We are often asked “Are ThermaScreen windows built for NZ conditions?” In short, our windows were designed and built to exceed NZ conditions, especially considering NZ UV exposure.
Our windows were designed and built for US conditions. Why is that important to someone building or replacing windows in NZ? The US endures more extreme conditions than NZ does. Building to more demanding requirements can result in an overall higher performance window.
US conditions see temperature swings from -80 °C in Alaska to >55 °C in Arizona and California. US conditions include lands ravaged by hurricanes (aka cyclones) and tornadoes. This means nearly all of our windows are strength tested to pressures that far exceed the Extra High Wind Zone NZ requirements, and some are strength tested to nearly double NZ’s Extra High Wind Zone strength requirements. US conditions include rainfalls on more than 275 days per year. US conditions include extreme UV exposures of ~50% more UV than the max UV that NZ gets (Hawaii gets >20 on the peak UV Index where far north NZ gets ~12-13).
Our windows have been confirmed to meet/exceed NZ’s mild conditions and NZ Building Code requirements. We just don’t limit our performance to the milder NZ conditions. To design and build to only NZ conditions would mean relaxing our current performance criteria.