Glass in Building - Determination of Thermal Transmittance (U Value) - Calculation Method
Glass in Building - Determination of Thermal Transmittance (U Value) - Calculation Method
November 1997
NORME EUROPÉENNE
+ A1
EUROPÄISCHE NORM September 2000
+ A2
December 2002
ICS 81.040.20
Descriptors: Glazing, window glass, thermal insulation, rules of calculation, heat transfer coefficient, measurements, opacity, infrared
radiation
English version
CEN
European Committee for Standardization
Comité Européen de Normalisation
Europäisches Komitee für Normung
© 1997 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CEN national
Members.
Ref. No. EN 673:1997 + A1:2000 + A2:2002 E
EN 673:1997
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1 Scope
This European Standard specifies a calculation method to determine the thermal transmittance of glazing
with flat and parallel surfaces.
This European Standard applies to uncoated glass (including glass with structured surfaces, e.g. patterned
glass), coated glass and materials not transparent in the far infrared, which is the case for soda lime silicate
glass products (called hereafter soda lime glass), borosilicate glass and glass ceramic. It also applies to
multiple glazing comprising such glasses and/or materials. It does not apply to multiple glazing which
include in the gas space sheets or foils that are far infrared transparent. The procedure specified in
this European Standard determines the U value1) (thermal transmittance) in the central area of glazing.
The edge effects due to the thermal bridge through the spacer of a sealed glazing unit or through the
window frame are not included. Furthermore, energy transfer due to solar radiation is not taken into
account.
The document for the calculation of the overall U value of windows, doors and shutters (see C.1) makes
normative reference to the U value calculated for the glazing components according to this standard.
For the purpose of product comparison, a vertical position of the glazing is specified. In addition U values
are calculated using the same procedure for other purposes, in particular for predicting:
— heat loss through glazing;
— conduction heat gains in summer;
— condensation on glazing surfaces;
— the effect of the absorbed solar radiation in determining the solar factor (see C.2).
Reference should be made to C.4 and C.5 or other European Standards dealing with heat loss calculations
for the application of glazing U values determined by this standard.
A procedure for the determination of emissivity is also given.
The rules have been made to be as simple as possible whilst remaining consistent with accuracy.
2 Normative references
This European Standard incorporates by dated or undated reference, provisions from other publications.
These normative references are cited at the appropriate places in the text and the publications are listed
hereafter. For dated references, subsequent amendments to or revisions of any of these publications apply
to this European Standard only when incorporated in it by amendment or revision. For undated references
the latest edition of the publication referred to applies.
EN 674, Glass in building — Determination of thermal transmittance (U value) — Guarded hot plate
method.
EN 675, Glass in building — Determination of thermal transmittance (U value) — Heat flow meter method.
prEN 1098, Glass in building — Determination of thermal transmittance (U value) — Calibrated and
guarded hot box method.
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3 Symbols
A constant —
c specific heat capacity of gas J/(kg·K)
d thickness of material layer (glass or alternative glazing material) m
F volume fraction —
h — heat transfer coefficient W/(m2·K)
— also thermal conductance W/(m2·K)
M number of material layers —
n exponent —
N number of spaces —
r thermal resistivity of glass (glazing material) m·K/W
P gas property —
Rn normal reflectance (perpendicular to the surface) —
s width of gas space m
T absolute temperature K
U thermal transmittance W/(m2·K)
%T temperature difference K
( corrected emissivity —
(n normal emissivity (perpendicular to the surface) —
Ô gas density kg/m3
Ö Stefan-Boltzmann’s constant 5,67 × 10p8 W/(m2·K4)
È dynamic viscosity of gas kg/(m·s)
Æ — thermal conductivity of gas in space W/(m·K)
— also wavelength 4m
Ú temperature on the Celsius scale °C
Dimensionless numbers
Gr Grashof number —
Nu Nusselt number —
Pr Prandtl number —
Subscripts
c convection
e external
i internal
j j-th material layer
g gas
m mean
n normal
r radiation
s space
t total
1;2 first, second etc.
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4 Definitions
For the purposes of this standard, the following definitions apply.
4.1
U value
parameter of glazing which characterizes the heat transfer through the central part of the glazing,
i.e.without edge effects, and states the steady-state density of heat transfer rate per temperature difference
between the environmental temperatures on each side. The U value is given in watts per square metre
kelvin [W/(m2·K)]
4.2
declared value
U value obtained under standardized boundary conditions (see Clause 8)
5 Basic formulae
The method of this standard is based on a calculation according to the following principles.
5.1 U value
The U value is given by:
1 1 1 1
---- = ------ + ----- + ----- (1)
U he ht hi
where
he and hi are the external and internal heat transfer coefficients;
ht is the total thermal conductance of the glazing.
