Home > Casement Windows > Ventanas de Aluminio y Cristal Wholesale in China: CTE Uw, Correderas AEV & FOB Pricing
Ventanas de Aluminio y Cristal Wholesale in China: CTE Uw, Correderas AEV & FOB Pricing
Thermal-break ventanas de aluminio y cristal with large double-glazed panels on a Mediterranean villa.
Ventanas de aluminio y cristal exported from China to Spain must clear two gates before a single euro is paid: the CTE (Código Técnico de la Edificación) thermal, acoustic and safety limits, and the Marcado CE file under UNE-EN 14351-1. This document sets out the Uw ladder by zona climática (α to E), the AEV classification measured to UNE-EN 12207 / 12208 / 12210, the D2m,nT,Atr acoustic ladder of DB-HR, profile alloy and wall-thickness data, glass build-ups with Ug and weight, USD FOB price matrices, MOQ and lead time, the eight-step installation sequence, and delivered project cost data from a 216-unit residential order in the Comunitat Valenciana.
Ventanas de Aluminio y Cristal: CTE DB-HE Uw Limits by Zona Climática
Spain rates a window by the U value of the whole hueco (opening assembly), not by the glass alone. CTE DB-HE1 Table 2.1 gives the maximum transmitancia for huecos per zona climática. The zone letter (α, A, B, C, D, E) is set by winter severity; the number that follows (1 to 4) is summer severity. Alicante is B3, Madrid D3, Barcelona C2, Bilbao C1, Burgos E1, Sevilla B4, Málaga A3.
Uw Ladder: 2013 Values vs Current Consolidated Text
Zona climática
Uw limit, CTE 2013 (W/m²K)
Uw limit, CTE consolidated 2019 (W/m²K)
Representative cities
Reduction
α
5.70
3.20
Canarias (coastal), Ceuta/Melilla
−44%
A
5.70
2.70
Málaga, Cartagena, Almería, Cádiz
−53%
B
4.20
2.30
Valencia, Alicante, Sevilla, Murcia
−45%
C
3.10
2.10
Barcelona, Bilbao, Zaragoza, Granada
−32%
D
2.70
1.80
Madrid, Valladolid, San Sebastián
−33%
E
2.50
1.80
Burgos, Ávila, Soria, León
−28%
CTE DB-HE1 Table 2.1, transmitancia térmica límite de huecos (Uw). Values in W/m²K.
The 2013 column is included because a large share of the Spanish replacement market still holds quotations written against the old ladder. A frame that passed at 2.70 in Burgos in 2013 fails the current 1.80 by a wide margin, and that gap is the single most common reason a low quotation is rejected at the visado stage.
Which Frame Build Reaches Each Zone
Uw is a weighted sum of the frame area (Uf), the glazing area (Ug) and the spacer linear loss (Ψg). For a standard 1.23 × 1.48 m reference window, the frame accounts for roughly 25–30% of the opening, so the profile choice moves Uw by 0.3–0.8 W/m²K on the same glass.
Zona
Required Uw
Thermal break width
Glazing
Achieved Uw
Margin
Verdict
α / A
≤ 3.20 / 2.70
none (serie 50)
4+12A+4
3.05
0.15
passes with plain double
A
≤ 2.70
14 mm PA66 GF25
4+16A+4
2.62
0.08
tight, use warm edge
B
≤ 2.30
20 mm PA66 GF25
4/16/4 Low-E
2.10
0.20
passes with margin
C
≤ 2.10
20 mm + warm edge
4/16Ar/4 Low-E
1.86
0.24
passes
D
≤ 1.80
24 mm + warm edge
4/16Ar/4 Low-E
1.64
0.16
passes
E
≤ 1.80
30–34 mm
4/12Ar/4/12Ar/4
1.12
0.68
passes, triple glazing
The A-zone row is the one to watch. With a 14 mm break and an aluminium spacer the result lands at 2.62 against a 2.70 limit — the margin is inside the calculation tolerance of most CTE tools. Swapping the aluminium spacer for a warm-edge profile costs USD 6–9/m² and drops Uw to about 2.51, which puts the calculation outside the rejection band.
Compliance note
The Autonomous Communities may publish more demanding values, and municipal ordenanzas in cities such as Madrid and Barcelona frequently specify Uw below the CTE minimum. Always confirm the project’s zona climática from the CTE municipal table and the applicable local order before locking the profile series.
Perfiles de Aluminio para Ventanas: Alloy, Wall Thickness and Thermal Break
A perfil de aluminio para ventanas is defined by four numbers: alloy and temper, wall thickness, section depth, and polyamide break width. Everything downstream — Uf, wind resistance, max sash size, price — follows from these.
Alloy and Temper: 6063-T5, 6060-T66, 6061-T6, 6082-T6
Export window profiles are extruded from 6xxx series Al-Mg-Si. The temper determines the mechanical values the section carries in the UNE-EN 755-2 tables.
Alloy / temper
Tensile Rm (MPa)
Yield Rp0.2 (MPa)
Elongation A%
Typical use in a window
6060-T66
215
160
8
Narrow sightline sashes, thin-wall sections
6063-T5
160
110
8
Standard frames and sashes, the export default
6063-T6
205
170
8
Reinforced mullions, large sliding leaves
6061-T6
290
240
8
Structural corners, heavy commercial framing
6082-T6
310
260
8
High-load mullions, balustrade integration
6063-T5 covers about 80% of a residential order. 6060-T66 is specified where the architect wants a 35–45 mm sightline and the section must still hold a 2.0 mm wall at tight radii. 6061-T6 and 6082-T6 appear only in mullions and coupling sections; using them across the whole frame adds 12–18% to the billet cost with no thermal benefit.
Wall Thickness: 1.4 / 1.6 / 1.8 / 2.0 mm
Nominal wall thickness is measured on the main load-bearing faces. The choice is driven by sash area and by the wind load of the zona eólica, not by preference.
