Winter's coming – don’t leave your windows out in the cold

The future is now

Double or triple glazing and thermally broken frames – advanced engineering that saves money and keeps home snug right across our variable climate country – now Altus Advanced Window Systems has taken window/door insulation to the next level.

In most traditional window installations, the window frame sits outside the building’s thermal envelope – exposing the frame to cold air and so making it vulnerable to heat loss.

The Window Systems Pacific52™ Thermal Recessed Frame by Altus® takes a different, more efficient approach.

Standing apart by no longer standing out

With the Window Systems Pacific52™ Thermal Recessed Frame, aligning the thermal break with the building’s insulation line and sealing the frame with expanding foam keeps the inner frame protected from cold air circulation, thereby improving the thermal performance and energy efficiency of the whole system.  

In practical terms, this means less chance of condensation forming while also making it easier to control the internal temperature of the home. 

A discretionary spend? But the pay back is real

This translates into dramatic energy and bill savings and naturally the colder your environment, the greater the savings.

If you’re upgrading from double glazed but non-thermally broken frames to the Window Systems Pacific52™ Thermal Recessed Frame this is a rough look at how long it will take to pay back the cost before pure savings take over.

Region/payback

• Auckland – 8.8 years
• Hamilton – 6.1 years
• Wellington – 5.7 years
• Christchurch – 4.5 years
• Dunedin – 3.6 years
• Queenstown – 3.2 years

As with solar panelling, intelligent investment up front brings payback down the line.

Warm/healthy winter living with cold (and condensation) locked out

The Pacific52™ system is the ideal solution if you’re looking for a more comfortable, warmer, drier home. 

The system uses a ‘Polyamide Strip’ to form a thermal barrier between the interior and exterior parts of the window or door frame. 

This barrier significantly reduces the transference of heat from the inside of the frame to the outside, thus restricting the amount of heat leaving (or the cold passing into) your house via your window system. 

As a result, less energy is required to maintain a steady temperature. 

Under controlled conditions where the interior temperature is 20° and the outdoor temperature is zero degrees, the interior surface of a recessed window frame typically stays at 13° compared to that of a traditional frame which drops to just 3°. 

Home and dry

That 10° difference is also vital in preventing condensation, especially in homes with humidity. 

By keeping surfaces above the dew point, recessed frames help reduce mould risk and improve indoor air quality.

In practical terms the Recessed Frame’s higher minimum temperature means far less energy is required to regulate and maintain the interior temperature versus that needed for a traditional frame. 

Clean-lined and beautiful

In visual terms less can be more and the Window Systems Pacific52™ Thermal Recessed Frame reinforces this thinking.

Visual clutter is a thing of the past.

The joinery perimeter lines up with the exterior of the building, while the body of the window is recessed, creating a beautiful depth visually which can really complement any project and works particularly well with strong monolithic forms. 

Details and benefits

• This recessed window system is compliant with all typical E2/AS1 installation details.
• It can be used with most proprietary claddings while still maintaining the insulating line of the building, i.e. the recessed frame flexibly interfaces with the chosen cladding system while maintaining thermal barrier alignment.
• The Window Systems Pacific52™ Thermal Recessed Frame requires no extra parts or custom-made flashings to install the window – reducing time, cost and risk.
• There are no special installation requirements, meaning you achieve a reliable installation every time.

Suited to a range of project situations

The Recessed Frame is available in the following products: 

• Windows – awning and casement 

• Hinged and French doors 

• Bifold doors 

• Euroslider™ and Eurostacker™ doors

Technical data and installation details

Visit Altus Advanced Window Systems for installation info.

Take a deeper dive 

Find out how the Window Systems Pacific52™ Thermal Recessed Frame by Altus® can benefit your project.

Phone: 0800 4ALTUS (425 887)

Email: altus.enquiry@altus.co.nz

Website: altus.co.nz

Story by: Altus