We are currently working on a project with a large amount of storefront glazing and I'm curious if anyone has sucessfully utilized the University of California's program WINDOW 5 to determine the U-Factor and SHGC for assemblies that are not NFRC rated. I would like to follow this path using a thermally broken metal frame and then submit this info to USGBC with the modeling, however if I'm reading 90.1-2007 correctly it appears I would be required to use Table A8.2 and a U-Factor of 0.90 and a SHCC of 0.42 which are both significantly worse because the storefront is not NFRC listed.
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Mike Barker
Principal : Energy / Electrical EngineerBuildingPhysics South Africa
150 thumbs up
January 20, 2011 - 11:42 am
This is of interest to anyone working on LEED Projects outside of continental USA where there is no NFRC rated fenestration ?
In our case the window frames are from France and are certified according to " ISO / EN Standard 10077 - Thermal performance of windows, doors and shutters "
Would this ISO standard be an acceptable alternative to NFRC certification ? Or do we have to use Window or CMAST to calculate according to NFRC ?
Armen Khachikyan
80 thumbs up
February 1, 2011 - 4:13 pm
Yes, Mike, a great question, and not about windows only !
Mandatory provisions in ASHRAE, i.e. in 5 section mostly are about labelling and approved measure methods for different products/constructions.
How to comply with requirements, i.e. about labelling, outside US??
Marcus Sheffer
LEED Fellow7group / Energy Opportunities
LEEDuser Expert
5909 thumbs up
February 18, 2011 - 8:44 am
During LEED reviews the labeling requirements in 90.1 are not strictly enforsed. The window performance values are scrutenized based on an expected range of performance given the specific window type. For example, if a wood framed window with double glazing was outside a U-factor of 0.31 to 0.36 or so then the U-factor may be questioned.
The label is only needed if the product is reported to be performing outside an expected range. In those cases a detailed description on the window framing and glazing may be needed. A local certification like the ISO/EN Standard is typically fine. A Windows 5 run would also likely suffice. So without a NFRC label simply document how the window performance values were determined.
The values in A8,2 are very high and can be used without question but as pointed out will likely be worse than the baseline.
Mike Barker
Principal : Energy / Electrical EngineerBuildingPhysics South Africa
150 thumbs up
February 28, 2011 - 9:32 pm
Thanks - i have recently seen a ruling allowing the admission of fenestration rated by the Japanese authorities. I guess then that any fenestration rates according to an ISO standard would, as you note, be acceptable with supporting documentation.