How to order Passive House windows
Building to Passive House standards transforms how your home feels: stable temperatures in every room, no draughts and remarkably low running costs. But between technical specifications, certification requirements and coordinating suppliers, knowing where to start with your windows can feel overwhelming.
This guide cuts through the complexity so you can order with confidence, whether you are working towards full certification or simply want exceptional comfort and performance from your new build or retrofit.
Getting the specifications right
Passive House certification requires windows achieving a whole-unit U-value of 0.80 W/m²K or lower.
For context, UK Building Regulations allow window U-values of up to 1.6 W/m²K in new builds, making Passive House windows more than twice as thermally efficient as the regulatory minimum. Our best-performing units now reach 0.64 W/m²K, delivering measurable comfort improvements and lower energy bills over decades.
Beyond U-values, the best triple glazing includes Low-E coatings, argon gas fills and warm edge spacers. Together these details cut heat loss through the glass, the cavity and the edge of the unit.
But specifications alone don't guarantee performance. Installation quality matters equally, which is where your choice of supplier comes in.
| Specification | Whole-window U-value (W/m²K) | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| UK Building Regulations limit (new build) | 1.6 | The maximum permitted for windows in a new home |
| High-performance double glazing | 1.2 – 1.4 | The best widely available double-glazed units |
| Passive House requirement | ≤ 0.80 | Whole-unit standard required for certification |
| Triple glazing (Norrsken) | 0.64 – 0.94 | Most models comfortably inside the Passive House threshold |
Figures are indicative whole-window values; centre-pane (Ug) values are usually lower. Norrsken figures are drawn from our own PHPP data.
Our highest-performing triple-glazed windows achieve a whole-window U-value of 0.64 W/m²K, verified in our own PHPP modelling and comfortably inside the 0.80 W/m²K Passive House threshold. Download our PHPP data →
What distinguishes a quality supplier
Many suppliers produce Passive House-compliant products, but how they operate differs significantly. Here is what to look for.
Construction quality
Alu-clad timber windows combine timber's thermal performance and interior warmth with aluminium's exterior durability. Triple gasket systems, multi-point locking and precision-engineered frames distinguish premium products from the rest.
Installation expertise
Even perfectly specified windows fail if poorly installed. Airtightness tapes, insulated reveals and correctly detailed junctions all depend on the fitting team. The best suppliers either provide their own installation teams or work with carefully vetted partners who understand the specific architectural details involved.
Certification and technical support
Suppliers who provide PHPP data and understand the certification process make your architect's work easier. Independent testing from accredited bodies verifies performance claims, so you are not relying on brochure figures alone.
One partner from start to finish
Fragmented distribution chains create opportunities for miscommunication and delays. Suppliers who manage the entire process, from survey and specification through to installation, simplify your whole project and give you a single point of accountability.
Understanding the investment
Passive House triple-glazed windows typically cost roughly 10 to 15% more than high-quality double glazing.
However, as a critical component of the Passive House system, high-performance windows contribute to the 80 to 90% reduction in heating and cooling energy that Passive House buildings achieve compared with standard construction.
Payback typically takes 10 to 15 years, after which the savings become pure gain. With quality windows lasting 30 to 40 years, the lifetime return is substantial, and that is before you count the daily benefit of a warmer, quieter, more comfortable home.
Tell us a few details and our team will help you specify the right glazing and prepare a tailored quote.
The Norrsken approach
We've built our service around supporting our customers end to end. From initial survey through final installation, one team manages your entire window and door package.
Our Passive House windows achieve U-values as low as 0.64 W/m²K, exceeding the 0.80 W/m²K requirement with performance validated through independent testing. We provide PHPP data for your certification application, and our team brings years of experience working with Passive House designers and consultants.
This complete in-house approach means you have a single point of contact, clear accountability and confidence that every detail receives proper attention.
No distributors. No coordination headaches. No gaps between supplier and installer.
How it works
Ordering through our customer journey follows four clear stages:
- Understanding your project. Together, we'll work out the right windows and doors for your Passive House project, factoring in orientation, exposure, architectural style and performance targets.
- Getting you ready for certification. We provide all the technical information, PHPP data and test certificates you need to meet the rigorous planning and calculation process.
- Precision engineering your windows and doors. Your windows are made to order over 6 to 14 weeks. We'll coordinate delivery to arrive exactly when your build is ready for them.
- Installation and final checks. Our installation team fits everything according to our agreed details and tests every window and door before we're done, signing off the installation with you or your site manager.
Making your decision
Start with a clear understanding of your project's requirements: performance targets, architectural style, budget and timeline. Then use the framework above to evaluate suppliers systematically rather than choosing on price alone.
Look for suppliers who demonstrate genuine Passive House expertise, provide comprehensive technical support and manage the entire process from specification through installation. The best partnerships feel collaborative rather than transactional.
We're here to make this journey straightforward. Whether you're working towards certification or building to Passive House principles for comfort and efficiency, we provide the expertise, products and service that turn specifications into reality. Visit our Poole showroom or contact our team to discuss your requirements.
Premium design, precision engineering. Compare products and access technical information.
High-performance insulated entryways. Find the right door for your project.
Your questions answered
Thinking about ordering Passive House windows? These are the questions we hear most often.
What U-value do Passive House windows need?
For Passive House certification, the whole window unit, glazing and frame together, must achieve a U-value of 0.80 W/m²K or lower.
Norrsken's triple-glazed range spans 0.64 to 0.94 W/m²K, with several models comfortably inside the Passive House threshold.
Do my windows have to be certified components?
No. The building is certified, not each individual product, and the assessment is made through the PHPP calculation. Certified components can simplify the process, but windows with robust, verified performance data are equally acceptable.
What matters is that your supplier can provide accurate PHPP data for the exact units you order, so your designer can model the building correctly. We supply this as standard.
How long do Passive House windows take to arrive?
Our windows are made to order, with manufacture typically taking 6 to 14 weeks depending on the specification and finish.
We coordinate delivery so your windows arrive exactly when the build is ready for them, and we'll agree the programme with you or your site manager well in advance.
How much more do Passive House windows cost?
Passive House triple glazing typically costs around 10 to 15% more than high-quality double glazing.
As part of the wider Passive House system, those windows contribute to an 80 to 90% reduction in heating and cooling energy compared with standard construction. Payback usually takes 10 to 15 years, and with quality windows lasting 30 to 40 years, the lifetime return is substantial.
What is PHPP data and why does my architect need it?
PHPP is the Passive House Planning Package, the energy modelling tool used to design and certify Passive House buildings.
Your designer needs accurate U-values, g-values and frame data for every window and door in the building to complete the model. We provide full PHPP data for our range, which you can download here.
Who installs the windows?
Our own installation team fits everything to the agreed details. Correct installation is critical in a Passive House, where airtightness and thermal-bridge-free junctions depend on the quality of the fit.
Every window and door is tested before we finish, and the installation is signed off with you or your site manager.
Can I use Passive House windows without certifying my home?
Absolutely. Many of our customers build to Passive House principles for the comfort, quiet and low running costs without pursuing formal certification.
The same high-performance windows deliver the same benefits either way, and if you decide to certify later under the Passive House or EnerPHit retrofit standards, the data is already in place.
References & further reading
- Passivhaus Trust & International Passive House Association – the Passive House standard and component criteria. The Passive House Standard.
- HM Government, Approved Document L: Conservation of fuel and power – window and door U-value requirements. Planning Portal: Doors and windows building regulations.
- Norrsken – PHPP 10 modelled U-value data for the Norrsken window range. Download PHPP data.
- Norrsken – The benefits of Passive Houses.
