Are PVC Shutters Safe?
Yes. Our PVC plantation shutters are designed for use inside the home and are certified VOC free. We take the materials used in an interior product seriously because plantation shutters sit inside bedrooms, living areas, kitchens and other spaces you use every day. Our shutters have been independently tested, with no Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) detected under the test conditions, and the product has also been assessed against restricted-substance requirements. It is essential to distinguish our tested shutter product from PVC products in general. PVC can be manufactured using different formulations, additives, paints and production processes, so the safety and emissions performance of one PVC product should not automatically be assumed to apply to every other PVC product.
Covered on this page
- What are VOCs?
- Our shutters are certified VOC free
- Why independent testing matters
- No VOCs detected
- Restricted substances and RoHS
- What about the paint and finish?
- PVC doesn’t automatically mean unsafe
- Are PVC shutters suitable for bedrooms and living areas?
- Are PVC shutters suitable for kitchens and bathrooms?
- What about children and pets?
- Why we chose this PVC shutter
- Can I see the testing or certification?
- The bottom line
What are VOCs?
VOC stands for Volatile Organic Compound.
VOCs are organic compounds that can evaporate into the surrounding air under normal indoor conditions. They can be released from some paints, coatings, adhesives, plastics, furnishings and other household products.
Not every VOC presents the same risk and not every material releases meaningful quantities of VOCs. What matters for an interior product is the formulation and emissions performance of the finished product.
This is why we believe actual product testing is more useful than merely making assumptions according to the word “PVC”.
Our shutters are certified VOC free
Our PVC plantation shutters are certified VOC free.
The shutters have been independently tested and no VOCs were detected under the testing conditions. This gives clients a much clearer basis for assessing the finished product than relying on a broad claim about PVC as a material.
The certification and testing relate to the shutter product and its material/finish system, including the components and coatings used to create the finished interior shutter.
For clients concerned about indoor air quality, this is one of the reasons we are comfortable recommending our PVC shutters for normal residential interior use.
Why independent testing matters
PVC isn’t a single universal formulation.
Different manufacturers can use different raw materials, stabilisers, pigments, additives, paints and surface finishes. Manufacturing quality and quality-control standards can also vary significantly.
For that reason, it would be misleading to say that every PVC shutter on the market has the same emissions profile.
We have focused on the performance of the actual shutter we supply. Independent testing provides evidence about the finished product instead of asking clients to rely only on a marketing statement.
No VOCs detected
The independent testing of our PVC shutters found no detectable Volatile Organic Compounds under the test conditions.
This is the important distinction behind our VOC-free claim.
Rather than merely saying that PVC can be suitable for use in the home, we can point to testing of the product itself.
As with any laboratory result, “no VOCs detected” relates to the test method and its detection limits. It should not be interpreted as a universal statement about every PVC product manufactured by every supplier.
Restricted substances and RoHS
The shutter materials have also been assessed against restricted-substance requirements associated with the RoHS framework.
RoHS provides a recognised framework for restricting nominated hazardous substances in manufactured products.
The testing described for our shutters found them compliant with the applicable restricted-substance requirements referenced in the assessment.
Together with the VOC testing, this gives clients additional confidence about the materials used in the finished shutter.
What about the paint and finish?
The safety of a plantation shutter isn’t determined by the base PVC alone.
Surface coatings, pigments and other materials used during manufacture also matter because these are part of the finished product that sits inside the home.
Our supplier and product specification have been nominated with this in mind. The testing relates to the finished product instead of merely the raw PVC material before it is manufactured and finished.
That is especially important for a painted-look interior product that may remain in the home for many years.
PVC doesn’t automatically mean unsafe
There is a lot of general information online about PVC, and it is straightforward for discussions about industrial PVC production, unsuitable formulations or unrelated PVC products to be applied to every product carrying the same material name.
That isn’t a useful way to assess an interior plantation shutter.
The important questions are:
- What formulation is being used?
- What additives and finishes are present?
- Has the finished product been independently tested?
- What did the testing detect?
- Is the product being used for the application it was designed for?
For our shutters, those questions are addressed through the product specification and independent testing.
Are PVC shutters suitable for bedrooms and living areas?
Yes. Our PVC plantation shutters are designed for residential interior use, including bedrooms, living areas and other everyday rooms in the home.
Their VOC-free certification is especially applicable in these spaces because it provides reassurance about emissions from a product that remains permanently fitted indoors.
As with any interior furnishing, shutters should be fitted and maintained in accordance with the product instructions.
Are PVC shutters suitable for kitchens and bathrooms?
PVC is especially workable in kitchens and bathrooms because the material is waterproof and straightforward to clean.
Unlike natural timber, PVC doesn’t absorb water in the same way, which makes it well suited to humidity and occasional splashes inside the home.
Our PVC louvres also contain internal aluminium reinforcement to add rigidity and help resist bowing.
Waterproof doesn’t mean exterior-rated, however. Our PVC plantation shutters are intended for interior use only and should not be fitted outside the home where they would be continuously exposed to outdoor weather.
What about children and pets?
Plantation shutters don’t rely on the loose operating cords often associated with some traditional blinds, which can make them a clean and clear window-furnishing option in family homes.
The louvres are operated directly through the shutter mechanism, and the hard PVC surface is straightforward to wipe clean.
As with any fitted furnishing, panels and hardware should be fitted properly and children should not be allowed to climb or hang from the shutter.
Why we chose this PVC shutter
We did not select PVC merely because it is economical.
For a painted interior plantation shutter, it provides an excellent combination of workable benefits:
- Certified VOC-free product.
- Independently tested with no VOCs detected under the test conditions.
- Waterproof PVC surface.
- Internal aluminium reinforcement.
- Resistance to moisture.
- Easy cleaning.
- Consistent painted finished look.
- Strong suitability for kitchens, bathrooms and family homes.
When a client wants a white or neutral shutter, these workable advantages are also why we typically recommend aluminium-reinforced PVC over painted timber.
Timber remains the better choice where you specifically want a stained finish and visible natural wood grain.
The bottom line
Our PVC plantation shutters are certified VOC free and have been independently tested with no VOCs detected under the testing conditions.
They are designed for normal residential interior use and combine a waterproof PVC exterior with internal aluminium reinforcement for strength and stability.
We can’t make the same claim for every PVC shutter produced by every manufacturer, which is why product-specific testing matters.
For clients selecting a painted plantation shutter, our tested aluminium-reinforced PVC provides a durable, moisture-resistant and straightforward-to-maintain option that we are comfortable supplying for use throughout the interior of the home.
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