Wall (mm)
Max sash height (mm)
Max sash width (mm)
Max sash area (m²)
UNE-EN 12210 wind class
Zona eólica
1.4
1,500
900
1.35
C2 / B3
A (0.42 kN/m²)
1.6
1,800
1,000
1.80
C3 / B4
A–B (0.45 kN/m²)
1.8
2,100
1,100
2.30
C4 / B5
B–C (0.52 kN/m²)
2.0
2,400
1,300
3.00
C5 / B5
C and exposed coastal
Zona eólica per CTE DB-SE-AE: A = 26 m/s (qb 0.42 kN/m²), B = 27 m/s (0.45), C = 29 m/s (0.52). Sites above 200 m altitude or on exposed coast use the next class up.
Thermal Break: PA66 GF25 Width vs Uf
The break is a polyamide 66 strip reinforced with 25% glass fibre, rolled or injected into the section channel. Width is the only variable that changes Uf materially; 14 mm to 34 mm covers the whole Spanish market.
Break width (mm)
Frame Uf (W/m²K)
Serie designation
Glazing pocket (mm)
Price delta vs 14 mm (USD/m²)
None
5.9 – 6.6
Serie 50
18–22
− 18
14
3.30
Serie 60
24–28
baseline
20
2.90
Serie 70
28–34
+ 14
24
2.60
Serie 75 / 80
32–40
+ 26
30
2.10
Serie 85
38–46
+ 44
34
1.80
Serie 90
46–54
+ 62
Going from 20 mm to 24 mm costs USD 12–14/m² and moves Uf by 0.30, which is usually cheaper than upgrading the glass from a 4/16/4 Low-E to a triple unit (USD 28–36/m²) for the same 0.2–0.3 Uw gain.
Ventanas de Aluminio Correderas: Sliding System Performance Data
Ventanas de aluminio correderas is the highest-volume Spanish search term in the sliding family and the configuration where most specifications are wrong. A sliding sash seals on brush or fin piles, not on compression gaskets, so its AEV ceiling is structurally lower than a casement.
Sliding vs Casement: Measured AEV
Configuration
Permeabilidad (UNE-EN 12207)
Estanqueidad (UNE-EN 12208)
Viento (UNE-EN 12210)
Typical Uw (W/m²K)
Rw (dB)
Corredera 2 hojas, standard
Class 2
5A (200 Pa)
C2 / B3
2.9 – 3.4
28 – 31
Corredera with lift-and-slide hardware
Class 3
7A (300 Pa)
C3 / B4
2.4 – 2.8
32 – 35
Corredera elevable (heavy)
Class 4
8A (450 Pa)
C4 / B5
1.9 – 2.3
36 – 40
Abatible / practicable (casement)
Class 4
9A (600 Pa)
C5 / B5
1.4 – 2.1
35 – 44
Oscilobatiente (tilt and turn)
Class 4
9A (600 Pa)
C5 / B5
1.3 – 2.0
38 – 46
A standard two-panel corredera at Class 2 air permeability and 5A water tightness does not satisfy a facade in zona eólica C, or any opening above the third floor in Galicia or the Cantabrian coast. The lift-and-slide (elevable) variant closes the gap for USD 40–65/m² extra in hardware.
Roller, Track and Sash Weight Limits
Roller: stainless 304 body, 42–58 mm diameter, sealed bearing, rated 80 / 120 / 180 kg per unit.
Track: stainless 304 rail insert over the aluminium extrusion; a worn extruded track is the main field failure after year 7.
Max sash weight: 80 kg for standard, 180 kg for lift-and-slide, 300 kg for heavy elevable with tandem rollers.
Glazing pocket limits sash thickness to 24–34 mm on a 2-panel corredera, 38–52 mm on elevable.
Bottom weep: two 5 × 25 mm slots per outer track, drained to the outside face; blocked slots are the No.1 water claim.
Puertas y Ventanas de Aluminio: Whole-House Package Scope and Cost
Puertas y ventanas de aluminio as a single line item is how Spanish promotores buy. One supplier carries the facade carpentry, the entrance door, the terrace sliding doors and the shutter boxes, which removes the interface risk between three trades.
Package Bill of Materials per 120 m² Dwelling
Item
Qty
Unit size
m²
Series
Unit price (USD/m²)
Subtotal (USD)
Ventana abatible 1 hoja
4
0.60 × 1.20 m
2.88
Serie 70
132
380
Ventana abatible 2 hojas
3
1.20 × 1.40 m
5.04
Serie 70
128
645
Ventana oscilobatiente
2
0.90 × 1.40 m
2.52
Serie 70
146
368
Corredera elevable terrace
1
2.40 × 2.30 m
5.52
Serie 80
196
1,082
Fijo (picture window)
1
1.80 × 2.10 m
3.78
Serie 70
98
370
Puerta de entrada
1
1.00 × 2.10 m
2.10
Serie 75
318
668
Cajón de persiana
9
integrated
—
—
58/unit
522
Total
—
—
21.84
—
—
4,035
A 120 m² dwelling carries 21–23 m² of carpentry, which at current FOB rates is USD 3,900–4,600 per dwelling before freight. An order of 40 dwellings therefore sits at 872 m² and clears the 500 m² price tier by a wide margin.
Package vs Window-Only: Cost per m²
Order scope
Carpentry m²
FOB USD/m²
Order value (USD)
Savings vs piecemeal
Windows only
480
138
66,240
baseline
Windows + terrace doors
620
149
92,380
− 4%
Full package + entrance doors
760
152
115,520
− 7%
Full package + persiana boxes
760 + 320 boxes
158
120,080
− 9%
The saving is not a discount. It comes from one extrusion run, one powder batch and one container — the mixing cost of a second supplier’s RAL match and a second container’s LCL break-bulk is what the promotor pays when the order is split.
AEV Classification and Marcado CE under UNE-EN 14351-1
The three-letter block on every Spanish window quotation is AEV: Aire (permeabilidad al aire), Estanqueidad al agua, Viento. Each is a separate test standard and a separate number on the declaration of performance.
