Coordinating Committee:
M. Rubin, LBNL, U.S.
M. Hutchins, Oxford Brookes University, U.K.
P. Lyons, AWC, Australia
T. Matsumoto, Asahi Glass, Japan
Data Summary and Links to Tables of
Products IntroductionGlazing Data Library #12.7 contains optical data for 1153 glazing products that can be used with the WINDOW 4.1 energy analysis program. Version #12.7 supersedes version #12.6 issued in March 2003. Please refer to the Release Notes for information on additions and changes to the library. The new data structure is summarized in the following table: Summary of Window Optical Data Library #12.7
Use of Optical Data for NFRC SimulationsThe National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) requires, as of April 1, 1996, that all simulations must be carried out using NFRC-verified glazing data only. NFRC-verified spectral data is indicated within the WINDOW 4.1 program by a "#" sign; all other data is designated with a "*" sign. All of the data in the WINDOW 4.1 glazing data library, regardless of NFRC verification, has been measured and calculated in accordance with ASTM and NFRC procedures and has been reviewed for accuracy. Subsequent application of the "#" sign, however, is a purely administrative matter at the sole discretion of the NFRC. Use of Optical Data for AWC SimulationsThe Australasian Window Council (AWC) has licensed the Australian Window Association (AWA. Inc.) to administer the Window Energy Rating Scheme (WERS). WERS uses the same software as the NFRC system described above. All data in the Glazing Data Library is automatically approved for use by the AWC, not only the data with NFRC verification. Use of Optical Data in the WIS and Vision ProgramsTwo of the most widely used programs for calculating the energy-related properties of windows are the Window Information System (WIS) created by a European consortium and Vision developed by Enermodal Engineering and the University of Waterloo in Canada. Each of these programs can read the data in the format of this library. A new EU-funded project WinDat will produce a revised version of WIS and collect a complete set of data for glazing produced in Europe. Instructions for Loading the Optical Data FilesThe optical data is compressed in a self-extracting archive, SpcDat127.exe. Expanded, the full library contains 1153 files and occupies approximately 8.07 MB of hard-disk space. The Glass.dat file needed to run WINDOW 4.1 is compressed in a self-extracting archive GlassDat.exe. If you prefer a hardcopy of these instructions and product tables you may download Manul127.pdf now. Copy the file GlassDat.exe to the directory C:\W4\W4Lib. Run GlassDat.exe to expand the GLASS.DAT file. Warning: If you have previously customized the glass library in WINDOW 4.1 and you wish to save that information Glass.dat, rename the original Glass.dat file to Glass.bak before expanding the new Glass.dat file Create a directory at the level of C:\W4\W4Lib\SpecDat named C:\W4\W4Lib\Transfer. Copy file SpcDat127.EXE to the Transfer directory. Run SpcDat127.exe to expand the files into a set of subdirectories for each manufacturer. Copy only the needed data from the Transfer directory or subdirectories into the SpecDat directory. Do not create a subdirectory structure under SpecDat. The fewer files in SpecDat, the faster WINDOW 4.1 will load and update. Verification ProcedurePeriodic round-robin tests, format and data review, peer review and challenge ensure the quality of the data. A revision of these verification procedures is under review by the Optical Properties Subcommittee of the NFRC. Download the draft verification procedure and the checklist used in the data review. WINDOW5 and Optics5WINDOW5
is a major upgrade to the WINDOW 4.1 computer
contact: Mike Rubin |