A Guide To Windows in Nathers Software
A Guide To Windows in Nathers Software
A GUIDE TO WINDOWS
IN NATHERS SOFTWARE
Factsheet
This fact sheet explains how windows impact on a home's energy performance and the different
types that can be used in Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS) assessments.
readily heat from direct sunlight flows through a window Conductive Heat (U-Value)
system. SHGC is expressed as a number between 0 and 1.
The lower a window’s SHGC, the less solar heat it transmits.
Types of glass
There are four categories of glass in NatHERS software tools:
Source: Australian Window Association
• Clear glass.
• Tinted glass: This glass is best used to reduce solar heat
gain in hot climates.
• High-solar-transmittance/gain (low-e) glass: This
Double and triple glazing
glass is normally used in cool climates. The high solar Double and triple glazing (also sometimes referred to as
transmittance means it will allow solar heat gain through insulated glass units (IGUs)) are made from multiple panes
in winter and the low-e reduces heat loss from the of glass. The panes may be the same or different types of
interior. glass. The gaps between panes may be filled with air, argon
• Low-solar-transmittance/gain (low-e) glass: This glass is or krypton gas. The performance of double glazing is
normally used in hot climates. The low solar improved when the air fill is replaced with argon. Argon is a
transmittance means that it will reduce solar heat gain denser gas and is used to reduce heat loss in IGUs by slowing
through in summer and the low-e reduces heat gain into down convection inside the air space. It works efficiently
the interior. with low-e glazing.
AAA-111-01 A
Frame Type
nathers.gov.au ENR026.0717
• Group B is for windows and doors with a smaller The next three digits of the window code represents the
frame fraction including: fixed windows; double hung group the default window is assigned to, the type of glazing
windows; louvre windows; sliding windows and doors; (single or double glazing) and the type of air gap
and stacker doors. (Figure 3) (air or argon):
Sliding door
The last two digits indicate the coating of the glass:
Stacker doors
01 clear
02 tint
The first three letters of the window code represent the For example, a window with an aluminium frame and
material of the default window: Group A single clear glazing would have a code of
ALM-001-01-A, and a timber awning window with double
ALM aluminium glazing and argon fill with high solar low-e would have a
ATB aluminium thermally broken code of TIM-005-03-W.
CMP composite
TIM timber
FIB fibreglass
nathers.gov.au ENR026.0717
The following table lists all the current default windows.
nathers.gov.au ENR026.0717
Composite CMP-001-01 I Composite A Clear 5.9 0.57
Group A single CMP-001-02 I Composite A Tint 6.2 0.41
glazing
CMP-001-03 I Composite A HSG low-e 4.6 0.36
CMP-001-04 I Composite A LSG low-e 4.6 0.36
Composite CMP-002-01 I Composite B Clear 5.9 0.65
Group B single CMP-002-02 I Composite B Tint 6.2 0.45
glazing
CMP-002-03 I Composite B HSG low-e 3.7 0.61
CMP-002-04 I Composite B LSG low-e 4.6 0.46
Composite CMP-003-01 I Composite A DG Clear/air fill/clear 3.9 0.51
Group A double CMP-003-02 I Composite A DG Tint/air fill/clear 3.9 0.32
glazing air fill
CMP-003-03 I Composite A DG HSG low-e/air fill/clear 3.4 0.47
Composite
nathers.gov.au ENR026.0717
uPVC Group A PVC-001-01 W uPVC A Clear 5.4 0.56
single glazing PVC-001-02 W uPVC A Tint 5.4 0.41
PVC-001-03 W uPVC A HSG low-e 4.3 0.42
PVC-001-04 W uPVC A LSG low-e 3.7 0.35
uPVC Group B PVC-002-01 W uPVC B Clear 5.4 0.63
single glazing PVC-002-02 W uPVC B Tint 5.4 0.49
PVC-002-03 W uPVC B HSG low-e 4.3 0.5
PVC-002-04 W uPVC B LSG low-e 3.7 0.38
uPVC Group A PVC-003-01 W uPVC A DG Clear/air fill/clear 3 0.48
double glazing PVC-003-02 W uPVC A DG Tint/air fill/clear 2.9 0.33
air fill
PVC-003-03 W uPVC A DG HSG low-e/air fill/clear 2.3 0.26
PVC-003-04 W uPVC A DG LSG low-e/air fill/clear 2.3 0.19
uPVC
nathers.gov.au ENR026.0717