DURAFLEX LOOKS AT HOW THE NEW CODE FOR SUSTAINABLE HOUSING WILL AFFECT WINDOW SPECIFIERS AND WHAT MANUFACTURERS CAN DO TO GUIDE THEM IN CHOOSING THE RIGHT PRODUCT.
The Government has set a target of zero carbon emissions for all new homes by 2016 and has instigated a package of measures to encourage house builders to reach this target. In April 2007 the Code for Sustainable Homes (CSH) replaced Ecohomes for the assessment of new housing in England. CSH is an environmental assessment method for new homes and contains mandatory performance levels in seven key areas. It aims to protect the environment by providing guidance on the construction of high performance homes built with sustainability in mind. In May 2006, new Document L Building Regulations also came into force that laid down specific criteria for the energy efficiency of certain building materials, including door and window products.
Impact
So how do these new initiatives impact on window specification? And what questions should specifiers be asking their manufacturer?
“In terms of windows, manufacturers need to let specifiers know what features of their products will help the house builder and developer make their buildings more eco-friendly and meet the guidelines,” says Dave Riley, Quality Services Manager for Duraflex, which is part of the Masco UK Windows Group. “Specifiers also need to know how the new Building Regulations will affect their choice of window products.”
New regulations
The revisions to Document L cover the construction of new dwellings (houses) and non-domestic buildings, such as offices and public buildings. In addition, work on existing housing, such as replacement windows installed as home improvements and conservatories not separated from the house are also covered.
“Products now have to meet a certain thermal performance or U-value. In the case of windows, it’s the combination of frame and glass that is studied,” explains Dave Riley.
“Both Duraflex 65mm and 70mm suites exceed part L requirements. Specifiers need to ask their manufacturer if their own products meet these standards. Likewise manufacturers need to make customers aware of the product’s performance,” says Dave.
THE BRITISH FENESTRATION RATING COUNCIL (BFRC) IS A GOVERNMENTBACKED INITIATIVE SET UP TO ENHANCE THE ENERGY PERFORMANCE OF BUILDINGS. IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE UK GLAZING INDUSTRY AND EUROPEAN PARTNERS, IT HAS DEVELOPED A WINDOW ENERGY RATING (WER) TO ASSESS THE PERFORMANCE OF DOMESTIC WINDOWS. THE BFRC RATING OPERATES ON AN A TO G SCALE, FAMILIAR TO THE PUBLIC ON WHITE GOODS. TYPICALLY, A CURRENT DOUBLE GLAZED UNIT IN THE UK WOULD COMPARE TO AN E RATING.
However, Duraflex has introduced an extensive range of windows that achieves the performance levels of A, B and C rated windows. *
“While A rated windows are the ultimate, they tend to be very cost prohibitive compared to the realistic gains in efficiency that can be achieved from a C rated window which is much more affordable. In truth the additional efficiency from a grade C to a grade A is minimal,” said Dave Riley.
Within each energy grouping, Duraflex offer two options – a standard option to fully meet the requirements of the BFRC rating and an enhanced option, using the new range of sealed units featuring the ground breaking Pilkington energiKare range of glass. This glass reduces the amount of energy used within the relevant rating group.
Issues
Specifiers need to be aware of some of the ‘tricks’ being used to achieve ‘A’ ratings, these include the use of non-metal reinforcements that can only be used for windows up to limited sizes and/or the use of ‘slim’ outerframes. Whilst these achieve the desired results theoretically, the use of ‘slim’ frames is not always practicable without the use of additional extensions which are not taken into account in assessing the relevant thermal performance; they add cost and are not always aesthetically pleasing.
Duraflex has simulated the Duraflex Diamond Suite at the BBA until recently when it obtained ‘Approved Simulator’ status and now carries out its own investigations in-house using ‘standard’ sections.
