Date: 13 April 2012
Providing a warm edge spacer is accepted by the British Fenestration Rating Council (BFRC) as being equivalent to or better than the brand of spacer bar named within a current WER simulation report, it is straight-forward to swap. All that is required is a simple e-mail or fax to the BFRC notifying them of the change (this process should be similar with CERTASS and other WER suppliers). We can provide contact details and a template letter for anyone wishing to exchange to Thermobar warm edge spacer tube.
At this point, I’d just like to clarify that:
“Thermobar Warm Edge Spacer can be substituted for any other warm edge spacer tube in current Window Energy Rating simulations without further simulation reports being required based on the fact that it is accepted by the BFRC as being equivalent to or better than any other warm edge spacer tube on the market.”
Thermobar has been fully tested and the thermal conductivity values confirmed by notified bodies in Germany and France. These were supplied to, scrutinised and verified by the BFRC, hence allowing our product to be fully exchangeable for all other warm edge spacer tubes (including SwissSpacer V) within current Window Energy Rating (WER) simulations. Thermobar has a tested value of 0.175W/(m.K) - Rosenheim report No.10-000207-PB01-K10-06-en-01. This is the combined linear value of spacer tube, desiccant and PIB. It is this value which has been used by the BFRC to produce the values used in WER simulation reports and we believe that this value is the ‘same’ or ‘better’ than any other spacer tube currently available on the market.
A summary of the above referenced test results, as well as other relevant tests reports are published on our website and are downloadable for customers and simulators who are issued with a password to gain access to these documents. These reports prove that Thermobar provides what our advertising says ‘A Performance of the Highest Calibre’.
So far, Thermobar has been subject to the same tests as other leading warm edge spacer tubes and has achieved the same or better thermal performance.
The ‘exchangeability’ or ‘substitution’ rule is a huge advantage to sealed unit manufacturers and window installers in that a preferred spacer can now be selected based on more than just the thermal performance achieved by the brand included in the simulation report. The decision can now be based on many aspects. For example, Thermobar is the preferred choice of many sealed unit manufacturers because of its handling advantages: It can be stapled without cracking and breaking easily; There are no issues with hot melt bubbling on the edges of units due to in-efficient breather holes in the spacer; It requires no costly investment on machinery; It is safe and easy to saw without the safety requirement for air extraction; It has an increasing number of colour co-ordinated in-house manufactured fittings including corner keys, flexi keys, gas keys and muntin accessories; the price is very competitive; it can be inkjet-printed for free; it can also be supplied pre-applied with PIB tape. As well as all these advantages, it is manufactured in the UK by a British company, Thermoseal Group which has been operating within the UK window industry for over thirty years.
Thermobar is now available in black, grey and white. Sizes include: 11.5mm, 13.5mm, 15.5mm, 17.5mm and 19.5mm spacer (7.5mm and 9.5mm anticipated to be on sale in June 12). We also sell a 4mm heritage bar which is proving to be very popular.
-Ends-
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