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Category: Blog - page 10

Wonder why women are likely to complain about cold offices?

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women are likely to complain about cold

Aug 10, 2015 Written by Magnetite Australia
A recent study by Maastricht University suggests that the ideal office temperature formula is based on the body heat of an average man. Specifically a 70 kilogram, 40 year old male. The issue is, metabolic rates can vary across humans subject to a number of factors like weight, age, fitness level, etc. Women’s metabolic rates are 20 to 35 percent lower than males. The research conducted in the Netherlands found the current model had the potential to overestimate women’s heat production by up to 35%. This explains why some women feel cold in a standard office temperature.
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Magnetite Sydney Photo Competition: We’ve got the winners!!

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The Best Photographer

Jan 22, 2015 Written by Magnetite Australia
835 photos submitted, 7 months, 6 different themes, 2 winners

If you noticed our team taking photos of your windows installation, chance are they were competing in our Photo Competition, which finished late last year.

Taking home a new iPhone 6, Thien Vu won the first Magnetite Photo Competition as “€œThe Best Photographer”€, with a total point tally of 35 points. Mark Stogden’€™s photo from his Soundtite installation in Homebush was voted as “The Favourite Photo”€. As a result, Mark had a chance to spin the wheel of prizes, which stopped on 2 Gold Class Movie Vouchers and a $100 Dining Voucher.
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Magnetite Sydney’s Gibraltar Hotel Getaway Winners Announced!

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Magnetite Sydney's Gibraltar Hotel Getaway

Oct 23, 2014 Written by Magnetite Australia
Through the month of September, Magnetite Sydney ran a Gibraltar Hotel Getaway contest on Smooth FM. All customers who book a job in September were entered into a draw to win an overnight, all expenses getaway at the Gibraltar Hotel in Bowral. The winners were selected in a random drawing.
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The Rocks’s Claremont House Apartment shortlisted in 2014 IDEA

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The Rocks's Claremont House Apartment

Oct 16, 2014 Written by Magnetite Australia
The Claremont House Apartment has made the shortlist of 2014 Interior Design Excellence Awards (IDEA) for Residential Multi category. The IDEA promotes the best of Australian interior and product design across different category.
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Come and play with our new sensor display at the 2014 HIA Sydney Home Show

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new sensor display at the 2014 HIA Sydney Home Show

This year, we will feature our new and latest sensor display, which will enable visitors to listen and feel the benefits of Magnetite retrofit solutions. Magnetite will showcase the entire range of Magnetite products at the HIA Sydney Home Show.
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Magnetite & MEP Film partnership delivers glazing retrofit solution at ESD event “Reach for the Stars”

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Magnetite & MEP Film partnership delivers glazing retrofit solution at ESD event "Reach for the Stars"

To improve energy efficiency, the building fasade was upgraded at the iconic Citiclub Building (aka CQ Building), in the heart of Melbourne’s CBD. It’s been two years since Magnetite retrofitted the existing windows as part of a wider upgrade which saved energy use by up to 27%. This increased the NABERS ratings from 2 ½ stars up to 4 ½ stars. The project was a pilot study in the city of Melbourne’s 1200 Buildings Programme which won an award for “Best Specific Environmental Initiative” at the World Environmental Day Awards.
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Movember 2013: We did it!

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photos of some magnificent Magnetite

After 30 days growing bristly moustaches in the name of charity, Movember came to an end for this year.

We are glad to say that Magnetite raised $5,252. Managing Director, Adrian Lafleur says that while supporting Movember has brought some fun and laughs for staff, our clients and suppliers, it was also a great opportunity for us to recognise and support men’s physical and mental health in the workplace.
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Magnetite Mo is back!

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Men are often lack awareness about the very real health issues they face. There is an attitude that they have to be tough and are reluctant to talk about the issues they face. November is an annual charity that raises funds and awareness for men’s health particularly prostate cancer, testicular cancer and mental health by sprouting moustaches on men’s faces for the month of November.
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Australia’s Quietest Hospital to Open in Adelaide

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Australia’s quietest hospital is on its way, thanks to an intelligent glazing design. Acoustic studies indicate that once complete, the new Royal Adelaide Hospital will be the most peaceful in Australia.

