News

01/06/2002

Lyssand announces latest improvements to window range

Click here for details.

15/02/2002

New Building Standards Will Cut Energy Bills and Improve Environmental Awareness

As of March 4th, 2002, the building industry will have to comply with strict environmental regulations, which demand high-energy performance products. This is an important change for builders, architects and homebuyers alike. Before you purchase windows, make sure that you are installing a high-energy performance product that will prove to be a wise, long-term investment.

Lyssand UK, a well established Norwegian Timber Window and Door manufacturer, will easily absorb these changes because, as UK agent, Olav Skretteberg explains, "Lyssand has been adhering to strict environmental policies for years due to Norwegian building standards, which are higher than those in Britain."

Norway's west coast, which is characterised by heavy rains, strong winds, salt spray, unsettled weather patterns, and temperatures ranging from +30 to -30 degrees, provides a demanding testing ground for energy efficient products. Consequently, Lyssand products not only comply with, but also exceed the new UK Building Standards.

Lyssand is the company of choice for clients who are interested, not only in saving money on their energy bills, but in working with a company that uses sustainable, well-managed forests and recyclable products. Mr. Skretteberg believes that "a growing number of consumers are demanding products and practices that reflect their own sense of environmental responsibility." Lyssand's meticulous manufacturing practices ensure that no surplus materials leave their fully controlled factory.

Back in fashion again, following a trend in plastic (PVC) products, Timber windows and doors offer builders, architects and homebuyers a responsible choice. The total amount of energy used to make a timber window is approximately 1/5 of the energy used to make a plastic window.

Coinciding with these new building regulations is the emergence of Lyssand's new web site, designed and maintained by Broxden Interactive Websites.

For information: Olav Skretteberg olav@lyssand.co.uk

20/02/2002

Building Standards (Scotland) Regulations Part J

The long awaited amendments to Part J (Scotland) and Part L (England) of the building regulations have finally been announced. The changes will come in to effect on 4 March 2002 and from that point on, the energy performance of windows and doors will have to be significantly better than is common practice today.

The new regulations contain one set of requirements for dwellings and another for non-domestic buildings. For each, the designer can select one of three methods to show compliance with the regulations. There are also changes for conservatories.

Dwellings

Alternative I

Increased performance for windows and doors is the simplest and will probably therefore be the most popular. The required U value for the windows/doors will depend on the construction material and the type of heating system as shown in the table below.

* definition of boiler efficiency are given in detail in Part J.

The energy performance of a window is dependent on the thermal efficiency of the construction material and the glazing unit. A high quality timber window with a 4-15-4 double glazed unit will archive a U value of between 3.0 and 3.2. If the glazing unit is substituted with 4 Low E Super-15-4 and the cavity is filled with Argon, the windows U value will be between 1.3 and 1.5. The added window cost is likely to be in the region of 4-8% depending on size and specification.

Alternative II

Target U value method permits trade-off between the thermal performance of building elements and heating system efficiency. This means that the windows would be allowed to have worse U values that is shown in the table above, provided compensating measures were taken elsewhere. The designer has to demonstrate this by use of a formula, given in part J.

Alternative III

Carbon Index Method gives the designer more flexibility to vary U values. This method enables compliance to be achieved by calculating the carbon dioxide emissions for the proposed dwelling, and show that they are below a prescribed limit.

Conservatories

In order to comply with Part J, the glazing of all conservatories between 8 and 30m2 floor area will have to achieve a U value of 3.3 W/m2K or lower. In practice this means that 4-15-4 glazing unit in a good quality timber window is adequate.

Note that Lyssand windows comply in all respects.

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