Window Library

The Hero v4.1 release also contains a significant update for the Window Library with the introduction of the new WERSLink library that is detailed in the WERSLink section at the bottom of the page. This is discussed in the Hero v4.1 release video.

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18/07/24 Update: Note the NatHWERS WERSLink "Apartment" type default windows have been temporarily withdrawn due to data errors, and are expected to be restored by the administrators prior to the end of 2024. Click here for more information.

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The Window Library is primarily concerned with the selection of Windows that you would like to use within your Project.

The Window Library is split into two main sections, the complete Window Library which shows all 48,000+ available windows from the WERS Window Database, and then the Selected Windows Table which shows the window specifications that will be selectable throughout the project.

There are then a variety of filtering features that allow users to filter down the thousands of windows available and select the most appropriate windows for their project, search for specific windows, and load or save preselected window lists using the Window List button.


Selected Windows

Windows added into the Selected Windows table from the top Window Library become available for selection within the Opening Data-Grid tab and Opening Summary table under the Window Specification column. By default, the Selected Windows are the NatHERS Default Windows library.

You can select windows from the Window Library and add them to your Selected Window Library list by double clicking or selecting them and hitting the Add Button at the top of the table. You can select multiple windows by holding the ⌨ Shift or ⌨ Control keys while selecting and then when you hit the Add Button all Selected Windows will be added to the Selected Window List below.

Windows can be removed from the Selected Window List by 🖱 Double Left-Clicking them or selecting them and hitting the Keyboard shortcut ⌨ Delete key. You can select multiple items by using the ⌨ Shift & ⌨ Control keys as per usual. You can also clear all windows by using the clear all button. Note you cannot clear Window Specifications that are currently in use in the Project.

Your selected window list will be saved into the project file and loaded when you load a new Hero project into the interface.

Window List Templates

You can save and load a preset list of Window Specifications into the Selected Window list by using the Window List template button. You can save the current list of Window Specifications by using the Save button, or load a previously created Window Specification list by using the Load button. Hero also comes loaded with several default lists of various NatHERS and WERSLink default window specifications that are available under the 'Load Preset' option.


Visually Organising the Window Library

You can visually organise the window tables in various ways.

The tables themselves have a range of columns including:

  • Code-name: The window code

  • Full-name: The full name of the window specification

  • U-value: The whole of window U-value

  • Solar Heat Gain Coefficient value: The whole of window SHGC

  • Manufacturer

  • Window Style: Opening type such as Casement, Louvre, Sliding etc.

  • Frame Type: Such as Aluminium, Thermally Broken Aluminium, Composite, Wood and PVC

  • Revision/version (for new WERSLink windows) and Active (current vs retired) - indicates the version of the Window Specification from the WERS Link online database and in the Active column indicates whether this is a retired window specification or the latest current specification. Windows may be updated from time to time in the online WERSLink database, however the old NatHERS Window library remains fixed. You can update retired WERSLink window specifications using the Update button.

There are then a variety of optional columns that are by default hidden such as Frame U-value, Glass U-value, Glass Visible Light Transmittance, Glass description etc that you can turn on & off using the Column overflow button.


Group By

The Complete Window Library has a variety of Group By toggle buttons similar to the Data-Grid that allow you to group windows by various sub headings, such as Grouping By Manufacturer, Frame Type, Glass Type or Window Opening Style. Selecting these toggles creates a tree where Window Specifications get added under these various headings. These Group By buttons are configurable in order of when they are added so you could customise the tree by selecting your preferred group by buttons in order.


Searching

The search area allows users to enter text matching the name, description or manufacturer from the window which will then automatically filter the Window Library accordingly.

You can also search for a specific U-value and/or SHGC, which when searched will sort and order the Window Library by closest match to that U-value and/or SHGC combination.

You can also hit the Filter Compliant button to set the U-value and SHGC filter sliders to the entered U-value and SHGC value that would be appropriate "substitutions" as per the NatHERS Technical Notes, these being any window with a U-value less than the entered value, and any window with a SHGC +-5% of the entered value. You can clear the search items by using the Clear button.


Filtering

There a variety of ways to filter the window library so that you can find the right window specification for your project.

One method of filtering is the U-value & SHGC sliders. These sliders have a maximum & minimum value that can be dragged or entered directly in the text field. Windows within the maximum & minimum will then be shown in the Library, and all others removed. You can reset the filter by double-clicking the slider mark or clicking the clear button.

You can also filter out various types of windows using the Checkboxes below the sliders. These categories include filtering out various frame types, glass types, manufacturers, class (residential or commercial) & opening styles. Selecting these categories automatically updates the library.


WERSLink (new)

With the introduction of the new online WERSLink database in Hero v4.1 a range of changes have been introduced to the Window Library. These includes automatic updates via API, a new library of WERSLink defaults and functions to transition old projects to WERSLink and handle retired windows.

Updating the WERSLink Library

The WERSLink library is an API connected cloud service, meaning that the window library will receive regular monthly updates (requires online connection and being signed-in), meaning you won't need to update your Hero version just to receive new Window Libraries.

New WERSLink Defaults

Alongside a substantial update to the custom window database, there is a new library of WERSLink Defaults (as opposed to the NatHERS Defaults) that are available for use as "generic" window types that any manufacturer can then attempt to meet. These new WERSLink Defaults are split into more categories than previous NatHERS Defaults such as on a per opening type basis, as well as having multiple U-value/SHGC performance combinations per type (rather than the NatHERS Defaults typically have one specification per 'type'). While this adds some complexity to the modelling, it allows for projects to continue to use the Default/Generic windows and retain manufacturer flexibility and still achieve high star-ratings (the NatHERS Defaults are typically a worst-case performance spec).

Using WERSLink

The WERSLink Library is in use by default for new NatHERS 2022 projects created in v4.1 or later. For older NatHERS 2022 projects created in v4.0 or earlier, you have the option of enabling the new WERSLink library and transitioning your project by clicking the 'Use WERSLink' toggle button. When clicked, Hero will attempt to match any old window specifications in use with windows in the new WERSLink library and confirm those to you. If a window specification cannot be matched (e.g. a change of code, or a retired window etc.) then these will be noted and any windows will be reverted to the default ALM-001-001A window specification.

The date of the WERSLink library in use is shown in the Window Library, and you can check to see if a more recent library has been released by clicking the "Sync" button.

Note NatHERS 2019 projects cannot use the new WERSLink library (given these projects require Chenath v3.21).

Automatic updates to the WERSLink library will mean that new windows will get added; windows may be retired as manufacturer cease offering them, or windows are amended and updated to a new Version. The "Version" and "Active" columns in the library note these aspects. You can ensure you are using the latest versions of all window specifications for your project by clicking the 'Update' button in the selected windows toolbar, which will attempt to find the latest match for all windows and transition your project to those latest versions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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