevent distortions, not to damage the window structure, etc. A window without an impost will be an ideal solution not only for balconies and city apartments, but also for cottages.
Profile attachment
Moreover, each profile system will be distinguished by its own technology for attaching these elements:
- Steel frame imposts are distinguished by their high strength. They are welded from above or below into the profile. Then they are additionally reinforced with PVC walls.
- The connection of the impost with the profile with end screws. It also uses a high-strength steel element. The screws will be screwed into the part with which the reinforcement chamber of this system component is equipped. It is important that the correct location of the attachment points of the window block on the mullion area is important.
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Before joining it with the frame, the last one, which has an L-shaped shape, must be milled. For fastening, use a standard type of screw (5x40, 4x40). The choice of one or another mounting option depends on the type of window system.
When is it advisable to order shtulp structures
When manufacturing a balcony door with 2 active leaves, manufacturers recommend using a false impost and a shtulpovy opening system, which you can learn more about in the review on OknaTrade. This type of structure is considered optimal, since it allows full use of the entire width of the opening, which in this case is not divided in half using a vertical impost to the entire height of the block. As for windows, this technology is most often used for glazing balconies and loggias. Moreover, the expediency of its use depends on the dimensions of the opening. Also, in this case, you need to take into account the sequence of opening the flaps and the difficulties with the use of mosquito nets.
Welding or fixing?
Which of the above methods to choose? Welding the impost into the window frame from above and below, or mechanical fastening with screws? Both methods have both advantages and disadvantages.
It must be remembered that the main component of the entire window frame, plastic window, which directly affects the rigidity of the structure as a whole, is a reinforcing steel element. It is located inside the plastic frame. Polyvinyl chloride walls, on the other hand, have a stiffness several orders of magnitude lower.
From here it becomes clear that welding the impost will not give a more rigid fixation. The fact is that in this case it is fixed only by PVC walls, the average thickness of which is within 3 mm.
What about mechanical fastening? In this case, the master will use already steel bolts, the average diameter of which is 6 mm. This element will already be directly unscrewed into a solid embedded part. What is important, it is located in the reinforcement chamber of the impost itself.
We now see that the choice of fastening will in no way affect the strength of the entire window structure.
Installation technology
Mullions are fastened in several ways:
- by welding the profile;
- mechanical connection.
The first method involves welding the steel part of the strip into the lower or upper profile with further fixation with PVC walls.
The second is the most common and is carried out using end screws screwed into the one-piece reinforced part of the strip.
In order for the impost to fit as tightly as possible to the frame profile, its blank at the ends along the entire contour is milled and only after that the installation is started. Each of the fastening methods is equally strong and reliable.
Source: okna-trest.ru/articles/plastikovye-okna-chto-takoe-impost.html
Pros and cons of impost
In fact, the element we are considering is nothing more than a horizontal or vertical bar. The window impost divides the latter into two or more parts, into each of which one of the elements will be inserted: a window sash or a double-glazed window (non-opening fixed sash).
What are the advantages of using such a design? Window wizards distinguish the following:
- Possibility of installing multiple window sashes.
- In this case, the window sashes can be of two types - and swing, and swing-out, at the request of the customer.
- The ability to open window sashes in any sequence - the impost makes them independent from each other.
- Several options for fixing the mosquito net. It can be installed on one or both leaves.
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At the same time, the mounting of the impost has only one drawback - there is no possibility of a panoramic view from the window. The picture is spoiled by a vertical or horizontal crossbar.
Decorative modification
Decorative impost, which has no fittings, is rarely performed. This divides the blind flap vertically. In some cases, the product is mounted between two non-opening areas, but solely for decoration purposes. For example, when underlining the symmetry of the window. At the same time, the blind sash does not swing open and is not supplied with fittings, which is why the sagging of the structure is practically excluded. The dimensions of the profile are usually made in accordance with the dimensions of the frame, the length of the entire product reaches 6 m, the depth is 5.8–7 cm.
Pros and cons of shtulp
Looking at the photo of the impost, you probably noticed that such an element will always "cut" the view from the window along or across. If a beautiful panorama is important to you, then you can turn to ordering an alternative to this element.
Such a substitute is shtulp. This is the name of the profile that will be attached to one of the leaves from the outside. It has two purposes - sealing and holding the shutters in the closed position.
