Aluminum, in its natural state is an extremely durable, stable yet highly conductive material. Climatic conditions on the exterior of a building and wide variations of temperatures (hot or cold) can easily be transferred to the inside of a building through the fenestrations framing if steps are not taken to interrupt this transfer.

When the thermal properties of aluminum are improved dramatic results in energy savings will result. This holds true in both heating and cooling, as it costs as much or more to cool a building as it does to heat it.

All thermal barriers act to eliminate the transfer of outside climatic conditions with reduced condensation as an added benefit. Aluminum window manufacturers now have considerable control over thermal performance of their end-product using the latest designs and glazing enhancements.

Manufacturers have different thermal barrier options to choose from. Perfomance and ease-of-manufacturing are important factors in deciding what type of thermal barrier to use.

View the differences Material Comparisons.