CSIRO scientists, working with faasade supplier Yuanda, have advised the builder, HYLC Joint Venture, using an extensive array of data. With 70,000 sqm of external windows to insulate, they ran a range of acoustic tests to find the best possible glazing options for all areas of the new hospital that will open in 2016. A range of different faasade units and window configurations were evaluated to ensure maximum noise insulation for the entire hospital.
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Get inspired: See what Magnetite double glazing can do for your home

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Magnetite double glazing at your home

Publication: Newcastle Post
Date: 22 May 2013

It’s now easier than ever for Hunter residents to access superior and more affordable double glazing for their windows, with Magnetite launching a permanent presence in Newcastle.

After 15 years of servicing the Newcastle area from the Central Coast , and in response to increasing demand , Magnetite Franchisee, Barry Clendenning, has decided to open a display at the Housing Industry Association’s (HIA) Home Inspirations Centre in Mayfield West.
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  1. Conduction
    Heat moving through an object (i.e. heat will travel through an aluminium, or steel frame more easily than through a timber or PVC frame).
  2. Radiant heat
    Heat from the direct sun. It can pass through space until reflected or absorbed.
  3. Convection
    Heat flow resulting from air movement e.g. either 'natural' convection - warm air rises, or 'forced' convection - a breeze by a window, both can result in a draught by a window.
  4. Infiltration
    Air leaks around the frame, around the window sash and through the gaps in the movable window parts.

When evaluating your options to improve the thermal performance of your windows, the following double glazing key performance criteria should be considered:

  • U-Value (Uw) represents heat transfer through a window, irrespective of direct sunlight. The lower a window’s U-Value, the better the insulation performance.
  • Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) measures the solar energy that passes through glazing. The lower the SHGC, the less solar heat is transmitted through a window.
  • Air Infiltration or leakage measures the rate at which air passes through gaps in window joins and seals. The lower the air infiltration, the better a window’s energy performance.

The Window Energy Rating Scheme (WERS) Thermal Performance

Aluminium Frame Windows

Glazing Type Cooling Stars Heating Stars Cool% Heat% Uw SHGC
Single glazed 3mm clear glass* half blue star red starhalf red star 7.4 0.77
Single glazed 3mm clear glass &
4.5mm Magnetite		 blue starblue starhalf blue star red starred starred starred starred starhalf red star 35% 59% 2.9 0.67

Timber Frame Windows

Glazing Type Cooling Stars Heating Stars Cool% Heat% Uw SHGC
Single glazed 3mm clear glass* blue starhalf blue star red starred starred starhalf red star 20% 28% 5.5 0.69
Single glazed 3mm clear glass &
4.5mm Magnetite		 blue starblue starhalf blue star red starred starred starred starred starred star 37% 61% 2.6 0.66
Single glazed 3mm clear glass with
Solartite** and 4.5mm Magnetite		 blue starblue starblue starblue starblue starblue starhalf blue star red starred starred starred starhalf red star 76% 45% 1.8 0.20

 

*WERS standard typical industry window
**Solartite is a range of high performance window film. The window tested above has Solartite’s low-e film.

Magnetite vs Traditional Double Glazing – What the experts says

Winter - the ideal situation is to let in as much of the sun's heat and then trap it inside to maintain a comfortable environment in your home or office. This will also significantly reduce heating costs and saves you money. The ideal window for winter will have a high SHGC to let the sun's heat in and a low U-Value to prevent the heat from escaping. Clear windows without shading films are better suited for winter climates.

Compared with traditional double-glazing, Magnetite’s double-glazing solution can provide better results during winter or for cold climate areas such as Canberra, the Adelaide Hills and Blue Mountains.

Magnetite's clear acrylic window panels allow the direct heat from the sun's rays to enter the building and once inside, Magnetite's superior magnetic seals retain the heat, giving Magnetite an advantage over conventional operating windows.

