uPVC Window Hinge DGS Elite uPVC Friction Stay Pair

DGS Elite Friction Stay Window Hinges 18mm Track — Top & Side Hung uPVC, Timber & Aluminium

Genuine DGS Elite friction stay window hinges — BSI & BBA approved, Secured by Design accredited, 18mm track. Sold as a matched pair for uPVC, timber & aluminium windows.

DGS Elite Friction Stay Window Hinges are the precise replacement pair for worn, seized, or broken friction stays on uPVC, timber, or aluminium windows. If your window has dropped on its hinges, won't stay open in a breeze, or has become stiff and noisy, replacing the friction stays restores smooth, controlled opening and a tight weather seal — at a fraction of the cost of a full window replacement. Available in six lengths (8"/209mm, 10"/259mm, 12"/310mm, 16"/412mm, 20"/513mm and 24"/615mm) with a choice of 13mm or 17mm stack heights, and side-hung options in the 12" and 16" sizes.

Manufactured from ferritic stainless steel for long-term corrosion resistance, these hinges carry BSI and BBA approval and are Secured by Design accredited — meaning they meet the police-preferred standard for resisting forced entry. They also fully comply with Document Q of the Building Regulations, making them a suitable specification for new dwellings as well as straight replacement work.

Key Benefits for uPVC, Timber & Aluminium Window Owners:

• Restores Smooth, Controlled Opening – Replacing tired friction stays eliminates the stiffness, dropping, and squeaking that comes with worn hinges, so your windows open and hold position properly again — without paying for a full window replacement.
• Secured by Design Accredited – Independently tested and approved to the police-preferred security standard, giving you genuine reassurance that your windows are harder to force from the outside.
• BSI & BBA Approved Quality – Passes the most rigorous independent quality and durability testing in the UK industry, so you're fitting hardware that's built to last — not a cheap aftermarket copy.
• Ferritic Stainless Steel Construction – Resists rust and corrosion in damp, coastal, and exposed locations, keeping the hinges working reliably for years rather than seizing up after a few winters.
• Improved Weather Tightness – Worn hinges allow sashes to sit unevenly in the frame, letting draughts and rain past the seals. New friction stays pull the sash square against the gasket again, cutting draughts and helping reduce heating bills.
• Rated for Sash Weights up to 26kg – Each size carries a specific maximum sash weight rating, from 12kg on the 8" stay up to 26kg on the 24". Matching the right size to your sash protects the hinge from overload and extends its working life.
• Fits uPVC, Timber & Aluminium Frames – The 18mm track width is the industry standard fitted to the vast majority of UK double-glazed windows, so one product covers most replacement jobs across mixed window types in the same property.
• Fully Handed for Easy Fitting – Each pair contains a left and right hinge, ready to fit straight out of the box — no guesswork, no separate ordering by hand.
• Document Q Compliant – Meets the current Building Regulations security requirement for new dwellings, making these stays suitable for both repair work and new-build specification.
• Sold as a Matched Pair – Friction stays should always be replaced in pairs to keep the sash properly aligned and the friction balanced — one pair is exactly what one window needs.

How to Measure Your Hinges:

Getting the right friction stay is essential — the wrong size will not pull the sash square against the seals and will fail prematurely. Please refer to the measurement diagrams in the image gallery and check the following four points before ordering:

• A — Hanging type: Is your existing hinge top hung (window opens outward from the top) or side hung (window opens outward from the side)? Side-hung versions are available in 12" and 16" sizes only.
• B — Hinge length: Measure the metal track that fixes to the outer window frame (not the sash). Available lengths are 8" (209mm), 10" (259mm), 12" (310mm), 16" (412mm), 20" (513mm) and 24" (615mm). Match your existing hinge length exactly.
• C — Track width: Measure the width of the metal track that fixes to the outer frame. These hinges are 18mm wide, which fits the vast majority of UK uPVC, timber, and aluminium windows. Very old windows occasionally use a 14mm track — if yours measures 14mm, this hinge will not fit and you will need a 14mm alternative.
• D — Stack height: With the window closed, measure the total thickness of the hinge from the frame plate to the sash plate. Stack heights are 13mm or 17mm — the 4mm difference is usually visible by eye, but measuring confirms it.

If you're unsure on any measurement, please contact us before ordering — we'd rather spend five minutes helping you identify the right hinge than have you fit the wrong one.

Product Specifications:

• Brand: DGS
• Product: Elite Friction Stay Window Hinge (Pair)
• Material: Ferritic Stainless Steel
• Track Width: 18mm
• Available Lengths: 8" (209mm), 10" (259mm), 12" (310mm), 16" (412mm), 20" (513mm), 24" (615mm)
• Available Stack Heights: 13mm or 17mm
• Hanging Options: Top Hung (all sizes); Side Hung (12" and 16" only)
• Max Sash Weight Range: 12kg (8" stay) to 26kg (24" stay) — see size guide for individual ratings
• Max Opening Angle Range: 38° (24" stay) to 85° (10", 12", 16" stays) — see size guide for individual angles
• Handing: Fully handed pair (one left, one right)
• Suitable For: uPVC, timber, and aluminium window frames
• Approvals: BSI Approved, BBA Approved, Secured by Design Accredited
• Compliance: Fully complies with Document Q
• Sold As: Matched pair (one window's worth)

All measurements are approximate. Please measure your existing hinges carefully against the four points above before ordering — if you're unsure which size you need, please contact us and we'll be happy to help.

Pro Tips:

Pro Tip: Always replace friction stays in pairs, even if only one looks worn. A new hinge paired with an old one will work against each other — the new hinge does all the holding while the old one continues to drop, putting uneven load on the sash and shortening the life of the new stay. Replacing both at once is a five-minute job that keeps the sash properly aligned and the seals compressed evenly.

Package Contents:

• 1 × Pair of DGS Elite Friction Stay Window Hinges (in selected size, stack height, and hanging type)

Frequently Asked Questions:

Will these hinges fit my uPVC window?
These are 18mm track width hinges, which is the industry standard fitted to the vast majority of UK uPVC, timber, and aluminium windows. To confirm fit, measure the track width of your existing hinge (the metal section fixed to the outer frame) — if it measures 18mm, these are correct. If it measures 14mm, you will need a 14mm alternative as these will not fit.

What's the difference between 13mm and 17mm stack height?
Stack height is the total thickness of the hinge when the window is closed, measured from the outer frame plate to the sash plate. The 4mm difference is small but critical — a mismatched stack height will leave the sash sitting proud of the frame or pulled too tight against the seal. Measure your existing hinge closed, then match the figure to either 13mm or 17mm.

How do I know if I need top hung or side hung?
Look at how your window currently opens. If the bottom of the sash swings outward and the top stays attached, you need top hung. If one side of the sash swings outward and the opposite side stays attached, you need side hung. Side hung is available in 12" and 16" lengths only; all other sizes are top hung.

How do I know if my sash is too heavy for a given size?
Each size has a maximum sash weight: 12kg for the 8", 16kg for the 10", 21kg for the 12" top hung (22kg side hung), 22kg for the 16" top hung (24kg side hung), 24kg for the 20", and 26kg for the 24". If your existing hinge has been failing prematurely, the sash may have been overloading it — check the weight rating against your sash before choosing a size.

Do I need to replace both hinges or just the broken one?
Always replace both. Friction stays work as a balanced pair — fitting a new hinge alongside a worn one puts uneven load on the sash and causes the new stay to wear out far quicker than it should. These are sold as a matched pair for exactly this reason: one pair fits one window.

Are these the genuine DGS Elite hinges?
Yes — these are genuine DGS Elite friction stays carrying full BSI, BBA, and Secured by Design accreditation. Cheaper unbranded copies are widely available, but they are not independently tested and rarely meet the security or durability standards of the genuine product.

Why Choose the DGS Elite Friction Stay Window Hinges?

When friction stays fail, the temptation is to buy the cheapest pair available and hope they last. The DGS Elite Friction Stay is the opposite of that gamble — independently tested by BSI and BBA, accredited by Secured by Design, and built from ferritic stainless steel that holds up to British weather. For the small extra outlay over an unbranded copy, you get hinges that will outlast the windows they're fitted to, restore proper weather sealing, and meet the current Building Regulations security standard.

At JCP Hardware we've been supplying genuine uPVC window and door replacement parts to homeowners and the trade for over 30 years. If you're unsure about size, stack height, or hanging type before ordering, get in touch — we'd rather help you get it right first time than process a return.