The undoubted plus of the shtulpa is that when the doors are opened, you will enjoy a panoramic view without crossbars. However, this pleasure has a number of undoubted disadvantages for the customer:
- The doors can only be opened one at a time.Thus, first the one without the shtulp dissolves, and then the sash with the shtulp. The left shtulp will be attached to the left sash, the right one, respectively, to the right.
- The sash with the installed shtulp can only be rotary. It will be impossible to fold it back.
- In this case, the mosquito net is installed not on one sash, but on the entire panoramic opening. In some cases, this leads to a number of additional costs, since it becomes necessary to use a wider profile for its manufacture.
Scope of application of shtulp windows
Wooden and PVC windows will be appropriate in apartments or offices. Their installation is recommended in housing on the first and second floors, on loggias and balconies. They are relevant for garden houses and real estate like cottages.
They look good in hotel rooms, holiday homes, resort centers, shopping centers. Indispensable in openings with complex geometry and for the implementation of non-standard design projects. Used in the restoration of old houses.
PVC window frames provide maximum natural light, look good, are reliable and safe. If there is an amazing picturesque landscape outside your window, then such structures will allow you to enjoy it to the fullest. They will become a worthy decoration for any interior. This configuration is becoming more popular among fans of original design solutions.
Often, shtulp doors are mounted on a balcony or loggia, especially if the opening is of considerable width. At the request of the owner, part of the wall of the room adjacent to the balcony is dismantled. Shtulpovye doors will be transformed into a light and airy "French window". And the useful area of the apartment will increase.
You can order the installation of a shtulp window in Moscow and the region:
Tel: 8 (906) 771-74-64
Post office:
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Features of splitting a window by an element
A window impost is a horizontal or vertical plank that will divide your window into two or more parts. In each of them, the master will insert a deaf double-glazed window or a window sash at your request.
At the same time, there is no specific place for installing the impost. Therefore, you can make one sash already another for as long as you want. Make a wide blind glass unit and a narrow sash for ventilation. Or, on the contrary, design the parts of the window to be equal, so that it is convenient to wash the glass from the outside of the structure.
These variations can save you money. Installation of blind double-glazed windows and narrow sashes is much cheaper than installing two equal or one wide. It also helps to improve the lighting of the room. Wide blank glass allows more light to pass through.
Vertical elements
The most common imposts of plastic windows. They are used universally for all designs involving the number of leaves more than one. Here the impost is one of the main elements. The fact is that it is to it that all the fittings will be attached, as well as the sash in the structure.
As a standard, there is only one impost - it divides the window into a part with a sash and a part with a deaf glass unit. But non-standard solutions are not uncommon: three-leaf windows with two imposts, four-leaf windows with three, and so on. False profiles are also possible. That is, the profiles in such cases are completely absent, and the sashes at the same time open into each other.
General comparison
Design advantages
A modern plastic construction on a balcony with a shtulp is not just a full-fledged view of a window that is not obstructed by a bar, but also a number of many other merits:
- A completely different appearance of the glazed structure.
- A noticeable decrease in the central septum when closed (by about 5 cm).
- Improved anti-burglary protection, as the lock with the shtulp connects the two leaves by snapping and they fit into each other. Such a structure is very difficult to open from the street side, and this favorably distinguishes such a window from the usual frame sashes, which are tightly covered with an impost.
- The locking system can be installed in different variations - the locking strip can be fixed on one sash, and on both.
- There is no better option if you have windows of the original shape - polygonal or round, in which the central plank will simply be out of place.
The price for the entire product is not too high, since if the window is without an impost, tangible savings in material are noticeable, and this cannot but affect the final cost.
- The locking mechanism is invisible to prying eyes, so people who do not understand much in this area will only see the folding shutters.
- Easy to maintain, because the shtulp design has almost no gaps that are difficult to wash or clean. In addition, it can be fully opened inward for easy cleaning.
- The shutters with a spool-like latch fit snugly against each other, and this ensures a high level of sound insulation.
- On a loggia or balcony, such a window will make it possible to significantly save usable space, since it can be opened completely outward.
Shtulp plastic window is still a novelty on the market with a metal-plastic structure, and therefore its features have many unconfirmed myths. In particular, he believes that such a design is very complex compared to conventional windows - people argue that this type of locking mechanism does not provide high-quality fixation for the sashes. Perhaps this was the case at the time of the appearance of the structure, but at the moment the problem is not urgent - the locking mechanism, well thought out from a functional and constructive point of view, ensures reliability, durability, and tightness of the entire structure.
