We start NFRC Certification
Today we announced that we have started the process to have our Bronze and Steel windows and doors NFRC certified.
You can see the Press Release here:
http://www.cooritalia.com/press/2011/11/22/cooritalia-begins-nfrc-certification-steel-and-bro/
What does NFRC Certification mean? As we said in the Press release the NFRC (National Fenestration Rating Council) is a non-profit organization, which administers the only uniform, independent rating and labeling system for the energy performance of windows, doors, skylights, and attachment products. NFRC Certification is a standard against which fenestration products can be compared in terms of energy efficiency.
What it means to the consumer is that there is a single organization (and thus database) that tests windows and doors and verifies what their performance is when it comes to energy conservation. The look at things like how much heat is transferred through the frame and the glass (known in the business as U-value). The lower the U-value the more energy efficient the window and door is.
There are many factors that affect the Uvalue of a unit, but it basically comes down to two main factors - the frame and the glass. There are an infinite amount of glazing choices for a home owner, from the simple single pane untreated glass with very high U-value to triple pane IG units (Insulated Glass) with heat mirrors, krypton filled and "low-e" treated surfaces which have very low u-values. Then there is everything in-between. Your best choice between cost and performance is usually a dual pane "low-e" unit that is air filled. You can, for a small price surcharge add Argon or Krypton to the glass for better performance. Another aspect to consider (and that the NFRC tests) is Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC). This measures how much of the sun's rays are converted to heat inside of the room. In this case there is no "good" or "bad" value as in winter you want to heat the house but might not want to do so in the summer. Many "Passive Houses" use SHGC to great advantage to reduce their energy footprint.
When it comes to how the frame affects the u-value of the overall unit it comes as no surprise that traditionally Metal windows have always fared poorly compared to their wood and vinyl counterparts, and therefore Steel and Bronze window manufacturers have steered away from certifying their products with the NFRC. But this is where CoorItalia feels there is a big opportunity: Our windows and doors are made with latest technology profiles that are thermally broken. This means that the bronze (or steel) that is outside of the building, is separated from the bronze (or steel) from the inside by a highly insulted rigid material (made of a high density polyurethane resin).
.jpg "OS2 Profile with Thermal Break")
It is thanks to this thermal break that we expect to have industry leading values amongst metal windows and doors opening up a whole new aesthetic option for Architects and Home Owners that want to beauty and durability of bronze and steel without compromising energy efficiency. Furthermore, whereas many other Steel and Bronze window manufacturers will certify one or two units we are certifying casement windows, both inswing and outswing, fixed windows, doors and even Lift & Slide doors.
Hopefully we will have more news for you in late winter early spring when all the tests and simulations are completed!