Glazing Type Cooling Stars Heating Stars Cool% Heat% Uw SHGC AI
Double Glazed 3mm clear glass/12mm air
gap/3mm clear glass IGU (Insulated Glass Unit)*		 blue starblue starhalf blue star red starred starred starred starred starhalf red star 40% 55% 3.0 0.61 5.0
Single glazed 3mm clear glass &
4.5mm Magnetite		 blue starblue starhalf blue star red starred starred starred starred starred star 37% 61% 2.6 0.66 0.5

 

*WERS standard typical industry window

Summer - the ideal situation is to minimize the heat coming in from outside and prevent the cool air inside from escaping through the window. This will make your home more comfortable and reduce your air-conditioning costs. The ideal window for summer, or for a large west-facing window, will have a low SHGC to limit the heat from the sun's direct rays, as well as, a low U-Value to prevent the heat in the air outside from moving through the window and warming the cool conditioned air inside. It is better to have a shading film on the first (outer) glass pane to limit the heat that enters the double glazed unit.

The combination of Magnetite retrofit double glazing and Solartite outperforms the traditional insulated glass unit for hot climate. Magnetite fit over an existing window with reflective film will give better summer heat control than a double-glazed window with supertoned glass.

The Magnetite system stops the conduction and convection of heat better than glass windows giving superior results for summer conditions. Combined with a film or a shading device, Magnetite is the ideal solution for the hot Australian conditions.

Glazing Type Cooling Stars Heating Stars Cool% Heat% Uw SHGC AI
Double Glazed 5mm Supertoned glass/6mm
air gap/5mm clear glass IGU (Insulated Glass Unit)*		 blue starblue starblue starhalf blue star red starred starred starred starhalf red star 54% 425% 3.30 0.461 5.0
Single glazed 3mm glass Solartite**
and 4.5mm Magnetite		 blue starblue starblue starblue starblue starhalf blue star red starred starred starred star 73% 38% 2.4 0.19 0.5

 

*WERS standard typical industry window
**Solartite is a range of high performance window film. The window tested above has Solartite’s low-e film.

Click here to view pdf version of Magnetite WERS test result.

Noise Reduction Technical Data and Results

Proven Results

Noise pollution is one the biggest problems faced in the cities today, particularly in a high-density living. Unwanted noise can be responsible for sleep loss and lack of concentration. This can lead to a deterioration of health through increased stress levels, headaches, high blood pressure and loss of hearing.

Noise penetrates windows through leaky seals or vibrations through the window structure. To reduce noise, a window should minimise air infiltration, hold enough weight to limit vibration and allow a large air cavity. This cavity, or air gap, is the key to secondary glazing.

Expert Advice:

CSIRO Research by John Davy shown an air cavity can effectively enhance sound insulation performance. The larger the air cavity the more noise the window system can reduce. Results show a wide air gap of 100-125mm will improve sound insulation by an average of 7dB(A) more than windows with a narrow gap of 8-13mm.

Window or Glass Door Type Total Glass Thickness (mm) Air Cavity Thickness (mm) Sound Insulation (dB)
Single Glaze 3mm 3 0 23
Single Glaze 6mm 6 0 27
Double Glaze Narrow Gap 9-12 8-13 31
Double Glaze Wide Gap 9-12 100-125 38

 

The human ear is less sensitive to low frequency sound. According to a study released by the CSIRO, the human ear needs a change of 3dB to detect a difference in noise levels and the human ear perceives a change of 10dB as a doubling or halving of the noise level.

If you double the thickness of glass in a window the noise level will decrease by 3dB the least amount possible to make a difference. If the glass is laminated there is no perceived difference in noise reduction.

National Acoustic Laboratory Testing:

Working with the principles of noise transfer, Magnetite® and Soundtite are designed for high performance, which is achieved by combining air tight seals with the ability to maximize an air cavity and the flexibility to vary glazing thickness to suit. Magnetite® is excellent at reducing general noise such as busy roads, commuter trains and noisy neighbours. Whereas, Soundtite works well to combat low frequencies noise such as garbage truck, freight trains or airplane during take-off and landing.

Test Code Material Tested Rw* Improvement
ATF 707 (test window) Aluminium sliding window, 3mm float glass with mohair seals 23 N/A
ATF 709 Test window, 100mm air gap and Magnetite System (4.5mm acrylic panel) 35 52%
ATF 1507 Test window, 100mm air gap and Magnetite System (10.0mm acrylic panel) 39 70%
ATF 817 Test window, 100mm air gap and Soundtite (6.38mm laminated glass) 41 78%

 

*The Weighted Sound Reduction Index (Rw) is a measure for sound insulation performance of a single building element such as windows. The higher the Rw rating, the better the sound insulation.