Australia's Leading Range of Thermally Broken Aluminium Windows and Doors
Australia's Leading Range of Thermally Broken Aluminium Windows and Doors
Thermally broken aluminium window systems deliver many advantages, most importantly improved thermal performance. The advantages of aluminium are maintained - such as strength, durability and stability-yet the drawback of thermal conductivity is overcome. This makes thermally broken aluminium windows an ideal solution for commercial building applications and high-end residential projects where large, complex glazing solutions are required.
But what exactly is a thermal break and how does it work?
Thermally broken windows improve energy efficiency by controlling the forms of heat transfer. Heat or thermal heat energy can be transferred through a material in three manners:
Thermally broken window frames are insulated against heat and cold conduction. This is done by separating the outside metal parts from the inside with a material which reduces the amount of heat or cold transferred through the frames. This feature is known as the “thermal break”.
A thermal break is a non-metallic resin or plastic material installed in the metallic window frame that physically separates the interior part of the window from the exterior part. Hence the pathway for heat energy to be transferred or conducted through the window frame is “thermally broken” The formal definition from the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) is as follows:
Thermal break: a material of low thermal conductivity that is inserted between members of high conductivity in order to reduce heat transfer. Thermal barrier material conductivity shall be no more than 0.5 W/m.K.
A thermally broken window can be described as one in which the frame and sash components (members) have been split into interior and exterior elements and joined using a less conductive material. The formal definition of a thermally broken “Member” from the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) is as follows:
Thermally broken (TB) members: system members with a minimum of 5.30mm separation provided by a low-conductance material (where thermal conductivity (is) less than or equal to 0.5 W/m.K or open air space between the interior and exterior surfaces. Such systems include members with exposed interior or exterior trim attached with clips and all skip/debridged systems.
AWS offers a comprehensive range of thermally broken windows and door known as ThermalHEART™. These systems are locally designed and tested to maximise thermal performance and meet contemporary aspirations for energy efficiency. ThermalHEART™ residential window and door systems deliver up to 33% better efficiency than comparable double glazed aluminium windows or doors.
