What are insulated windows and what are their advantages? A guide for those who build a house and modernize windows

Modern construction places great emphasis on energy efficiency, thermal comfort and sound insulation of buildings. New building regulations and the growing environmental awareness of investors mean that the choice of suitable joinery — in particular windows — is crucial not only for the aesthetics of the building, but also for its energy efficiency. It's right here Insulated glass play an important role. Thanks to their modern design and various technological variants, they fit perfectly into the needs of modern passive and energy-efficient houses. What are insulated windows and what are the benefits of them? What types of insulated glass should you consider and why is it a good idea to consciously choose a glazing package for your needs? The answers to these questions (and not only) you will find in our article, read on!

What is Insulated Glass?

Insulated glass are multi-layer glass packages, the task of which is to ensure adequate thermal, acoustic and functional insulation windows. They consist of at least two sheets of glass, which are separated by a spacer frame, and the space between them is filled with air or noble gas (argon or krypton).

Insulated glass consists of several important elements, such as:

  • Glass — glass, depending on the needs of the investor, can be ordinary, tempered, low-emission, anti-burglary, sun-proof, sound-absorbing.
  • Spacer frame — the frame separates the panes to form chambers; in addition, specialized warm spacer frames are available to help minimize the formation of thermal bridges.
  • Gas — the interglazed spaces are filled with air or gas, which improves the insulating properties of the glass.
  • Sealant — it is they that protect the glass from moisture and gas loss.

How are insulated glass panels made? Production process

Although insulated glass looks inconspicuous, its creation is the result of precise technology and control at every stage. Production starts from precise cutting of glass sheets to size — accurate to the millimeter. Then the glass goes to the washer, where all contaminants are removed Even those invisible to the naked eye. The next step is assembly spacer frame, which divides the panes and creates space for an insulating gas such as argon. The whole is welded and tightly sealed using a mass that protects the inside of the package from moisture and gas escape. In the end, each glass passes leak-tightness and quality testsbefore it goes to the window, which is supposed to serve for years. This refined process ensures that insulated glass not only has better thermal and acoustic properties, but also guarantees reliability in everyday use.

Advantages of insulated glass

Insulated glazing is a solution that brings a number of advantages that significantly affect the comfort of use of the building and its energy efficiency. Their most important advantages include:

  • Excellent thermal insulation - the main advantage of insulated glass is excellent thermal insulation. It is thanks to the use of two or more panes of glass and by filling the space between them with air or noble gas that insulated glass effectively reduces heat generation. This allows to significantly reduce the cost of heating and cooling the building.
  • Noise reduction - different glass thickness and gas filling, also improves the acoustic properties of window joinery. Soundproof insulated glass effectively dampens noise, which increases living comfort.
  • Increased security - in case of damage to the outer glass pane, its inner layers remain intact. In addition, insulated glass can be covered with special anti-burglary coatings, which increase safety parameters.
  • Protection against condensation of water vapor - the design of insulated glass reduces the risk of condensation of water vapor between the glass panes.
  • Increasing the comfort of use of the premises - Insulated glazing helps to stabilize the temperature inside the building. In addition, glazing with special properties that limit the heating of the premises can be used.
  • Increased durability and durability - Insulated glass units are characterized by greater resistance to damage and weathering, their construction ensures long-term functionality, comfort of use and aesthetics.

Types of double-glazed windows - single-chamber windows and double-glazed windows

Choosing between the package single-chamber glass a package two-chamber is essential for the comfort of use of the house and its energy efficiency. Below we will discuss both of them.

  • Single-chamber insulated glass is a basic variant of insulated glass, which consists of two sheets of glass and one chamber filled with air or gas (most often argon). Today they are mainly used in auxiliary premises such as garages, basements, outbuildings or gazebos. Their thermal insulation performance is lower than that of double-glazed windows, however, they are cheaper to manufacture and lighter, which is important for lightweight structures.
  • Double-chamber double-glazed windows is a more advanced solution, which is built of three sheets of glass, separated by two chambers. Double-chamber glazing is much better at protecting against heat loss, and an additional layer of glass also improves sound insulation. Two-chamber windows are now standard in modern construction, and in energy-saving or passive houses, it is even a necessity. In combination with low-carbon coatings, they can achieve excellent heat transfer coefficient (Ug) parameters, significantly reducing the cost of heating the building.

Comparison of single-chamber and double-chamber glass:

A well-chosen number of chambers in an insulated glass is not only a matter of comfort — it is an investment in energy efficiency, longevity of joinery and Lower heating bills for many years. Therefore, it is worth consulting the choice with the manufacturer or technical advisor, who will help you choose the solution best suited to the type of building and the user's expectations.

