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Choosing the right glazing for your windows is a huge investment in home building, especially if you want to make your home as energy efficient as possible. With the many benefits of triple glazing, these windows have become very popular on new home builds and renovations. If you are comparing windows, then triple glazing is definitely the way to go. Triple glazed windows were first introduced in Sweden many years ago. Today, they are used on most home constructions and are going to be the norm for all types of new builds in the future. Here are some of the main benefits of triple glazing windows for your home.
What is Triple Glazing?
Triple glazed windows have 3 panes of glass sealed within a frame. In the middle of each pane of glass contains a pocket of air or inert air such as argon. Argon works as an insulator for both heat and noise, and is also heavier than air. The 3rd pane is situated halfway between the interior and exterior panes of glass. This creates 2 airlocks which helps improve the double-glazed window energy performance by around 50%. The E efficiency can be improved by variables such as warm edging space bars around the perimeter for a reduction in thermal bridging, the gas type or air used between the panes, and the reduction in energy loss on the inside of the house by using different coatings on the glass. It can even be installed on skylight windows for extra security.
Energy Efficient and Performance
Around a quarter of the heat throughout a house is lost through the windows. To increase the insulation around the home, it is crucial to reduce the heat loss. Triple glazing is the most energy efficient and will perform the best to reduce heat loss. The U value measures the loss of heat in a home. On average, a window with one pane has a 5.6 U value, double-glazing has a 2.8 rating, and triple glazing has a 0.8 U value which is the most energy efficient windows you can get. Triple glazing dramatically lowers your heat loss around the home, but it also helps keep warmth inside the house with the additional air gap between the panes of glass. The lower the U value is the better the material is as a heat insulator.
Reduction in Noise
If you are living in a noisy large area, near a busy motorway or an urban city, then noise pollution can become a major issue for many households. Noise reduction is a major benefit of triple glazed windows. With multiple layers of glass, this issue is nonexistent. You can have your personal space with your windows and doors closed with no external noises. Triple glazed windows work as a sound barrier, as the sound travels through 2 or 3 layers of glass it loses its strength on each pane. Triple glazing windows can provide significant noise reductions. It is important to consider the following points:
- The gap size between the panes of the glass plays an important role, the bigger the gap, the better the noise reduction will be.
- The key to achieve excellent sound insulation is the thickness of the glass. You can reduce noise even further by having window glass panes in different thickness, therefore this will block a different sound frequency. The thickness of the glass should be at least 33% to achieve the right results. An example would be one pane of glass is 6mm and the second pane 4mm.
- The noise reduction will be destroyed with any of the above if trickle ventilators are used on the windows.
Reduces Condensation on the windows
Single- and double-glazed windows can create cold patches in the house due to the higher U value. Condensation and damp are caused when too much moisture in the air meets a cold-
surface creating water. Cold patches will occur when there is a difference in the u value between the walls, floors, and windows. Triple glazing has between 1.8 and 0.6 u values which is the most efficient for a home. This is the main solution to help reduce cold patches. The triple glazing low u value helps keep internal condensation minimised as the heat is kept inside the house and stops the cold external temperature from reacting with the internal warm air which results in condensation.
Thermal Insulation
Thermal insulation and heat levels significantly increase with triple glazed windows. Triple glazing is more expensive to buy, however, the long-term savings out whey the cost of installing them into a home. Most heat loss goes through the windows and doors. Energy audits are focused on the insulation and the windows. In a lot of cases, upgrading to triple glazing is the equivalent to re-doing the insulation in your ceiling and walls in terms of energy saving. Tripled glazed windows provide the perfect comfort and heat levels in the home. The temperature on the surface of double-glazed energy efficient windows is 16°c in a heated room to 21°c whereas triple glazing offers 18°c.
Increased Security
Improving your home security is a priority for many. Installing tripled glazed windows is an affordable investment. It is very difficult to break through triple glazing. It can take a higher force compared to double or single glazing. With high quality and extra panes of glass, this will maximise your home security. With any external force, the air between the panes of glass will act as a spring, disturbing the force and countering the deformation more evenly on the pane. Triple glazing also offers a superior level of security due to its steel reinforcement frames. Steel offers great durability and strength and meets all relevant standards.
Will Triple Glazing add Value to your property?
It is recommended by window manufacturers to switch to triple glazing for many reasons. Energy performance in the home can be improved by adding triple glazing to your property. The performance of double glazed just may not be enough for the colder winter months. Your property also will achieve extra value if you were thinking about selling your home. A well-insulated home that has lower energy bills will appeal to any potential buyer.
What to Look for When Buying Triple Glazed Windows?
The following areas must be taken into consideration prior to buying your windows.
- Do the windows contain low E-Glass?
- Are there spacer bars in between the panels?
- Does the glass have argon gas in between the panels?
- Is there a warranty?
- How deep is the frame?
- Verify the center panel material.
- Is it suitable for PVC windows?
Types of Glass
The 3 panes of glass all have a specific thing to do. New technologies have been developed that make window glass quieter, clearer, shatterproof, and stronger. It is important to consider what type of glass is best suitable for your home and specific requirements.
- Low Iron Glass
Low Iron glass is clearer and allows plenty of light into the home. The windowpanes allow a higher level of light to pass through compared to other glass types, which sometimes have a slight green tint. Low Iron glass is generally used as the outer pane of glass inside the frame. It is made from low iron silica which contains ferric oxide in very low amounts about 0.01%. The ferric oxide removes the green-blue tint which is seen in panes of green glass.
- Low E Glass
Low E glass has an invisible reflective coating. Low E glass is generally placed as the inner pane of glass. This will help maintain a comfortable temperature inside and contain the heat indoors. This glass has been covered in a microscope low-emissivity coating that is designed to reflect heat back into the room instead of escaping to the outside.
- Tempered Glass
Tempered glass is significantly stronger than regular glass. It is generally placed as the central pane in the window frame. This type of glass reduces the risk of thermal stress cracking, which can occur when there is a temperature variance in different parts of the glass.
- Security Glass
Security glass is a toughened or laminated thicker glass that can significantly increase security. This type of glass is available in a range of thicknesses and sizes depending on your specific security requirements. Generally, laminated glass contains a thin plastic interlayer that prevents the glass from smashing. Typically, the glass is 6.4mm thick comparing to 4mm for standard glass. Security glass is up to 5 times stronger than ordinary glass of the same thickness.
It is generally placed as the outer pane in a double-glazed unit. This provides a complete extra level of security to the window. Toughened glass must also be used in windows close to the ground and used for fixed lights in side panels to doors.
- Sound Reduction Glass
Sound reduction glass contains an inner 6.4mm thick pane of glass which is supported by an outer 10mm thick pane of glass. Combined, they provide incredible sound insulation and are a lightweight and thin solution to noise issues.
If you are looking to make your home energy efficient, then triple glazed windows are the way forward. The reduction in energy bills means you can make savings on the initial costs of having the windows installed.
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