16 | MARCH 2020
News
Read online at www.proinstaller.co.uk
A WINDOW TO A
GREENER
WORLD
How composite windows
About Exel Composites:
and doors can boost
energy efficiency
As part of the tenth annual World
Green Building Week, which took place in
September 2019, the World Green Building
Council (WorldGBC) issued a bold vision
for how buildings around the world can
reach 40 per cent less embodied carbon
emissions by 2030. To meet this goal,
changes need to be implemented through-
out a building’s infrastructure. Here, Gert
De Roover, building, construction and
infrastructure manager at leading compos-
ites technology company Exel Composites,
explains why composite materials contrib-
ute to the drive for greener buildings.
According to WorldGBC, buildings and
construction are responsible for 39 per
cent of global energy-related carbon emis-
sions. Out of this, 28 per cent come from
the operational “in use” phase to heat,
power and cool buildings while eleven
per cent of these emissions are attribut-
ed to embodied carbons — the carbon
released during construction and material
manufacturing. But no matter where these
carbon emissions come from, the sector
must tackle energy inefficiency across the
entire building lifecycle. A way of improv-
ing building efficiency is to evaluate where
energy is wasted. One area that contrib-
utes to a large portion of wasted energy is
through a building’s entry and exit points,
or its windows and doors.
Keep in heat in
On average, around 30 per cent of a
building’s heat escapes through its win-
dows alone. During colder months, the
efforts of a building’s heating system can
be in vain as much of the expense and
energy to keep the building at a desirable
temperature goes to waste.
Unlike metal, fiberglass composite mate-
rials are effective thermal insulators, mak-
ing them the ideal candidate for window
and door frames. Typically, insulation in an
aluminium window frame is referred to as
a thermal break — the continuous barrier
between the inside and outside window
frames that prevents thermal energy loss.
While effective, this insulation method
requires thicker frames, which can alter
the desired appearance of windows. The
insulating properties of composite materi-
als such as fiberglass mean that there is no
need for a thermal break, as the material
is capable of ensuring thermal efficiency
alone.
Built to last
When a wooden frame faces changes
in moisture and humidity, it risks warp-
ing, swelling, or contracting. This could
impact the condition and operation of the
window or door, and create draught space
for warm air to escape and cold air to leak
out. Repeated exposure to moisture may
even cause rot. Unlike wood, fiberglass
doesn’t expand or contract when exposed
to wet or humid conditions, and it does
not rot, meaning it can last longer and
work effectively in any environmental
conditions.
While another common window frame
and door material, polyvinyl chloride
(PVC), does not swell or warp like wood,
it presents its own challenges. PVC can
be easily misshapen, so metal inserts are
sandwiched between the exterior and
interior frames of the window to match
wood’s structural stiffness. However, the
problem arises when the seal binding
these elements together isn’t maintained
— stopping it from keeping the elements
out and the heat in. These inserts create
complexity, and complexity can create
costs. Fiberglass window frames do not re-
quire structural inserts, as the stiff material
is manufactured in a single profile.
Combining forces
From a materials performance per-
spective, fiberglass offers several benefits
over traditional materials. First it has the
stiffness and strength without the need for
adding stiffeners, and this simplifies the
manufacturing process. Secondly, fiber-
glass is resistant to thermal expansion,
corrosion and rot. This means less mainte-
nance over the lifespan of the window or
Exel Composites, a global technology
company headquartered in Finland, is
the world’s largest manufacturer of
pultruded and pull-wound composite
solutions. Our global manufactur-
ing, R&D, and sales footprint serves
customers across a broad range of
industries and applications. With 60
years of composites experience and
engineering expertise, we work closely
with our customers to design and
manufacture high quality composite
solutions using carbon fiber, fiber-
glass, and other high-performance
materials. Our composites help reduce
weight, improve performance, and de-
crease total life cycle costs, all while
helping increase energy efficiencies
and supporting environmental sus-
tainability.
door frame. Thirdly, fiberglass frames are
a great insulator helping to retain heat or
cooling to help save energy.
No matter where you use composites,
the benefits of the material will greatly im-
pact the efficiency of windows and doors.
With our engineering and manufacturing
experience, we produce cost-competitive
window and door profiles that meet both
your desired aesthetic and which help save
costs across the window’s lifetime.
In order to improve sustainability,
homeowners and construction companies
will have to take a number of measures to
reduce unnecessary energy loss. Windows
and doors may be a necessary feature in
any home, but the wasted energy that es-
capes out of them is anything but needed.
To tackle lost energy and improve efficien-
cy, composite materials for windows and
doors are an advantageous option.
www.exelcomposites.com