What is Thermal Barrier Aluminum?

What is a Thermalized aluminum window?

In addition to having double or triple insulated glass, along with other performance options such as Thermal E+™ and tinting, a Thermalized window offers another important feature. The window frame and sash frames are insulated against heat and cold conduction. This is done by separating the outside metal parts from the inside with a material such as polyurethane, greatly reducing the amount of heat or cold transferred through the frames. This feature is known as a thermal break or thermal barrier.

How does a Thermalized window perform?

Thermalized windows are manufactured from close-tolerance aluminum extrusions.

All of our thermal barrier aluminum frames are heat strengthened by bringing the raw aluminum up to a T5 temper to increase both strength and rigidity.

This allows us to build extremely large windows without affecting performance like most aluminum windows. They have lower air leakage and higher resistance to heat transfer than non thermal break windows. With double glazing, they will stop 26% to 38% of the heat lost through comparable wood windows made at local millwork shops.

A thermalized aluminum window performance is equal to or better than well-made wood windows.

Thermalized aluminum windows surpass strict industry specifications. Air leakage with a 25 MPH wind blowing outside cannot exceed 0.375 cubic feet per minute (CFM) for every foot of weather-stripped window perimeter. Our 700 Series Double Hung allows only 0.06 CFM air infiltration - one sixth of the industry standard! Old, worn out windows often have rates of 1.5 or more, 25 times the air leakage of our best Thermalized aluminum windows!

Do Thermalized windows prevent condensation?

No window is condensation-proof. Even walls will "sweat" under high humidity. Windows do not cause condensation; they simply prevent moisture from escaping and provide a surface that allows condensation to be readily seen. If inside glass and frame surfaces on a Thermalized window show excessive moisture, you can be sure that moisture is also present in your walls and ceiling.

What is the recommended interior humidity level?

The maximum recommended interior relative humidity ranges from 15% at -20ºF to a maximum of 40% at +30º. Many homes have been built "tighter" to conserve energy, leading to indoor humidity above the recommended levels. The best way to handle high indoor humidity is to vent the moisture to the outside. Bathrooms, kitchens and laundry areas should be vented with a fan, or by opening windows slightly when the areas are in use. If that does not help, a dehumidifier might be necessary. To learn more about condensation, click here.