Zero|90

Retro-fit casement window available!

A new, innovative design means Zero|90 casement windows can be retrofitted into existing buildings – helping everyone on their journey to Net Zero.

Zero|90 was initially developed for the growing market for Passivhaus homes in the new build sector, where buildings are designed to use minimal energy for heating and cooling to maintain the comfort of occupants. However, Local Authorities are responsible for retrofitting council housing properties in order to meet the requirements of the Future Homes Standard and are demanding products that can help them meet these requirements. In addition, the growing demand for higher thermal efficiency, combined with rising energy costs, means homeowners in the retail sector are increasingly searching for energy efficient windows and doors.

The Passivhaus-certified Zero|90 casement window is available with a retro-fit option, Zero|90R – meaning installers won’t need to remove the plaster line or face expensive replastering work. The windows will fit neatly into the existing reveal, thanks to the clever innovation built in to every Zero|90R frame.

The retrofit option makes Zero|90 the ideal choice as the most thermally efficient window and door replacement system in the UK.

Energy reduction and Passivhaus standards are high on the agenda for ‘Homes of the Future’, along with sustainable construction materials and methods.

The Future Homes Standard will come into effect in England in 2025. Its purpose is to ensure that new build houses are future-proofed with low carbon heating and “world-leading levels of energy efficiency” by embracing smart and low carbon technologies.

Architects and developers all over the UK and Ireland are already designing and building Future Homes, offering modern, sustainable dwellings designed to lower energy costs for inhabitants whilst reducing the environmental impacts.

In some regions, such as Dublin, Passivhaus standards have been mandatory in new build dwellings since 2016. Other councils have followed suit, with more set to join the list across the UK.

The Zero|90 system is currently the only PVCu window and door system to achieve the latest proposed U-Values within the Future Homes Standard and Part L legislation.

Many double-glazed windows are already being pushed to the limits of their capabilities when it comes to thermal efficiency – so it’s time to think about the future of window supply and installation now.

PVCu is already classed as the most thermally efficient material for windows and Zero|90 takes this to a new level of energy efficiency.

Ongoing changes to building regulations through Approved Document L (the conservation of fuel and power) mean window installers and developers need to be ready for increasingly higher thermal ratings. Changes to Part L applicable from June 2022 mean new windows and doors must offer minimum U-Values of 1.4 – and this target looks set to get even lower in 2025, with proposals in place to reach 0.8 W/m2K.

Zero|90 can already achieve a U-Value of a staggering 0.66 with triple glazing, ensuring those who offer this highly energy efficient window and door system will be protected against future legislative changes for many years to come.

Anyone living in a noisy area will testify to the negative impact noise can have on health, sleep and general wellbeing. Windows with high acoustic properties can help mitigate this.

Standard PVCu double-glazed windows offer sound protection of between 30 and 35 decibels.

The Zero|90 window range beats that, with triple glazed panes providing acoustic ratings of up to 42 decibels. That may not sound like a big increase, but in reality it actually doubles the effectiveness of a window by halving the transmissable noise from the outside.

In urban areas, or for developments under a flight path, building occupants will experience a noticeable difference when Zero|90 windows are installed. It is also ideal for properties backing onto railway lines, where the front elevation could use standard double-glazing whilst the rear benefits from Zero|90, for a cost-effective solution.

The 90mm Zero|90 window and door system looks and acts exactly the same as a traditional 70mm PVCu system, with similar slim sightlines – but the additional depth of the frames means its multi-chambered thermal and acoustic properties are enhanced. Zero|90 can achieve U-Values as low as 0.66 with triple glazing and 0.5 with quadruple glazed units and both the casement window and the tilt & turn window are fully certified by the Passivhaus Institute.

The full system has also been tested and accredited with PAS24 security and is Secured By Design ready.

In a brand new innovation for the UK market, Zero|90R windows can be retrofitted into typical UK window reveals without the need to remove plaster work, which would be the case with other 90mm systems. A clever rebate on the frame’s interior means the windows can be fitted into cavities where a 70mm window has been removed. Zero|90R saves, time, money and reduces the environmental impact on the project by not having to re-plaster or re-tile whilst still giving all the benefits of Zero|90.