N
1 1 M
----- =
ht ∑ ------ + ∑ d j r j
hs
(2)
1 1
where
hs is the thermal conductance of each gas space;
N is the number of spaces;
dj is the thickness of each material layer;
rj is the thermal resistivity of each material (thermal resistivity of soda lime glass = 1,0m K/W);
M is the number of material layers.
hs = hr + hg
where
hr is the radiation conductance;
hg is the gas conductance.
For glazing with more than one gas space the U value shall be found by iteration (see Annex B).
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1 1 –1
h r = 4Ö ----- + ----- – 1 T m
3
¼1 ¼2 (4)
where
Ö is Stefan-Boltzmann’s constant;
Tm is the mean absolute temperature of the gas space;
¼1 and ¼2 are the corrected emissivities at Tm.
Æ
h g = Nu --- (5)
s
where
s is the width of the space;
Æ is the thermal conductivity;
Nu is the Nusselt number.
where
A is a constant;
Gr is the Grashof number;
Pr is the Prandtl number;
n is an exponent.
3 2
9,81s %TÔ
Gr = -------------------------------- (7)
2
Tm È
Èc
Pr = ------ (8)
Æ
where
∆T is the temperature difference between glass surfaces bounding the gas space;
Ô is the density;
È is the dynamic viscosity;
c is the specific heat capacity;
Tm is the mean temperature.
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thermal conductivity Æ;
density Ô;
dynamic viscosity È;
specific heat capacity c.
The relevant values are substituted in equations (7) and (8) above for the Grashof and Prandtl numbers
and the Nusselt number is determined from equation (6) above.
If the Nusselt number is greater than 1 this indicates that convection is occurring, enhancing the heat flow
rate.
If the calculated value of the Nusselt number is less than 1 this indicates that heat flow in the gas is by
conduction only and the Nusselt number is given the bounding value of 1. Substitution in equation (5) gives
the gas conductance hg.
Values of gas properties for a range of gases used in sealed glazing units are given in Table 1.
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For all practical gas mixtures the gas properties are proportioned in the ratio of the volume fractions, F1,
F2..., with sufficient approximation:
Gas 1: F1; Gas 2: F2 etc.
Thus
P = P1 F1 + P2 F2 (9)
where P represents the relevant property: thermal conductivity, density, viscosity or specific heat capacity.
6.3 Infrared absorption of the gas
Some gases absorb infrared radiation in the 5 µm to 50 µm range. Where the gas concerned is used in
combination with a coating with corrected emissivity less than 0,2 this effect is neglected because of the
low density of the net infrared radiant flux.
For other cases the U value shall be measured according to EN 674, EN 675 or prEN 1098 if the possible
improvement is to be taken into account.
20 1,189 1,811 × 10 p5
2,576 × 10p5
Argon p10 1,829 2,038 × 10p5 1,584 × 10p5
0 1,762 2,101 × 10p5 1,634 × 10p5 0,519 × 103
10* 1,699 2,164 × 10p5 1,684 × 10p5
20 1,640 2,228 × 10p5 1,734 × 10p5
SF6** p10 6,844 1,383 × 10p5 1,119 × 10p5
0 6,602 1,421 × 10p5 1,197 × 10p5 0,614 × 103
10* 6,360 1,459 × 10p5 1,275 × 10p5
20 6,118 1,497 × 10p5 1,354 × 10p5
Krypton p10 3,832 2,260 × 10p5 0,842 × 10p5
0 3,690 2,330 × 10p5 0,870 × 10p5 0,245 × 103
10* 3,560 2,400 × 10p5 0,900 × 10p5
20 3,430 2,470 × 10p5 0,926 × 10p5
Xenon p10 6,121 2,078 × 10p5 0,494 × 10p5
0 5,897 2,152 × 10p5 0,512 × 10p5 0,161 × 103
10 5,689 2,226 × 10p5 0,529 × 10p5
20 5,495 2,299 × 10p5 0,546 × 10p5
* Standardized boundary conditions.
** Sulfur hexafluoride.
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where
hr is the radiation conductance;
hc is the convection conductance.
The radiation conductance for uncoated soda lime glass surfaces is 4,4 W/(m2·K). If the internal surface of
the glazing has a lower emissivity, the radiation conductance is given by:
4,4¼
h r = --------------- (11)
0,837
where
¼ is the corrected emissivity of the coated surface;
0,837 is the corrected emissivity of uncoated soda lime glass (see 6.1).
This is only applicable if there is no condensation on the coated surface. A procedure for determining the
corrected emissivity of a coating is given in Annex A.
The value of hc is 3,6 W/(m2·K) for free convection. Where a fan blown heater is situated below or above a
window this value will be larger if a current of air is blown over the window.
For vertical soda lime glass surfaces and free convection:
hi = 4,4 + 3,6
= 8,0 W/(m2·K) (12)
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Standardized boundary conditions for the gas properties are given in Table 1 for a temperature
of 10 °C (283 K).
