SWS Solution
The Soudal Window System (SWS) provides an installation solution for the increasingly stringent expectations and requirements regarding the Energy Performance of Buildings (EPB). SWS is a diverse range of sealants, PU-foams, pre-compressed tapes, liquid membranes and self-adhesive tapes. The system combines these high-quality products for a long lasting, well insulated, airtight and weatherproof seal around windows and door connections, providing a versatile and customisable solution to suit the requirements of any building or installation method.
In a dynamic and fast evolving sector, window and door installers experience continual advancements in window technologies; from innovations surrounding the energy performance of windows, to noise reduction technology that provides a quieter indoor environment. SWS further enhances these optimisations in thermal and acoustic performance, as well as improving airghtness values for window and door connects - even the best windows can't perform without the right installation products.
3-Level Window Sealing System
SWS is a 3-level window sealing system to achieve long-term performance of any window or door installation, focusing on airtightness, insulation and weather resistance. The system provides an airtight seal on the inside, thermal and acoustic insulation in the middle and a protective seal against weather influences on the outside of the joint.
Installers have a choice of SWS products for each level: Inside, Middle & Outside. The comprehensive range meets the requirements of all types of installation method, all backed by rigorously testing for both performance and durability to the highest industry standards.
SWS Inside - Airtight
The SWS INSIDE product range focuses on the improvement airtightness values of window and door connection joints:
• Airtight:
Prevents the movement of air due to atmospheric pressure from the inside.
• Vapour Barrier:
Regulates the infiltration of internal moisture into the connection joint.
SWS Middle - Insulation
The SWS MIDDLE product range focuses on the improvement of thermal and acoustic performance of the window and door connection joints:
• Acoustic:
Reduces noise, vibrations of building elements from traveling through the building envelope.
• Thermal:
Limits thermal exchange between the outside and the inside and minimizes the energy consumption needed to maintain the required temperature.
SWS Outside - Weather Resistant
The SWS OUTSIDE product range focuses on the protection of window and door connection joints from external weather conditions:
• Driving Rain Tight:
Keeps water from ouside penetrating the building envelope.
• Vapour Permeable:
Promotes water vapour to evacuate to the ouside.
• Airtight and Windtight:
Prevents the movement of air due to atmospheric pressure from the outside (e.g. wind).
Airtightness
Achieving today’s strict energy standards is nearly impossible without ensuring airtightness, as air leaks lead to heat loss, drafts, moisture issues, and poor acoustics. Airtightness, measured through a blower door test (EN13829), evaluates air leakage at a pressure difference of 50 Pa, with results expressed in air changes per hour (ACH or n50). Accurate testing is supported by national quality frameworks, with some countries adjusting values to 4 Pa or 10 Pa. Window-to-wall joints are especially critical, contributing up to 15% of air loss in an average home. The Soudal Window System (SWS) plays a key role in improving airtightness and overall energy performance.
“A small investment with a big impact on the energy efficiency: paying attention to airtightness when building a house (e.g. a leak flow of 2 to 3 m³ per hour per m²) may result in a reduction of the E-value by 5 to 15 E-value points. This is measured by a pressurisation test (BlowerDoor). If a house is not tested, it is assumed that it has a lesser airtightness of 12 m³ per hour per m². The net energy requirement will also substantially decrease.”
Passive House
The passive house concept is based on the ideas developed in Germany at the University of Darmstadt in the 1990s. One of the core principles for passive house standards is Prevention; limiting energy consumption by avoiding waste.
Even when projects are not built to full passive house standards the principles for building a passive house are often adopted to ensure buildings perform as well as possible in terms of energy efficiency and interior comfort.
For translating these principles into building practice, it is of prime importance to take great care in ensuring the building envelope is very well insulated and airtight.
High performance windows and doors will greatly help a building reduce the amount of energy required for heating and significantly improve the quality of a building’s interior environment. The joints around windows and doors play an equally important role in helping buildings to achieve these high standards of airtightness and energy performance.
SWS products offer excellent options for installing high performance windows and doors to achieve improved air tightness and energy efficiency. They are also tested to ensure they will continue to work for the life time of façade elements they are used in conjunction with.
SWS products are also approved by the Passive House Institute for use in the design of buildings aiming to achieve full Passivhaus standards. For more details of approved product components, visit the Passive House website:
