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| Industry News |
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| Energy Efficiency Simulation of Skylights - Press Release New era for Energy Rating of Skylights. The Skylight Industry Association is proud to announce the official launch of the Window Energy Rating Scheme for Skylights (WERSfS). The final approval of the Australian Fenestration Rating Council (AFRC) to adopt the Australian methodology for the energy efficiency simulation of Skylights came to the delight of the industry in February this year. This methodology allows nationally accredited rating of skylights for their U- value, SHGC, Visible Transmittance and luminous efficacy. The scheme is a world first as it rates the entire system not just the product and goes beyond other energy ratings available in other parts of the world. In time WERSfS will be expanded to include energy and performance ratings of Advanced Tubular Daylight Devices (ATDD’s) and Skylights with optical lens technologies. Until such time these products can be rated by NFRC physical testing methods. WERSfS will be underpinned by its conformance to the newly ratified AFRC simulation procedures. AFRC president Tracey Gramlick says she is delighted to see the WERSfS finally signed off and that it had been the culmination of many years work. Tracey acknowledged the foundation work for WERS for Skylights was carried out by Dr. Peter Lyons and Ian Bennie of Ian Bennie & Associates with approval of the Australian Windows Association (AWA). "Software assistance and the interface to the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS) was provided by CSIRO Division of Building Construction and Engineering. Funding was provided by the Australian Government & the Skylight Industry Association" Tracey added. Robert Cussigh President of the Skylight Industry Association said the AFRC approval was an historic milestone for the SIA as it enabled the launch of WERSfS into the marketplace. Mr Cussigh said "WERSfS is independent of any one manufacturer and acts as a fair, rigorous and credible system for testing performance claims. WERSfS-rated skylights must meet all relevant Australian standards. The scheme forms part of the quality assurance that manufacturers will offer their customers. It is all about certified performance." The Window Energy Rating Scheme for Skylights (WERSfS) enables daylighting products including conventional skylights, tubular skylights and roof windows to be rated and labelled for their annual energy impact on a whole house, in any climate of Australia. To participate in WERS, skylight fabricators & importers must obtain energy ratings for their products from a simulation laboratory on the WERS approved laboratory list and be accredited by the AFRC (Australian Fenestration Rating Council). Tracey Gramlick said "The AWA is the sole owner and manager of the Intellectual Property (IP) rights to the WERS for Skylights program although WERSfS will be managed by the Skylight Industry Association (SIA) under licence from the Australian Window Association (AWA)." Skylight Manufacturers and/or Resellers of imported products should contact the SIA for further information directly via email, admin@siai.com.au , or by using the Contact Us page on the SIA Website www.siai.com.au For additional information on any matters related to WERS visit www.wers.net.au Mr Cussigh said "WERSfS conforms to the deemed to satisfy, and simulation paths within the Building Code of Australia". For more details please Contact Laurie Baker, General Secretary of the SIA on 0413 610 100 or via email admin@siai.com.au |
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