doors, windows & glazing Waste not, want not
Graham Hurrell of AluK looks at the measures in place to regulate domestic window and door installations in order to help tackle energy waste.
R
esearch by the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) found that 79 per cent of the population would like to see energy subsidies spent on schemes that reduce energy waste. Rising
heating costs, coupled with the UK’s inefficient housing stock, has put millions in fuel poverty, with an estimated 2.35 million households in the category in England alone. The main way to prevent heat loss in a building is through insulation. But with around 25 per cent of heat escaping through the doors and windows, specifying thermally efficient aluminium building systems could help retain the warmth internally, resulting in comfortable homes and lower bills. According to the Office for National Statistics, England and Wales had an
estimated 43,000 “excess mortalities” in winter 2014/15, a 27 per cent rise against non-winter months. Cold homes have been identified as a major contributor to the ill health and additional deaths during this period. Combining insulation with measures such as installing energy-efficient aluminium windows and doors, can help improve a home’s thermal ratings, enhancing occupant comfort and health. When installing new windows and doors, there are a number of
regulations in place to help reduce the energy wasted in UK homes. In England and Wales, two Building Regulations cover the energy efficiency of window and door systems in dwellings; these are Approved Document (AD) L1A and L1B. Directives are in place to offer guidance and safeguard building owners, builders, fabricators and installers as well as end-users.
U-values
The U-value is a very useful measure of window and door energy-efficiency levels as it provides details relating to heat loss by calculating the amount of heat lost in watts per square metre when the temperature outside is at least one degree lower. Thermally broken aluminium windows and doors offer enhanced
energy-efficiency. Such systems have a barrier between the inner and outer frames to prevent temperature transfer through the frame and condensation on the inner frame. Thermally efficient products should provide lower U-values, equating to a better insulated property. U-values are of greatest use to specifiers, builders and developers.
However, fabricators and installers are responsible for ensuring that the windows and doors they supply or install in new and refurbishment projects meet the specified minimum U-value for windows and doors.
Window and Door Energy Rating
Window Energy Rating (WER) and Door Energy Rating (DER) are of most use to owners and installers. They measure the thermal efficiency of a standardised complete fabricated product to generate an energy performance level. Introduced by the British Fenestration Ratings Council (BFRC), the ratings range from A-G with A being the most energy-efficient. In addition to thermal insulation (measured in U-values), WERs and DERs also consider air tightness to ensure systems do not lose heat from their weather seals and glazing seals. The ratings also take into account the positive heating effect (or solar gain) as a result of more glass and less frame, which can reduce the need for heating on colder days. Aluminium windows and doors offer slim sightlines, which provide a property with
increased external light transmission. Energy Performance Certificates
Building owners and occupants benefit the most from Energy Performance Certificates (EPC). Introduced by the Government to tackle the problem of Britain’s large stock of inefficient housing, an EPC is used to calculate the energy performance of a building. It provides prospective occupiers and owners with information relating to a property’s energy use and carbon emissions so they can consider its thermal levels and fuel costs. When making decisions on moving home, occupants can use the EPC to
compare the energy efficiency of similar properties. For owners, an EPC provides a recommendation report that lists cost-effective and other measures to improve the building’s energy rating. It is the joint responsibility of owners, builders and installers to ensure
that Energy Performance Certificates are up to date and available to occupants whenever any improvement work such as loft and wall insulation, new boiler installations or window and door upgrades takes place. In the year to 31 December 2015, a total of 1,797,276 EPCs were lodged on the Domestic Register. Based on fuel costs, 11 per cent received an A or B rating, 65 per cent got a C or D with the remaining 24 percent rated E, F or G. Properties with an A or B rating exceed current standards whereas properties rated D-G are the worst performing. Energy Performance Certificates are also used to calculate a property’s Environmental Impact Rating (EIR), which is based on CO2
emissions.
During the same period, 12 per cent of domestic properties with an EPC lodged were awarded an EIR of A or B. An additional 48 per cent received a C or D rating and the remaining 40 per cent were rated E, F or G. A total of 14,445,372 EPCs covering domestic properties have been lodged between 2008 and the period ending 31 December 2015. Based on fuel costs, 9 per cent of properties were given a rating of A or B. A further 66 per cent received a C or D with the remaining 25 per cent rated E, F or G. From 1 April 2018, owners and landlords will be forced by new energy-
efficiency regulations upgrade the energy-efficiency of the millions of homes currently rated F and G to a minimum of E or face being unable to let them until they improve the rating.
Graham Hurrell is commercial director of AluK
www.housingmmonline.co.uk | HMM July 2016 | 41
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