Premier Window’s Model 6500 - The right choice!

The NFRC Label - What do those numbers mean?

Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC). Why is it important?

What is U-Factor?

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Premier Window’s Model 6500 - The right choice!

December 8, 2008

Why choose the best?

Premier Window offers a variety of window styles.  Along with style, energy and feature performance are critical to your decision of which windows to purchase.  The model 6500 offers all the features you need with major upgrades in performance.  Utilizing PPG’s Intercept technology, the 6500 delivers reduced interior condensation, reduced heat loss, improved insulating glass unit life, and superior control of glass temperature.

Insulating Glass Systems

Choosing the right window includes choosing the right insulating glass unit, which will determine most of a window’s energy performance. An insulating glass unit is comprised of two (or three) panes of glass and the insulating air space between them.

PPG’s Intercept system, with “warm-edge” spacers, features a unique, one-piece, tin-plated or stainless steel, U-channel design. This design creates an effective thermal barrier to help reduce conducted heat loss through the window and makes Intercept spacers stronger and better at retaining insulating gas than many conventional designs.

PPG has been an industry leader in the development and production of insulating glass since the late 1940s, when Twindow® Insulating Glass was introduced. PPG’s commitment to ongoing research and development has provided the technical expertise required for the introduction of prior PPG insulating glass brands such as: Weatherpane® and Twindow products as well as our glass-edged Twindow XI insulating glass units.

Features and Benefits

1. Reduced Interior Condensation

Intercept® insulating glass units reduce condensation problems around the window perimeter. Compare the Intercept insulating glass window on the left with a conventional insulating glass window on the right. Both windows have low-e glass and argon infill. The difference is the Intercept “warm-edge” spacer.

With Intercept® Spacer With Aluminum Spacer
Conditions:
Cold side temperature=0°F
Room side temperature=72°F
Room side relative humidity=25%

2. Reduced Heat Loss

Intercept spacers are so energy efficient they keep the edges of the window glass warmer, so your home feels more comfortable in the winter. As you can see below, the temperature difference can be dramatic.

Intercept Insulating Glass Unit Conventional Insulating Glass Unit

This thermograph or “heat picture” compares room side glass temperature for an Intercept insulating glass unit (left: yellow is warmer; blue is cooler) and a conventional unit (right). Because the Intercept glass technology allows for significantly warmer glass temperature, especially at the edges, your home will feel more comfortable.

3. Improved Insulating Glass Unit Life

Less condensation means:

  • Fewer stains or less damage to windows or walls.
  • Higher allowable relative humidity indoors/less annoying static electricity.
  • Better clarity of view.

Under normal weather conditions, insulating glass units expand and contract with temperature changes. In conventional insulating glass units, sealant takes the stress of the flexing, which can cause seal failure and insulating gas loss.

With Intercept glass technology, the spacers flex—instead of the sealant—to resist spacer movement and sealant failure.

With conventional aluminum spacers, the sealant must flex, which can lead to sealant failure and loss of insulation ability.

4. Warmer Glass Temperature
Warmer glass temperature means:

  • Better insulating value (89% higher R-value).
  • Lower energy bills.
  • Fewer drafts, improved comfort.

Intercept® Insulating Glass Performance Comparisons

Compare the performance of windows using the Intercept insulating glass technology versus conventional insulating glass aluminum spacers. Intercept windows provide warmer indoor glass temperatures and lower U-values/higher insulation performance.

Window Unit Performance Comparison:
Intercept Insulating Glass Unit vs. Conventional Insulating Glass Unit

Window Unit Performance Comparison-Intercept® I.G. Unit vs. Conventional I.G. Unit

PPG Intercept®  Steel
Plated Spacer

Conventional Aluminum Spacer
Center-of-Glass U-Value

0.24

0.24
Emissivity (Solarban® 60* Solar Control Low-E glass)

0.04

0.04
Edge U-Value

0.34

0.45
Window U-Value (overall)

0.28

0.31

Minimum Indoor Glass Temperature at Bottom Frame

37°F

32°F

Conditions: 2.5mm glass thickness, 1/2″ air space (argon gas fill), Solarban® 60 Solar Control Low-E glass, 0°F outside-15 mph wind, 70°F inside, 24″ x 48″ vinyl casement.

*Formerly Sungate 1000 Low-E Glass.

Posted by tmadej | Filed Under Cleveland, Energy, Windows | Leave a Comment 

The NFRC Label - What do those numbers mean?

December 8, 2008

The National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) energy performance label can help you determine how well a product will perform the functions of helping to cool your building in the summer, warm your building in the winter, keep out wind, and resist condensation. By using the information contained on the label, consumers can reliably compare one product with another, and make informed decisions about the windows, doors, and skylights they buy.

