New poster here. I have learned lots on this site, so thank you for your many helpful postings.
I currently have a new home under construction. Almost passive haus design, 1500 sq ft, IECC Climate zone 4 (SW Virginia). My builder ordered Marvin Integrity casement windows and requested the new i89 coating. When they arrived, we could not find any labeling that mentioned the i89 coating, so we wondered if we had it. Also, no NFRC performance labels. After a few weeks of back and forth with Marvin, they said that they had not yet submitted that window assembly for NFRC certification, they were "special order", so there were no performance labels/numbers to be had.
Then we took our magnifying glasses to the windows and found the upper corner etching that said NFRC 375 (Marvin's code with NFRC) and Low E(cubed) 366. Confusing because Marvin had just told us that these windows did not have NFRC labeling....
To further complicate our story, 4 of the windows were damaged when they arrived and were sent back. Their replacements DID have "i89" on the factory label, "4TH SURFACE" on the factory label and had NO NFRC etching in the top corner, but the lowE (cubed) 366 was still noted. At least these 4 windows, we thought, were i89, but we still wondered about the other windows.
All of the ordering (building supply house, Marvin, Cardinal glass) mention the i89 coating and we have paid extra money for the upgrade. I found mention on this site of ways to check for low e coatings using a flashlight and also a continuity tester. Yesterday I did the flashlight method. At this point I am pretty sure we have 4 low E coatings, but in 2 of the windows the panes may be in backward because the colors reflected were reversed. Tomorrow I will try the multi-tester to check for a coating on the 4th surface.
Has anyone else done the flashlight test? My windows show a blue and green reflection, except it's reversed on 2 of the lites. Can anyone explain why we have windows with NFRC etching? Thanks!
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