FAQs

NFRC stands for the National Fenestration Rating Council. It is a program established by the U.S. Department of Energy to help consumers compare window products and options.

Window manufacturers participating in the program are required to label every window to it specific thermal performance level. Customers are then ensured that the products they select meet the requirements for their application. Participation in the NFRC program is voluntary. PGT is a participant in the NFRC program.

The R-value is the resistance a material has to the flow of heat. The higher the R-value, the greater the resistance. The U-value is the amount of heat that is transferred through a material. The lower the U-value, the better the insulating quality of your window.

The Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (or SHGC) refers to a window's ability to transmit solar radiation.

The SHGC ranges from 0-1. A value of 0 indicates that window functions like a wall, essentially preventing any solar energy from entering the building. A value of 1 indicates that the window functions like an opening, allowing all solar energy in.

In cold climates, a high SHGC can lower heating costs by using passive solar heating. In warm climates, a low SHGC is desired to keep unwanted heat out and reduce cooling costs.

For air to insulate well, it needs to be as still as possible because moving air carries energy. Argon is heavier than air, so it is less prone to convection or thermal movement. The bottom line is that heavier-than-air gases offer a higher level of insulation. Argon is found naturally in the air you breathe and is completely harmless.

Low-E stands for low emissivity and is basically a microscopic, metallic coating applied to a surface of glass that reflects and re-radiates heat energy into or out of a home depending on climate conditions. Using Low-E is an excellent way to increase the energy efficiency of a window.

ENERGY STAR qualified windows may have two or more panes of glass, warm-edge spacers between the window panes, improved framing materials, and Low-E coating(s) which are microscopically thin coatings that help keep heat inside during the winter and outside during the summer.

ENERGY STAR labeled windows meet a stringent energy efficiency specification set by the Department of Energy and have been tested and certified by the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC).

NFRC is an independent, third-parth certification agency that assigns specific energy efficiency measures such as U-factor and Solar Heat Gain Coefficient to the complete window system, not simply the glass.

ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy helping us all save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices.

Results are already adding up. Americans, with the help of ENERGY STAR, saved enough energy in 2007 alone to avoid greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from 27 million cars — all while saving $16 billion on their utility bills.

Egress requirements indicate a minimum opening size that certain windows must meet. These requirements tend to vary from region to region, so please contact Storm Solutions for egress requirements in your area.

Impact-resistant windows and doors combine heavy-duty frames with impact-resistant laminated glass and a special silicone glazing process to keep the glass from breaking away from its frame.

Impact-resistant glass is comprised of two panes of glass bonded together with a special interlayer of clear polyvinylbutyral.

Although wind-borne debris or an attempted break in may crack the glass on impact, the interlayer keeps the overall window and door intact, preventing destructive winds or intruders from entering your home.

Condensation or sweating is a natural occurrence on all windows and is caused by excess humidity or invisible water vapor present in the air. When this water vapor comes in contact with a surface which is at a cooler temperature, the vapor turns to visible droplets of moisture.