Duratech. provides a 10-year guarantee on all window and flashing products. The actual rules of the guarantee are shown below.

HANDLING GUARANTEE

In order to avoid adding additional cost that would impact our low cost strategy, Duratech looks to our distributor partners to play a part in the implementation of our guarantee in their own market. This avoids that Duratech should need to set up expensive local support systems across Europe. Due to our product quality the distributor will in reality have little actual work. We therefore ask that our local distributor partner take care of all practical issues related to the guarantee. This includes replacing products our distributor partner judges to be faulty, supplying spare parts etc. Since our creation, Duratech has never experienced guarantee issues in excess of 0.15% of products sold. The 1% discount should therefore easily cover the distributor's expenses in this respect. However, in the unlikely event of a large number of problems arising, Duratech will of course reimburse the difference between the 1% and the actual costs of the distributor based on our acceptance of the distributor's written details and evidence of the individual guarantee claims. We believe this is the easiest and most pragmatic solution to this issue. However, should a distributor wish to pass this responsibility to Duratech, this means that the prices in this case would be 1% higher.

I. COVERAGE OF THE GUARANTEE

Duratech grants the end-user 1) a ten-year guarantee on Duratech roof windows including panes and Duratech flashings. Duratech further guarantees the end-user a two-year guarantee on FENSTRO, Duratech blinds and sun-screening accessories. The guarantee applies to the aforementioned products that have been delivered to the first end-user 2) after 1 November 2001.

II. COMMENCEMENT OF THE GUARANTEE

The guarantee period commences when the new-made product is delivered to the first end-user.

III. EXTENT OF THE GUARANTEE

The guarantee covers defects 3) due to material, production or structural faults 4). Duratech DOES NOT ASSUME LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGE OR PRODUCT LIABILITY OTHER THAN WHAT MAY FOLLOW FROM MANDATORY LAW.

IV. WRITTEN COMPLAINT

To rely on this guarantee, the end-user shall lodge a written complaint within the guarantee period) with the dealer from whom the product was purchased or – if this is not possible – with Duratech within one month after the end-user discovered or ought to have discovered the defect.

V. REIMBURSEMENT OF THE PURCHASE PRICE

If so agreed with Duratech, the end-user returns the product, and Duratech pays the Duratech list price valid at the time of the complaint. If the product is not marketed any more at the time of the complaint, Duratech pays its list price for a similar product.

VI. NON-COVERAGE

This guarantee does not cover: Any discolouration of non-visible parts, change of colour and fading caused by the sun/condensation/acid rain/salty splashes or any other conditions with corroding or material changing effect, any discolouration or deterioration in the wood due to failure to sand and re-varnish the wood at least every two years, knots in the wood, natural variations in the colour of the wood as well as aluminium and steel and slight imperfections – including colour variations in the pane – that do not materially decrease the view or any other similar conditions, irrespective of whether these may be designated as defects. Furthermore, the guarantee does not cover any defects or damage as a direct or indirect result of: a) faulty installation, i.e. installation made contrary to the installation instructions or (in the absence of such instructions) contrary to good craftsmanship, b) installation outside the recommended installation areas, c) faulty operation or misuse, d) neglect of maintenance as described in the directions for use or (in the absence of such directions) neglect of usual maintenance, e) use of incompatible spare parts or accessories (e.g. power supply), f) transportation or any other form of handling, g) product modifications, h) force majeure i) other defects or damage that are not due to material, production or structural faults, whereas the preceding enumeration is not exhaustive.

VII. MISCELLANEOUS

In addition to this guarantee the applicable mandatory rules of law apply. This may have the effect that on some points the end-user's rights might be better than those indicated in the present guarantee. The guarantee does not limit the rights that the end-user may have towards any dealer from whom the end-user purchased the product.

VIII. NOTES – SUPPLEMENTARY EXPLANATIONS

Note 1.
“End-user” means the natural or legal person who owns the product and has not acquired it with a view to reselling or installing it in the course of a business.

Note 2.
“First end-user” means the end-user, who first acquires the product from Duratech, a dealer or any other natural or legal person reselling or installing the product in the course of a business.

Note 3.
The guarantee may be invoked in case of a defect according to the scientific and technical knowledge at the time of the beginning of the guarantee period. The cause of the defect has to be present at the same time.

Note 4.
Any deviations between the standards valid at the purchase time (including for instance standards that form the basis of the CE-marking) and the (lawful) appearance of the product according to the relevant standards valid at the time of production are not included in defects or faults covered by the guarantee.

Note 5.
It rests with the end-user to document that the guarantee period is not expired.