Summary of Window Glass
The Role of Glass in Windows
Insulation and Sound Insulation: In windows, glass covers a larger area than the frame material, so its contribution to insulation and sound insulation is more significant than that of the frame material.
Insulation Performance of Glass Configurations
Insulating Glass
Description: Double-layer glass panels with a cavity in between.
Advantages: Effectively reduces heat conduction, enhances insulation performance.
Disadvantages: Heat can still be conducted through the edges of the cavity.
Argon-Filled Insulating Glass
Description: Argon gas is filled into the cavity of insulating glass.
Advantages: Reduces heat convection, enhances insulation performance.
Disadvantages: Minor contribution to K-value, increased cost.
Low-E Glass
Description: Silver coating on glass to reflect infrared thermal radiation.
Advantages: Significantly reduces K-value, enhances insulation performance.
Disadvantages: Affects light transmittance, higher cost.
Sound Insulation Performance Glass Configurations
Laminated Glass
Description: Uses PVB interlayers to enhance sound insulation.
Advantages: Improves sound insulation performance, suitable for noise-sensitive environments.
Disadvantages: Higher cost, limited improvement in insulation performance.
Insulating Glass with Laminated Layers
Advantages: Balances sound insulation and insulation.
Disadvantages: Higher cost.
Aesthetic Considerations
Clear Glass vs. Ultra-Clear Glass
Advantages: Ultra-clear glass has higher light transmittance.
Disadvantages: Differences are reduced after Low-E treatment.
Extra-Large Glass
Description: Larger glass size, requires thicker thickness.
Advantages: Enhances appearance, suitable for large-area windows.
Disadvantages: Higher cost, potential increase in self-explosion rate.
Configuration Parameters
We can clearly determine which type of insulating glass configuration is suitable for your home through the following examples.
On the configuration chart of window products, we will see parameters like 5+9A+5, which represents a double-layer insulating glass with two layers of glass, each 5mm thick, and a 9mm cavity in between.
Another example is 6+12A+6+12A+6, which represents a triple-glazed, double-cavity insulating glass with three layers of glass, each 6mm thick, and two cavities, each 12mm wide.
A wider cavity is also more helpful for insulation; 12A can reduce the K-value by about 2% to 3% compared to 9A.
If you see the cavity parameter in the glass configuration represented by A changed to Ar, such as 5+9Ar+5, it indicates that this is a double-layer insulating glass with two layers of 5mm glass and a 9mm cavity filled with argon gas.