AI Passive House Window Selector
Match climate and U-value targets to an FRP frame.

Match Passive House climate, opening type, and target U-value

A frame series cannot be selected from U-value alone. Climate class changes the interior-surface-temperature requirement; opening type changes reinforcement, hardware, air seals, and practical sash dimensions; the glazing and spacer determine how much of the whole-window thermal target remains for the frame. Project quantity, certification route, fabrication model, and destination also affect the recommendation.

The AI Passive House window selector organizes those early inputs before a detailed EN ISO 10077 calculation or project-specific review. It is useful for architects, facade consultants, window fabricators, energy modelers, and procurement teams comparing frame depths and certification evidence at concept or tender stage.

Inputs to verify before accepting a frame-series recommendation

The selector can only be as specific as the project information supplied. Before a series is placed on the window schedule, confirm the following inputs and record the source of each value so the architect, energy modeler, fabricator, and supplier are working from the same basis.

• Climate and certification route: identify PHI, PHIUS, local energy code, project-specific modeling, and the required climate or performance class instead of treating the programs as interchangeable.
• Reference size and opening type: document the tested or calculated window dimensions, sash configuration, frame fraction, mullions, transoms, reinforcement, hardware, and allowable operating size.
• Glazing and spacer: record Ug, pane build, coatings, gas fill, spacer linear transmittance, edge conditions, and the supplier data used in the whole-window calculation.
• Installation interface: review rough opening, anchors, support blocks, membranes, insulation continuity, sill drainage, and the linear thermal bridge between frame and wall construction.
• Non-thermal performance: confirm structural wind pressure, water penetration, air leakage, acoustic target, security, fire, durability, condensation, hardware cycling, and local fenestration standards.
• Supply and fabrication model: state whether the project needs finished windows or pultruded lineals, who fabricates and glazes, quantity, colors, quality plan, certification labels, packing, and destination.

When these inputs are not yet fixed, keep the recommendation conditional. A useful concept-stage result may say that the 90 series is the likely baseline subject to an exact Uw calculation, opening-size check, installation detail, and certificate-scope review. That is more defensible than presenting one nominal frame value as the performance of every finished window.

After the AI returns a candidate, compare it with the published 65, 70, 80, 90, and 140 series rather than treating the first result as the only option. Request section drawings, frame and sash dimensions, reinforcement limits, glazing range, hardware compatibility, drainage details, available finishes, and the exact certificate pages that support the proposed build. Run at least one representative window through the U-value calculator, then repeat the check for unusually small, large, subdivided, or operable units because frame fraction and linear edges can change the result. Record the accepted configuration in the window schedule so later substitutions are reviewed against the same thermal, structural, airtightness, and certification basis.