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Double Glazed Windows Export in Foshan China: Double Glazed Aluminium Windows, Triple Glazing and FOB Pricing

Double glazed windows with thermally broken aluminium frames installed on a modern residential villa in Foshan China - insulated glass unit, Low-E coating and slim frame profile
ROGENILAN double glazed windows on a residential villa in Foshan China: thermally broken aluminium casement frames with Low-E argon-filled insulating glass units.
This article treats double glazed windows as a specification problem, not a product description. Every thermal figure is calculated to EN 673 and EN ISO 10077-1 and is reproducible from the equations shown, every glass mass is derived from the pane build-up, and every price is FOB Foshan at four volume tiers. The purpose is to let a buyer specify the insulating unit, the spacer and the thermal break as three separate decisions instead of accepting a single “double glazing” line on a quotation.
Ug Low-E argon
1.08 W/m²K
Uw 24 mm frame
1.55 W/m²K
Optimal cavity
16 mm
Glass mass
21 kg/m²
FOB range
USD 62–265/m²
Lead time
25–40 days
Contents
1. What double glazed means on a PO
2. Ug: the cavity calculation
3. From Ug to Uw
4. Double glazed aluminium windows
5. Aluminium casement hardware
6. Double hung windows
7. Triple glazed aluminium windows
8. Glass thickness and wind load
9. Condensation risk
10. Acoustic build-ups
11. Solar control and light
12. Gas retention and altitude
13. Certification and evidence
14. FOB pricing matrix
15. Commercial terms
16. Packing and container maths
17. Landed cost and duty
18. Installation
19. Failure modes
20. Project records
21. Selection matrix
22. RFQ checklist
23. Glossary and standards
24. Related reading

What “Double Glazed” Means on a Purchase Order

A double glazed window is a sealed insulating glass unit (IGU) held in a frame. The unit, not the frame, sets most of the thermal result, and the unit is where most specification errors are made. Writing “double glazing” on a PO without the glass build-up, cavity gas, coating position and spacer type leaves the supplier free to supply a 4-6A-4 float unit with an aluminium box spacer, which has a centre-of-glass U-value of about 2.87 W/m²K and a whole-window value above 4.0 in a frame with no thermal break. That difference is not cosmetic: it is the gap between passing and failing a building-code U-value check.

Anatomy of one sealed unit

Layer Material / parameter Typical value What it controls
Pane 1 (outer) Float, heat-strengthened or tempered 4 / 5 / 6 / 8 mm Wind span, safety class
Cavity 1 Air, argon or krypton 6 / 9 / 12 / 16 / 20 mm Ug, acoustic dip
Coating Low-E soft coat on surface 2 or 3 Emissivity 0.037 Radiative transfer
Spacer Aluminium, stainless, warm-edge, TPS Psi 0.032 to 0.068 W/mK Edge Uw, condensation
Primary seal Polyisobutylene (PIB) 0.3 to 0.5 mm Gas retention, moisture barrier
Desiccant Molecular sieve 3A in the spacer 20 to 35 g/m Cavity dew point
Secondary seal Polysulfide, polyurethane or silicone 3 to 5 mm Structural bond, UV
Pane 2 (inner) Float, laminated or tempered 4 / 5 / 6 / 6.4 mm Safety, acoustics

Sealed unit versus two panes in one frame

Site-assembled “double windows” – two single panes fitted into a frame with a reversible sash – are not IGUs. Their cavity is ventilated, so the cavity resistance collapses to the value of an unventilated air layer with an internal surface resistance on both faces, and the U-value lands around 3.4 to 3.8 W/m²K, close to a single pane with a storm window. For a thermally broken aluminium window the sealed unit is the only configuration that reaches code-level values.

Order wording that removes ambiguity: state glass build-up as “5 mm tempered Low-E (e = 0.037) – 16 mm argon 90 % – 6.4 mm laminated”, state the spacer type, and ask for the EN 1279-3 gas-leakage certificate. “Double glazed windows” alone is not a specification.

Ug: How the Cavity Number Is Calculated

Centre-of-glass U-value is calculated with EN 673. The cavity is treated as a gas layer with a Nusselt number based on the Grashof and Prandtl numbers, in parallel with a radiative term driven by the two facing emissivities. Nothing in the calculation is proprietary, so a buyer can reproduce every number in the table below.

The calculation

Gas conductance: Nu = 0.035 · (Gr · Pr)0.38, with Nu = 1 when the product falls below 5 000, and Gr = 9.81 · s³ · ΔT / (Tm · ν²) at Tm = 283 K and ΔT = 15 K. Radiative coefficient: hr = 4 · σ · Tm³ / (1/ε1 + 1/ε2 − 1). Cavity resistance is 1 / (hg + hr), and Ug = 1 / (0.04 + 0.1299 + Σ Rglass + Σ Rcavity), where 0.04 and 0.1299 are the external and internal surface resistances of EN 673.

Gap width: the optimum is flat, not narrow

Build-up 6 mm 8 mm 10 mm 12 mm 14 mm 16 mm 18 mm 20 mm
4 mm float / air / 4 mm float 3.30 3.10 2.96 2.87 2.79 2.75 2.75 2.76
4 mm float / argon / 4 mm float 3.05 2.88 2.77 2.69 2.64 2.60 2.61 2.61
4 mm Low-E / argon / 4 mm float 2.01 1.68 1.45 1.28 1.16 1.08 1.09 1.10
4 mm Low-E / krypton / 4 mm float 1.35 1.11 0.95 0.92 0.93 0.94 0.95 0.96

Reading the table: an uncoated air-filled unit improves steadily up to about 16 mm and then reverses, because natural convection starts to short-circuit the cavity. With a Low-E coating and argon the optimum is also near 16 mm, and the curve is very flat between 12 and 20 mm, so cavity width is not where the money is. Krypton peaks much earlier because its lower conductivity makes convection dominate at a smaller gap.

Build-up Optimum gap Ug at optimum
4 mm float / air / 4 mm float 16 mm 2.75 W/m²K
4 mm float / argon / 4 mm float 16 mm 2.60 W/m²K
4 mm Low-E / argon / 4 mm float 16 mm 1.08 W/m²K
4 mm Low-E / krypton / 4 mm float 12 mm 0.92 W/m²K

Where the U-value actually comes from

Splitting the resistance of a 4-16Ar-4 Low-E unit: the coating is responsible for roughly 0.75 m²K/W of the cavity resistance and the gas for the remaining 0.16. In other words, the low-emissivity coating contributes about four times more than the gas fill. Argon buys 0.26 W/m²K over air in a 16 mm cavity; the coating buys about 1.5. Specifying argon without a coating is spending money on the smaller term.

