NFRC Labels
When choosing which vinyl windows to buy you may come across a lot of information that references NFRC labels. This stands for National Fenestration Rating Council, an independent group that is responsible for rating the performance of windows and doors in various categories. The reason behind this is they use universal measurements meaning a consumer can reliably and accurately know the performance behind the products they are going to buy.
Climate Solutions Windows & Doors is of course registered with the NFRC, as the premier vinyl window manufacturer in the Midwest, based in the Chicagoland area, covering Wisconsin, Indiana, Minnesota, Illinois and of course Chicago itself. The years of experience have given Climate Solutions a deep understanding of the NFRC system and how to design and produce a vinyl window that performs excellently, thus giving superb energy efficiency and ultimately lowering bills for the homeowner.
There are three mandatory sections on NFRC labels:
U-Factor – the lower the number the better
Solar Heat Gain Co-Efficient (SHGC) – the lower the number the better Visible Transmittance (VT) – the higher the number the better.
So what is a U-Factor? What is SHGC? What does VT mean on a window label? It’s best to break down the numbers into their individual categories.
The U-Factor is the most important number, very simply the U-Factor shows how much energy can be transferred between the outside and inside through the window or door. The lower the number the better – if you have a U-Factor below 0.27 then the window or door will hit Energy Star 2016 rating, which potentially opens up tax rebates. All Climate Solutions vinyl windows and doors have glazing and insulating options which can match and exceed 0.27 U-Factor – call 847-233-9800 to speak to one of our advisors today to find out how.
Solar Heat Gain Co-Efficient (SHGC) measures the amount of the sun’s radiation that is getting into your home. The lower it is, the better and this can reduce not only heat but things such as fading furniture from light damage. To reduce this the most we recommend our Low Emissivity glass with 3 layers of silver, which significantly lowers the ratings.
Visible Transmittance (VT) is the easiest to understand, it measures how much light comes through the window. While Low-Emissivity glass hugely improves the U-Factor and the SHGC it can also make the glass darker – the VT is a brilliant way of making sure that you know if your window is going to be darker.
All Climate Solutions vinyl windows and doors come with an NFRC label attached, this is very important as inspectors often need to see these as proof that the windows and doors meet their respective codes.
Please feel to call us at 847.233.9800 and will be happy to answer any questions you have in regards to becoming a Climate Solutions Certified Dealer, or alternatively contact us through our Online Contact Form.
