Double glazing helps to keep rooms warmer in winter and cooler in summer as it maintains temperature of the rooms as such irrespective of outside climate.Helps in saving energy a lot.
Double glazing can reduce noise level by 60% for a calmer and quieter room for homes and offices.
Windows Energy efficiency Insulation Climate control
An insulated glass unit (IGU) combines multiple glass panes into a single window system. Most IGUs are double glazed (two panes of glass) with three panes (triple glazing) or more becoming more common due to higher energy costs. The panes of glass in IGUs are separated by a spacer and a still layer of air or gas. The glass is then fitted into window frames, which is made wider to accommodate the two panes.
Double Glazing, also known as Insulated Glazing, is the use of two panes of glass to reduce noise and heat transmission in windows and doors.
In a standard single-glazed window, both heat and noise are easily transferred. In summer, sunlight heats up your house. In winter, heat escapes from inside your home to the outside. You pay more for heating and cooling costs. All year-round, noise can easily pass through the window.
By using two (Double Glazed) panes of glass, the gap between the panes dramatically reduces transmission of both heat and sound. The double glazed unit is often referred to as a IGU (Insulated Glass Unit).
Double-glazing is the glazing process in which a window is formed from two panes of glass, with the space in between filled with dehydrated air or a gas such as Xenon or Argon. The two panes of glass form a layer of insulation and are separated with an aluminium spacer, encapsulated in a primary silicone coating and then sealed with a secondary silicone or bitumen (waterproofing agent) sealant. The air trapped between the two panes of glass form a layer of insulation.
In cheaper products, the gap may only be air. In more efficient, higher quality units, the use of a gas such as argon to fill the gap provides superior performance.
The benefits of double glazing
Double glazed windows are an ideal energy efficient choice with the added benefit of minimizing noise. The sealed air gap between the two panes acts as an added layer of insulation. This added thermal resistance reduces the amount of heat escaping in winter and keeps your home at a more comfortable temperature. Double glazing has the reverse effect in summer, preventing unwanted heat from coming into the home. This extra insulation lessens your reliance on artificial heaters and air conditioners and can ultimately reduce your energy costs.
When you are close to a window, your comfort is also affected by the temperature of the glass. With double glazing it’s harder for the unwanted outside temperature to transfer through, leaving the inside pane close to room temperature. Double glazing also reduces condensation which can result in the unhealthy formation of mould.
Sealed double glazing is effective at reducing medium to high frequency noise such as the human voice. A difference in glass thickness between the inner and outer panes will improve sound reduction even further.
Double glazed windows are considered a safer option when compared to standard single pane windows. Two sheets of glass are a lot harder to break than one and for even greater security you can specify toughened or laminated glass.
1. A more comfortable home
Double Glazing your windows and doors will have your family feeling more comfortable in your home. Having double glazed windows will help keep the heat out in summer, and keep in the warmth in during winter. Not many of us enjoy heating and cooling systems that are forever turning on and off, causing noise and blasting us with hot or cold air. Double glazing will keep your home’s temperature more stable, cutting down the number of times your heating/cooling system has to switch on and off.
2. A Quieter Home
In today’s world, noise can be detracting from our enjoyment of our home. At Eco Home Solutions, we can’t do much about the noise inside your home, but we can certainly help keep out noise from outside.
Double glazing your windows can dramatically cut any noise pollution that you might suffer from. This could include annoying noise such as barking dogs, loud air conditioners, noisy neighbours, aircraft noise, traffic noise, nearby pubs and clubs, to name a few.
3. Reduce Condensation
Condensation is caused when a cold surface and moist air meet. You see it when a drink glass drips condensation on your table, and you see it when your bathroom mirror fogs up.
In many homes today, condensation on windows and doors is a problem. We have these thin 3mm panes of glass that in the cooler months becomes a cold surface. When the warm, moist air inside your home meets this cold glass pane, it can cause condensation.
Condensation on your windows can cause a number of problems. The moisture can trickle down and damage the window frame- particularly if it is wood. Sometimes really bad condensation can damage your wall, your architrave, your carpet or your floor. High moisture levels like this are also breeding grounds for mold.
Double Glazing will virtually eliminate these problems. The gas in-between the two panes of glass will ensure that the inside glass is kept at room temperature. Condensation issues will become a thing of the past.
Amount of space between panes
The typical space between panes ranges from 6mm to 20mm. A minimum space of 12mm is recommended for optimum thermal performance. Alternatively, for good acoustic control and to reduce low frequency noise such as traffic and aircraft, the optimum air gap recommended is 150mm or over. Note that such large gaps allow convection to occur between the panes and reduce insulating performance.
For better energy efficient performance choose double glazing with a space of 10 to 20mm between the panes.
What’s in between?
Because the space between the panes in double glazed windows is fully sealed, it acts as an insulator, limiting the transfer of cold air coming into your home. Thermal and acoustic performance can also be increased when gas fills this space. The most popular gas used is argon which has low conductivity properties to improve insulation.
Double glazed units include a spacer which is a metal or polymer strip that separates the two panes of glass. Typically, spacers contain a desiccant (drying agent) to remove moisture trapped in the air space.
Type of glass used
A wide range of different glass types, such as low-e and laminated, can be used in double glazing units to further increase energy efficiency and noise control. Low-e glass will further reduce the amount of heat escaping while thicker laminated panes disrupt sounds waves to improve acoustic performance.
Other benefits of double-glazing
Acoustic insulation:
Double-glazing provides first-rate acoustic insulation and reduces outside noise levels. Noise pollution can be a real problem if your home is located in a highly populated area, near to a busy road or in a very windy area for example. However, double-glazing can go a long way to protect your home from the disturbance of noise pollution. It will also contain noise levels within your home, so you won’t have to worry about disturbing your neighbours.
Added security:
When glazing with 6.38 safety or intruder-proof glass, double-glazing provides excellent security for your home because its composition and design makes it very difficult to break through.
Reducing condensation:
By installing quality double-glazed windows, the problem of condensation is greatly reduced as heat is reflected back into the room and the inner pane is warmer.
Draught-proofing:
Quality double-glazed windows should boast all-round rubber seals in the frames to ensure that when closed, no draughts can get through, even in very windy areas.
Common problems
Windows need to be considered as a whole unit. The framing material you choose to complement your glass may enhance its performance or in some cases reduce its energy efficient properties. Standard aluminium window frames readily conduct heat and cold and if not thermally enhanced, may eliminate any benefit from installing expensive double glazing.
How well the cavity is sealed and the type of spacer used is also an important factor to consider. If the double glazed unit is not sealed properly or if the spacer does not contain adequate desiccant, it can reduce performance and condensation will appear on cold surfaces.
Used for:
- Windows
- Canopy
- Partition
- Staircase
- Furniture