Top 3 Types of Glass Used for Double Glazing


Glass plays a vital role in the glazing of windows. When deciding the frame type, you must choose what type of glass you will need to improve the energy efficiency of your home. Depending on the various window design factors such as window orientation, climate or design, you may want to choose different types of glazing for different windows.

The Units of Measurement

The ability of double glazing windows can be measured using two units. They are:

U Value

The double glazing window’s ability to transfer heat is measured by the U value. The double glazed window with the lowest U value is the most efficient insulator against heal loss from a room.

Solar Heat Gain

The thermal insulation glass ability to transmit the solar energy into a room is measured with the help of solar heat gain. It is measured in the value 0 to 1 and is usually known as g-factor. If the g factor is high, it means the ability of thermal insulation window to transmit the solar heat is high.

Types Of Glass

Following are the types of glass used for double glazing windows:

Low-E Glass

The glass used for glazing window for thermal insulation is low-emissivity glass. This glass has a translucent metallic layer that works in two ways to cut down heating energy. The dual action coating reflects heat back into the room. It allows the heat and light from the sun to pass through. The energy efficiency of a thermal insulation glass is measured by its and solar heat gain coefficient (g). The energy rating can be boosted by the variety of spacer bar or edge spacing used in the double glazing. Moreover, the low-e glass can be used with various combination like solar control or self-cleaning. This will result in the glass to be toughened to be used in double glazing windows.

Acoustic Glass

Acoustic glass is very useful in reducing outside noise and reduces the rain impact noise as well. It can be used for the interior sound insulation requirements like office partitions and meeting rooms. The acoustic glass contains two or more sheets of glass joined together with the acoustic interlayers. The benefit of the interlayer is that it acts like a noise reducing core. It weakens the sound as it travels through the glass. Acoustic laminated glass provides security and safety measures of standard laminated glass.

Self-Cleaning Glass

The cleaning procedure of double glazing window is time-consuming and environmentally polluting. But with the latest developments in self-cleaning glass, the windows can be maintained clean throughout the year. Furthermore, the glass has a clear coating that works in two ways to break down dirt and spread water equally across the surface. The self-cleaning glass layer reacts with the sun’s rays to break down dirt and grime which is on the outside of the double glazed window. Apart from this, when it rains the decomposed dirt naturally just rinses away. The surface is hydrophilic, it draws water over its entire surface. The rain forms a sheet of water over its entire surface instead of droplets which leave rain stains. In case, there is no rain, you can simply use a hose to activate the self-cleaning mechanism.  

Hence, the types of glass used in double glazing windows plays an important role. You can choose the type of glass that best-suits your requirements. For a more detailed article on types of double glazing click the link.