Dr Paul Baker Centre for Research on Indoor Climate & Health

1. Research on improving the thermal performance of traditional windows and thermal performance monitoring Dr Paul Baker Centre for Research on Indoor Climate & Health School of Engineering & the Built Environment Glasgow Caledonian University

2. Introduction • Summarise recent work on improving the thermal performance of tradition windows including field trials of ‘slim-profile’ double glazing replacement panes in Georgian sash windows in Edinburgh. • Presentation of methodology for in situ thermal performance testing. • Comparison of measured results with calculation methods.

3. Traditional Windows • There are c.44 million single-glazed sash windows in the UK (Source: English Heritage) • 20% of domestic properties in UK are pre-1919, i.e. traditional buildings (Source: Scottish House Condition Survey) • Single glazing & poor window insulation can account for 20% of a home’s heat loss (Source: Energy Saving Trust) • An average house with 7 timber single-glazed sash windows can lose £211 a year through these windows (Source: www.energyratedwindows.co.uk) • 72% of heat loss from a single-glazed window occurs through the glazing (Source: Historic Scotland Technical Paper 1: Thermal performance of traditional windows, 2008)

4. Traditional Windows • Easy option for replacement with modern double glazing? • Draughty, prone to condensation and hard to maintain. • Major problem – poor thermal performance of single glazing: • U-value> 5 W/m2K • But, with good care and maintenance traditional windows can outlast modern replacements, define the ‘look’ of a building and can be considered as a sustainable resource.

5. Traditional Windows • Secondary glazing – seen as most effective option to preserve existing traditional windows and reduce heat loss. • There has been little information on the performance of more traditional (and cheaper) methods of reducing heat loss, such as, draught proofing, shutters, blinds and curtains. • Research carried out for Historic Scotland & English Heritage has sought to quantify the benefits of • Draught-proofing • Blinds, curtains, & shutters • Secondary glazing • Replacing single glazed panes with double glazing

6. Lab based tests using environmental chamber

7. Heavy Curtains Traditional Shutters

8. Insulated Shutters with Spacetherm

9. Modern Roller Blind Blind with low-e foil applied

10. Victorian Blind Honeycomb Blind

11. Low-e Secondary Glazing

12. U-values

13. Effect of Shutters

14. Draughtproofing Professional draught proofing reduces air leakage by 86% compared with the as-received condition

15. Slim-profile double glazing trial Lister Housing Co-operative, EdinburghChangeworks/Historic Scotland Changeworks

16. Slim-profile double glazing trial • Georgian (1820s) tenements • Traditional sash & case windows with single glazing • World Heritage Site/‘B’ listed • DG not currently permitted • Social housing • High fuel bills/Electric heating • Excessive condensation, etc.

17. Slim-profile double glazing trial • DG unit thicknesses 9,11, 12, 16mm. • Low-e coated glazing • Gas fill: • Air • Argon • Krypton • Xenon & Krypton • Quoted U-values: • 1.8 – 2.6 W/m2K

18. Vacuum Glazing http://www.pilkington.com/resources/pilkingtonspaciaenglish1.pdf

19. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder

20. In Situ U-value Measurements

21. Measured U-values

22. Heat loss through whole window

23. Slim-profile double glazing trial - conclusions • Two years on ... second series of measurements indicates no significant changes in thermal performance. • Vacuum glazing superior to conventional slim-profile DG. • Secondary glazing generally superior to conventional slim-profile DG. • Design of slim-profile units not systematic in terms of cavity width and gas type – manufacturers should follow standard calculation procedures to optimise thermal performance. • Some concerns about deterioration of conventional edge seal materials due to reaction with putty. No such concerns with vacuum glazing with glass edge seal.

24. Suggested reading for improving energy efficiency of traditional windows • Historic Scotland Technical Paper 1 (to be revised) • www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/thermal_performance_of_traditional_windows_2010.pdf • Historic Scotland Technical Paper 9 • www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/slim-profile_double_glazing_2010.pdf • English Heritage - Improving the Thermal Performance of Traditional Windows • www.climatechangeandyourhome.org.uk/live/research_generic.aspx

25. In situ U-value Measurements RoomTemperature In situ Thermal Performance Testing • Main approach has been to measure the in situ U-values of building envelope elements using heat flux sensors. ExternalTemperature Heat Flux Meter Interior Surface Temperature External Surface Temperature

27. Analysis of in situ heat flux data – averaging method • Generally, the heat flux and wall surface temperatures are measured over a suitable period: a minimum of 14 days is usually sufficient. Averaging over the monitoring period is used to obtain the U-value: Temperature difference across element Heat Flux

28. Can also use “parameter identification” techniques Use full dynamic data. Take into account the thermal capacity of the wall. Appropriate if there are large diurnal swings in external conditions as may be experienced during spring, or changes in the weather pattern during the test period. Example of a wall modelled as a network of conductances and capacitances

29. Checking result....cumulative average U-value

30. Use of in situ values • Traditional buildings may have unknown construction details or material properties – difficult to estimate U-value using U-value Calculators. • Comparison of in situ measurement with calculated values have shown that calculated values often overestimate U-value (SPAB, HS & EH projects). • Databases of U-value calculators are focussed on modern materials. • Lack of information on traditional material properties.

31. Stone rubble wall ? ? +voids?

32. Stone rubble wall The influence on the calculated U-value of the assumed proportion of mortar in a 600mm sandstone wall with 25mm lime plaster on the hard. Sandstone=2 W/mK Lime Mortar=0.7 W/mK

33. Use of in situ values • Recommend that where possible measured in situ U-values should be used as data for input into performance assessments – e.g. SAP. • Acceptable as an alternative to default values used in RDSAP? • No current standard for measurement.

34. Use in situ U-value & airtightness measurements Measure Heat Loss through building envelope In situ U-value measurements in representative locations for walls, floors & ceiling. Centre-of-pane for glazings. Airtightness – background ventilation Blower door tests Air leakage rate @ 50Pa Calculate Element Areas from Building dimensions A1…etc. Calculate UxA values For windows and doors use centre-of-pane values in BRE U-value calculator to first calculate whole window U-values. Use same procedure as SAP ‘Heat losses..’ worksheet to calculate Heat Loss Coefficient, etc.

35. Measured in situ Use in SAP

37. In Situ Thermal Performance Testing - Conclusions • A robust method of measuring the in situ thermal performance of building elements has been developed over a number of campaigns, producing new data on our traditional buildings. • The tests have shown the need for improved material properties/default values for calculation methods. • Where feasible, recommend in situ U-value measurements to improve accuracy of energy performance assessment, particularly before upgrading insulation in traditional buildings. Impact on Green Deal? • Standard or Guidelines on in situ measurements required. • Historic Scotland Technical Paper 10 • www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/hstp102011-u-values-and-traditional-buildings.pdf

38. Thank You