Euroview 70 Technical Manual - West Coast Vinyl Windows

EUROVIEW 70 STRUCTURAL LOAD CHARTS
For Couplers
Page 1 of 8
I. HOW TO USE THE CHARTS FOR THE EUROVIEW 70 COUPLERS:
A. Select the desired Design Pressure (DP20 [960Pa] on up, in increments of 10psf [480Pa]).
B. Locate the unit’s Modular Size (width or height) along the bottom of the Charts. The Modular Size
should be the largest distance between adjacent couplers, center to center.
C. Moving straight up from where you marked the Modular Size, note whether the Coupler Span L is
below or above the curve representing the limit of the desired DP.
1. If L is above the curve, the coupler option is unacceptable for the DP required.
2. If L is on or below the curve, the coupler option is acceptable for the DP required. However,
below the curve is preferred, since on the curve are borderline cases.
3. Example: Suppose there is a 107 ¾” x 72” [273.7 x 182.9cm.] mulled assembly of three equal
units having two vertical couplers. The Modular Width may be approximated by
107.75/3=35.917 in. [273.7/3=91.23cm.]. Since 35.917 [91.23cm.] is much closer to the 36”
[91.4cm.] line than to the 30” [76.2cm.] hatch mark immediately preceding it, go straight up
the 36” [91.4cm.] line until you reach the 72” [182.9cm.] horizontal line.
Suppose Coupler #113.348 is being used (this is the 49 x 25 x 1.5mm. steel “U” with “ears).
This is acceptable for DP20 [960Pa] since 72” [182.9cm.] is below the curve, but
unacceptable for DP30 [1440Pa] or greater.
II. REMARKS CONCERNING THE CHARTS:
A. The Charts furnish only guidelines for the initial selections – i.e., that the couplers could handle a
Structural Test Pressure (STP) of 1.5 X the specified DP:
1. For example, the DP40 [1920Pa] curve represents L/175 being exactly met at 60psf [2880Pa].
2. Local building codes may adhere to different standards or require a review by a certified P.E.
B. The Charts represent the structural performance of coupler combinations only:
1. The strengths of the coupler’s PVC accessories, whether PVC profiles or hardware, are not
factored in.
2. The strengths of interfacing window or door systems are not included, in order to simplify the
combinations to be covered by the Charts. This in effect adds an extra factor of safety.
However, the DP rating of the systems should never be less than the couplers intended for
them, nor less than the DP required for the job site.
3. The curves do not factor in the strength of anchoring devices or schemes.
4. The curves do not take into account the materials of rough openings or other adjacent
structures into which the Euroview assemblies are anchored.
C. The Euroview 70 fenestration in the Charts is treated as fully exposed to the wind, such that:
1. The span L is equal to the assembly width or height, as the case may be.
2. The Modular Size – width or height – is perpendicular to L:
a. The Euroview units in an assembly are equal, so that typical modular sizes are equal. If
the sizes are unequal, the largest size should be used.
b. The Modular Size may also be construed as the sum of both windload area perpendicular
distances attending the same coupler investigated. Each such distance is half the distance
on-center between an adjacent pair of couplers – i.e., half the Modular Size in that region
– or half the distance between the edge of the frame at the rough opening and the nearest
coupler on-center, as the case may be.
D. The Charts, among the eight different coupler combinations that they cover, are ranked 8 th to 1 st in
terms of strength, as clearly shown on the Charts.
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Rev. 25-Feb-11