The aluminum profile decides everything in a winter garden: Tatprof TP-50 vs. Schüco AWS 90

Why the profile matters more than the glass

A typical mistake when discussing a winter garden: the client focuses on the insulated glass unit specs and overlooks the profile. Yet the profile accounts for 30–45% of the structure's cost, 100% of its load-bearing capacity and up to 40% of heat loss through thermal bridges. A thermal break in the profile (a polyamide strip between the chambers) is the key parameter for year-round use.

A profile without a thermal break at −26°C: the inner surface of the frame drops to −5 to −8°C — condensation and ice are guaranteed. A profile with a thermal break (e.g. TP-50 or Schüco AWS 90): the inner surface stays at +10 to +14°C under the same conditions, with no condensation.

Tatprof TP-50: a Russian-made system

Tatprof TP-50 is a Russian system (Tatprof PJSC, Naberezhnye Chelny), developed in the 2010s as a replacement for entry- and mid-range imported profiles.

TP-50 specifications:

• Profile width (installation depth): 50 mm
• Thermal break: PA 66 GF25 polyamide strip, 14 mm
• Ψ (linear thermal transmittance): 0.038–0.042 W/(m·K)
• Maximum mullion span: 3.5 m with an IGU up to 70 kg/m²
• Allowable infill thickness: 24–52 mm
• Profile price: RUB 850–1,200 per linear meter (depending on the item)
• Finished structure price: RUB 12,000–18,000/m² (installed)

Schüco AWS 90: the premium segment

Schüco AWS 90 (Aluminium Window System, 90 mm depth) is a premium-class German system used in commercial construction and high-end private projects.

AWS 90 specifications:

• Installation depth: 90 mm
• Thermal break: two PA 66 GF25 strips with a combined width of 26 mm
• Ψ: 0.028–0.032 W/(m·K)
• Maximum mullion span: 6.0 m with properly calculated reinforcement
• Allowable infill thickness: 24–80 mm (compatible with triple glazing)
• Profile price: RUB 2,400–3,800 per linear meter
• Finished structure price: RUB 28,000–42,000/m² (installed)

Key parameters compared: a table

When to choose Tatprof, and when Schüco

Tatprof TP-50 is a good fit if:

• The budget is limited and the project is private
• Spans do not exceed 3–3.5 m
• The IGU is double-chamber, up to 50 mm thick
• Speed matters: Russian stock, 2–4-week delivery

Schüco AWS 90 is justified if:

• Spans exceed 4 m (commercial project, large winter garden)
• A triple-glazed unit is required (thickness >56 mm)
• It is a premium-class project with strict aesthetic requirements for the profile
• There are stringent energy-efficiency requirements (passive house, LEED)

On QUARTZ ECO projects we use both profiles depending on the brief. Our firm position: we do not install non-thermally-broken profiles on year-round winter gardens — regardless of the contract price.