From Ug to Uw: the Frame and the Spacer Decide

The number that goes on a compliance form is Uw, not Ug. EN ISO 10077-1 combines the glazing, the frame and the linear thermal bridge at the glass edge:

Uw = (ΣAg·Ug + ΣAf·Uf + Σlg·Ψ) / (Ag + Af)
Reference casement window 1.23 m × 1.48 m: Aw = 1.82 m², Ag = 1.318 m², Af = 0.502 m², lg = 4.62 m.

Full matrix: frame Uf × glazing × spacer

Frame Uf 4-12A-4 float 4-16Ar-4 float 4-16Ar-4 Low-E 4-12Ar-4-12Ar-4 Low-E triple
No thermal break (aluminium) Uf 6.8 4.13 3.97 2.83 2.53
14 mm PA66 GF25 polyamide Uf 3.4 3.19 3.03 1.89 1.59
20 mm PA66 GF25 polyamide Uf 2.8 3.02 2.86 1.73 1.42
24 mm PA66 GF25 polyamide Uf 2.4 2.91 2.75 1.62 1.31
34 mm PA66 GF25 + foam insert Uf 2.0 2.80 2.64 1.51 1.20
40 mm polyurethane (passive class) Uf 1.5 2.66 2.50 1.37 1.06

The matrix is built with a standard aluminium box spacer (Psi = 0.068 W/mK). Two conclusions follow directly. First, the cheapest way to lose compliance is to pair a good unit with a frame that has no thermal break: 4-16Ar-4 Low-E drops from 1.62 to 2.83 W/m²K simply by removing the polyamide strip. Second, the frame improvement from 14 mm to 34 mm polyamide is worth about 0.39 W/m²K, while moving from uncoated to Low-E glass is worth about 1.30. Glass first, frame second.

Spacer sensitivity at one frame

Spacer type Psi (W/mK) Uw (24 mm PA, Low-E) Delta vs aluminium box
Aluminium box spacer 0.068 1.616 +0.000
Stainless steel thin-wall 0.050 1.571 -0.046
Warm-edge plastic / steel hybrid 0.040 1.545 -0.071
TPS thermoplastic spacer 0.032 1.525 -0.091
A warm-edge spacer costs USD 6 to 9 per m² of window and returns 0.046 to 0.071 W/m²K. The same money spent on Low-E glass returns roughly ten times more thermal benefit, so the spacer is bought for condensation control at the glass edge, not for the U-value.

Double Glazed Aluminium Windows: Frame Selection

Double glazed aluminium windows are aluminium-framed openings carrying a sealed insulating unit. Aluminium is chosen for span, section depth stability and coating life; it is penalised by conductivity, so the thermal break is the specification that matters once the glass has been fixed.

Thermal break widths and what they buy

Break Polyamide strip Frame Uf Typical use
None – 5.9 to 7.0 Internal screens, tropical sheds, budget retrofits
14 mm PA66 GF25 3.2 to 3.6 Mild climates, Uw 1.9 achievable with Low-E
20 mm PA66 GF25 2.6 to 3.0 Temperate code minimum in most of Europe
24 mm PA66 GF25 2.2 to 2.6 Germany GEG, France RE2020, UK Part L
34 mm PA66 GF25 + foam 1.8 to 2.2 Passive-class windows, Scandinavia
40 mm+ Polyurethane pour-and-debridge 1.4 to 1.7 Passive house certified builds

Alloy, temper and wall thickness

Alloy / temper Rp0.2 (MPa) Rm (MPa) Where it is used
6063-T5 110 160 Standard window profiles, best surface finish
6063-T6 170 205 Thin-wall sections needing higher proof stress
6060-T66 150 195 Complex multi-void profiles
6061-T6 240 290 Structural mullions, high wind zones
6082-T6 260 310 Heavy reinforcement, curtain wall brackets

Main frame wall thickness runs 1.4 to 2.0 mm in residential profiles and 2.0 to 3.0 mm for mullions and hurricane-rated sections. EN 1999-1-1 applies a partial factor γM1 = 1.10, so the allowable design stress for 6063-T6 is 170 / 1.10 = 155 MPa. In practice window sections are deflection-controlled, not stress-controlled: at the L/200 serviceability limit the stress utilisation of a standard casement sash is typically under 30 %.

Coating

Standard Class Film / exposure Field life
Qualicoat Class 1 Polyester powder 60 to 80 um, indoor / mild 10 to 15 years
Qualicoat Class 2 Polyester powder 60 to 80 um, architectural 15 to 25 years
AAMA 2603 Powder 1 year Florida 5 years
AAMA 2604 50 % PVDF 5 years Florida 10 to 15 years
AAMA 2605 70 % PVDF 10 years Florida 20+ years
Qualanod AA20 / AA25 Anodising 20 / 25 um 20 to 30 years

ISO 9227 salt-spray hours rank batches against each other; they are not a service-life prediction. A 1 000-hour result on a powder panel says the pretreatment line was under control that week, not that the window will last 30 years on a coast.

Aluminium Casement Windows: Sash Mass and Hardware

Aluminium casement windows are side-hinged sashes that close against a compression seal. The configuration has the best air-tightness of any opening type because the sash is pulled onto the gasket by the locking mechanism rather than sliding past it – which is why casement is the default choice wherever a U-value or an air-leakage target has to be met.

Sash mass drives every hardware choice

Sash size (mm) Area (m2) Glass build Sash mass (kg) Hinge class (EN 1935)
600 x 900 0.54 5-16Ar-5 17 Class 11 (80 kg)
700 x 1200 0.84 5-16Ar-5 25 Class 11 (80 kg)
900 x 1500 1.35 6-16Ar-6 41 Class 12 (100 kg)
1000 x 2100 2.10 6-16Ar-6.4 lam 68 Class 13 (120 kg)
1200 x 2400 2.88 triple 4-12Ar-4-12Ar-4 96 Class 14 (160 kg)
1200 x 2400 2.88 8-16Ar-8.8 acoustic lam 112 Class 14 (160 kg) + stay arm

The jump from a 25 kg sash to a 96 kg sash on the same frame is the single most common cause of hardware failure in the field: the sash drops, the hinges run out of adjustment, and the locking points stop meeting their keeps. When a specification moves from double to triple glazing, the hinge and the espagnolette have to be re-specified at the same time.

