Overseas windows and doors

This article outlines the issues of buying building materials from overseas.  Please find time to read it.

I can't stress strongly enough why it is important to buy Australian.  If you can't afford it this year, then save up and buy Australian next year.  You not only support the Australian economy but you know that the products that you buy are compliant and meet the Australian Standard.

Imagine a child going through a glass unit that isn't toughened correctly.  It could be life threatening.

We recently pulled out 3 year old Chinese windows and doors from a new home in Franklin because the client wanted to save money.  It cost him double on what it would have cost during the build.  Please think about where you buy from.

www.solacecreations.com.au
www.awa.org.au

Window Testing in Australia

 Window Energy Rating System

The Window Energy Rating System was established in 1995 to give ratings and standards to windows and doors in Australia. 

Windows and doors sold in Australia have to be tested to our harsh climate.  Ratings can be found on Wers.net under residential certified products.  Below is a sample of Inframe Glazing Systems Ratings.

There are three ways that windows and doors are tested:  testing at an independent facility (the best), computer simulated (next best) and using overseas or other manufacturers ratings.  It is clear on the ratings what has been used to test the windows.  Those that use other's ratings have it noted as generic on the title.  Those that have computer simulated often have an air infiltration rating of 0.5.

What do the ratings mean?

Uw is the rate of heat loss of a window assembly.  The lower the uValue the better its insulating properties.  The best rating is using the whole window.  Ratings range from 2.0 to 10.0.  Uw is the whole window, UC centre of glass and UF is frame.
 
SHGC – how well a product blocks the heat caused by sunlight. The fraction of incident solar radiation admitted through a window, both directly and absorbed and released inward.  Between 0 and 1.  Lower the rating the less solar heat gain. 

VT – how much light comes in through the window. between 0 and 1 – the higher the rating the more light comes through


Air infiltration (leakage) on a test report. The lower the air infiltration figure the less air will pass through cracks in the window or door assembly.

 

How is the testing done?

  AS 2047 performance test is undertaken at an independent facility

It is the mandatory minimum specification for windows and doors used in Australia it includes compliance to the Glass Standard AS 1288. 
 
The following performance tests are undertaken to verify product performance claims.
 
AS 4420.2 Deflection Test - positive and negative wind pressures are applied to the face of the window to test the maximum deflection under wind load.
AS 4420.3 Operating Force Test - to verify that an opening sash is capable of opening and closing without undue effort.
AS 4420.4 Air Infiltration Test - the air leakage of a window is tested to ensure energy and acoustic efficiency.
AS 4420.5 Water Penetration Resistance Test - this test is designed to ensure no water leaks through the window into the building.
AS 4420.6 Ultimate Strength Test - negative and positive wind pressures are applied to the window to at least 1.5 times the design wind pressure to ensure it does not fail in unusual wind conditions.

 

 

Before you buy any window or door, ask the supplier to see evidence of these tests.  This will give you an assurance that you are buying windows and doors suitable for our climate.

 

 Information from wers.net, awa.org.au

Building a Better Home in Canberra

How to get started - the Block

Building a home from the very early planning stage provides you with the best opportunity to live in a home that saves you money in heating and cooling, has awesome comfort levels and reduces your impact on the environment.

Where you chose to build your home will have an impact of how much you can achieve with smart planning.  The block is very important and ideally should allow you to place most of your living areas facing north.  Many of Canberra's blocks are not subdivided in a way that you can always achieve this aim.  If you get first dibs on a block, make sure you can make the most of the north.

Your budget will play a large role in what you can afford and you will need to be creative in your planning to ensure that you can achieve the desired home within your budget.

Orientation of your home is the most important step to utilising the sun's energy and the block will either help or hinder your success.

When selecting your block you should consider:

• is it well oriented? rectangular blocks with the long side facing north let you get more use of the "free" sun.  Ideally the long side of the house (with windows to the main living areas) face between 5 degrees east of the compass north and 30 degrees west of north.
• do you really need a massive home?  Consider a size suited to your family without the traditional formal lounge and dining that most people don't use.  Tailor the house to your expected family size.  You will use less energy to heat and cool the home;
• go to the block at various times of the day and see what shading comes across the block from neighbouring homes and trees.  This will need to be factored into your planning;
• does the block slope?  Can you maximise the block and build within the ACTPLA restrictions? Are there easements that need to be kept clear?
• what is the outdoor space like?  how does the family live now? Do they use the yard a lot?
• Is it possible to build an extension on later when your family grows?
• Will you get the required privacy from your neighbours and the street?

If you are able to focus on this part of the process then the rest of the process will flow nicely.  An energy efficient home does not have to blow your budget, the trick is to plan it properly and go in with your eyes open and do your research.

The next blog will focus on the right home for energy efficiency.

