10 Factors To Consider While Choosing High-performance Windows And Doors

#SURFACES REPORTER invited Mr. Robert Holellrigl to throw light on some of the factors while choosing the right windows and doors for your homes and projects. Robert Höllrigl is an Austrian graduated mechanical Engineer who joined Cincinnati Milacron Vienna (now Battenfeld –  Cincinnati) in 1974 as extrusion tool designer for uPVC window and door profiles; relocated in 1982 to the UK to work for W.H. Smith (Extrusion) Ltd., WHS Halo, Bowater Building products and VEKA UK, designing and building-up the well known uPVC brands ‘System 10, Rustique, Eclipse & Esthetique ’ until 2013. During his spell in the UK, he assisted a technology transfer to EncraftIndia Private Limited in 2006; moved to India in 2013 and works nowadays  solely for Encraftas Executive Director of R&D.

- Robert Höllrigl

1. Energy implication & thermal Performance

The experienced climate change and the increased use of AC’s (air conditioning units) will require a better energy management. India’s challenge will be how to achieve the required CO2 reduction and provide enough electricity for new emerging cities/large scale developments as well as extending the electricity supply into the remotest rural villages. The necessity to improve the air quality in major cities has highlighted the negative contribution of coal-fired power stations. Their replacement or improvement has moved to the top of India’s political agenda alongside with restriction on burning crops, dispensing with Diwali fireworks and controlling the disproportional increase of petrol/diesel cars. It is a fact that modern, air tight fenestration can save energy and thereby contribute towards substantial CO2 reductions.

Some the relevant features of today’s most commonly used frame materials, Aluminium and uPVC, are listed in table 1 used to evaluate the thermal transmittance (Uw-value)! Contrary to some misconception, the frame area contribution (table1, 5), albeit being the smaller area and the frame material conductivity (table 1, 2) play important parts in the overall frame Uw-value assessment (table 1, 8).

The calculation using the Uw-value difference of the Aluminium casement, as the basis, and the uPVC casement, as the alternative from table 1; inserting the regional energy cost, assuming energy cost increases, allowing for declining equipment efficiency etc. will provide an accurate and factual energy and CO2 reduction forecast over a chosen period. NOTE: Calculation method in table 2 does not allow for solar gain, solar shading and air tightness of frames. Those attributes are normally included in Window Energy Rating (WER) schemes.

2. sustainability