Multi-point locking and compression

Air, water and wind: what casement actually achieves

Performance Standard Casement (measured band) Comment
Air permeability EN 12207 Class 3 to 4 Best of any opening type
Water tightness EN 12208 Class 7A to 9A A series = protected opening
Water tightness EN 12208 Class 5B to 7B B series = unprotected; 7B caps at 300 Pa
Wind resistance EN 12210 C3 to C5 Deflection classes B (L/200) or C (L/300)
Operating force EN 13115 Class 1 to 2 Measured after 10 000 cycles

A supplier quoting “Class 7A” without saying A or B is quoting a protected condition. On an exposed facade the comparable figure is the B series, and 7B is only 300 Pa – roughly a 22 m/s gust. Read the test report, not the brochure line.

Double Hung Windows with Insulated Glass

Double hung windows carry two sliding sashes in a single frame. The type is specified mostly in North America and in retrofit work where the opening has to keep an existing aperture shape and the sash must not project. Fitting an insulating unit into a hung sash changes the balance hardware, not just the glass.

Sash weight and balance selection

A hung sash runs on a balance – a block-and-tackle, spiral, or constant-force spring – sized to the sash mass. Standard balances are supplied in narrow weight bands, so a glass change of 5 kg can push a sash out of band and leave it either drifting open or slamming shut. This is a specification step that is frequently missed.

Sash size Area (m2) IGU build Glass + sash (kg) Balance band required
610 x 915 0.56 3-12A-3 single-glazed equivalent 17 16 to 20
610 x 915 0.56 4-16Ar-4 double glazed 30 28 to 34
813 x 1220 0.99 4-16Ar-4 double glazed 50 46 to 56
813 x 1220 0.99 5-16Ar-5 Low-E 57 52 to 62
915 x 1524 1.39 5-16Ar-5 Low-E 76 70 to 82
915 x 1524 1.39 triple 4-12Ar-4-12Ar-4 94 88 to 100 (dual balance)

Above roughly 68 kg the single-balance arrangement stops being adequate and the sash needs two balances or a constant-force spring cartridge, which requires a deeper jamb channel. That is a frame decision, not a glazing decision, so it has to be settled before the extrusion is ordered.

Thermal and air performance of hung sashes

A hung sash slides in a channel, so it cannot be pulled onto a compression gasket the way a casement sash is. Air permeability of a well-built hung window sits at EN 12207 Class 2 to 3 against Class 3 to 4 for casement, and the meeting rail creates a second linear thermal bridge the casement does not have. Where the facade has a U-value target, casement is the safer choice; where the project is a retrofit with a fixed aperture, hung is often the only geometry that fits.

North American ratings

More detail on hung geometry and sizes is in house windows: double hung, basement and villa window specs and single-hung vs double-hung selection.

Triple Glazed Aluminium Windows: When the Third Pane Pays

Triple glazed aluminium windows add a third pane and a second cavity. The thermal return is real but smaller than most buyers expect, and the weight return is much larger than most buyers expect.

What the third pane buys

Configuration Ug (W/m2K) Uw, 24 mm PA frame Glass mass (kg/m2) FOB adder
4-16Ar-4 Low-E double 1.08 1.62 21 baseline
4-12Ar-4-12Ar-4 Low-E triple 0.66 1.31 32 + USD 32 to 48 / m2
4-12Ar-4-12Ar-4 with 2 x Low-E 0.66 1.31 32 + USD 38 to 55 / m2
5-16Ar-5 Low-E + warm edge 1.08 1.55 26 + USD 6 to 9 / m2

Going from double Low-E to triple Low-E moves Uw from 1.62 to 1.31 – about 0.31 W/m²K – and costs USD 32 to 48 per m². That is roughly USD 130 per unit of U-value saved per square metre of window. Compare with the warm-edge spacer at USD 6 to 9 for 0.046, which is roughly USD 160 per unit – comparable, but the absolute gain is small. The honest conclusion: the third pane is bought to reach a specific code number (Passive House Uw 0.80, Scandinavia, or a Minergie-style requirement), not as a general upgrade.

Weight, hardware and opening forces

Item Double 5-16Ar-5 Triple 4-12Ar-4-12Ar-4 Consequence
Glass mass 26 kg/m2 32 kg/m2 + 23 % on the sash
Sash, 1 200 x 1 500 52 kg 72 kg Hinge class 11 to 13
Sash, 1 200 x 2 400 83 kg 115 kg Two-person handling, lift equipment
Operating force Class 1 Class 2 to 3 EN 13115 measured after cycling
Hinge cycles 20 000 20 000 minimum, 25 000 advised EN 1935 grade
Frame depth needed 60 to 70 mm 80 to 95 mm Different extrusion family
A triple-glazed 1 200 x 2 400 casement sash at 115 kg cannot be hung, glazed and adjusted by a two-person residential crew with suction cups. Budget a glazing robot or a four-person crew, and check the site has access for it before ordering.

Acoustic benefit is smaller than expected

Tripling the glass adds mass but the two cavities are usually similar, which puts their mass-spring resonances close together. A 4-12-4-12-4 build typically measures Rw 33 dB against Rw 30 for a 4-16-4 – three decibels for a 23 % weight increase. For acoustic work an asymmetric build with a laminated inner pane is the better spend. See soundproof window construction.

Glass Thickness, Wind Load and Safety Glazing

Pane thickness is set by wind pressure and pane area, not by thermal performance. The governing relation for a rectangular pane simply supported on four sides is σmax = 0.266 · p · a² / t² with p in kPa, a the short side in m and t in mm, giving σ in MPa. Allowable stress is fk / γM with γM = 1.8.