Permeabilidad al Aire — UNE-EN 12207
Measured as air loss per m² of opening at increasing pressure; the class is set by the worst of the positive and negative pressure results.
Clase
Max air permeability at 100 Pa (m³/h·m²)
Reference pressure (Pa)
Field meaning
0
not tested
—
Not acceptable for CE declaration in Spain
1
50
150
Industrial sheds only
2
27
300
Standard corredera
3
9
600
Lift-and-slide, entry-level abatible
4
3
600
Abatible / oscilobatiente with 3 compression gaskets
Estanqueidad al Agua — UNE-EN 12208
Two series: A for openings the standard considers unprotected, and B where the opening is protected by an overhang or recess. The class number maps to a test pressure.
Clase
Pressure (Pa)
Clase
Pressure (Pa)
Application
1A
0
1B
0
Interior partitions
2A
50
2B
50
Sheltered patios
3A
100
3B
100
Ground floor, sheltered
4A
150
4B
150
Low-rise residential
5A
200
5B
200
Standard corredera
6A
250
6B
250
Mid-rise, zona eólica A
7A
300
7B
300
Upper limit of the B series
8A
450
—
—
Exposed facade, zona B
9A
600
—
—
Coastal / high-rise, zona C
The 7B ceiling matters: an opening classified under the B series cannot be declared above 300 Pa. If the project is on an exposed facade, the test must be run and declared as an A-series result, which means the frame drainage and gasket specification has to support it, not just the paperwork.
Resistencia al Viento — UNE-EN 12210
Clase (deflection)
Test pressure P1 (Pa)
Clase (load)
Safety pressure P3 (Pa)
Zona eólica
A1 / C1
400
C1
600
Sheltered interior
A2 / C2
800
C2
1,200
A (0.42 kN/m²), low-rise
A3 / C3
1,200
C3
1,800
A–B, up to 4 floors
A4 / C4
1,600
C4
2,400
B–C, up to 8 floors
A5 / C5
2,000
C5
3,000
C, coastal, above 8 floors
Deflection is reported as a fraction of span — L/200 under P1 for a mullion, L/150 for a transom carrying glass. A Spanish project at 2.0 kN/m² design pressure typically lands on C4 with a 1.8 mm or 2.0 mm wall; 1.4 mm cannot reach C3 on a 2.1 m sash.
Marcado CE: System 3 and the DoP
Windows and external pedestrian doors are CE marked under UNE-EN 14351-1 with assessment system 3: the factory runs initial type testing at a notified laboratory and maintains factory production control. The declaration of performance (DoP) must carry, at minimum:
Resistencia térmica — Uw (W/m²K), calculated per UNE-EN ISO 10077-1 or 10077-2.
Permeabilidad al aire, estanqueidad al agua, resistencia al viento — the three AEV classes.
Aislamiento acústico — Rw (C; Ctr) in dB, measured per UNE-EN ISO 10140 / 717-1.
Sustancias peligrosas — declaration of none, or a national annex entry.
Durabilidad — declared as the operating cycle class in the same standard.
Ability to be cleaned, ventilation devices, and (where relevant) bullet resistance or behaviour between fire compartments.
Documentation trap
A CE certificate issued against EN 14351-1 in 2013 used the older essential characteristics list. Documents older than the current harmonised version are routinely rejected by the dirección de obra. Ask for the DoP revision date together with the certificate number.
DB-HR Acoustics: D2m,nT,Atr, Rw and Glass Builds
CTE DB-HR sets the acoustic target as an in-situ normalised level difference, not as a laboratory Rw. The window has to be sized against the measured exterior day level Ld at the plot.
DB-HR Table 2.1 Ladder
Exterior day level Ld (dBA)
D2m,nT,Atr dormitorios (dBA)
D2m,nT,Atr estancias (dBA)
D2m,nT,Atr aulas / offices (dBA)
Required laboratory Rw (dB)
Ld ≤ 60
30
30
30
30 – 32
60 < Ld ≤ 65
32
30
32
33 – 35
65 < Ld ≤ 70
37
32
37
38 – 40
70 < Ld ≤ 75
42
37
42
43 – 46
Ld > 75
47
42
47
48 – 52
The conversion from a laboratory Rw to the in-situ D2m,nT,Atr is not one to one. The rule of thumb used on Spanish projects is Rw ≈ required D + 1 dB at the low end and Rw ≈ D + 5 dB at the high end, because flanking through the wall and the shutter box grows as the required isolation rises.
Glass Build vs Rw, C and Ctr
Glazing build
Thickness (mm)
Rw (dB)
C (dB)
Ctr (dB)
Rw + Ctr
Weight (kg/m²)
4+12A+4 float
24
30
−1
−4
26
20
4/16/4 float
24
31
−1
−4
27
20
6/16/4 asymmetric
26
34
−1
−5
29
25
4/16Ar/4 Low-E
24
32
−1
−4
28
20
6/12/6 laminated inner
26
36
−1
−4
32
30
4/12/4/12/4 triple
36
34
−1
−5
29
30
6/16/4 + 0.76 PVB acoustic
27
40
−2
−6
34
32
8/16/6 + 1.52 PVB acoustic
32
44
−2
−7
37
41
Ctr is the correction that matters for road traffic, which is the dominant source on Spanish urban plots. A 4/16/4 unit with Rw 31 and Ctr −4 delivers 27 dB of traffic isolation; the same frame with a 0.76 PVB acoustic laminate reaches 34 dB — a 7 dB improvement for about USD 18–24/m² of glass.