Parameter Single-Chamber Glazing Double-Chamber Glazing
Construction 2 panes of glass, 1 chamber 3 panes of glass, 2 chambers
Thermal Insulation (Ug) approx. 1.1 – 1.3 W/m²K up to 0.5 – 0.7 W/m²K
Acoustic Insulation standard higher (better sound attenuation)
Weight lighter approx. 20 kg/m² heavier approx. 30 kg/m²
Application utility rooms, interior joinery, unheated rooms residential buildings, energy-efficient houses
Price lower higher (but with long-term energy savings)

You can read more about single-chamber and double-chamber glass packages in our article: Two-pane or three-pane windows? Differences, advantages and key technical parameters.

Specialized types of insulated glass: tempered, laminated, low emission and reflective

In addition to the number of chambers, Insulated glass can also be classified according to the type of glass used.

Depending on the needs of the investor, glazing with certain properties can be selected:

  • Tempered glass
    Tempering glass is a process in which a sheet of glass is heated to a high temperature (about 600°C) and then rapidly cooled. Due to this, tempered glass acquires several times higher mechanical strength than ordinary ones. If bruised, it breaks into small blunt pieces, which reduces the risk of cuts. Tempered insulated glass, Also called ESG are recommended for large glazing, terrace doors and public buildings.

  • Laminated glass
    It is safety glass, which consists of two (or more) sheets of glass connected by PVB film. In case of breakage, the glass does not scatter, but remains glued to the film. The most popular laminated glass are O2 - 33.1, P2 - 44.2 or P4 - 44.4. Laminated insulated glass protects against burglary, noise and UV radiation. They are used in single-storey windows of houses, shop windows and places of increased risk.

  • Low-E glass
    They are covered with a special layer of metal oxides, which reflects thermal radiation back into the interior of the room, preventing heat loss in winter. At the same time, it allows daylight to penetrate. Insulated glass with low emission coating (float glass) is the basis in passive and energy-saving windows.

  • Insulated sunglass
    These can be reflective glasses (so-called antisol glass), which have a coating that reflects light and solar heat. A similar function is also performed by selective glazing, which is transparent, but thanks to the coating used, reduces the transfer of heat to the interior. The last type of sunscreens are absorption glass (so-called stopsol glass), i.e. glass tinted in mass, e.g. in the color of bronze or graphite, whose task is to limit the amount of solar energy entering the building. In summer, they reduce indoor heating, improving comfort and reducing air conditioning costs. They are particularly suitable for glazing exposed to strong sunlight (e.g. southern facades), and in particular for large facade glazing.

The photo shows a comparison of ordinary, tempered and laminated glass.

Also read: Secure windows - Learn all about windows with increased burglary resistance!

Insulated glass designations — how to read them and what do they mean?

At a glance type symbol 4/16Ar/4 may seem like a mysterious technical code, but deciphering it is simpler than you think — and very useful. The first number indicates the thickness of the outer glass sheet in millimeters (here: 4 mm), “16” is the width of the interglass chamber, and “Ar” indicates that the space has been filled with argon, a noble gas that improves insulation. The last “4" is the thickness of the inner glass. Thanks to these markings, you can quickly check what thermal and acoustic insulation a given glass package offers. It's not just numbers — it's specific information that helps you choose the glass that best suits your needs.

Technical parameters of insulated glass - why are they important?

The choice of insulated glass is not only a matter of aesthetics — it is primarily a decision based on Specific parameterswhich have a real impact on the comfort of life and energy bills. Heat transfer coefficient (Ug) tells how well the glass protects against heat loss - the lower its value, the better the insulation and the lower the heating costs. In turn parameter Rw determines the level of noise suppression - important especially in houses on busy streets. There are also indicators Light transmittance (Lt) and solar energy (g)which affect the illumination of the interior and the heating of the premises. Understanding these designations allows you to consciously adjust the glass to your needs - without overpaying, but gaining quality for years to come.

The photo shows a model of a three-pane window.

You may also be interested in: Heat transfer coefficient (Uw) - what is it?

How to choose the right shaft package?

Choosing a glass package is more than a technical decision — is an investment in the comfort, economy and safety of your home. Before you decide on a particular variant, think about what you really need: better noise protection, higher thermal insulation, or maybe increased safety? For residential premises are most often recommended double-glazed windows with low carbon coatingproducts that effectively retain the heat of the interior of the house. If you live in noisy area, it is worth betting on variant with laminated glass or sound-absorbing. And if you want reduce indoor heating in summer — select sunglass. The key is to match the package to the conditions in which you live. A good choice means real benefits for many years to come.

summary

Insulated glass is today an inherent element of window carpentry in modern construction. Their choice affects not only the appearance of the windows, but first of all energy efficiency, thermal comfort, safety and silence in the house. With different design variants — from single-chamber windows after two-chamber packages with special glazing — you can perfectly adapt the solution to the needs of each investor.

IN company Comsta, as a manufacturer of high quality PVC windows, aluminum and doors, we offer shaft packages adapted to modern construction standards. If you don't know what glazing in the windows will work best in your home — contact our expert. We will advise and select a solution that will serve you for years.

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