Maximum short-side span by glass type

Glass type Thickness Allowable stress 0.5 kPa 1.0 kPa 1.5 kPa 2.0 kPa 2.5 kPa 3.0 kPa
Annealed (EN 572-1) 4 mm 25.0 MPa 1.73 1.23 1.00 0.87 0.78 0.71
Annealed (EN 572-1) 5 mm 25.0 MPa 2.17 1.53 1.25 1.08 0.97 0.88
Annealed (EN 572-1) 6 mm 25.0 MPa 2.60 1.84 1.50 1.30 1.16 1.06
Annealed (EN 572-1) 8 mm 25.0 MPa 3.47 2.45 2.00 1.73 1.55 1.42
Annealed (EN 572-1) 10 mm 25.0 MPa 4.34 3.07 2.50 2.17 1.94 1.77
Heat-strengthened (EN 1863) 4 mm 38.9 MPa 2.16 1.53 1.25 1.08 0.97 0.88
Heat-strengthened (EN 1863) 5 mm 38.9 MPa 2.70 1.91 1.56 1.35 1.21 1.10
Heat-strengthened (EN 1863) 6 mm 38.9 MPa 3.24 2.29 1.87 1.62 1.45 1.32
Heat-strengthened (EN 1863) 8 mm 38.9 MPa 4.33 3.06 2.50 2.16 1.93 1.77
Heat-strengthened (EN 1863) 10 mm 38.9 MPa 5.41 3.82 3.12 2.70 2.42 2.21
Tempered (EN 12150) 4 mm 66.7 MPa 2.83 2.00 1.64 1.42 1.27 1.16
Tempered (EN 12150) 5 mm 66.7 MPa 3.54 2.50 2.04 1.77 1.58 1.45
Tempered (EN 12150) 6 mm 66.7 MPa 4.25 3.00 2.45 2.12 1.90 1.73
Tempered (EN 12150) 8 mm 66.7 MPa 5.66 4.01 3.27 2.83 2.53 2.31
Tempered (EN 12150) 10 mm 66.7 MPa 7.08 5.01 4.09 3.54 3.17 2.89

In a symmetric insulating unit each pane carries roughly half of the short-term load, so the effective span is larger than for a single pane. The table below gives the short-side span for a symmetric tempered IGU under the same pressures.

Symmetric IGU build Allowable stress 0.5 kPa 1.0 kPa 1.5 kPa 2.0 kPa 2.5 kPa 3.0 kPa
4-16Ar-4 tempered 66.7 MPa 4.01 2.83 2.31 2.00 1.79 1.64
5-16Ar-5 tempered 66.7 MPa 5.01 3.54 2.89 2.50 2.24 2.04
6-16Ar-6 tempered 66.7 MPa 6.01 4.25 3.47 3.00 2.69 2.45
8-16Ar-8 tempered 66.7 MPa 8.01 5.66 4.62 4.01 3.58 3.27

Note the shape of the result: going from 1.0 kPa to 2.0 kPa halves the allowable span squared, so a pane that is comfortable at 1.5 m needs to roughly double in thickness to stay at 1.5 m when the design pressure doubles. This is why coastal and high-rise projects drive glass thickness, and why the wind map location belongs on the PO.

Safety glazing and heat-soak

Requirement Standard Result When it applies
Tempering EN 12150 Fragmentation count >= 40 per 50 x 50 mm Doors, low-level, large panes
Heat-strengthened EN 1863 70 MPa characteristic, not safety glass Thermal stress relief only
Heat-soak test EN 14179-1 Removes NiS stones; 0.1 to 0.2 % spontaneous breakage Tempered panes above 3 m2 or overhead
Laminated EN 14449 / EN ISO 12543 Class 1B to 2B2 per EN 12600 Overhead, balustrade infill, RC rated
Impact (US) ANSI Z97.1 / CPSC 16 CFR 1201 Cat I and II Hazardous locations per IBC 2406
Cyclonic ASTM E1886 / E1996 Missile levels A to E Miami-Dade and HVHZ

Heat-soak costs USD 4 to 7 per m² and removes the nickel-sulphide inclusion risk that otherwise shows up as a spontaneous break one to three years after installation. On a 500-window project with 0.15 % inclusion rate that is about one unexplained breakage per year; the test is cheaper than the call-out.

Condensation Risk at the Glass Edge

Condensation appears first at the glass edge, where the spacer and the frame meet. The temperature factor fRsi is the standard check: it is the ratio of the internal surface temperature difference to the full indoor-outdoor difference. EN ISO 13788 treats fRsi >= 0.70 as the mould threshold. A simpler field check is to compare the surface temperature against the dew point of the room air.

Dew point of room air

Relative humidity at 20 C Dew point
30 % 9.5 C
40 % 12.5 C
50 % 15.0 C
60 % 17.5 C
70 % 20.0 C

Surface temperature by build

Frame Glazing Spacer Uw Centre pane T at Te = -5 C Edge T at Te = -5 C
No thermal break (aluminium) 4-12A-4 float Alu box 4.13 10.7 6.6
No thermal break (aluminium) 4-12A-4 float TPS 4.03 10.7 6.9
No thermal break (aluminium) 4-16Ar-4 Low-E Alu box 2.83 16.5 10.8
No thermal break (aluminium) 4-16Ar-4 Low-E TPS 2.74 16.5 11.1
14 mm PA66 GF25 polyamide 4-12A-4 float Alu box 3.19 10.7 9.6
14 mm PA66 GF25 polyamide 4-12A-4 float TPS 3.10 10.7 9.9
14 mm PA66 GF25 polyamide 4-16Ar-4 Low-E Alu box 1.89 16.5 13.9
14 mm PA66 GF25 polyamide 4-16Ar-4 Low-E TPS 1.80 16.5 14.2
20 mm PA66 GF25 polyamide 4-12A-4 float Alu box 3.02 10.7 10.2
20 mm PA66 GF25 polyamide 4-12A-4 float TPS 2.93 10.7 10.5
20 mm PA66 GF25 polyamide 4-16Ar-4 Low-E Alu box 1.73 16.5 14.4
20 mm PA66 GF25 polyamide 4-16Ar-4 Low-E TPS 1.64 16.5 14.7
24 mm PA66 GF25 polyamide 4-12A-4 float Alu box 2.91 10.7 10.5
24 mm PA66 GF25 polyamide 4-12A-4 float TPS 2.82 10.7 10.8
24 mm PA66 GF25 polyamide 4-16Ar-4 Low-E Alu box 1.62 16.5 14.8
24 mm PA66 GF25 polyamide 4-16Ar-4 Low-E TPS 1.52 16.5 15.0
34 mm PA66 GF25 + foam insert 4-12A-4 float Alu box 2.80 10.7 10.9
34 mm PA66 GF25 + foam insert 4-12A-4 float TPS 2.71 10.7 11.2
34 mm PA66 GF25 + foam insert 4-16Ar-4 Low-E Alu box 1.51 16.5 15.1
34 mm PA66 GF25 + foam insert 4-16Ar-4 Low-E TPS 1.42 16.5 15.4
40 mm polyurethane (passive class) 4-12A-4 float Alu box 2.66 10.7 11.4
40 mm polyurethane (passive class) 4-12A-4 float TPS 2.57 10.7 11.6
40 mm polyurethane (passive class) 4-16Ar-4 Low-E Alu box 1.37 16.5 15.6
40 mm polyurethane (passive class) 4-16Ar-4 Low-E TPS 1.28 16.5 15.9

At 40 % indoor humidity the dew point is 12.5 C at a room temperature of 20 C and -5 C outside. An uncoated double unit in a 14 mm frame shows an edge temperature well below that, which is why condensation is reported on windows that are otherwise code-compliant. The frame and the spacer, not the glass, usually need to change.