01
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10 Test report
10.1 Information included in the test report
The test report shall state the following elements.
10.2 Identification of the glazing
— total nominal thickness of the glazing (millimetres);
— nominal thickness of each glass pane (millimetres);
— nominal thickness of each material layer, if any (millimetres);
— nominal thickness of gas space(s) (millimetres);
— type of gas filling;
— position of IR-reflecting coating, if any;
— inclination of glazing (angle to horizontal);
— any other condition diverging from the standardized boundary conditions.
10.3 Cross-section of the glazing
A figure shall show the structure of the glazing [position and thickness of glass panes and of material
layers, position of coating(s), position and thickness of gas space(s), type of gas filling].
The layers of glass and of other materials and the gas spaces shall be numbered starting from the pane
facing outside.
10.4 Results
— corrected emissivity of the coating, in the case of coatings which modify the emissivity;
— internal heat transfer coefficient hi, in the case of coatings which modify the
emissivity; [W/(m2·K)]
— total thermal conductance of the glazing, ht; [W/(m2·K)]
— U value of the glazing; [W/(m2·K)]
— hs, he and hj if used to calculate a design U value in which case the expression
“design U value” shall be used. [W/(m2·K)]
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Annex A (normative)
Determination of normal and corrected emissivity
NOTE This annex is in agreement with C.6.
i = 30
1
R n = ------
30 ∑ Rn ( Æi ) (A.1)
i=1
¼n = 1 p Rn (A.2)
NOTE For other ambient temperatures emissivity is not strongly dependent on the mean temperature.
Table A.1 — Thirty selected wavelengths Æi for determining normal reflectance, Rn, at 283 K
Ordinal number i Wavelength 2i Ordinal number i Wavelength 2i
4m 4m
1 5,5 16 14,8
2 6,7 17 15,6
3 7,4 18 16,3
4 8,1 19 17,2
5 8,6 20 18,1
6 9,2 21 19,2
7 9,7 22 20,3
8 10,2 23 21,7
9 10,7 24 23,3
10 11,3 25 25,2
11 11,8 26 27,7
12 12,4 27 30,9
13 12,9 28 35,7
14 13,5 29 43,9
15 14,2 30 50,0*
* 50 4m has been chosen because this wavelength is the limit of most commercially available spectrometers. This approximation
has a negligible effect on the accuracy of the calculation.
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Annex B (normative)
Iteration procedure for glazing with more than one gas space
For glazing with more than one gas space (N > 1), the calculation shall be performed by an iteration
procedure (exemplified in Table B.1), in which the gas space conductance hs of each gas space is determined
at a mean temperature of 283 K (sufficient accuracy is obtained because the influence of small deviations
from 283 K can be neglected).
For the first step of the iteration procedure a temperature difference of ∆T = 15/N (K) for each space is used
in equation (7).
With gas space conductances hs obtained, new ∆Ts values for each space shall be calculated from the
equation:
1 ⁄ hs
------------------------
N
%T s =
∑
1 ⁄ h s (B.1)
1
These ∆Ts values are used for the second iteration, and so on. N
The iteration procedure shall be repeated until the resistance of the glazing ∑ 1 ⁄ h s from equation (2)
1
converges at the third significant figure (usually no more than three iterations, and exceptionally four).
This converged resistance shall be used in equations (2) and (1) to calculate the U value.
Where the initial hs values are equal, the respective temperature differences are given by ∆T = 15/N (K)
and iteration is unnecessary.
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Table B.1 — Example of iteration for a triple glazing with the following characteristics:
structure 4/12/4/12/4; one coating in second space with ¼n = 0,1 (¼ = 0,114); both spaces SF6 filled
Iteration number 1 2 3 4
1/hs for space 1 (m2·K/W) 0,163 1 0,173 2 0,170 8 0,171 3
1/hs for space 2 (m2·K/W) 0,332 7 0,303 6 0,308 7 0,307 6
2
∑ 1 ⁄ h s (m2·K/W) 0,495 8 0,476 8 0,479 5 0,478 9
1
Annex C (informative)
Bibliography
C.1 prEN 30077, Windows, doors and shutters — Thermal transmittance — Calculation method.
(ISO/DIS 11077:1993)
C.2 prEN 410, Glass in building — Determination of light transmittance, solar direct transmittance, total
solar energy transmittance, ultraviolet transmittance and related glazing characteristics.
C.3 Building components and building elements — Thermal resistance and thermal transmittance —
Calculation method. (ISO/DIS 6946-1:1995) (WI: 00089013)
C.4 prEN 832, Thermal performance of buildings — Calculation of energy use for heating —
Residential buildings.
C.5 EN ISO 10211-1, Thermal bridges in building construction — Heat flows and surface temperatures —
Part 1: General calculation methods. (ISO 10211-1:1995)
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