NFRC adopted a new energy performance label in 2005. It lists the manufacturer, describes the product, provides a source for additional information, and includes ratings for one or more energy performance characteristics.

NOTE: All energy performance values on the label represent the rating of windows/doors as whole systems (glazing and frame).

The information contained on the label is also available in the NFRC’s online directory.

U-Factor

U-factor measures how well a product prevents heat from escaping. The rate of heat loss is indicated in terms of the U-factor (U-value) of a window assembly. U-Factor ratings generally fall between 0.20 and 1.20. The insulating value is indicated by the R-value which is the inverse of the U-value. The lower the U-value, the greater a window’s resistance to heat flow and the better its insulating value.

Solar Heat Gain Coefficient

Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) measures how well a product blocks heat caused by sunlight. The SHGC is the fraction of incident solar radiation admitted through a window (both directly transmitted and absorbed) and subsequently released inward. SHGC is expressed as a number between 0 and 1. The lower a window’s solar heat gain coefficient, the less solar heat it transmits in the house.

Visible Transmittance

Visible Transmittance (VT) measures how much light comes through a product. The visible transmittance is an optical property that indicates the amount of visible light transmitted. VT is expressed as a number between 0 and 1. The higher the VT, the more light is transmitted.

Air Leakage*

Air Leakage (AL) is indicated by an air leakage rating expressed as the equivalent cubic feet of air passing through a square foot of window area (cfm/sq ft). Heat loss and gain occur by infiltration through cracks in the window assembly. The lower the AL, the less air will pass through cracks in the window assembly.

Condensation Resistance*

Condensation Resistance (CR) measures the ability of a product to resist the formation of condensation on the interior surface of that product. The higher the CR rating, the better that product is at resisting condensation formation. While this rating cannot predict condensation, it can provide a credible method of comparing the potential of various products for condensation formation. CR is expressed as a number between 0 and 100.

* This rating is optional and manufacturers can choose not to include it.

Posted by tmadej | Filed Under Charlotte, Cheasapeake, Cleveland, Columbia, Energy, Jefferson, Mobile, Raleigh, Uncategorized, Winston-Salem | Leave a Comment 

Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC). Why is it important?

December 8, 2008

The SHGC is the fraction of incident solar radiation admitted through a window, both admitted through a window, both directly transmitted, and absorbed and subsequently released inward. SHGC is expressed as a number between 0 and 1. The lower a window’s solar heat gain coefficient, the less solar heat it transmits.

Northern Climate: To reduce heating, select the highest SHGC you can find (usually 0.30-0.60 for the U-factor ranges required in colder climates) so that winter solar gains can offset a portion of the heating energy need. If cooling is a significant concern, select windows with a SHGC less than 0.55. Use RESFEN to understand trade-offs.

North/Central Climate: If you have significant air conditioning costs or summer overheating problems, look for SHGC values of 0.40 or less. If you have moderate air conditioning requirements, select windows with a SHGC of 0.55 or less. While windows with lower SHGC values reduce summer cooling and overheating, they also reduce free winter solar heat gain. Use a computer program such as RESFEN to understand heating and cooling trade-offs.

South/Central Climate: If you have moderate air conditioning requirements, select windows with a SHGC of 0.55 or less. While windows with lower SHGC values reduce summer cooling and overheating, they also reduce free winter solar heat gain. Use a computer program such as RESFEN to understand heating and cooling trade-offs.

Southern Climate: A low SHGC is the most important window property in warm climates. Select windows with a SHGC less than 0.40.

Posted by tmadej | Filed Under Charlotte, Cheasapeake, Cleveland, Columbia, Energy, Jefferson, Raleigh, Uncategorized, Winston-Salem | Leave a Comment 

What is U-Factor?

December 8, 2008

The U-factor measures how well a product prevents heat from escaping. The rate of heat loss is indicated in terms of the U-factor of a window assembly. U-factor ratings generally fall between 0.20 and 1.20.

In the United States, the U-factor is usually expressed in Btu/h ft² F. The metric equivalent unit is W/m² K.

The insulating value is indicated by the R-value, which is the inverse of the U-factor. The lower the U-factor, the greater a window’s resistance to heat flow and the better its insulating value. The U-factor is included in the energy performance rating (label) offered by the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC).

Posted by tmadej | Filed Under Charlotte, Cheasapeake, Cleveland, Columbia, Energy, Jefferson, Mobile, Raleigh, Uncategorized | Leave a Comment 

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