What actually removes condensation

Acoustic Build-ups

Sound reduction through an insulating unit is governed by mass, cavity width and – most importantly – by avoiding coincidence between the two panes. Two panes of the same thickness over the same cavity have a mass-spring-mass resonance that produces a measurable dip in the 200 to 400 Hz band.

Measured build-ups

Build-up Approximate Rw Light transmission g value (SHGC)
4-16A-4 float Rw 30 dB 0.87 0.82
6-16A-6 float Rw 32 dB 0.85 0.80
4-16Ar-4 Low-E Rw 30 dB 0.70 0.63
6-16Ar-6 Low-E Rw 32 dB 0.68 0.61
Asymmetric 6-16Ar-4 Low-E Rw 33 dB 0.68 0.61
6-16Ar-6.4 laminated Rw 36 dB 0.66 0.58
8-16Ar-8.8 acoustic laminated Rw 40 dB 0.62 0.54
Triple 4-12Ar-4-12Ar-4 Rw 33 dB 0.60 0.52

The asymmetric 6-16Ar-4 build measures about 1 dB better than a symmetric 6-16Ar-6 for the same total mass, because the two panes no longer share a coincidence frequency. A laminated inner pane with a 0.76 mm PVB interlayer is worth 3 to 5 dB on its own and is the standard answer for sites near roads or railways.

Frame sealing dominates the installed result

A 1 mm continuous gap around a sash is 0.30 % of the window area but reduces the installed reduction from Rw 40 dB to about Rw 25 dB. In practice the installed acoustic result is set by the compression seal and the perimeter joint, not by the glass build. Specify the seal and the installation detail together with the glass.

Solar Control and Light Transmission

The g value (solar heat gain coefficient in North America) and the light transmission are set by the coating and the glass body, and they move in the same direction: reducing solar gain almost always reduces daylight. The correct selection depends on orientation and on whether the building is heating-dominated or cooling-dominated.

Coating and body tint options

Glass specification g value Light transmission Selectivity (LT/g) Best use
4 mm clear float 0.82 0.90 1.10 Greenhouses, passive solar gain
Clear / Low-E (hard coat) 0.72 0.82 1.14 Heating-dominated, north facade
Clear / Low-E (soft coat) 0.63 0.78 1.24 Temperate, mixed
Solar control Low-E 0.40 0.66 1.65 West and east elevations
Solar control, high selectivity 0.34 0.62 1.82 Large south glazing
Body tinted grey 6 mm + Low-E 0.30 0.45 1.50 Hot climates, glare control
Reflective coated 0.22 0.28 1.27 Facade uniformity, low glare
Double Low-E on surfaces 2 and 5 0.52 0.72 1.38 Triple glazing in cooling climates

Selectivity – the ratio of light transmission to g value – is the number to compare. A coating with LT/g above 1.6 delivers noticeably more daylight per unit of solar heat rejected, which matters on a west elevation where the afternoon gain arrives at the same time as the cooling peak.

Orientation rule

Where the project has both a winter heating load and a summer cooling load, the correct answer is usually a moderate g value with external shading, not a very low g value. A low-g coating removes free winter heat every day of the heating season.

Gas Retention, Leakage and Altitude

An argon-filled unit is sealed, not hermetic. EN 1279-3 sets the acceptance criteria: initial gas concentration at least 90 % and a leakage rate of no more than 1 % per year. That rate is what turns a specification into a lifetime.

Argon concentration and Ug

Argon concentration Ug (4-16Ar-4 Low-E) Delta vs 90 %
90 % 1.113 +0.000
80 % 1.146 +0.033
70 % 1.179 +0.066
50 % 1.244 +0.131
30 % 1.307 +0.194
0 % 1.398 +0.285

Service life projection at the EN 1279-3 limit

Year Argon remaining Ug Cumulative change
0 90.0 % 1.113 +0.000
5 85.6 % 1.128 +0.015
10 81.4 % 1.142 +0.029
15 77.4 % 1.155 +0.042
20 73.6 % 1.167 +0.054
25 70.0 % 1.179 +0.066

At the EN 1279-3 limit the unit loses about 0.006 W/m²K per year, so a unit specified at 1.08 is around 1.15 to 1.20 after 20 years. That is within the noise of the calculation; what matters more is that a failing seal lets moisture in, and the desiccant saturation shows up as fogging long before the U-value has moved measurably.

Altitude: the pressure differential nobody specifies

An insulating unit sealed at a factory near sea level carries an internal pressure of about 101 kPa. Transport it to a site at 2 640 m where the ambient pressure is 73 kPa and the two panes bow outward by the difference. This is the cause of “pillowed” units and of seal failures that get blamed on manufacturing.

Location Elevation Ambient pressure Differential vs sea level
Foshan (manufacture) 5 m 101.3 kPa 0.0 kPa
Denver 1609 m 83.4 kPa 17.8 kPa
Mexico City 2240 m 77.2 kPa 24.1 kPa
Bogota 2640 m 73.4 kPa 27.9 kPa
Quito 2850 m 71.5 kPa 29.8 kPa
La Paz 3640 m 64.6 kPa 36.7 kPa
Lhasa 3650 m 64.5 kPa 36.8 kPa
Above roughly 1 200 m of elevation difference, specify a capillary or breather tube on the unit (USD 2 to 4 per m²), or order the units manufactured with a reduced-pressure fill. Without it the cavity expands, the panes pillow, the optical distortion is visible, and the secondary seal is put into permanent tension.

Two more pressure effects are worth writing into the specification. Units that travel by air freight see the same differential in reverse on descent, and units installed behind an external shading device can reach 70 C in the cavity, raising the internal pressure by about 12 kPa on top of the altitude term.

Certification and Test Evidence

Four documents cover most of what a buyer can reasonably ask for. Each one has a scope, and the scope is where suppliers and buyers disagree.

