The high thermal performance of aluminium joinery
Increasingly used for the realisation of windows, large glazed doors and verandas, aluminium has many advantages, both aesthetic, economic and technical. Well designed and well installed, it is renowned for its excellent performance, without compromising its finesse and elegance.
Aluminium, the right choice?
The use of aluminium for high-performance joinery is quite recent. On the one hand, its current expansion can be explained by technical advances, on the other hand, it can be explained by the fact of changing needs. More and more households are looking for thinner, lighter joinery that is compatible with large glass solutions. The arrival of aluminium profiles equipped with Thermal Break Technologies such as those offered by Installux, which are light, robust and non-deformable, has made it possible to implement such projects.
With good alloys and a good profile design, aluminium joinery meets the highest standards in terms of thermal insulation. Their thinness even makes it possible to greatly limit heat loss on very large verandas and large glass doors. In fact, glazing usually have better thermal insulation than the frames of all types of joinery. By favouring large glass surfaces on a thin aluminium frame, we maximise the amount of light and thermal insulation, while maintaining an aerial and elegant structure.
The thermal performance of aluminium joinery
The thermal performance of a window depends on both its glazing and its structure. In general, the structure causes more heat loss than the glazing, but there are things to be taken into account to reduce this heat loss as much as possible.
The Uw Coefficient: Understanding Heat Transfer Coefficient
The Uw coefficient is an index used to measure the insulation of a window. As such, it applies to all combinations of joinery, frame and glazing. The lower this coefficient is, the less energy is lost and the thermal insulation will be better.
In order to comply with the legal requirements for thermal insulation and energy savings, but also to offer optimal comfort conditions; aluminium joinery must be equipped with thermal bridge breaking technologies. For this purpose, aluminium profiles are designed with internal structures that contain insulating materials, especially on certain key points. Combined with the use of suitable glazing, this prevents aluminium from acting as a heat transfer medium to the outside of the home.
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Generally speaking, a coefficient less than or equal to 1.3W/m2K already provides comfortable thermal performance for a living room. However, we have to be careful with this coefficient. The Uw index itself only takes into account the joinery heat losses, and does not indicate possible leaks caused by an improper installation.
The Ug Coefficient: The Importance of the Choice of Glazing
The Ug coefficient is specific to the glazing, and is included in the Uw coefficient. It measures the thermal insulation performance of the glazing against the cold.
A complex glazing consists of different layers of glass that enclose some inert gas insulation, which prevents the heat from escaping through the window. Triple glazing can be perfectly integrated into certain parts of the house, or to a more widespread use for bioclimatic homes.
More common, double glazing is more than enough for most rooms of the house. Depending on the project, it is possible to select different types of glazing for each room, with enhanced sound insulation, better UV protection, more security against intrusion, etc.
The Solar Factor, a Concept Not to Be Overlooked
If the insulation index allows to measure the capacity of joinery to maintain the interior temperature, another factor must be taken into account: the sun. Each joinery has its own solar factor, which measures the proportion of solar energy that actually penetrates the house and is converted into heat.
A thin frame, such as aluminium, maximises solar gain. The emissivity of the different layers of glass also depends on the capacity to keep trapped solar energy indoors. So, while triple glazing is better at keeping heat. On average, it does not offer the same solar penetration and stores less energy than double glazing.
The Quality of Design and Installation Is Crucial
For each veranda, large glass doors or window renewal project, it is necessary to take into account the sunshine of the region, the orientation of the facades, but also the evolution of the sunshine and temperatures according to the seasons. For example, in regions exposed to the sun, avoid installing a south-facing glass door.
The choice of colour for the aluminium joinery and glazing will also have an impact the thermal performance of each project.
Thanks to its knowledge of local specificities, an aluminium joinery manufacturer knows how to design, manufacture and install a technical solution that is perfectly adapted to the constraints of sunlight, air circulation, etc. This is achieved using the latest generation systems such as the aluminium solutions provided by Installux.