If the process of use seems inconvenient to you, the element can be supplemented with a chain drive, and this will help to use the remote control to open and close the doors. You can also mount a parallel-sliding hardware mechanism, due to which you can easily cope with even the largest and heaviest sashes.
Note! Shtulp protects the house from outside penetration much better and more practical, as it closes more reliably than a standard window. In this case, you will not be afraid of drafts, backlash or poor tightness of joints. But to get the perfect result, use the help of a specialist.
But the only real drawback of the shtulpovy window may be a weak fit when installing a mosquito net, but such a "defect" will be easy to eliminate if you use an additional layer of sealing material. In any case, all the nuances are not enough in order not to make a choice in favor of such an effective window that provides a gorgeous panoramic view.
Horizontal elements
A special kind of element that divides the structure not vertically, but horizontally. Usually one such impost is used, delimiting the window into two parts. For example, on the lower blind wide glass unit and the upper small window.
Why are horizontal imposts mainly installed? In order to attach fittings to the element. Much less often - for decorative purposes. Another practical application is to split an overly heavy glass unit into parts.
In the case when the height of the structure exceeds 170 cm, it is already heavy. In such cases, you cannot do without installing a horizontal impost.Here the fittings will be held by him, and not by the frame, as in standard designs.
For Russian brick houses of the Stalinist era, it is standard to install plastic windows with horizontal imposts, since the window openings in such buildings are quite high. The upper parts are usually left deaf, and an opening window sash is installed in the lower parts.
Functions
A window with an impost has certain advantages, since it plays the role of reinforcing the structure and is a support for part of the frame. The number of them differs depending on the device.
Products are divided into types according to their functional purpose.
Horizontal
The horizontal impost on the windows serves as a separator between the upper and lower parts. The separation of the load gives the entire structure the necessary strength.
Fittings installed on such a support additionally hold the glass and frame.
Vertical
The vertical type is more often used in ordinary blocks, where the number of openable elements reaches at least two.
Fittings are attached to it, with the help of which the sashes are pressed.
Narrow
This type of support is used for panoramic glazing, the purpose of which is to maximize the illumination of the room. The narrow impost, 62 mm in size, allows the use of large-area double-glazed windows.
As a result of its application, the amount of transmitted sunlight is noticeably higher. This can provide a person with the necessary amount of solar energy during the day.
A support of this type is often used for decorative purposes, for the artistic separation of double-glazed windows among themselves.
Decorative
Decorative - is a strip that is glued to the glass for visual or artistic separation of the glass unit into parts. Using this approach, it is possible to give some blocks and glasses additional symmetry.
Window division can be performed both vertically and horizontally. This solution is used in various design projects, as well as for dividing a fixed sash into parts. As a rule, fittings are not installed on this type of support.
Balcony doors
For such structures, the installation of imposts is strictly required. Some customers think that the impost here serves only an aesthetic function. Yes, it decorates the door beautifully, separating the upper glass unit and the lower sandwich panel. In this case, the masters agree with the purely aesthetic function of the element.
Another thing is completely glass balcony doors (in cases where glass goes from the threshold to the uppermost slope). Here the purpose of installing the impost is completely different - to correctly distribute the weight of the glass unit.
Calculations are indispensable here. Let's take the standard numbers: the height of the balcony door is 2.2 m (in general, in apartment buildings it is difficult to find balcony openings whose height would be less than 2 meters), the width is 70 cm.
Hence the total area of the balcony door is 1.54 m2. A standard (with two chambers) double-glazed unit with an area of 1 m2 will weigh 35 kg. It is easy to calculate that the weight of the required structure in our case will be almost 54 kg.
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Firms for the manufacture of windows, caring about the quality of their work, will not undertake to install one-piece window structures, than the weight is close to the maximum - 55 kg. In some cases, with the persistent desire of the customer, the installation takes place, but already without giving any guarantees.
Therefore, the only correct way out of the situation is to install a horizontal impost. The element will take away several kilograms from the weight of the door, since it is much lighter than a double glazing. In addition, it will help to properly distribute the weight of the latter.The third plus: the installation of two separate double-glazed windows is always more reliable than one solid one.
