In an inspiration to all the industry, Clifton Hill Primary School chose to build their new vertical campus to Passive House standard and use Australian made windows. Paarhammer’s triple glazed Passive House Range in composite Wood-Alu was the ideal choice with extremely low U-values, high sound protection and airtightness.

Paarhammer windows

The intent for the dynamic 4-storey campus was to create a building with a strong sustainability agenda – constructed from hybrid and being highly energy efficient. This is a first for the Victorian School Building Authority, providing a low-carbon, low operational cost, low maintenance building. High on the agenda was also sound protection to create an optimised and quiet environment suitable for learning as well as safety requirements and fall prevention.

All window products were custom-made to include oversized elements, which capture sunlight, views and trees in the landscape, amplifying a sense of calm and engagement. The composite timber windows with external aluminium cladding are triple glazed with low-E glass and with a window U-value of under 1, and include a 35m² unit measuring 5770w x 5828h in size, divided into 9 fixed panes. Engineered timber sections were used to deal with high wind load, restrict timber movement and further increase strength and stability.

Paarhammer windows

Large doors and French doors were fitted with Passive House component certified barrier-free thresholds and allowed ease of operation despite being up to 120kg heavy per leaf. Window openings had to provide cross ventilation without compromising fall prevention. Paarhammer used their proven sash lock system for child safety, where it is possible to allow authorised access for cleaning and maintenance of windows and external shading.

Anti-condensation technology and powdercoated aluminium cladding ensure longevity of both structure and aesthetics of the window, allowing for minimum maintenance requirements. The aluminium cladding is designed to make applying tapes for airtightness and flashing simple, and to connect seamlessly to the façade fabric.

Water egress requirement was 450pa with an ultimate strength of 5000pa and Paarhammer developed a tested and AS 2047 compliant solution for such high requirements. A noise reduction capability of 40dB made Paarhammer windows the ideal products to create a quiet classroom environment despite the noisy world outside.

The strong sustainability and health agenda of this build was met with hardwood timber frames, finished with low-VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) timber coating that is water-based. The external aluminium cladding of the composite Wood-Alu products was powdercoated to fulfil design requirements.

Passive House is a holistic construction method, which requires airtight construction, super insulated envelopes, high performance windows, and being thermal bridge-free. Airtightness is tested with a blower door test and the maximum reading is 0.6ACH50, which this passed on the first attempt.

The overall outcome provides learning spaces with natural sunlight exposure, fresh air and outdoor views, which boost performance, help brain function and reduce depression among students as well as teachers. Paarhammer windows are an essential part.

This project is a finalist in the AGWA (Australian Glass and Windows Association) Design and Industry Awards 2024 Commercial Window or Glass Project.

Project details

Project: Clifton Hill Primary School

Architects: JCB

Builders: Kapitol Group and Figurehead

Photography: Peter Clarke

Installation Images: Paarhammer Team

Architecture & Design Team

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