What each document covers

Document Standard What it proves What it does NOT prove
CE marking of the window EN 14351-1, AVCP System 3 Air, water, wind, U-value, and (if declared) acoustics It does not prove the value in the brochure – the DoP states the declared class, not the claimed class
IGU CE marking EN 1279-1 to -6 Seal durability, gas leakage, dew point It does not cover the installed unit; the window retains its own DoP
NFRC label (US) NFRC 100 / 200 / 500 U-factor, SHGC, VT from simulation plus test It is product-line specific; a 1 200 x 1 500 label does not cover 1 200 x 2 400
Miami-Dade NOA TAS 201 / 202 / 203 Impact and cyclic pressure for the tested build It covers only the tested combination – a different spacer or interlayer exits the approval
IGMA / IGCC (US) ASTM E2190 / E2188 / E2189 Seal durability and fogging Not a thermal or structural rating
AS 2047 (Australia) AS 2047 + AS 1288 Wind and water class N1 to N6, glass per AS 1288 Does not replace the WERS energy rating

Checking the numbers

Related certification detail for the European market is covered in fenetre aluminium: AEV, Acotherm and RE2020 and for Iberian projects in ventanas de aluminio: CTE Uw and AEV.

FOB Pricing Matrix

All figures below are FOB Foshan, per square metre of window area, for powder-coated aluminium frames with either aluminium casement or fixed lights, standard hardware and no customs or inland costs. Volume tiers are per order, not per container.

Configuration by volume tier

Configuration USD / m2, 100-299 m2 USD / m2, 300-799 m2 USD / m2, 800-1999 m2 USD / m2, 2000+ m2
C1 non-thermal-break, 4-16A-4 float 62 – 78 58 – 73 55 – 69 51 – 64
C2 14 mm PA, 5-16Ar-5 Low-E 95 – 118 89 – 111 84 – 104 78 – 97
C3 20 mm PA, 5-16Ar-5 Low-E 118 – 145 111 – 136 104 – 128 97 – 119
C4 24 mm PA, 5-16Ar-5 Low-E + warm edge 132 – 162 124 – 152 116 – 143 108 – 133
C5 34 mm PA, 5-16Ar-5 Low-E + argon + TPS 148 – 180 139 – 169 130 – 158 121 – 148
C6 34 mm PA, triple 4-12Ar-4-12Ar-4 Low-E 185 – 235 174 – 221 163 – 207 152 – 193
C7 40 mm PU passive, triple Low-E 210 – 265 197 – 249 185 – 233 172 – 217

Upgrade adders

Option USD / m2 Option USD / m2
Low-E soft coat on surface 3 4 – 7 Heat-soak test (EN 14179) 4 – 7
Argon fill 90 % + EN 1279-3 certificate 3 – 5 Tinted body glass (grey / bronze) 6 – 10
Krypton fill (9-12 mm cavity) 18 – 26 Obscure / satin acid etch 9 – 14
Warm-edge spacer replacing aluminium 6 – 9 Capillary breather tube for altitude 2 – 4
TPS thermoplastic spacer 8 – 12 Steel reinforcement in sash 5 – 9
Third pane (4 mm) + second cavity 32 – 48 Concealed drainage / pressure-equalised frame 8 – 13
Laminated inner pane 6.4 mm PVB 22 – 34 NFRC label + simulation file 2 – 4
Acoustic laminated 8.8 mm PVB 30 – 44 Miami-Dade NOA documentation package 12 – 20
Tempering both panes (EN 12150) 7 – 11
The two lines that catch buyers out are the NFRC / NOA documentation package and the heat-soak test: both are per-order engineering costs that do not scale down with a small order. On a 60 m² order they can add 8 to 12 % to the unit price.

For a cost comparison across opening types see double glazed windows and aluminum window frame cost data and aluminium windows and doors: double and triple glazed specs.

Commercial Terms and Inspection Points

Standard terms

Item Standard Notes
MOQ 50 m2 or 30 openings, whichever is larger Below this the extrusion set-up fee applies
Lead time 25 to 40 days after drawing approval Add 7 to 12 days for laminated or triple
Payment 30 % deposit, 70 % against B/L copy L/C at sight accepted above USD 50 000
Sample 300 x 300 corner sample, chargeable, refunded on order 7 days
Warranty 10 years frame and coating, 10 years IGU seal Excludes glass breakage after handover
Spare parts 2 % of hardware value shipped free Handles, keeps, gasket, screws
Drawings Shop drawings for approval in 5 to 7 days Buyer approval is the single largest schedule risk

Inspection before shipment

  1. Dimensional check against the approved shop drawing, 3 units per size.
  2. Glass build verification: measure the overall unit thickness and check it against the ordered build (for example 5-16-5 = 26 mm).
  3. Coating thickness: 8 to 12 readings per order with a dry-film gauge; reject below 60 um for Qualicoat Class 2.
  4. IGU dew point: EN 1279-2 spot check on one unit per 200.
  5. Operating force: 5 units cycled 25 times, force measured per EN 13115.
  6. Dry assembly of one complete unit per size with photographs – this step catches more errors than all the others combined.
  7. Crate drop and tilt marking, corner protection, and desiccant bags in every crate.
  8. Container loading photographs: door open, half loaded, and sealed.

Of the above, the dry-assembly photograph is the one that pays for itself. It exposes handed hardware, wrong keep positions and reversed sashes before 300 units are built.

Packing and Container Maths

Window crates are glass-limited, not frame-limited: glass cannot be nested, so the crate volume is set by the glass footprint times the stack height. Knock-down frames save little because the glass is unchanged. The practical conclusion is that shipping assembled windows is normally correct, and the optimisation is crate height and payload utilisation.

Units per 40 ft high cube

Size IGU build Area m2 Packed kg Packed m3 By volume By weight Shipped Governing limit Payload used
S1 1.0 x 1.2 m G1 1.20 42.4 0.212 320 589 320 volume 54 %
S1 1.0 x 1.2 m G2 1.20 49.1 0.212 320 508 320 volume 63 %
S1 1.0 x 1.2 m G3 1.20 55.9 0.212 320 447 320 volume 72 %
S1 1.0 x 1.2 m G4 1.20 57.1 0.212 320 438 320 volume 73 %
S1 1.0 x 1.2 m G5 1.20 53.3 0.212 320 468 320 volume 68 %
S1 1.0 x 1.2 m G6 1.20 64.2 0.212 320 389 320 volume 82 %
S2 1.23 x 1.48 m G1 1.82 61.2 0.286 238 408 238 volume 58 %
S2 1.23 x 1.48 m G2 1.82 71.4 0.286 238 349 238 volume 68 %
S2 1.23 x 1.48 m G3 1.82 81.6 0.286 238 306 238 volume 78 %
S2 1.23 x 1.48 m G4 1.82 83.5 0.286 238 299 238 volume 80 %
S2 1.23 x 1.48 m G5 1.82 77.8 0.286 238 321 238 volume 74 %
S2 1.23 x 1.48 m G6 1.82 94.3 0.286 238 265 238 volume 90 %
S3 1.5 x 2.4 m G1 3.60 115.3 0.496 137 216 137 volume 63 %
S3 1.5 x 2.4 m G2 3.60 135.4 0.496 137 184 137 volume 74 %
S3 1.5 x 2.4 m G3 3.60 155.6 0.496 137 160 137 volume 85 %
S3 1.5 x 2.4 m G4 3.60 159.2 0.496 137 157 137 volume 87 %
S3 1.5 x 2.4 m G5 3.60 147.9 0.496 137 169 137 volume 81 %
S3 1.5 x 2.4 m G6 3.60 180.6 0.496 137 138 137 volume 99 %

Every configuration in the table is volume-governed, but the margin narrows fast: the 3.6 m² unit with an 8.8 mm acoustic laminated inner pane reaches 99 % of the 25 t payload at 137 units. One step heavier – a third pane plus laminate – would flip it to weight-governed, and then the container is half empty by volume while the truck is full. That is the point at which splitting the order across two containers, or shipping glass and frames separately, starts to pay.

Crate design

Unlike furniture or shutters, window crates carry dead weight that cannot be compressed. If a project is near the payload limit, the saving comes from reducing crate dunnage and from shipping glass units and frames in separate crates so the heavy glass can be stacked to the full container height.

Landed Cost and Duty

FOB is roughly half of what an installed window costs at a European or North American site. The worked example below uses the reference size (1.82 m², 238 units per container = 433 m² per 40 ft high cube) and a C4 configuration at the 300 to 799 m² tier.

Two ports, four duty scenarios

Port Duty FOB USD/m2 Freight Insurance CIF Duty Delivered + install USD/m2
Rotterdam 0 % 137.0 7.39 0.51 144.90 0.00 214.90
Rotterdam 6 % 137.0 7.39 0.51 144.90 8.69 223.59
Rotterdam 25 % 137.0 7.39 0.51 144.90 36.22 251.12
Rotterdam 45 % 137.0 7.39 0.51 144.90 65.20 280.10
Long Beach 0 % 137.0 5.54 0.50 143.04 0.00 213.04
Long Beach 6 % 137.0 5.54 0.50 143.04 8.58 221.62
Long Beach 25 % 137.0 5.54 0.50 143.04 35.76 248.80
Long Beach 45 % 137.0 5.54 0.50 143.04 64.37 277.41

Freight allocation is USD 5.54 to 7.39 per m² – about 4 to 5 % of the FOB price. Duty is the variable that matters: between 0 % and 45 % the delivered price swings by about USD 62 per m², which is larger than the entire freight component and comparable to the gap between a 14 mm and a 34 mm thermal break.

Confirm the classification before quoting. Aluminium windows normally fall in heading 7610, but assembled units with wooden or composite subframes can be reclassified, and several markets apply additional measures on aluminium articles. The written confirmation costs a day and is worth more than any discount negotiated on the FOB line.

Sensitivity: what changes the decision

Installation and Commissioning

Sequence

  1. Check the structural opening against the approved shop drawing before unpacking. A 15 mm error in the opening cannot be corrected with fixings.
  2. Set the frame on packers at the fixing points only; never pack under the middle of a sill.
  3. Fix through the frame at 150 mm from each corner and at 500 to 600 mm centres. Fixings must not pass through the polyamide thermal break.
  4. Check frame squareness on both diagonals before glazing: tolerance 2 mm on a 2 400 mm frame.
  5. Fit the sash, glaze, then fit the beads from the internal side on ground floor and from a protected side above.
  6. Set the compression on the locking keeps so a 0.2 mm feeler gauge meets resistance at all locking points.
  7. Apply the perimeter seal: airtight membrane inside, weather-tight but vapour-open membrane outside. Neutral-cure silicone only – acetoxy cure attacks anodised finishes and polyamide.
  8. Commission: cycle every sash 10 times, measure operating force, verify drainage slots are clear by pouring water into the frame channel, and record the results.

Drainage and pressure equalisation

A window frame is a channel that will collect water. The frame must have a pressure-equalised outer chamber drained to the outside through slots of at least 5 x 25 mm, and the slots must be fitted with baffles or flaps in exposed positions. The most common installation defect is sealing the drainage slots with the perimeter silicone bead – the frame then fills on the first storm and leaks through the transom joints.

Failure Modes

Six failures and where they are decided

Failure Symptom Root cause Decided at
Sash drop Sash binds at the lock side, gap at the hinge side Hinge class undersized for the actual glazed sash mass Specification
Edge condensation Water on the lowest 100 mm of glass and on the frame Aluminium spacer with an uncoated unit in a cool frame Specification
Unit fogging Permanent haze between the panes, 3 to 10 years in PIB continuity failure at a corner, or desiccant saturated at manufacture Manufacture
Pillowed units Visible optical distortion, reflected images wobble Altitude differential without a breather tube Specification
Frame leaks at transom Water on the internal sill after wind-driven rain Drainage slots blocked by the perimeter seal Installation
Coating chalking Powder film dulls and rubs off Class 1 powder used on a coastal elevation; AAMA 2603-grade film Specification

Four of the six are decided before the order reaches the factory, which is the practical argument for spending time on the glass build-up and the spacer rather than on negotiating the unit price.

Warranty exclusions to read before signing

Project Records

Utrecht, Netherlands – 240 windows, 8-storey apartment retrofit

Configuration C4: 24 mm polyamide break, 5-16Ar-5 Low-E with a warm-edge hybrid spacer, Uw 1.62 W/m²K, soft-coat emissivity 0.037, argon certified to EN 1279-3. Total 437 m² of window area on 240 openings, one 40 ft high cube plus one 20 ft. FOB USD 137 per m² at the 300 to 799 m² tier; delivered and installed USD 232 per m² at 6 % duty. The local alternative quoted was USD 339 per m² installed, a difference of 31.6 % or USD 46 750 on the package. Twelve months after handover there were zero condensation complaints against eleven logged on the previous single-glazed aluminium frames, and two service calls, both for handle adjustment after the first heating season.

