EXPERT INSIGHT

Glazing essentials

Emma Greene, technical advisor and associate director at IQ Glass, on the considerations for a light-filled space

Single glazing is made up of a singular pane with no insulation or thermal properties. Double glazed units are engineered with two panes and an argon gas cavity between the panes to create a well-insulated unit. Triple glazing uses three panes of glass and has an even better thermal performance due to the extra gas cavity and glass pane.

There are many types of glass used for glazing.

Toughened glass is used in all of IQ’S products and systems as standard, producing a more durable solution than standard float glass. Laminated glass can be specified and is used for overhead or roof glazing, holding the glass in place in the event of a breakage.

Low-maintenance glass is great for hard-to-reach

areas or coastal projects, where salt deposits in the air can settle on the surface. The low-maintenance glass creates an extremely smooth surface that makes it hard for any dirt to settle on.

Solar control glass is widely used for residential

extensions and new build projects with south-facing glazing, or large elevations of glass that could otherwise result in overheated living spaces. It can save on heating and cooling costs, too.

A U value is used to indicate the heat loss through a

material or installation. It is measured in W/M2K and when it decreases, less energy is able to travel through the material. The lower the U value, the better and more efficient the installation is. Although the U value measures the performance of the glass, the Uw value is used to measure the performance of the glazing installation as a whole, which is why some glaziers will only offer the U value. Ask for both.

Acoustic reduction glass can be specified to reduce

noise pollution in densely populated areas. The specialist acoustic interlayers will reduce the noise transmission by approximately 10 decibels by capturing the sound and preventing it from travelling past the glazing or inside the home.

The more layers to the glazing, the more expensive

it will become – and the same for any technical glass solutions that are specified within the units. Although this can increase the cost of the glazing, it will greatly reduce the cost of heating and cooling the home throughout the years.

Ask to see examples of previous projects to check what you are specifying will result in the look you’re after. A reputable glazing supplier will consider all aspects of the installation, including watertightness and weather resistance rather than just the appearance.