Commercial Windows vs Residential Windows

Windows are not only a beautiful addition to let light into your home or business, they are often necessary for the structure of your property as well as a huge influence on the mood of the people residing in your property. Often times business owners want to opt for residential style windows for their commercial buildings, the same way homeowners sometimes want the durability and style of a commercial window. Instead, we want to define the difference between residential windows and commercial windows so you know what type you need.

Structure. The structure of commercial windows is entirely different from that of residential windows. Each window has a grade that has been assigned by the North American Fenestration Standard (NAFS) , including Residential (R), Light Commercial (LC), Commercial Windows (CW), and Architectural Windows (AW).  These grades dictate what types of buildings should use each window, as defined by the American Architectural Manufacturers Association :

Technically a homeowner can choose whatever they want to install in their home although there would not be a point to installing high capability windows in a structure that does not need it. Residential homes are not subject to high pressure winds or larger structure components that commercial buildings experience, making commercial grade windows inefficient for a home’s needs. However, the LC, CW, and AW categories of windows are constructed more thickly and require more material to build. They also require specialized equipment for installation as well as more time to install.

Energy Efficiency. Residential windows are more energy efficient in the past couple of decades to prevent air leakage, unwanted heat loss or gain, condensation, and more. They are constructed to help with the efficiency of a home’s smaller square footage as opposed to the large square footage in commercial buildings.

Commercial buildings typically generate more internal heat thanks to a large number of people occupying the building, the higher commercial grade lighting needed, the presence of multiple computers, and more. Because of this, their HVAC systems work harder to keep up. This makes it very important for commercial business owners to look at the efficiency ratings of LC, CW, and AW commercial windows. They are glazed with the specific goal of limiting solar heat gain, allowing light to pass through without heating up the building. Windows that do not have this special glazing will vastly increase energy spending.

Cost. The biggest difference between residential windows and commercial windows is the cost. Since residential windows are considered light duty, they have less cost of materials and a simpler installation process. However, commercial windows are built with more material and are overall thicker and more durable with advanced window technology. This makes their price higher than residential grade windows, yet they are required to handle the needs of commercial buildings.

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