Come and see us at our Super Showroom at 17 Townsville Street FYSHWICK or www.solacecreations.com.au

Bibliography: 

Selecting a greener, better house with lower running costs and saving the environment 2008

ACTPLA Guide to Good Design 2004

Energy Efficient Windows in Canberra

Windows have traditionally been treated as just any another building material.  They are sourced as cheaply as possible and the same traditional style is put into the design and the build.  What a lot of builders, architects and home owners don't take into account is that they provide a massive opportunity to improve the insulation of the home.  

They provide light into the home along with fresh air but they also provide the opportunity to save heat loss in winter and heat gain in summer.  The frames play just an important part of the insulation process as the glass.  These are the best frame materials for energy efficient homes:

1. uPVC frames
2. Timber frames
3. Thermally broken aluminium frames

Combine the insulated frames with double glazed units and you will experience comfort, cheaper energy bills and still have light coming into your home.

Australia has a wide range of Climate Classes.  Canberra is a heating climate and is in Zone 7.  In Canberra we want to draw the sun into our home and then trap it there to benefit from free solar heating.  In summer we want to keep the heat out but be able to open our windows to benefit from the air flow.

In Canberra we want our windows to have a low U-value and high solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) (see below).  It is important to ensure that each window and elevation (N,S,E and W) are considered to ensure they let the sun in during winter and keep the sun out during summer.  www.wers.net show the ratings of all rated windows and you should consider these when selecting your windows and doors.  Solace Creations provides a wonderful advisory service on new plans and existing homes to help you to select the best windows for your home www.solacecreations.com.au.

When you are building a new home or extending an existing home, ACT Government requires that a glazing calculator is completed or an energy audit to make sure that the required star rating is achieved.  The U-value and SHGC are important factors for the calculations and can be found on www.wers.net or from your window supplier.

What is a U-value

Wall insulation such as batts have an R-value rating.  This best batts for insulation is as high a rating as possible.  Windows and doors have U-values and for Canberra you want a low rating.  The U-value is a measurement on how well the windows and doors prevent heat from escaping.  Ratings can be from 2.0 to 10.  This should include the frame, glass, seals and spacers.  If a window such as ours has a U-value of 1.8, that means that 1.8 watts per metre is lost per hour.  Some aluminium windows are rated at 5.8. This shows that those windows lose heat much quicker than those with a lower U-value.  You can double glaze standard aluminium but the frame will still leak a lot of your heat.

What is Solar Heat Gain Co-efficent (SHGC)?

SHGC is a measure on how well the windows and doors block heat caused by sunlight.  This measure is a combination of how much sun is directly transmitted towards the window, absorbed by the window and ultimately released inwardly.  The SHGC is a number between 0 and 1.  The lower the number, the less heat it transmits.  The low ratings are excellent for the west side, however, you need to remember that if you have a low SHGC in summer, it will also be a low SHGC in winter meaning that you won't get as much of that lovely afternoon sun through your windows and doors in winter.  You can't beat natural shading from a tree or an awning for the summer westerly sun.

Orientation

Nothing beats perfect orientation and more aspects of energy efficient homes will be discussed in further blogs.  If you orient your home correctly, seal up the whole building envelope with insulation (including windows and doors) then you will not have to rely on heating or airconditioning.  This will save you $$$ on your bills and you are contributing to our planet.

Picture source:  www.wers.net

17 Townsville Street Fyshwick www.solacecreations.com.au

Insulation Ratings of your Windows and Doors

Window Energy Rating System (WERS)

WERS was established in 1995. WERS provides ratings and labels for windows and doors just like your fridge or washing machine is labelled.  The ratings show their annual energy impact on the home in any Australian climate.  They show how well the heat is kept in your home and how much sun gets through the windows and doors.  The give you guidance on particular sides of your home and how to maximise and minimise the sun and your insulation.

To get a rating, window manufacturers must have their windows and doors tested through an independent accredited rating organisation and the Australian tests are very stringent compared to the USA, Europe or the UK. 

It is important that the windows and doors that you are purchasing have been rated for the Australian climate.  There are many companies selling imported windows and doors that have not been tested for this harsh climate.  You are making a large investment, please make sure that the investment is sound and based on testing.  We have seen white windows go yellow very quickly as they were not UV stabilised.  Ask the company you are buying from for their test results or ratings.

WERS is independent and is a fair, rigorous and credible systems for testing performance claims.  All WERS rated windows meet or exceed the relevant Australian Standard. Members of WERS participate in an annual audit to ensure that quality control is maintained.  WERS members can be found on www.wers.net/Certified-Products-Residential.

The home owner benefits from WERS ratings as the amount of stars adds to an increased home resale value, provides a comfortable home and assurance that they are the right ratings for your elevations and rooms.

If you want assurance of your purchase, don't risk your investment by dealing with a supplier that hasn't had their products tested.  All of Solace Creations' windows and doors have been tested by WERS and you can be guaranteed by their performance and quality.

Information obtained from www.wers.net.