This article outlines the assumptions used to calculate the impact for windows starting from V20 of our eTool Default dataset.
The windows frames are modeled based on 1 square meter of visible window area and are based on 4 typical frame types in ecoinvent.
- Aluminium window frame, U=1.6 W/m2K
- Poly vinyl chloride (PVC) window frame, U=1.6 W/m2K
- Wood-metal (hybrid) window frame, U=1.6 W/m2K
- Wood window frame, U=1.5 W/m2K
The material mix for each frame types are as below. Note that the masses below are for domestic fixed/closed windows.
| Frame Types | ||||
| Materials (kg) | Aluminium | PVC | Wood/Metal | Wood |
| Aluminium | 39.7 | 0 | 12.2 | 3.1 |
| Glass Fibre Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) | 5.3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rubber | 4.9 | 1.5 | 2.9 | 1.1 |
| Poly vinyl chloride (PVC) | 0 | 58.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Steel | 0 | 30 | 10.2 | 10.3 |
| Paint | 0 | 0 | 5.1 | 5 |
| Wood | 0 | 0 | 53 | 60 |
| Other | 1.1 | 4.2 | 0.6 | 0.5 |
| TOTAL WEIGHT (kg) | 51 | 94 | 84 | 80.0 |
For open-able windows and commercial frames the window frame weights are increased as below:
|
Window type |
Multiplier |
|
Domestic closed |
0% |
|
Domestic open |
16% |
|
Commercial closed |
25% |
|
Commercial open |
64% |
The window frames in the eTool Default Dataset include glazing options – i.e. single or double glazed. The data assumes all glazing layers are 6mm.
As eTool window data is based on kg, below are the assumptions for glazing to frame ratio for each window type by mass:
|
Window Frame to Glazing Ratios in eTool Default Dataset |
Glass mass |
Frame mass |
|
Glazing | Windows | Aluminium Framed | No Thermal Break | Double Glaze, Commercial 50% Opening |
19% |
81% |
|
Glazing | Windows | Aluminium Framed | No Thermal Break | Single Glaze, Commercial 50% Opening |
16% |
84% |
|
Glazing | Windows | Aluminium Framed | Thermal Break | Double Glaze, Commercial 50% Opening |
19% |
81% |
|
Glazing | Windows | Aluminium Framed | Thermal Break | Single Glaze, Commercial 50% Opening |
16% |
84% |
|
Glazing | Windows | Hybrid Framed | Double Glaze Ali and Timber , Commercial 50% Opening |
13% |
87% |
|
Glazing | Windows | Hybrid Framed | Single Glaze Ali and Timber , Commercial 50% Opening |
10% |
90% |
|
Glazing | Windows | PVC Framed | PVC Only | Double Glaze, Commercial 50% Opening |
12% |
88% |
|
Glazing | Windows | PVC Framed | PVC Only | Single Glaze, Commercial 50% Opening |
9% |
91% |
|
Glazing | Windows | PVC Framed | PVC With Steel Bracing | Double Glaze, Commercial 50% Opening |
12% |
88% |
|
Glazing | Windows | PVC Framed | PVC With Steel Bracing | Single Glaze, Commercial 50% Opening |
9% |
91% |
|
Glazing | Windows | Timber Framed | Double Glaze, Commercial 50% Opening |
13% |
87% |
|
Glazing | Windows | Timber Framed | Single Glaze, Commercial 50% Opening |
11% |
89% |
|
Glazing | Windows | Aluminium Framed | No Thermal Break | Double Glaze, Commercial Fixed |
24% |
76% |
|
Glazing | Windows | Aluminium Framed | No Thermal Break | Single Glaze, Commercial Fixed |
20% |
80% |
|
Glazing | Windows | Aluminium Framed | Thermal Break | Double Glaze, Commercial Fixed |
24% |
76% |
|