Spanish cooling demand turns the glass specification upside down. In zona climática 3 and 4 the summer gain through the glazing is the largest single load in the building, and a window that performs well in Burgos will overheat a dwelling in Sevilla.
g-Value and SHGC by Coating
Glass build
g (factor solar)
LT (light transmission, %)
Ug (W/m²K)
Best suited to
Price delta (USD/m²)
Float 4/16/4 clear
0.76
81
2.70
Zonas 1–2, north facade
baseline
Low-E soft coat 4/16Ar/4
0.62
78
1.10
Zona E, heating dominated
+ 8
Low-E solar control 4/16Ar/4
0.36
66
1.10
Zonas 3–4, west/south
+ 14
Solar control tinted 6/16/4
0.32
52
1.10
Zona 4, large south glazing
+ 18
Double silver 6/16Ar/4
0.27
60
1.00
Zona 4, commercial curtain
+ 26
Triple 4/12Ar/4/12Ar/4 Low-E
0.52
71
0.62
Zona E, passive standard
+ 34
The rule for Spain: north and east facades take a high-g low-E (0.60–0.65) to collect winter gain; south and west take solar control at g 0.27–0.36. Specifying one coating for the whole building is the most common thermal specification error on export orders, and it costs 8–14 kWh/m²a of cooling demand on a B4 plot.
Cajón de Persiana: The Thermal Bridge Nobody Declares
The roller shutter box is part of the hueco under the CTE calculation. A standard non-insulated box adds 0.15–0.35 W/m²K to the opening Uw.
Box type
Ψ box (W/m²K added to Uw)
Air tightness impact
Cost (USD/unit)
Recommended zone
Non-insulated, external
+ 0.28 – 0.35
drops the assembly one AEV class
38 – 52
α, A only
Insulated 20 mm EPS
+ 0.12 – 0.18
neutral with a brush seal
58 – 76
B, C
Monoblock with thermal break
+ 0.06 – 0.10
neutral
92 – 128
C, D
Renovation box, internal access
+ 0.15 – 0.22
neutral
64 – 88
Rehabilitation
On a 1.20 × 1.40 m window in Madrid (zona D3, limit 1.80), the difference between an uninsulated box and a monoblock is the difference between 1.94 (fails) and 1.68 (passes). The box costs USD 54 more per unit; the alternative is re-engineering the whole frame.
Cristal: Glazing Build-Ups, Tempering and Safety Classification
Cristal is 70–80% of the visible window area and the part that carries the safety obligation under CTE DB-SUA.
Double and Triple Glazing Configurations
Build
Total thickness (mm)
Spacer
Ug (W/m²K)
Rw (dB)
Weight (kg/m²)
Frame pocket required
4/6A/4
14
aluminium
3.30
28
20
18–22 mm
4/12A/4
20
aluminium
2.70
30
20
24 mm
4/16A/4
24
aluminium
2.60
31
20
28 mm
4/16Ar/4 Low-E
24
warm edge
1.10
32
20
28 mm
6/16Ar/6 Low-E
28
warm edge
1.10
35
30
32–34 mm
4/12Ar/4/12Ar/4
36
warm edge
0.62
34
30
40–44 mm
6/12Ar/6/12Ar/6
42
warm edge
0.60
38
45
46–54 mm
Argon fill delivers about 0.3–0.4 W/m²K over air; the warm-edge spacer delivers a further 0.1–0.15 and, more importantly, raises the internal surface temperature at the rebate by 2–3 K, which keeps the frame edge above the dew point in a Spanish winter at 20 °C / 60% RH.
Tempering and Safety per EN 12150 and EN 12600
CTE DB-SUA requires safety glass where there is a risk of human impact: doors, glazing below 0.90 m, and large panes in schools and commercial space.
Classification (UNE-EN 12600)
Glass type
Drop height (mm)
Break behaviour
Where required
1B1
Laminated 4+4 / 0.76 PVB
1,200
Fragments retained
Balustrades, overhead
2B2
Laminated 3+3 / 0.38 PVB
450
Fragments retained
Interior partitions
1C1
Tempered (EN 12150)
1,200
Small rounded fragments
Doors, low-level glazing
1C2
Tempered (EN 12150)
750
Small rounded fragments
Standard impact zones
2C2
Tempered
450
Rounded fragments
Small panes below 1 m²
Tempered glass per UNE-EN 12150: surface compression ≥ 90 MPa, four-point bending strength ≥ 120 MPa, fragmentation count ≥ 40 particles in a 50 × 50 mm square.
Tempering adds USD 6–9/m² and a 5–7 day step to the schedule, because tempering is done on a separate line from the IGU assembly. Laminating adds USD 12–18/m² and cannot be cut after autoclaving — every laminated pane must be sized before the order goes to the furnace.
All figures below are FOB China (Shenzhen or Foshan), per square metre of finished opening, glazing included, excluding freight, insurance and Spanish import VAT.
Price Matrix: Series × Order Volume
Serie
Break (mm)
Wall (mm)
50–149 m²
150–499 m²
500–1,499 m²
1,500+ m²
Typical Uw
Serie 50 (no break)
—
1.4
88
78
70
62
3.0 – 3.4
Serie 60
14
1.4
124
112
101
92
2.5 – 2.8
Serie 70
20
1.6
158
143
129
118
2.0 – 2.3
Serie 75
24
1.8
182
166
151
138
1.7 – 2.0
Serie 80 elevable
24
1.8
204
188
172
158
1.9 – 2.2
Serie 85
30
1.8
226
210
193
178
1.4 – 1.7
Serie 90 triple
34
2.0
248
232
215
196
1.1 – 1.4
USD/m² FOB. Base configuration: RAL 7016 or 9016 powder coat, 4/16Ar/4 Low-E double glazing, standard hardware. Triple glazing and solar-control coatings priced separately.
