There are a lot of factors to consider when selecting the correct windows for a building project, with R-value being a key factor in determining occupancy comfort year-round.
R-value is the measure of thermal resistance in an insulating material. In other words, the R-value of a window demonstrates the window’s capacity to resist heat flow from one side to the other. A higher R-value means greater resistance to heat conduction through the window, and thus the greater thermal performance. The better a window’s ability to insulate from the ceaseless fluctuations of weather outside the more comfortable the interior environment will be throughout the year.
Beyond occupant comfort, poor R-values in windows also contribute to higher heating and cooling bills by putting more demand on a building’s heating and cooling systems.
Our R-values range from R-3.57 to R-8 for windows and R-5 to R-15 for doors. To preserve the thermal integrity of your building project, we do not recommend R-values lower than R-3.
Another measurement of window integrity is the U-value. Inversely, the U-value is the amount of heat that escapes through the window. This number should be as low as possible to maintain optimal occupancy comfort year-round.
R-value: the higher the number the better / U-value: the lower the number the better
