Aluminium was the material of choice for commercial and residential windows and doors until we became more conscious of the environment and the impact we make on it. As a conductor of heating aluminium provides very poor insulation against winter weather and protection from the summer sun, and as a result u-PVC became the preferred material.

With significant research and investment systems companies now use thermal barriers that can dramatically improve the insulation and energy efficiency of windows, doors and framing systems. Whilst science was never my favourite subject at school I do remember the lessons we were taught about thermal transmittance and how to stop it. Putting a non-conductive material in between the sections like we do with our polyamide range of products greatly improves the thermal performance of the systems.

Before technology enabled developments and polyamide became the material of choice aluminium windows were offered with a resin thermal break. Using a cut and pour process the resin was poured between the cut sections of an aluminium profile, however the insulation it provided was not sufficient for modern buildings.

The impact of the improved thermal performance on the environment is significant. A reduction up to 40% in building cooling costs can be achieved in the summer and in the winder a reduction of up to 32% in heating costs can be achieved. Both of these mean that the construction industry is able to build and design properties that are energy efficient and allow natural light to flood into a room creating comfortable environments to work or live in.