Warranty Disclaimer
Duco Projects warrants its DUCO system materials to be free from defects in materials and surface finish for a period
of 10 years starting three months after the date of delivery or from the date of installation, if this occurs first. Motors
and parts that are subject to friction making them susceptible to wear and tear are backed by a limited 1 year warranty
only. This warranty only covers construction projects in European countries (other countries on request only) and in
conditions of normal use (compliant to the instructions covered in the manual, if applicable) and of normal
maintenance (see below). Warranty will decrease by 10% each year (e.g. : in the third year we offer 80% warranty).
The warranty comprises free delivery of replacement parts and on-site installation by the fitter, or in the event of
defects in surface finish, all justifiable costs associated with pre-treatment and recoating of the relevant material. The
present warranty is limited to the product as such and does not cover the installation thereof : All costs linked to
disassembly and reassembly are not covered under this warranty.
With the replacement of either the defective part or the complete system, Duco's maximum liability is reached. Under
no circumstances will Duco Projects be liable for any damage, either material or immaterial, including consequential
damages. Repaired or replaced products continue to be warranted for the remaining time of the original Warranty
Period.
The following defects in surface finish are included within the warranty.
1) In powder coating applications :
a) Disbondment (class 2, pursuant to ISO 2409), flaking, cracking and blistering ;
b) Corrosion, except for filiform corrosion : Exceptions to the exclusion of warranty will always be subject to the
express additional approval of Duco Projects (for, indeed, pre-anodising used as pre-treatment for powder
coating will ensure that filiform corrosion is also under Duco Projects’s warranty).
c) Chalking rates in excess of 4 units measured according to test standard ASTM D4214-89, referred to a
thoroughly cleaned surface
d) Levels of discolouration (colour fading) higher than the values tabulated in Qualicoat's Delta E table ; colour
differences relating to incorrect deliveries are excluded from warranty cover.
e) Gloss loss : Here, reference is made to the Qualicoat specifications (edition issued on 01/09/2009), section
2.13 “Natural weathering test”
2) In anodising applications : Corrosion
The original system may show blank edges caused by cutting lines, drilled holes, punched holes and milled holes that
were necessary when the system was fitted at our premises and/or on the initial installation. These need to be
prepared at our premises and also on-site at the time of fitting and in line with best practice in the industry and
conform to the requirements for aluminium facade elements established by the Aluminium Center Belgium and the
Belgian Federation of Metal Frame and Facade Producers (VMRG) (version valid at the time of assembly/fitting).
Typically, these blank edges will form a natural oxidation layer whose colour can best be described as “white/grey”.
Main warranty exclusions :
1. Damages resulting from intentionally, by premeditation or gross negligence ;
2. Damages resulting from the transportation of material from and to the storage area of the construction site,
resulting from an outbreak of fire (temperatures higher than 80°C), war, riots or acts of God ;
3. Failures to report damages at the latest within 8 days from the date of the discovery of the possible defect ;
4. Damages to the material caused by distortion or bending once the coating has been applied.
5. Miscellaneous damages to the finish coating resulting from :
• Contact with liquids or substances to which the top coating is not resistant such as lime, cement mortar,
sealants, solvents,…
• Normal ageing as well as wear and tear resulting from improper use ;
• Mechanical causes including deformation and/or evolution of the support surface ;
• Damages resulting from one or more galvanic couples induced by the use of alloys that are not galvanically
compatible with the substrate ;
• Major and heavy thermal shocks or impacts ;
• Friction by blunt items or objects ;
• Damages which do not affect the normal aesthetic aspect of the product ;
• Injudicious water management of the design ;
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DUCO PROJECTS n.v. , Bedrijvenlaan 2, B-8630 Veurne, Belgium - Phone +32 58 330066 - Fax +32 58 330067
info@duco.eu – VAT BE 0475 856 957 – RPR Veurne
•
6.
7.
8.
Aggressive environments including risk-prone areas (such as coastal areas up to a distance of 10 km from
the sea, industrial areas with air polluting industries,…) ; exceptions to the exclusion of warranty will always
be subject to the express additional approval of Duco Projects (for, indeed, taking certain precautions such as
pre-anodising used as pre-treatment for powder coating or class 25 anodising in accordance with the
Qualanod specifications, will ensure that filiform corrosion is also under Duco Projects’s warranty).
Products not installed as per the installation instructions provided by Duco Projects ;
Damages to the surface finish layer less than 3% of the visible surface of each façade element and/or
unobtrusive at a distance of 3m.
This warranty will be void in case the contracting party should fail to honour its payment obligations whether as to
the amount or as to the date of payment. Duco Projects reserves the right to take legal action against third
parties.
Normal cleaning :
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At least twice a year or at least four times a year when exposed to aggressive environmental conditions or
with parts that are not wetted by rain : A certificate as proof of cleaning should be submitted at any one time
for warranty purposes on surface treatment (see paragraph 2.0).
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Prior to cleaning, use a soft brush or a vacuum to remove any loose debris. Then, remove the remainder of
the debris using a cleaning detergent and lukewarm water (specific cleaning products can be obtained
through the fitter). Always rinse off well after cleaning.
‐
Avoid cleaning when systems are exposed to hot sun : The fast evaporation of water containing tensioactive
agents may leave marks. Never use solvents such as petrol, acetone,… neither alkaline or acid products, nor
aggressive scouring or abrasive methods of cleaning which include abrasive paper, abrasive pads,…
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Use only genuine manufacturer's parts.
Veurne, 24 June 2013
Duco Projects NV
Bart Debusschere
General Manager
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DUCO PROJECTS n.v. , Bedrijvenlaan 2, B-8630 Veurne, Belgium - Phone +32 58 330066 - Fax +32 58 330067
info@duco.eu – VAT BE 0475 856 957 – RPR Veurne