Handling glazing like a pro

Double glazing or triple insulation glazing, it is a tricky question. Are there any other glazing options? It is connected with your expectations and preliminar budget.

It is precisely the glazing that affects the basic and superstructure properties of windows, besides the frame. Whether it is thermal insulation properties and sun energy permeability (topics that we have discussed in previous articles), or light, acoustic (and other) properties that we will mention today.

Let's start with the thermal insulation properties of the window. The goal here is to achieve the lowest possible value of the Uw factor, which indicates how much heat is escaping through the closed window out of the building. That is why the window frame is equipped with two or three panes, with the space between the panes filled with argon, or another rare gas that has low thermal conductivity. The glass panes of double glazing can even be equipped with a coated film - sometimes referred to as a "thermal mirror." As the name suggests, the window can reflect heat back to its source thanks to the film. This means that in summer, it reflects thermal energy from sunlight back out, and in winter, it reflects heat from heating back in. However, it also has its drawbacks. In addition to the need to use thicker glass, when using coated film, for example, the so-called light transmission factor decreases.

The light transmission factor is denoted by the letters "tv" and tells us how much daylight the selected glass filling of the window can let into the interior. If you are a lover of natural light, this value, which is usually given in percentages, should be as high as possible.

Almost every building also has places where visual permeability in both directions is not desirable. It can be windows in the bathroom, toilet, basement, or large aluminum windows of administrative and other buildings. This is where reflective or sun protection glass comes in handy. They not only provide increased privacy but also protection against sunlight, which is why they are often used in areas with high sunlight exposure. Glass can also be selected with safety and security in mind. Similar to car windows, window glass can be equipped with a special film that prevents it from shattering when damaged. Regarding security, we can give the example of cellar windows, which are often equipped with a so-called wire clamp that prevents them from being removed. A special category is formed by bulletproof glass, for example.

Finally, we will mention the acoustic properties of the window, or the airborne sound insulation index, denoted as "Rw". For old panel apartment windows, this value is around 15 dB, while standard new windows equipped with double or triple glazing have an Rw value of about 30 dB. This may not seem like a big difference at first glance, but it means a significant improvement in sound insulation properties.

As you can see, glazing windows can have a significant impact and understanding all window parameters is not easy at all. If you want to learn more, read our other articles or contact us directly.