Double glazing is also known as double glazed unit, insulated glass unit, insulating glass. It is a type of glass pane that can be used in windows, doors, curtain walls. It is designed to better insulate against heat loss, which can save you money on your heating and cooling bills. This article will explain everything you need to know about double glazing.
What is double glazing?
It is a kind of safety glass that consists of two glass panes or more glass panes, interlayered by a spacer to create an air space in between. Inside with air, argon, or other inert gas to achieve solar heat control, filter external noise, reduce heat transfer, and create a thermal barrier for your home.
Different glass types of insulating glass
Annealed/float glass/patterned glass
Flat/Curved tempered/toughened glass
Heat-strengthened/semi-tempered glass
Colored/tinted glass
Reflective/solar control glass
Single silver/double silver/triple silver Low-E glass
Laminate glass with PVB & SGP
Fire-resistant/fire-proof glass
Self-cleaning glass
Silkscreen/ceramic frit/digital printing glass
Benefits of double glazing
Reduce heat loss: combined with low e glass or reflective glass, double glazing can reduce solar heat effectively.
Noise reduction: with a cavity inside the double glazed, it can reduce noise to a big extent.
Energy efficiency: with high-performance Low-E glass, the U value can be lowered to 0.55w/m2.k.
Increased security: two panes or more panes double glazing windows creates a higher security standard for your home.
Remove moisture trapped: the dew point of IGU can be lowered to -80 degrees, it reduced moisture and dew to a big extent.
Reduce power bills: since the energy-saving performance, it reduces heating bills in winter and cooling bills in summer.
Improved aesthetics: grids or trim strips can be used inside the double glazing to increase aesthetics.
Eco-friendly: it reduces energy consumption in summer and winter, and it’s better for the environment.
Disadvantages of double glazing
Higher installation cost than single glazing
Can not be repaired if broken
More heavy than single glazing
Not suitable for the original windows and doors system
The quality standard & certificate
AS/NZS 2208 standard of Australia, AS 2208 certificate
ASTM E 2190 standard of the US, IGCC certificate
BS EN 1279 standard of EU, CE certificate
What does double glazing mean in the UK and British Commonwealth of Nations?
If someone has double glazing in their house, mostly it is double glazing windows or doors. It combines inner and outer panes, with solar gain control, high frequency noise filter, energy efficient glazing, noise control, thermal control, heat insulation, and other multi-functions elements.
What are double glazed windows?
In most cases, double glazed equals double glazing. It is energy efficient windows with double glazed inside the window system.
Is double glazed windows worth it?
YES. Low-E double glazed windows reduce 30%~50% heat loss and energy costs than single glazed windows.
Besides, the double glazed windows last a minimum of 15~20 years of service life which greatly improved the cost performance of the double glazed windows.
Does double glazing reduce noise?
YES. A standard two panes of glass 6mm glass+12Air Spacer+6mm glass, it can reduce 34dB noise.
Why is double glazing so expensive?
It involves much more materials than toughened glass and laminated glass.
Basic material: two panes of glass, molecular sieve, spacer, inert gas, butyl, silicone, etc.
What is a double glazing window?
It refers to a window that has two panes of glass fully sealed inside the frame.
It can be used to lower energy costs, home’s heat & cool charge, make your home cool in summer and warm in winter.
Is double glazed windows better than laminated glass windows?
In most cases, double glazed is better than laminated glass.
Upvc windows with laminated glass have better performance on UV blocking, security, and impact resistance.
Windows and doors with two panes double glazed have better performance on energy efficiency, thermal performance, heat transfer control, noise reduction, and window energy rating.
What is the glass thickness of triple glazing?
Triple glazing is mostly used for windows and doors systems.
The glass substrates start from 4mm in Oceania & the EU, 3.2mm in US & Canada, 5mm in other continents.
Why does double glazing window provide better insulation?
Compared with single glazed windows, the more panes of the window glazing, the better insulation of the window system. More panes mean more cavities, more insulation space.
Is double glazing windows and doors suit Australia and the surrounding area?
YES, windows and doors with double glazed suits everywhere considering its excellent performance in the following aspects:
Reduce artificial heating and cooling costs
Improved energy efficient door performance
Aesthetics value make happy customers
High-performance DGU creates a quality finish window and door
Easy installation procedure and uniform building appearance
Compatible with metal frame window, aluminum frame window, UPVC frame window, wooden frame window, and stainless steel frame window system
Multi-versatility and satisfied you guys by using various glasses
Applications of double glazing
Energy efficient windows panes
House external doors
Building facade and curtain wall
Refrigerator door panes
Installed for skylight and canopy
What is the gap between the insulating glass?
The cavity can be filled with air or inert gas.
The inert gas not only provides further protection for the Low-E film but also lowers the heat transfer and improves the thermal performance of the insulating glass.
What are the popular options for inner and outer panes of double glazing in Australia?
Clear & Extra clear double silver/triple silver Low-E DGU
Crystal grey double silver/triple silver Low-E IGU
Mostly standard 12mm space, with air or argon gas, warm or metal spacer
What are the preferences of the customers from Oceania who buy double glazing?
The company with AS/NZS2208 & AS/NZS4666 standards, which are compulsory
The company that has a local brand or subsidiary, at least with sales staff
The company that provides door to door service to the warehouse or site
Mostly the glass is shipped by OT containers and is easy to unload
What are the features of the double glazed windows and doors in different Australian states?
The lowest temperature in winter is higher than ZERO degrees, so there’s no strict policy on energy efficient double glazed for quite a long time.
Until recent 10-15 years, the government paid attention to lowering carbon emission of the glazing installed on the building.
In the ACT, NSW, VIC, SA, WA, and Tasmania states, double glazed is becoming more and more popular for thermal control & energy-saving purposes. While in QSW and NT, since the climate difference, single and laminated glazed windows are quite popular in the building design.
How much U value could be lowered by filling argon compared with air?
The argon filled DGU’s U value is 15%~18% lower than the DGU with air space.
What is the minimum thickness of insulated glass?
The minimum thickness can be 3mm glass+6mm Space+3mm glass, 12mm in total.
However, considering the thermal insulation, heat and thermal control. The minimum thickness are suggested in the following districts.
In America & Canada: 3.2mm LE FT+12mm air/argon+3.2mm Clear FT
In EU & the UK: 4mm LE FT+16mm air/argon+4mm Clear FT
Other District: 5mm LE FT+12mm spacer+5mm Clear FT
What may cause the failure of double glazed units?
When the moisture, cloudy, or foggy appears inside the units, it is failed.
Possible reasons: improper molecular sieve, inferior butyl, inferior silicon.
What types of low e glass can be combined into double glazing?
Hard coating/online coating (CVD technology) Lowe glass
Soft coating/offline coating (MSVD technology) Lowe glass
What spacer can be used for insulated glass?
Mostly aluminum spacer: 6mm, 8mm, 9mm, 12mm, 14mm, 16mm, 18mm, 20mm, 22mm, 24mm, 27mm, 29mm, etc.
Warm edge spacer: TechnoForm & SwisSpacer, different widths & colors
Stainless steel spacer, Thermo Plastic Spacer.
What is the warranty of IGU?
10-15 years.
