Commercial vs Residential Windows: What's the Difference?

For commercial property managers and homeowners, the cost of a window replacement project can seem eye-popping, especially if you've already replaced windows in your home. Costs do not appear to have increased. However, judging both types at the same time is misleading.

Commercial and residential window designs vary widely. In fact, installing residential windows on commercial properties is problematic. Major structural issues may arise, as well as the ability of the windows to withstand wind pressure. Additionally, commercial windows are often custom-built to fit a specific building envelope, glazed on-site and require specialized equipment to hang them properly. This is a major driver of increased commercial window installation costs. Finally, windows in commercial buildings must limit the flow of solar energy to prevent the building from overheating.

In particular, there are three main differences between commercial and residential windows:

Commercial real estate is known as an "internal load-dominated building". This industry term refers to large, densely populated buildings that generate a lot of internal heat from people, lighting, computers, and other equipment. These buildings are typically cooled year-round to offset the heat generated inside. On the other hand, single-family homes are "buildings dominated by envelope loads." They are not crowded, do not generate a lot of internal heat, and rely on sunlight as a heat source.

What does this have to do with windows? a lot of. Commercial glazing must be specially designed to limit solar heat gain. This can be achieved through the use of specialized coatings and high-performance glazing, which ensures that light enters through the windows without generating too much heat. When windows are not properly protected from the sun's heat, peak cooling loads in buildings can soar, resulting in increased energy consumption. 

The North American Fenestration Standard (NAFS) is a rating system for windows based on a number of factors, including factors such as their ability to withstand structural loads and wind pressure. These ratings are important for mid-rise, high-rise, and other commercial buildings where windows are exposed to higher wind pressures, elements, and often higher structural loads.

There are four grades, including R (residential), LC (light commercial), CW, and AW. Commercial windows often have to carry heavier loads, in part because of their larger size. Therefore, they are designed with thicker, heavier frames and tempered glass. Residential windows, on the other hand, have the less structural load-carrying capacity, and because they are smaller, they are not affected by high-pressure winds. Installing ill-fitting windows on commercial properties can cause many structural problems.

Commercial grade frames - in the LC, CW, and AW categories - are thicker and require more material to build. The end result: They are more expensive than lightweight residential frames. Additionally, many commercial building projects require fully custom framing, which also adds to the cost. However, the installation process for residential and commercial windows is another major difference. In some cases, commercial window installations are more time-consuming and complex. Properly hanging and placing large windows often requires specialized equipment, and in mid-to-high-rise buildings, a crane is required to reach high-rise windows from the outside. This increases the cost and time required to install the project.

To most people, residential and commercial windows seem to be the same thing. However, this does not take into account some very important differences in their design, installation requirements, and efficiency ratings. If you want to buy or customize windows, please contact us.

ROPO is a custom door and window manufacturer with 16 years of experience. ROPO has produced various doors and windows for more than 25 countries and regions in Europe and America. The main products are made of uPVC and aluminum. Our products are very suitable for our different customers. We are constantly seeking to understand the needs of different clients. We use this knowledge to continuously create products to meet these needs. We always make sure to provide consumers with these products at the right price.