Options and Add-On Pricing
Option
Unit
USD
Notes
Warm-edge spacer
m²
6 – 9
Replaces aluminium spacer, −0.10 Uw
Triple glazing upgrade
m²
28 – 36
Requires 40–54 mm pocket
Solar control coating
m²
14 – 26
g 0.27 – 0.36
Acoustic laminate 0.76 PVB
m²
18 – 24
Rw +5 to +7 dB
Laminated safety 1.52 PVB
m²
24 – 32
EN 12600 1B1
RAL custom colour
order
180 – 320
Below 300 kg powder minimum
Anodised finish
m²
12 – 18
10–20 μm, silver / bronze / black
Wood grain sublimation
m²
9 – 15
Oak, walnut, teak
Lift-and-slide hardware
sash
58 – 96
Up to 180 kg sash
Oscilobatiente gear
sash
62 – 118
Roto / Siegenia, 5–7 locking points
Insulated shutter box
unit
58 – 128
By box type, see section 8
Mosquitera (insect screen)
m²
14 – 22
Roller or pleated
AENOR / CE DoP file
order
450 – 900
Per product family, per lab
Landed Cost Model to Valencia
Cost element
Basis
USD/m²
Share of landed
FOB Serie 70
500–1,499 m² tier
129
55.6%
Sea freight 40HQ
Valencia, 2026 rate
22
9.5%
Marine insurance
0.35% of CIF
0.6
0.3%
Import duty (EU)
6% on aluminium windows
9.1
3.9%
Customs clearance + THC
per shipment
6.4
2.8%
Inland to site (60 km)
per m²
8.2
3.5%
Installation labour
Spanish rate
47
20.3%
Waste and contingency
5%
9.7
4.2%
Landed total
—
232
100%
Duty check
Aluminium windows enter the EU under a 6% ad valorem duty, and anti-dumping measures on certain Chinese aluminium products have been applied and reviewed repeatedly. Confirm the current TARIC code and any anti-dumping rate for the exact product description before signing a fixed price; the difference between 6% and a 30% measure on a 760 m² order is over USD 34,000.
Nine stations run between the billet and the container. Each one has a measurable control point; the numbers below are the ones that get checked on a factory audit.
Extrusion and Ageing
Billet: 6063 aluminium, homogenised at 560 °C for 6 h, cast in Φ 90–178 mm logs.
Extrusion: billet 460–500 °C, container 420–450 °C, exit speed 8–25 m/min by section weight.
Quench: air or water spray; the cooling rate fixes the Mg2Si precipitation available for ageing.
Stretch straightening: 0.5–1.5% permanent elongation, twist tolerance 0.3 mm per 300 mm.
Artificial ageing: T5 at 200 °C for 2 h, or T6 solution treatment 530 °C then 175 °C for 8 h.
Hardness check: 6063-T5 must read 60–75 HB (Webster B); below 58 HB the batch is re-aged.
Surface Treatment: Powder and Anodising
Process
Parameters
Film thickness
Test standard
Pass criterion
Chrome-free pretreatment
55 °C, 3 min, Zr/Ti conversion
0.3–0.8 μm
—
Adhesion class 0
Powder coating (polyester)
Cure 190–200 °C metal temp, 12–15 min
60–80 μm
Qualicoat / EN 12206-1
Gloss retention ≥ 50% after 1,000 h
PVDF coating
Cure 230–250 °C, 3-coat
35–45 μm
AAMA 2605
10-year Florida exposure
Anodising
15–20 °C, 1.2–1.5 A/dm², H2SO4 180 g/L
AA10 / AA15 / AA20
QUALANOD / ISO 7599
Sealing ≤ 30 mg/dm² mass loss
Wood grain sublimation
Transfer 200 °C, 8 min under vacuum
20–40 μm layer
Adhesion ISO 2409
Class 0 after 1,000 h QUV
Salt spray is the number buyers ask for, but it is not the number that predicts coastal failure. The filiform corrosion test (ISO 4623, 1,000 h at 40 °C / 82% RH after scribing) separates a good pretreatment from a bad one far more reliably on a Mediterranean coast plot.
Thermal Break Insertion and Assembly
Break strip: PA66 GF25, supplied as coil or cut length; moisture content below 0.2% before rolling.
Knurling: the section channel is knurled at 0.4–0.6 mm depth before the strip is rolled in.
Roll-in: three-roll head at 12–18 m/min, pull-out resistance tested at each set-up.
Pull-out test: ≥ 24 N/mm per ISO 14024 sampling; samples cut at the start, middle and end of each shift.
Corner crimping: 4-point crimp, corner strength ≥ 300 N per crimped corner on a 1.6 mm wall.
Glazing: setting blocks at L/4, silicone structural bond 6 × 12 mm, wedge gasket on the dry side.
A corner crimp failure is the single largest source of transport damage on export orders. Corner strength below 250 N on a 2.1 m sash will open on the container journey, even with correct packing.
Certifications Held and What Each One Actually Covers
Certificates on a Spanish order are not interchangeable. Each covers a different scope, and the dirección de obra will ask for the scope, not the logo.
Certificate / standard
Scope
Issuer type
Validity
Applies to
UNE-EN 14351-1 CE
Whole window: Uw, AEV, Rw, durability
Notified body (system 3)
5 years, retest on change
All external windows and pedestrian doors
UNE-EN 12207 / 12208 / 12210
AEV test reports
Notified lab
Test report, no expiry
Supporting evidence for the DoP
UNE-EN ISO 10077-1 / -2
Uw and Uf calculation
Notified lab or declared calculation
Linked to the DoP
Thermal declaration
UNE-EN ISO 10140 / 717-1
Rw (C; Ctr)
Notified lab
Test report
Acoustic declaration
ISO 9001:2015
Factory quality management system
Certification body
3 years + surveillance
The factory, not the product
ISO 14001:2015
Environmental management
Certification body
3 years + surveillance
The factory
Qualicoat
Powder coating quality label
Qualicoat licenced plant
1 year + inspection
Coating only
QUALANOD
Anodising quality label
QUALANOD licenced plant
1 year + inspection
Anodised finish only
NFRC (USA)
U-factor / SHGC simulation
NFRC-accredited simulator
Product listing
Not valid for CE in Spain, useful for LatAm
AAMA / WDMA (USA)
Structural and water performance
Accredited lab
Test report
Not valid for CE, used in Mexico and Central America
Miami-Dade NOA
Large-missile impact and cyclic pressure
Miami-Dade County
Product approval
Caribbean projects, not Spain
Product Certification vs Factory Certification
A factory that holds ISO 9001 and Qualicoat but no EN 14351-1 file cannot CE mark a window. The ISO certificate covers the management system; the CE declaration covers the product. Buyers frequently accept the former by mistake, and the error surfaces at the visado or, worse, at final occupation certification.
