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Current page: IECC R-value (DOE climate-zone) — Fenestration — Window U-Factor and SHGC by climate zone
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Window U-factor: 0.27 (CZ 6+); 0.30 (CZ 4-5); 0.40 (CZ 1-3). SHGC ≤ 0.40 in cooling-dominant CZ 1-3 + 4-mixed

IECC R-value (DOE climate-zone) — Fenestration — Window U-Factor and SHGC by climate zone

Description

IECC 2021/2024 prescriptive window U-factor by climate zone: CZ 1-2 (subtropical) U ≤ 0.40 + SHGC ≤ 0.25; CZ 3 U ≤ 0.30 + SHGC ≤ 0.25; CZ 4 (mixed) U ≤ 0.30 + SHGC ≤ 0.40; CZ 5 U ≤ 0.30 + no SHGC max; CZ 6 U ≤ 0.27 + no SHGC max; CZ 7-8 U ≤ 0.27 + no SHGC max. Skylights stricter. Specify by zone-appropriate U-factor + SHGC on the window schedule.

Why this exists

Wrong-zone windows can cost the project ENERGY STAR / IECC compliance. Architects designing residential should pull the window schedule with U-factor + SHGC by orientation from the zone — many manufacturers offer dual-line products that meet several zones with different IGU specs.

Measurements

PropertyOperatorValueUnitNote
cz6Plusmax0.27U-factorWindow U-factor CZ 6+
cz4_5max0.3U-factorWindow U-factor CZ 4-5
cz1_3max0.4U-factorWindow U-factor CZ 1-3
coolingSHGCmax0.25SHGCSHGC max in cooling-dominant CZ 1-3

Categories

EnergyDaylight

Source

US DOE / ICCno manifest entry
IECC Climate-Zone Prescriptive Envelope (DOE Building America) (IECC 2021 / 2024 reference)
Section: Fenestration — Window U-Factor and SHGC by climate zone
Published 2024-01-01 · last verified 2026-05-15

Solver enforcement

Browsable only — the solver does not currently enforce this directive (no spec-level data to check against). This entry exists so the architect personas can cite it in conversation and the user can read what the rule says.

Related directives

Last reviewed 2026-05-15.