High-performance bushfire-rated windows for the Australian environment

Integral to any build, it’s important windows aren’t an afterthought in the design process. When chosen correctly, they remain part of a home for decades – effective and timeless in design, even with the change of trends.

Helping homeowners and design professionals integrate windows that are low maintenance, energy-efficient and thermally stable, Miglas can customise its products to allow architectural freedom so that windows aren’t only functional but also complementary to the overall design. 

Manufacturing from its Australian factory, Miglas sources sustainable materials with all timbers being PEFC certified. “This timber is optimised in manufacturing to produce the smallest offcuts possible,” says Miglas director, Anatol Miglas. “It’s a closed circle loop with any solid offcuts being collected for recycling into particle board and any extracted wood chips being used in an agricultural setting.”

The 100 per cent regrowth Tasmanian oak hardwood also exceeds carbon neutrality as it is captured during its growth process – approximately 50 per cent of its dry weight is stored as carbon. 

The aluminium is also low carbon, resulting in a quality Australian-made window product that treads lightly on the environment. 

“We use recycled aluminium which is partially offset with sustainable energy sources like hydro from New Zealand and Tasmania, rather than using coal-powered plants. This low-carbon aluminium is lower in carbon consumption than most other materials in the window industry at the moment.”

The durable combination of timber and aluminium also results in a product with a long lifespan – the aluminium provides an exterior that never needs painting and mitigates the need for harsh cleaning products.

“When you look over a 100-year life cycle, windows with these materials are arguably one of the best long-term investments and extremely environmentally friendly,” says Miglas.

Miglas windows and doors hold bushfire ratings that ensure the products are bushfire resistant, with no need for additional shutters, for bushfire attack levels up to and including BAL-40.

“Miglas has gone a step further, testing BAL-40 fixed windows up to 6sqm without failure. BAL-40 is the second highest bushfire rating and we’ve manufactured with this bushfire rating for the last 28 years.”

High in the hills, bushfire rating was integral at the architectural Willow Bay home by Lance Workshop and Baillie Building. The selection of windows and doors from Miglas boasts a bushfire rating of BAL29, while also helping the home face several climate challenges presented with its lofty altitude.

The property’s windows and doors also have an incorporated capillary tube system for the double glazing, facilitating decompression without condensation. Strategically positioned, clerestory windows also harness solar heat to enhance thermal mass during winter, leveraging solar energy to create an eco-friendly and comfortable living space.

By combining the advantages of both timber and aluminium windows, Miglas products optimise thermal performance. 

“With years of experience in supplying double-glazed joinery to Australia’s alpine regions, it became obvious that sustainable energy-efficient products went far beyond just double-glazing. Research into the failings of both standalone timber and aluminium windows showed that where each of these proven materials had its weakness, the other had its strength.”

The result is the unique AliClad Frame double-glazed window and door system with the range achieving U-values as low as 1.7, which results in a European U-value as low as 1.3 – providing comfort and protection in the harsh Australian climate year round.

“There are three areas where you measure energy efficiency – air infiltration, the U-value which measures heat and cold loss through the glass and frame, and solar heat gain. The new seven-star energy rating has ushered in a real focus on this. Glazing is arguably one of the most costly parts of insulating your property, so it’s often the remaining element holding back star ratings.”

Located in an alpine region, the selection of Miglas windows for the Crackenback project by designer and homeowner Samantha Morton was a conscious decision to blend modern efficiency with the timeless appeal of Australian craftsmanship.

A restoration project involving meticulous remodelling and re-engineering including modifying slabs for connectivity, environmentally conscious features were included such as pure wool carpet, cork flooring, and thermally broken timber and aluminium double-glazed doors and windows.

Miglas windows and doors also meet acoustical performance ratings that measure the amount of sound transmission through a window.

Double-glazed glass alone offers acoustic benefits, but it’s the frame design, seal engagement and compression from locking systems that further enhance the performance of Miglas windows and doors.

Keeping window and door selection front of mind during the design process is important to ensure the right products are chosen. 

“It’s best if professionals can get in touch with us as early as possible to collaborate and create designs based on the needs of the property,” says Miglas.

“Bushfire rating can impact the weight of your window based on the thickness of the glass, so that needs to be accounted for. Understanding the energy rating goal of the property early on is also key to give us an indication of what the glass specifications might need to be.”

Reach out to the Miglas team to learn more, or explore products and recent projects on ArchiPro.