How to Verify a CE File in Ten Minutes
Check the notified body number against the NANDO database; a four-digit number that does not appear is a red flag.
Match the product description on the certificate to the ordered serie — a file covering ‘fixed windows’ does not cover an oscilobatiente sash.
Confirm the declared Uw is calculated for the ordered size, not for a smaller reference window.
Check the DoP revision date against the current harmonised version of EN 14351-1.
Ask for the raw test report numbers behind the declared AEV classes, not the summary sheet.
What to ask for
Three documents: (1) the current DoP with revision date, (2) the EN 14351-1 certificate from a notified body with its four-digit number, (3) the test reports behind the declared AEV and Uw values. Anything less is a quotation, not a certification.
Procurement Data: MOQ, Lead Time, Payment, Packaging, Container Load
Commercial terms for export orders to Spain are standardised across the Foshan and Guangdong manufacturing base. The values below are the ones actually written into proformas.
Commercial Terms
Term
Standard value
Notes
MOQ
50 m² or 30 units, whichever is higher
Mixed sizes allowed in one order
MOQ per size
5 units
Below 5 units the tooling set-up is charged at USD 60
Custom colour MOQ
300 kg powder
About 400 m² of frame
Sample lead time
10–14 days
One 0.9 × 1.4 m unit, courier at buyer’s cost
Production lead time
25–32 days (standard), 32–38 days (triple / custom RAL)
From approved drawings and deposit
Payment terms
30% deposit, 70% before loading
L/C at sight accepted above USD 50,000
Price validity
30 days from quotation
Aluminium ingot moves ± 8% per quarter
Incoterms
FOB Shenzhen / Foshan, or CIF Valencia on request
EXW not offered on export orders
Warranty
10 years on frames and coating, 5 years on hardware, 15 years on glass seal
Against manufacturing defect, excluding coastal corrosion above 5 km from shore
Packaging Specification
Frame: 0.08 mm PE sleeve, then 5 mm EPE foam, corner protectors in 2 mm ABS.
Glass: crated separately in A-frame steel racks, 12–18 panes per rack, 10 mm rubber separators.
Sash and frame are shipped glazed for standard sizes; glass is crated separately above 2.1 m height.
Bundles: 6–10 units per bundle, steel strapped, each bundle on a 100 × 100 mm timber skid.
Container: 40HQ with 8 mm plywood flooring check, desiccant 2 kg per 10 m³, moisture barrier wrap.
Marking: bundle number, unit reference, room code and floor — required for site distribution.
40HQ Container Loading Calculation
Parameter
Value
Calculation
Internal volume
76 m³
12.03 × 2.35 × 2.69 m
Usable volume at 85%
64.6 m³
Packing efficiency with crated glass
Window volume (packed)
0.31 m³ per 1.5 m² unit
1.23 × 1.48 m incl. foam and skid
Units per 40HQ
about 208 units
64.6 / 0.31
Carpentry per 40HQ
about 310 m²
208 × 1.49 m²
Weight limit
26,000 kg payload
Glass is the binding constraint, not volume
Weight per unit (4/16Ar/4)
46 kg
Frame 9 kg/m² + glass 20 kg/m² + 11 kg packing
Weight check
208 × 46 = 9,568 kg
Volume binds first at 40% of payload
Because volume binds before weight, a 40HQ is the right unit and a 20GP is false economy — a 20GP takes 88 units at 131 m², and the freight per m² rises by roughly 65%. Orders above 620 m² should ship as two 40HQ rather than one 40HQ plus LCL.
Installation Method: Eight Steps and Three Failure Points
Spanish site practice for window installation follows the NTE and the CTE DB-HE guidance on the junction between the carpentry and the wall. The window does not fail in the factory; it fails at the perimeter joint.
Eight-Step Sequence
Replanteo. Verify the obra opening against the manufacturing drawing. Tolerance ± 10 mm on width and height, ± 5 mm on diagonal difference. Anything beyond that needs a shimmed subframe.
Preparación del hueco. Remove loose mortar, fill voids, apply a primer on absorbent surfaces. The reveal must be flat to 3 mm over 2 m.
Colocación del premarco (where used). A galvanised steel or aluminium subframe is fixed with M8 anchors at 400–600 mm centres, packed with non-shrink mortar.
Fijación de la carpintería. Anchor through the outer frame chamber only, 150 mm from each corner and then at 500–700 mm centres. Anchors must never pass through the polyamide break.
Nivelación y aplomado. Check with a 2 m level: vertical deviation ≤ 2 mm, horizontal ≤ 1.5 mm. Shim at load points only, never at mid-span, or the sash will bind.
Sellado interior (barrera de vapor). Butyl tape or a vapour-tight membrane on the warm side, continuous around the opening and bonded to the wall substrate.
Sellado exterior (estanqueidad). Pre-compressed foam tape plus a UV-stable silicone bead; the outer seal must be vapour-open so any moisture in the joint can dry outward.
Ajuste y verificación. Operate every sash twice, set the locking cam preload, check the weep slots are open, then torque-check the anchors.
The two-seal rule from steps 6 and 7 is the one most often skipped: inner airtight, outer water-tight and vapour-open. A single silicone bead on both faces is the standard cause of interstitial condensation in the joint, which then presents as a window that ‘sweats’ and gets blamed on the glass.
Three Failure Points Observed on Spanish Sites
Failure
Cause
Symptom
Prevention
Anchor through the thermal break
Fixing screw passes through the polyamide strip
Local condensation on the frame, Uw rises by 0.2–0.4
Anchor map on the manufacturing drawing, marked ‘no fix’ zone
Blocked weep slots
Mortar and render dropped into the track during finishing
Water appears on the internal sill after driving rain
Fit temporary weep covers, remove at handover
Membrane corner not folded
Butyl tape cut at the corner instead of folded
Air infiltration at the corner, whistle at wind pressure
Fold and overlap 50 mm; do not butt-join at 90°
Commissioning check before handover: a water spray test at 2 L/min·m² for 15 minutes per opening, a smoke pencil test at the perimeter joint with the sash closed, and a thermal camera scan at ∆T ≥ 12 K between inside and outside. All three take under two minutes per opening and catch roughly 90% of perimeter defects before the plasterer leaves.
