An IGU (insulated glass unit) consists of more than one glass pane in just one window unit. They can come with two panes (double glazing) or three (triple glazing) IGUs incorporate glass panels that are separated by spacers and a fixed layer of air or gas. The glass is then directed into the window frame, which is made wider to house the multiple panels.
The benefits of double glazing
Double glazed windows in a house offer a super energy efficient option with the added advantage of delivering a reduction in exterior noise. The sealed air gap between the two panes acts as insulation. This also helps to avoid losing warm air in winter, maintaining your home’s temperature at a more pleasing level. However, it has the opposite effect in the summer, stopping unwanted warmth from getting into the house. This greater insulation reduces your reliance on artificial heating and air conditioning and can, in turn, reduce your electricity costs.
With double glazing it more difficult for any undesirable outdoor temperatures to travel through, leaving the interior pane at room temperature. It also helps to lower condensation levels that can bring about the formation of bad mildew and mould.
Double glazing is good at reducing the noise of people’s voices. Glass thickness difference between the internal and the external panel will improve noise reduction even further.
Double glazed windows are considered the safer option compared to the standard single house panel window. Two sheets of glass are a lot harder to break than one and for more protection you can choose toughened or laminated glass as well. For Glass suppliers Bristol, visit a site like https://www.romanglass.co.uk/
Tips for Choosing the Right Windows
For increased energy efficiency, pick double glazing that has 10 to 20 mm space in between the glass panels
A low conductivity inert gas between the panels will improve performance
Features to look for:
Space between panes
The industry standard space between panels is between 6 to 20 mm. An area of at least 12 mm is usually recommended for optimal thermal performance. For good acoustics management and a reduction in noise from traffic, for example, there is a recommended top air gap of 150 mm or more. Be aware that such a large gap allows convection to occur between the panels which will have a negative effect on the insulation’s performance.
What’s in between
Because the space between the panes in the double-glazed windows are fully sealed, it acts as an insulator, restricting the transfer of cold air coming into your home. Thermal and acoustic performance can be improved by using a gas filled in this area. The most popular fuel used is argon which has a low conductivity to improve insulation.
Type of glass used
A large variety of different types of glass, including low-energy and laminated can be used in double glazing for further enhancement of energy performance and noise control. Same low-e glass will reduce the amount of warmth that escapes and thick laminated panels severely interrupt sound waves to improve acoustic performance.
