Insulated glass has become an invaluable design element of modern homes. It looks stunning, and its insulation properties help regulate indoor temperature, making your home cozy and warm in wintertime. The Interesting Info about commercial glazing refurbishment.
Insulated windows consist of multiple glass panes connected by tight gaps filled with gas such as argon or krypton, both non-toxic gases that offer excellent thermal insulation properties.
Thermo-acoustic Properties
Insulating glass is not only ideal for reducing heat transfer but can also add comfort by soundproofing. Insulating glass’ acoustic performance is measured using its Sound Transmission Class rating; this rate measures its ability to reduce sound transmission within a test room using pink noise as the sound source and determines its efficacy. The higher its STC score is, the more effective it will be as an insulation material.
Rock and glass wool are among the most frequently utilized insulation materials due to their versatility, cost-effectiveness, high soundproofing properties, and environmental friendliness. Both materials can be produced using recycled glass melted with sand, limestone, sodium carbonate, and boron bound together with thermosetting vegetable resins before finally being treated to create an acoustical material explicitly tailored for individual acoustic performances.
Glass wool and rock wool offer similar acoustic and sound absorption properties; both materials provide better insulation than standard glass; however, glass wool may be slightly more costly.
The acoustic performance of insulated glass depends heavily on its gap, whether filled with air or an inert gas like argon. Gap size also affects STC ratings, with more significant holes yielding improved soundproofing properties.
Double-pane windows featuring 16mm spaces between their panes will usually achieve STC ratings of 40 or above, making an insulating glass unit with this kind of gap an effective soundproofing measure. When selecting an insulating glass unit, be mindful of its opening thickness and the type of sealant used between frame and glass; silicone sealant seals may help minimize air leakage, resulting in lower STC ratings.
Expanded glass production is generally eco-friendly. Utilizing secondary raw materials, production uses less energy compared to extracting, transporting, and processing primary raw materials for other insulating foam manufacturing. Furthermore, this process results in decreased dust emissions, fiber emissions, and CO2 emission levels.
Moisture Resistance
Insulation materials used in construction must provide an effective barrier against heat loss and safeguard against moisture intrusion. Moisture intrusion is a widespread issue affecting insulation systems that reduce their efficiency; when selecting an insulating glass product with this feature, it should include a protective film to limit water intrusion into the building envelope.
Fiberglass batts are one of the most commonly used types of insulation, yet this material comes with several drawbacks. First and foremost, fiberglass insulation cannot withstand moisture penetration; over time, it absorbs significant quantities of moisture, which causes damage to its insulation material, ultimately decreasing thermal performance. Furthermore, installing fiberglass insulation may prove dangerous as its sharp edges could easily poke into the skin or be breathed in through inhalation – both potentially hazardous situations during installation.
Fiberglass batts aren’t fully vapor-proof and, therefore, require the addition of adhesive jointing tape or an additional Vapour Control Layer to avoid condensation in construction projects. By contrast, cellular glass insulation is fully vapor-tight without such other layers – meaning there is no risk of condensation within an insulated glass unit (IGU), and moisture does not penetrate its structure.
Moisture penetration into insulation is an enormously detrimental problem that reduces energy efficiency and can lead to surface corrosion and structural corrosion that compromises a building’s stability and commercial value.
To identify the ideal insulation material for a particular application, we conducted tests on five materials – rock wool (Rockfacade from Rockwool), EPS, wood fiberboard (Diffutherm from Pavatex), and polyester fiberfill (PFF). A detailed characterization was carried out of their main properties; tests concluded that GW, RW, and PFF all have very low moisture absorption coefficients (below 0.005 kg/(m2s0.5), similar vapor diffusion resistances as EPS while WFB reached 97% relative humidity during testing.
Durability
The durability of insulated glass units is one of the primary reasons why they are preferred over other forms of insulation by both home and property owners. Insulated glass units do not suffer damage like other thermal insulation materials, making them a more long-term option for both homes and commercial properties.
Insulated glass units consist of two panes separated by an air or gas-filled spacer that keeps heat transfer from inside to outside and noise pollution out – making insulated glass windows an excellent choice for offices or other commercial structures.
Insulated windows are far more energy efficient than their non-insulated counterparts, thanks to a thicker space between each pane that prevents heat loss during winter and releases cool air during summer. As such, insulated glass units make an excellent investment for homeowners seeking to increase energy efficiency and comfort within their homes.
Glass wool insulation’s lifespan depends on several factors, including its exposure to environmental conditions, installation methods, maintenance practices, and moisture penetration resistance. High-quality insulation may last many years with proper installation and care.
Glass wool insulation stands in stark contrast to organic foams composed of polyisocyanurate, phenolic, and polyolefin compounds – these fireproof building materials contain chemicals that support combustion. Glass wool, however, remains noncombustible without supporting combustion – making it suitable for areas where chemical-based insulations are unsuitable in. It also doesn’t deteriorate or react with oxygenated liquids, thus minimizing explosion risks.
Glass wool insulation stands out as water repellent, a feature that makes it an excellent solution in harsh climate conditions and extends its lifespan, as moisture can weaken some other forms of insulation and cause further deterioration. This quality also contributes to a greater lifespan.
Energy Efficiency
Over 25% of energy egresses through windows from homes and commercial buildings. With rising energy costs and greater environmental awareness, there has never been more emphasis on improving the thermal insulation of both existing homes and new structures – adding energy-efficient glass is one of the best ways to do this.
Insulated glass comprises multiple panes of glass joined together by spacers and sometimes filled with gas to form an IGU. All of these elements work in concert to increase energy efficiency.
In an IGU, Spacers reduce heat transfer in and out of the window. Typically made of metal coated or lined with desiccant to lower the dew point and prevent condensation between glass panes, spacers are designed to keep the energy efficiently flowing between panes.
An IGU provides numerous choices for filling its spaces between glass panels, such as air, krypton, or argon gas infills, which offer improved energy efficiency by increasing its U-value. Argon gas infills are most frequently chosen due to their affordable pricing and superior performance; however, krypton and xenon offer even higher energy efficiencies than airfills.
Optically coated glass is another way to help improve buildings’ thermal resistance. Like mirrors, optical coatings allow more natural sunlight into buildings while decreasing glare and solar heat gain.
Insulated glass windows can also be tinted or colored to increase energy efficiency further. Color pigments are added to the window surface to alter how light passes through, reducing heat transfer between rooms.
Integrating Viridian SmartGlass into your home is an easy and cost-effective way to drastically increase energy efficiency, winning the HIA Green Smart award in Australia-made glass, which comes with Australian manufacturing quality guarantees.
Read Also: Fixing A Broken Window
