Commercial Home Resources Anatomy of Commercial SeriousWindows Advantages of Fiberglass
Advantages of Fiberglass in Commercial Window Applications
The cutting-edge fiberglass framing systems of SeriousWindows offer superior performance to conventional fenestration materials in a number of ways: durability, stability and efficiency. Over the past 10 years, fiberglass has been used more and more in residential and commercial construction. It is becoming the preferred material for window frames and door panels.
Advantages of Fiberglass
Fiberglass-framed commercial windows offer significant advantages, both thermal and structural, over traditional aluminum, vinyl, or wood framing materials. These benefits include super-insulation, structural performance, lower embodied energy, and new design choice. According to the American Composites Manufacturers Association (ACMA) Pultrusion Industry Council and the American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) Fiberglass Material Council:
- Fiberglass’ thermal conductivity is 800 times less than aluminum, making it the optimum material for super-insulating windows and preserving overall performance for the life of a window.
- Low thermal expansion maintains the windows’ structural integrity and minimizes warping or leakage, making fiberglass the most durable framing material that will not compromise the performance of the full window over time.
- Fiberglass particularly resists environmental damage caused by corrosive salt air or high temperatures.
- Comparing U-factor of materials, fiberglass offers 89% better insulation than aluminum (fiberglass U-factor is 0.2 – 0.3 compared to aluminum thermally broken of U-factor1.0).
- Superior strength to weight ratios making Heavy Commercial SeriousWindows ideal for large window openings - 86% of the yield strength of aluminum and, pound-for-pound’s, stronger than aluminum in the lengthwise direction.
- Pultruded fiberglass distributes impact load to prevent surface damage even in sub-zero temperatures.
Material Comparison
The following chart compares general structural, thermal, and other characteristics of fiberglass, aluminum and wood, demonstrating the higher overall performance of fiberglass according to information from the Pultrusion Industry Council.
| Fiberglass | Aluminum | Wood | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corrosion Resistance | Superior weatherability and resistance to a broad range of chemicals. | Can cause galvanic corrosion. | Can warp, rot and decay from exposure to moisture, water and chemicals. Coatings or preservatives required to increase corrosion or rot resistance can create hazardous waste and/or high maintenance. |
| Weight | Very lightweight - about 70% the weight of aluminum on a density basis. Specific gravity = 1.7 Pultruded fiberglass has significantly higher strength-to-weight ratio compared to both wood and aluminum |
Lightweight - about 1/3 that of copper or steel. | Specific gravity = .51 (oven dried). |
| Electric Conductivity | Non-conductive - high dielectric capability. | Conducts electricity - grounding potential. | Can be conductive when it is wet. |
| Thermal Conductivity | Insulates - low thermal conductivity. 0.17 BTU/h-ft-F 5.0 x 10-6 in/in/°F 100 in. sample at a temperature change of 100°F = 0.05 |
Heat conductor - high thermal conductivity. Pure Aluminum – 136.9 BTU/h-ft-F Alloyed Aluminum – 92.4 BTU/h-ft-F Thermal coefficient of expansion 11-13 (IN/IN/Fo)106. |
Insulates - low thermal conductivity. Pine/Spruce/Fir/Larch/Mahogany (softwoods) – 0.08 BTU/h-ft-F Oak/Maple (hardwoods) – 0.09 BTU/h-ft-F Low thermal coefficient of expansion 2.5 (IN/IN/Fo)106. |
| Strength | Ultimate flexural strength (Fu) LW = 30 ksi CW = 10 ksi. Compression strength is 30,000 psi. Tensile Strength (KSI) 60.0 Modulus of Elasticity (PSI x 106) 3.0 Pultruded fiberglass has 86% of the yield strength of aluminum and, pound-for-pound's, stronger than aluminum in the lengthwise direction. Stiffness: Pultruded fiberglass is approximately 1-1/2 times as rigid as wood. Modulus of elasticity LW = 2.5 x 106 psi, CW = .8 x 106 psi. |
Flexural strength (Fu) 35 ksi. | Extreme fiber bending = up to 2800 psi.* Compression parallel to grain = up to 1800 psi.* Stiffness: Modulus of elasticity = up to 1.8 x 106 psi.* Deteriorates with age |
| Finishing | Pigments added to the resin provide color throughout the part. Special colors available. Composite design can be customized for required finishes. | Silver color. Other colors require pre-finishes, anodic coatings and paints. | Must be primed and painted for colors. To maintain color, repainting and refinishing may be required. |
| Impact Resistance | Glass mat in pultruded fiberglass distributes impact load to prevent surface damage even in sub-zero temperatures. Will not permanently deform under impact. | Easily deforms under impact. | Permanently deforms or breaks under impact |
| Life expectancy | 80+ years without any maintenance. | 30 to 40 years less if exposed to a corrosive environment such as coastal environments and acidic rain. | 15 to 20 years if properly maintained, sanded, sealed and refinished every year. Less if not properly maintained |
