Nothing is more important when designing your home than the window & door selection. The 3 most important ‘S’ factors to consider are: Sustainability (Energy Efficiency), Style and Security. The whole character and thermal performance of your home will be decided by the choices you make at the design phase.
What are the advantages of PVC or Timber versus aluminum for windows?
Energy Ratings
The performance of a window is measured by its U-value, the amount of heat loss or gain through a material. The lower the number the better the insulation of the material. Tests using this common measure repeatedly show that u-PVC and Timber out performs Aluminium. The following table shows results calculated by WERS A single or double glazed u-PVc or Timber framed window performs better than a single or double glazed aluminium framed window. 2009 WERS Certified Products Directory – AFRC
Notes
- Uw is the whole window U-value
- SHGCw is the whole window solar heat gain coefficient
- Tvw is the whole window visible (light) transmittance
- Percentage improvement figures are compared with using base-case
- Generic Window 1 (3mm clear in standard aluminium frame)
- A negative percentage improvement figure indicates performance worse than the base-case window
- A positive percentage improvement figure indicates performance better than the base-case window
- Maximum air infiltration is 5.0L/s.m2 at a positive pressure difference of 75 Pa as measured according to AS 2047
- Static performance (Uw SHGCw Tvw Tdw) calculated using Window 5.2 and Therm 5.2 software (LBNL), 2000-2003
- Annual energy performance (stars and % improvements) calculated using Nationwide House Energy Rating Software (AccuRate) according to procedures of WERS 2008.10. Results disclosed at National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) regulations.
- Comparative Insulation Values of Different Framing Types Cool% Heat% Total Window – NFRC
Comparative Insulation Values of Different Framing Types
KEY: Cool% Heat% Total Window – NFRC
| Window ID Glazing Cooling Stars Heating Stars Uw SHGC Tvw Air Inf. WERS Generic Standard Industry Typical Aluminium Window – Single Glazed |
WERS Generic Standard Industry Typical Timber Window – Single Glazed | WERS Generic Standard Industry Typical uPVC Window – Single Glazed |
|---|---|---|
| WER-03-001 3Clr 0% -5% 7.7 0.78 0.75 5.00 | WER-03-002 3Clr 21% 24% 5.5 0.69 0.72 5.00 | WER-03-002 3Clr 21% 24% 5.5 0.69 0.72 5.00 |
| WER-03-003 6.38LE 37% 11% 5.8 0.48 0.49 5.00 | WER-03-005 6.38LE 52% 33% 3.7 0.41 0.47 5.00 | WER-03-005 6.38LE 52% 33% 3.7 0.41 0.47 5.00 |
| WER-03-015 5Toned 21% -13% 7.7 0.57 0.41 5.00 | WER-03-016 5Toned 38% 16% 5.4 0.50 0.39 5.00 | WER-03-016 5Toned 38% 16% 5.4 0.50 0.39 5.00 |
| WER-03-017 5SuperToned 24% -15% 7.7 0.53 0.62 5.00 | WER-03-018 5SuperToned 40% 15% 5.4 0.47 0.59 5.00 | WER-03-018 5SuperToned 40% 15% 5.4 0.47 0.59 5.00 |
| WERS Generic Standard Industry Typical Fibreglass Window – Single Glazed | WERS Generic Standard Industry Typical Aluminium Window – Double Glazed | WERS Generic Standard Industry Typical Timber Window – Double Glazed |
|---|---|---|
| WER-03-002 3Clr 21% 24% 5.5 0.69 0.72 5.00 | WER-03-006 3/6/3 21% 26% 5.4 0.69 0.68 5.00 | WER-03-008 3/6/3 38% 47% 3.3 0.61 0.65 5.00MATERIAL |
| WER-03-005 6.38LE 52% 33% 3.7 0.41 0.47 5.00 | WER-03-009 3/12/3 22% 31% 5.0 0.69 0.68 5.00 | |
| WER-03-016 5Toned 38% 16% 5.4 0.50 0.39 5.00 | WER-03-012 3/12/4LE 31% 41% 4.0 0.65 0.62 5.00 | |
| WER-03-018 5SuperToned 40% 15% 5.4 0.47 0.59 5.00 | WER-03-019 5SuperToned/6/5 40% 16% 5.3 0.47 0.36 5.00 |
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