Window efficiency has improved dramatically in a variety of ways over the last 25 years, spurred on by the role windows play as a dominant cause of unwanted heat transfer, glare annoyance and condensation issues in buildings.
The leading method to reduce the impact of windows on a building’s energy performance and thermal efficiency is to decrease their use where possible. However, big expanses of glass are generally considered attractive, and are unlikely to vanish from commercial building facades any time soon.
With new energy saving legislation about to be implemented, the focus is on energy efficiency.
Now is the time to reap the benefits of the best functioning glass and frame technology, intended to reduce Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) and heat transfer (U-Value), resulting in a decline of energy loss. This technology includes triple glazing, insulating spacers, glass coatings and gas fills such as argon. Find out more from this Gloucester Double Glazing Company Firmfix.
Newest Glass and Coatings
Double glazing units have reached their peak in insulating performance. Low emissivity coatings or gas cavity fills cannot improve their performance at the centre. Manufacturers have learnt that adding at least one extra layer of glazing improves performance, especially when combined with coatings and gas fills.
However, additional layers in windows means increased weight and thickness. As a solution, some suppliers offer leaner krypton gas filled areas, closed cavity facades, vacuum glazed units and thermal reflecting films. These solutions are hailed as window technology’s next generation. Inquire at a company specialising in double glazing in Gloucester.
Frames
Glass only covers a part of the energy efficiency problem – a window only performs as well as its framing and spacers. Warm-edge spacers separate panes of glass in insulated glazing units, and have become widely available and more affordable.
Aluminium frames are a typical connector of thermal bridging, especially in commercial buildings where more efficient thermal innovations such as vinyl and timber frames cannot be used.
Composite frames are now surfacing in the market, such as wood frames and polyurethane thermal breaks, foam-filled vinyl and exterior claddings in aluminium, and foam-filled fibreglass extrusions with aluminium exterior and wood interior finishes.
These technology innovations have improved heat flow resistance, but can still improve energy efficiency further to match glazing technology performance.