Project Case: 54-Dwelling Block in Valencia (Zona B3)
Delivery data from a completed order: a four-storey residential block of 54 dwellings in the Huerta Sur area of Valencia, zona climática B3, zona eólica B, measured exterior noise Ld 63 dBA at the south facade.
Order Composition
Item
Qty
Size (mm)
m² total
Serie / build
Declared performance
Ventana abatible 2 hojas
108
1,200 × 1,400
181.4
Serie 70, 20 mm break
Uw 2.05, Class 4 / 7A / C4
Ventana oscilobatiente
54
900 × 1,400
68.0
Serie 70, 20 mm break
Uw 2.02, Class 4 / 8A / C4
Ventana abatible 1 hoja
54
600 × 1,200
38.9
Serie 70, 20 mm break
Uw 2.11, Class 4 / 8A / C4
Corredera elevable terrace
54
2,400 × 2,300
298.1
Serie 80, 24 mm break
Uw 1.94, Class 3 / 7A / C4
Puerta de entrada
54
1,000 × 2,100
113.4
Serie 75, panel + glass
Uw 1.98, Class 4 / 8A / C4
Cajón de persiana aislado
216
monoblock 20 mm
—
Ψ +0.08
Neutral to the assembly
Total
540
—
699.8
—
—
Compliance Check Against CTE
Requirement
CTE limit
Delivered
Margin
Method
Uw, zona B3
≤ 2.30 W/m²K
1.94 – 2.11
0.19 – 0.36
UNE-EN ISO 10077-1 calculation + lab verification
Permeabilidad al aire
Class 3 minimum per municipio
Class 4 / Class 3 (sliding)
meets
UNE-EN 12207, 600 Pa
Estanqueidad al agua
7A per facade exposure
7A – 8A
meets
UNE-EN 12208
Resistencia al viento
C3 (zona B, 4 floors)
C4
one class above
UNE-EN 12210, 1,600 Pa
D2m,nT,Atr dormitorios
32 dBA (Ld 63)
Rw 35 dB (C −1, Ctr −4)
3 dB
UNE-EN ISO 10140-2 lab, in-situ check on 6 units
Safety glazing
EN 12600 1C2 min
Tempered 1C2, laminated 2B2 at balconies
meets
UNE-EN 12150 + UNE-EN 12600
Marcado CE
UNE-EN 14351-1 system 3
DoP issued, notified body file current
meets
Documentation review at visado
Cost Comparison: Local Supply vs China Import
Cost element
Local Spanish supplier (EUR)
China import route (EUR)
Delta (EUR)
Carpentry supply
96,272
62,382 (FOB 129 USD/m² at 1.08)
− 33,890
Freight, duty, clearance
included
20,254 (freight + 6% duty + THC)
+ 20,254
Shutter boxes (216 units)
18,144
16,200
− 1,944
Installation labour
27,992
27,992
0
CE documentation
included
2,400 (AENOR file + lab)
+ 2,400
Total
142,408
129,228
− 13,180
Per m² of carpentry
203.5
184.7
− 18.8 (− 9.2%)
The saving is modest at 9.2% because installation labour, which is identical either way, is 22% of the installed cost. Where the import route separates itself is on specification density: the same budget bought a 20 mm thermal break with warm-edge spacers and solar-control glass on the south and west facades, which the local quotation had priced with a 14 mm break and clear float throughout.
Outcome metric
Before (existing building)
After (delivered)
Change
Calculated heating demand (kWh/m²a)
48.2
31.6
− 34.5%
Calculated cooling demand (kWh/m²a)
39.7
24.1
− 39.3%
Interior surface temp at 5 °C outside (°C)
13.1
16.4
+ 3.3 K
Condensation complaints, first winter
17 dwellings
1 dwelling
− 94%
Air change rate at 50 Pa (n50)
7.8 h⁻¹
4.1 h⁻¹
− 47%
The condensation result is the number the promotor quoted back. Existing units with a 14 mm break and an aluminium spacer ran a 13.1 °C interior frame surface, which is below the dew point of a 20 °C / 55% RH dwelling; the 20 mm break with warm edge moved that to 16.4 °C and removed the problem without changing the glazing.
Material Comparison: Aluminio, PVC and Madera-Aluminio
Three frame materials compete in Spain. The choice is made on Uf, maintenance cycle, maximum dimension and fire behaviour, in that order.
Parameter
Aluminio con RPT
PVC (3–5 chambers)
Madera-aluminio
Steel
Frame Uf (W/m²K)
1.8 – 3.3
1.2 – 1.9
1.3 – 1.8
5.9 – 7.0
Typical Uw with 4/16Ar/4 Low-E
1.6 – 2.3
1.2 – 1.7
1.3 – 1.7
3.4 – 4.2
Sightline width (mm)
35 – 65
70 – 120
68 – 95
40 – 60
Max sash size (m)
2.4 (height)
1.6 (height)
2.2 (height)
2.6 (height)
Service life (years)
40 – 50
25 – 35
35 – 50 with maintenance
50+
Maintenance cycle
None, gasket at 15 y
Gasket at 10 y, hardware at 12 y
Exterior lacquer every 6–8 y
Repaint every 10–15 y
Fire behaviour (Euroclass)
A1
D-s2,d0 to B-s1,d0
D-s2,d0
A1
Recycled content
60 – 80% typical
5 – 25%
Renewable, 0% recycled
90%+
Price, installed (EUR/m²)
165 – 240
135 – 195
310 – 460
280 – 390
Best application
Large openings, coastal, ≥ 4 floors
Small to mid openings, cost-driven
Heritage and timber aesthetic
Slim heritage profiles, high security
Selection by Building Type
Building type
Recommended frame
Reason
Typical Uw achieved
Apartment block, 4–8 floors, zona B/C
Aluminio RPT 70, 20 mm break
Wind class C3–C4, large terrace openings
2.0 – 2.3
Single-family villa, zona C/D
Aluminio RPT 75/80, 24 mm break
Large glazing, coastal exposure, low maintenance
1.7 – 2.0
Rehabilitation, small openings, cost-led
PVC 5-chamber
Lowest installed cost, adequate at small sizes
1.3 – 1.7
Heritage / casco antiguo
Madera-aluminio or steel
Aesthetic and conservation requirement
1.3 – 1.8
Passive or near-zero energy, zona E
Aluminio RPT 90, 34 mm, triple
Uw below 1.2, only aluminium reaches it at 2.4 m height
1.1 – 1.4
Where Each Material Fails
Aluminium fails where the budget cannot carry a 20 mm break — below that width the frame Uf stays above 3.0 and the whole assembly cannot clear zona C without triple glazing. PVC fails above 1.6 m sash height without steel reinforcement, and reinforced PVC costs more than an equivalent aluminium section. Madera-aluminio fails on maintenance: the exterior lacquer cycle every 6–8 years is a real operating cost that Spanish community budgets rarely fund.
