Improving Window and Door Thermal Performance by Neal Turner.
Modern design homes demand large windows, patio openings and doors, yet these critical components can account for 30-40% of a home’s heat loss. With soaring energy costs, environmental and sustainability issues, window and door thermal performance is a key consideration in today’s home design.
At Westeck, we continually adapt to be able to lead the way to what matters most for our customers and industry. Gone are the days when we compare ABC values to measure a window’s performance. Instead, we now look to Performance Grades for structural integrity, Pa levels for water penetration, and U Values and Solar Heat Gain Coefficients for thermal performance. Due to building movements such as R2000, Net Zero, and Passive House, and compliance standards such as the BC Energy Step Code, thermal performance is now taking centre stage and Westeck is meeting the challenge through innovation and design.
In pursuit of thermal excellence, Westeck is pleased to announce that we will be offering some of the highest performance windows, patio openers, and doors available in the market. One significant strategy to achieve improved thermal performance is to upgrade the sealed units’ gas fill from Argon to Krypton. We have conducted the thermal testing, adapted our manufacturing, and are now able to offer this feature under the name “MAX Thermal”. This will be an upgrade, and Argon will simply become “standard” in our gas fill. We will begin by offering this in our 2000 Slider, 4000/5000 Casement & Combo, 425 Patio Door/GrandView MutliSlide, and Revolution XL Euro series. MAX Thermal will provide a simple and affordable means of significantly improving our products’ thermal performance.
Krypton is a non-reactive noble gas that is colorless, odorless and is found 1 part per million in our atmosphere. While Argon gas has a conductivity of .0092, 34% lower than air, Krypton has a conductivity of .0051 which is 63% lower than air. Krypton is used in photography, light bulbs and high performance sealed units including a high profile retrofit in the Empire State building. The following chart from FDR Design, Inc shows the relation between sealed unit spacing and gas fills. Although Argon is a far more effective option over air, Krypton is best, demonstrating an approximate 10% improvement over Argon.
To learn more about MAX Thermal and how Westeck Windows and Doors can provide you high thermal performance windows, patio openings and doors, please click on the banner below to go to our website or alternatively email at sales@westeckwindows.com or call 1-877-606-1166.
