THE CRITICAL FUTURE ROLE OF WINDOWS AND DOORS

Jim Rowley, Technical Director at NorDan, explores the impact the Future Homes Standard is having on housebuilders and developers.

The UK’s 2050 net zero target is sharpening the focus on sustainability and driving significant regulatory reform, such as the Future Homes Standard (FHS). While these regulations are much-needed, they are heightening the pressures on architects and developers to specify and install the most energy-efficient and sustainable products. That’s why it’s so important to use the right windows and doors to enhance air tightness, balance solar gain, reduce heat loss and improve occupant comfort and energy performance.

The timing of the FHS couldn’t be more important, given the UK Green Building Council revealed embodied carbon from construction and refurbishment accounts for around 20% of all UK built environment emissions.

Following recent government consultations, it will require new homes to achieve significantly lower operational carbon emissions compared to previous Part L benchmarks in order for them to be considered net zero.

The FHS’ aim is to make homes more sustainable while reducing long-term energy expenditure for occupants and building owners. Fabric efficiency will be a major aspect of the standards, raising the importance of insulation, air permeability and ventilation. With the FHS mandating stricter energy efficiency and sustainability measures, compliance won’t just depend on individual product metrics but verified durability, manufacturing quality and a meaningful contribution to fabric efficiency.

ENHANCING AIRTIGHTNESS

With the need for heating and cooling substantially reduced by eliminating gaps, leaks and cracks, the specification and installation of windows and doors offer a vital energy efficient solution. In fact, precise manufacturing and high-quality frame construction can significantly limit uncontrolled air leakage.

Implementing these frames can prevent air leakage through joints, seals and gaskets, while multi-point locking systems apply consistent pressure around the window sash when closed, ensuring it seals tightly and effectively.

Factory sealed double or triple-glazed windows can further prevent air leakage – enhancing occupant comfort and airtightness while reducing the amount of energy required for heating.

SOLAR GAIN MANAGEMENT

By combining robust design, specialist glazing, external shading options and reflective coatings, windows balance natural daylight with the reduction of excessive heat, providing a hugely effective way of managing solar gain. This explains why triple glazing has become so popular with specifiers and developers wanting an efficient yet stylish way of controlling solar heat and improving insulation.

The management of solar gain is also impacted by the choice of frame material. Featuring a cellular structure composed of air pockets, timber is a natural insulator. Consequently, the frame resists acting as a conductor, limiting heat transfer.

REDUCING HEAT LOSS

For specifiers, doors and windows that have double or triple glazing fitted offer a stylish, energy efficient and cost effective solution to the issue of heat loss.

Compared to single-glazed windows with U-values as high as 6.0W/m2K, double and triple glazed windows provide superior insulation and energy efficiency. Triple-glazed windows can achieve impressive U-values of less than 1.0W/m2K, helping to reduce heat loss and heating or cooling demand. Lower U-values additionally support alignment with evolving energy performance targets and building regulations.

IMPROVING ROT RESISTANCE

Sustainability and building quality demands are dictating the use of long-lasting materials, emphasising the importance of using specialist timber preservation techniques. Unlike surface applied treatments commonly seen within the market, the specialised, capital intensive vacuum impregnation process forces preservative deep into the timber structure under controlled conditions.

Providing a consistent, deep protective barrier, vacuum impregnation optimises performance even in the harshest of weather conditions and enhances rot and fungus resistance. Additionally, products treated in this way typically have a life cycle expectancy of up to 60+ years. Applying flash oxidation treatment on window and door frames also ensures the longevity of finishes, achieving GSB Sea Proof Plus Class 5 certification.