Aluminium wins where the opening is large or the building is tall: a 2.4 × 2.3 m terrace sliding door is outside the PVC envelope without steel reinforcement, and reinforcement removes the cost advantage. PVC wins on a small window in a cost-driven rehabilitation, provided the fire classification is acceptable for the building height. Madera-aluminio is an aesthetic specification, not a performance one.
Finish: RAL or anodising, plus the coastal distance if under 5 km from the sea.
Shutter box type, or confirmation that the box is by others.
Eight Commercial Items to Demand
Unit price per m² and per unit, with the volume tier stated in writing.
Price validity and the aluminium ingot index clause, if any.
Lead time measured from approved drawings, not from deposit.
Payment structure and whether L/C is accepted above a stated value.
MOQ per size and the tooling charge below it.
Packaging specification and the number of containers the order fills.
Warranty scope in years, split by frame, coating, hardware and glass seal.
DoP revision date and the notified body number behind the CE mark.
Send both lists together. An enquiry that only asks for ‘windows, 1.20 × 1.40, aluminium’ will come back priced at Serie 50 with a 14 mm break and clear glass, and that unit fails zona C, D and E, and comes close to failing B.
Glosario: Spanish Specification Terms and English Equivalents
Terminology used on Spanish window schedules, with the export-side English equivalent. A mistranslated schedule line is the most expensive error on an export order, because the frame is extruded and powder-coated before anyone notices.
Product and Component Terms
Spanish term
English equivalent
Notes
Ventana de aluminio y cristal
Aluminium and glass window
Whole assembly, frame + glazing
Perfil / perfilería
Profile / profile system
The extruded section set
Rotura de puente térmico (RPT)
Thermal break
PA66 GF25 polyamide strip
Cajón de persiana
Roller shutter box
Included in the hueco Uw calculation
Abatible / practicable
Casement, side-hung
Side-hung opening sash
Oscilobatiente
Tilt and turn
Dual-action opening sash
Corredera
Sliding window
Horizontal sliding sash
Corredera elevable
Lift and slide
Hardware-assisted heavy sliding
Fija
Fixed / picture window
Non-opening
Hueco
Opening
The whole assembly including box and installation
Acristalamiento / vidrio
Glazing / glass
IGU or monolithic
Vidrio templado
Tempered glass
UNE-EN 12150
Vidrio laminado
Laminated glass
PVB interlayer
Cámara
Cavity / air gap
The space between panes, in mm
Junta / burlete
Gasket / weather seal
EPDM or TPE
Persiana
Roller shutter
Aluminium or PVC slat
Mosquitera
Insect screen
Roller, pleated or fixed
Premarco
Subframe
Steel or aluminium fixing frame
Estanqueidad
Water tightness
UNE-EN 12208, class + series
Permeabilidad
Air permeability
UNE-EN 12207, class 1–4
Resistencia al viento
Wind load resistance
UNE-EN 12210, class C1–C5
Transmitancia térmica
Thermal transmittance
U value, W/m²K
Factor solar
Solar factor / g-value
Total solar energy transmittance
Marcado CE
CE marking
UNE-EN 14351-1
Declaración de prestaciones
Declaration of performance (DoP)
Mandatory CE document
Dirección de obra
Site / works supervision
The party that checks the file
Visado
Technical approval
Colegio sign-off stage
Obra nueva / rehabilitación
New build / renovation
Different CTE thresholds
Standards and Site Terms
Spanish term
English equivalent
Standard or context
UNE-EN 14351-1
Window and door product standard
CE marking basis, system 3
UNE-EN 12207
Air permeability test
Class 1–4
UNE-EN 12208
Water tightness test
Class 1A–9A / 1B–7B
UNE-EN 12210
Wind resistance test
Class A1–A5, C1–C5
UNE-EN ISO 10077-1
Thermal calculation of Uw
Reference window method
UNE-EN ISO 10140-2
Acoustic laboratory test
Rw, C, Ctr
UNE-EN 12150
Thermally tempered glass
Fragmentation and strength
UNE-EN 12600
Pendulum impact classification
1B1 / 2B2 / 1C1 / 1C2
DB-HE
Energy efficiency basic document
Thermal envelope limits
DB-HR
Noise protection basic document
D2m,nT,Atr limits
DB-SUA
Safety of use basic document
Impact glazing, barriers
DB-SE-AE
Structural actions — wind
Zona eólica A / B / C
A schedule written in English and read by a Spanish dirección de obra will be returned. Writing the schedule in the Spanish terms above, with the English equivalent in parentheses, removes one full review cycle from the approval process.
Related Products and Further Specifications
Specification Library
Further specification data across the same aluminium window and door families:
Every product family above is built on the same 6063-T5 extrusion base, the same PA66 GF25 thermal break supply, and the same EN 14351-1 declaration route, so a mixed order of windows, terrace doors and entrance doors ships under one CE file and one container.