Glazing | Windows | Aluminium Framed | Thermal Break | Single Glaze, Commercial Fixed |
20% |
80% |
|
Glazing | Windows | Hybrid Framed | Double Glaze Ali and Timber , Commercial Fixed |
16% |
84% |
|
Glazing | Windows | Hybrid Framed | Single Glaze Ali and Timber , Commercial Fixed |
13% |
87% |
|
Glazing | Windows | PVC Framed | PVC Only | Double Glaze, Commercial Fixed |
15% |
85% |
|
Glazing | Windows | PVC Framed | PVC Only | Single Glaze, Commercial Fixed |
12% |
88% |
|
Glazing | Windows | PVC Framed | PVC With Steel Bracing | Double Glaze, Commercial Fixed |
15% |
85% |
|
Glazing | Windows | PVC Framed | PVC With Steel Bracing | Single Glaze, Commercial Fixed |
12% |
88% |
|
Glazing | Windows | Timber Framed | Double Glaze, Commercial Fixed |
17% |
83% |
|
Glazing | Windows | Timber Framed | Single Glaze, Commercial Fixed |
13% |
87% |
|
Glazing | Windows | Aluminium Framed | No Thermal Break | Double Glaze, Domestic 50% Opening |
25% |
75% |
|
Glazing | Windows | Aluminium Framed | No Thermal Break | Single Glaze, Domestic 50% Opening |
21% |
79% |
|
Glazing | Windows | Aluminium Framed | Thermal Break | Double Glaze, Domestic 50% Opening |
25% |
75% |
|
Glazing | Windows | Aluminium Framed | Thermal Break | Single Glaze, Domestic 50% Opening |
21% |
79% |
|
Glazing | Windows | Hybrid Framed | Double Glaze Ali and Timber , Domestic 50% Opening |
17% |
83% |
|
Glazing | Windows | Hybrid Framed | Single Glaze Ali and Timber , Domestic 50% Opening |
14% |
86% |
|
Glazing | Windows | PVC Framed | PVC Only | Double Glaze, Domestic 50% Opening |
16% |
84% |
|
Glazing | Windows | PVC Framed | PVC Only | Single Glaze, Domestic 50% Opening |
13% |
87% |
|
Glazing | Windows | PVC Framed | PVC With Steel Bracing | Double Glaze, Domestic 50% Opening |
16% |
84% |
|
Glazing | Windows | PVC Framed | PVC With Steel Bracing | Single Glaze, Domestic 50% Opening |
13% |
87% |
|
Glazing | Windows | Timber Framed | Double Glaze, Domestic 50% Opening |
18% |
82% |
|
Glazing | Windows | Timber Framed | Single Glaze, Domestic 50% Opening |
14% |
86% |
|
Glazing | Windows | Aluminium Framed | No Thermal Break | Double Glaze, Domestic Fixed |
28% |
72% |
|
Glazing | Windows | Aluminium Framed | No Thermal Break | Single Glaze, Domestic Fixed |
23% |
77% |
|
Glazing | Windows | Aluminium Framed | Thermal Break | Double Glaze, Domestic Fixed |
28% |
72% |
|
Glazing | Windows | Aluminium Framed | Thermal Break | Single Glaze, Domestic Fixed |
23% |
77% |
|
Glazing | Windows | Hybrid Framed | Double Glaze Ali and Timber , Domestic Fixed |
19% |
81% |
|
Glazing | Windows | Hybrid Framed | Single Glaze Ali and Timber , Domestic Fixed |
16% |
84% |
|
Glazing | Windows | PVC Framed | PVC Only | Double Glaze, Domestic Fixed |
18% |
82% |
|
Glazing | Windows | PVC Framed | PVC Only | Single Glaze, Domestic Fixed |
14% |
86% |
|
Glazing | Windows | PVC Framed | PVC With Steel Bracing | Double Glaze, Domestic Fixed |
18% |
82% |
|
Glazing | Windows | PVC Framed | PVC With Steel Bracing | Single Glaze, Domestic Fixed |
14% |
86% |
|
Glazing | Windows | Timber Framed | Double Glaze, Domestic Fixed |
20% |
80% |
|
Glazing | Windows | Timber Framed | Single Glaze, Domestic Fixed |
16% |
84% |