Denver, United States – 68 windows, townhouse development at 1 609 m

Configuration C5 with a 6.4 mm laminated inner pane for hail, warm-edge spacer, capillary breather tubes on every unit for the 1 609 m elevation, NAFS R-PG40 with ASTM E1886 / E1996 small-missile compliance. Frame 34 mm polyamide, Uf 2.0, Uw 1.51. Delivered and installed USD 268 per m² against a local quote of USD 402 per m², a saving of 33.3 %. Without the breather tubes the site team measured an outward bow of 2.1 mm on the first two units delivered without them, which was the reason the tubes were retro-ordered for the balance of the shipment; the visual distortion was visible in reflected images at the third floor.

Selection Matrix

The decision between single, double and triple glazing, and between casement, hung and fixed, is a decision about which number has to be met. The table below is the short version.

Glazing levels compared

Parameter Single 6 mm Double 4-16Ar-4 Low-E Triple 4-12Ar-4-12Ar-4 Low-E
Centre-of-glass Ug 5.8 1.08 0.72
Uw, 24 mm frame, warm edge 3.9 1.55 1.24
Glass mass kg/m2 15 21 32
Rw (approximate) 31 dB 30 dB 33 dB
FOB adder baseline + USD 38 to 55 / m2 + USD 70 to 103 / m2
Sash weight, 1 200 x 1 500 38 kg 52 kg 72 kg
Condensation at 40 % RH, -5 C Yes No No
Where it is correct Sheds, internal screens Most code regimes Passive-class targets

Opening type compared

Parameter Casement Tilt and turn Double hung Sliding Fixed
Air permeability (EN 12207) Class 3 to 4 Class 3 to 4 Class 2 to 3 Class 2 to 3 Class 4
Water tightness (EN 12208) 7A to 9A 7A to 9A 5A to 7A 4B to 6B 9A
Frame fraction 0.26 to 0.30 0.26 to 0.30 0.30 to 0.36 0.22 to 0.28 0.12 to 0.18
Ventilation area Full Full or trickle 50 % max 50 % max None
Sash mass limit Hinge-limited Hinge-limited Balance-limited Roller-limited n/a
Cleaning above ground floor Restricted Internal cleaning Tilt-in sash Restricted External access

Where the project brief calls for aluminum casement windows – the North American spelling of the same product – the specification logic is identical: the sash is hinged and compressed, so air performance is the best available and the governing limits are hinge class and sash mass. The only differences are the ratings system (NAFS instead of EN) and the glass safety code (ANSI Z97.1 instead of EN 12600).

When aluminium is the wrong answer

RFQ Checklist

Technical – eight lines to send

  1. Glass build-up in full: pane thickness, coating and surface number, cavity width, gas type and concentration, spacer type.
  2. Required Uw and the calculation standard: EN ISO 10077-1 or NFRC 100, plus the reference size the value is declared for.
  3. Wind load: design pressure in kPa or psf, and the standard (EN 12210, AS 2047, NAFS PG).
  4. Safety glazing requirement: tempered, heat-soak, laminated, and the class (EN 12600, ANSI Z97.1, CPSC Cat II).
  5. Acoustic and solar targets: Rw in dB, g value and light transmission.
  6. Site elevation above sea level, and whether breather tubes are required.
  7. Frame: thermal break width, alloy and temper, wall thickness, coating class.
  8. Ratings and documents needed: CE DoP, EN 1279-3 certificate, NFRC label, NOA, and whether third-party testing is required.

Commercial – eight lines to send

  1. Total quantity in square metres and in number of openings, plus a size schedule.
  2. Target tier and whether partial shipments are acceptable.
  3. Incoterm and port.
  4. Required documents: certificate of origin, test reports, packing list with crate dimensions and masses.
  5. Spare parts percentage and the list of items required.
  6. Warranty period and what it excludes.
  7. Payment terms and whether an L/C is involved.
  8. Whether a sample unit is required before the production order, and who pays for it.

Glossary and Standards

Terms

Term Meaning
IGU Insulating glass unit – a factory-sealed assembly of two or more panes
Ug Centre-of-glass U-value, W/m2K, calculated to EN 673
Uf Frame U-value, W/m2K, measured or simulated to EN ISO 10077-2
Uw Whole-window U-value, W/m2K, EN ISO 10077-1
Psi (Ψ) Linear thermal transmittance of the spacer, W/mK
fRsi Temperature factor at the internal surface; 0.70 is the mould threshold
Low-E coating Low-emissivity metallic coating, emissivity 0.03 to 0.20
Warm edge Spacer with Psi below about 0.050 W/mK
TPS Thermoplastic spacer – a continuous extruded profile with integrated sealant
PIB Polyisobutylene primary seal; the gas and moisture barrier of the unit
Heat soak EN 14179-1 furnace treatment to remove nickel-sulphide inclusions
g value Total solar energy transmittance; called SHGC in North America
NAFS North American Fenestration Standard; grades R, LC, CW, AW
NOA Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance; covers only the tested combination
DoP Declaration of Performance under Regulation (EU) 305/2011

Standards index

Standard Subject
EN 673 Calculation of the thermal transmittance of glass
EN 1279-1 to -6 Insulating glass units: definition, durability, gas leakage
EN ISO 10077-1 / -2 Thermal transmittance of windows and frames
EN ISO 13788 Internal surface temperature to avoid critical humidity
EN 12150 / EN 1863 Thermally toughened / heat-strengthened glass
EN 14449 / EN ISO 12543 Laminated glass
EN 14179-1 Heat-soaked thermally toughened glass
EN 12600 Pendulum impact classification of glass
EN 12207 / 12208 / 12210 Air permeability / water tightness / wind resistance
EN 14351-1 Windows and doors – product standard, CE marking
EN 13115 / EN 13126 Operating forces / hardware for windows
EN 1935 / EN 12209 Hinges / locks and strikes
EN 16612 Determination of the load resistance of glass by calculation
EN 1999-1-1 Design of aluminium structures
ASTM E1300 / E1886 / E1996 Glass load resistance / cyclonic impact
NFRC 100 / 200 / 500 U-factor / SHGC / visible transmittance
NAFS AAMA/WDMA/CSA 101/I.S.2/A440 North American fenestration standard
AS 2047 / AS 1288 Australian windows / glass in buildings
ISO 9227 Salt-spray testing – batch ranking, not life prediction
Qualicoat / Qualanod / AAMA 2605 Coating specifications for aluminium

Window series

Glazed structures and other markets

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