All about double-glazed windows. All about double-glazed windows Decorative possibilities of profiles

The modern market offers a large selection of windows with different double-glazed windows, which have significantly different technical characteristics from each other. This allows you to use windows for different climatic conditions. How to choose a double-glazed window for windows , so that it meets your requirements as much as possible, while not overpaying?

Types of double-glazed windows

Before you buy any product, you need to find out what kind of plastic . They can differ from each other not only in the number of cameras, but also in other characteristics. A chamber is a free space between glasses filled with dry air or argon. It is believed that the more cameras, the warmer the double-glazed window; partly so it is. It is easy to count cameras: for example, if you see two panes - one camera, three panes - two cameras, and so on. You can find not very thick, but at the same time warm double-glazed windows, as energy-saving glasses are installed on them. The principle of operation of the design is as follows: the thinnest metal mesh reflects warm air without letting it out, but at the same time it is invisible to the eye.

High-quality double-glazed windows must be airtight, they retain heat well and isolate noise. Usually, in warm climates, constructions with one or two chambers are dispensed with; in the middle lane, three-chamber double-glazed windows are very popular, and in the northern part of the country - thicker ones, depending on the severity of the winter. The number of cameras, depending on the manufacturer, can be up to six. It is worth noting that the thicker the structure, the greater the mass it has. On average, a square meter weighs about 25 kg. Therefore, deciding which double-glazed window to choose , its weight must also be taken into account, since not all house designs are designed for heavy loads on the wall.

Profile Features

The plastic window frame itself is called a window profile. It can be made of plastic of different quality, have insulation, stiffeners, and other differences depending on the model and manufacturer. There may also be air chambers inside. By analogy with double-glazed windows, the more of them, the warmer the profile, only the partitions inside are plastic, and you cannot count them. It remains only to clarify this from the technical data of the window.

Plastic may vary in value. There are three classes:

• economy;
• average;
• premium.

The most expensive windows are not always the best; double-glazed windows of which company to choose is also an urgent issue. The following are among the highest quality:

• If you need an inexpensive economy class product, but at the same time you want to get something really warm, you can pay attention to manufacturers such as SOK, or DI FENCE. These are Russian manufacturers, so you do not have to overpay for delivery and customs clearance.
• The middle class includes,. These are foreign manufacturers that have proven themselves in the Russian market and have well-established production facilities within the country.
• Premium class - the highest quality and most expensive, it includes the products of companies such as THYSSEN, TROCAL.

To increase the strength of the profile, it is reinforced from the inside. Choosing which double-glazed windows are better , pay attention to the thickness of the profile, whether there is reinforcement. The thicker the frame, the stronger and heavier the structure. The thickness of the profile is also different, it can be from 0.5 mm to 1.5 mm.

What material to choose?

When choosing windows, the buyer often wonders which double-glazed windows are better - aluminum or plastic. The choice depends on what you want to achieve from windows. Aluminum is a material that cannot retain heat, so it is most often used for unheated balconies and rooms. There are light aluminum windows with thermal bridges, they are warm, but much more expensive than their plastic counterpart. always warm, since plastic is a serious obstacle to air (it does not let it through at all), but not all structures, especially balcony ones, can withstand its heavy weight.

The plastic version will be cheaper if you need an insulated room; an aluminum profile is often used for an unheated room.

Combined profile

Studying what double-glazed windows are , you will definitely meet a combined double-glazed window. This means that the profile has a certain number of chambers, like a double-glazed window; most often you can find the following options:

• The profile has three chambers, double glazing - two. Most often, such a window is used for loggias or non-residential premises, for example, cottages or a summer house, suitable for the southern regions.

• Three chambers inside the profile, and a double-glazed window has two - the most popular design used for residential premises in all regions except the northern ones.
• Five-chamber profile. The number of double-glazed unit chambers is from two to six - the most serious and warm design, used in severe winter conditions or in very noisy places.

One or two cameras?

When choosing windows for a home, buyers often think about which is better - single-chamber or double-glazed windows? To answer this question, you need to study what differences the products have and for what operating conditions they are intended.

A single-chamber double-glazed window is quite thin and freezes at temperatures over -15 degrees. In addition, it cannot provide sufficient retention of warm air in a room in which it becomes cold due to serious heat loss. It is most often used for non-residential premises and balconies. The two-chamber design does a better job of retaining heat in the room, it is used for heated houses, it isolates noise well.

Single-chamber energy-saving double-glazed window

The main difference between single-chamber and double-glazed windows is that the double-chamber design is more frost-resistant, it copes better with different climatic conditions, retains heat and noise. The profile is usually insulated, which is often absent in a single-chamber double-glazed window, as this is the most budget option that developers can use or if the amount of funds for building a house is strictly limited, but some windows need to be inserted.

That is why often the owners of a single-chamber design want to replace it with a two-chamber one. However, is it possible to change a single-chamber double-glazed window to a double-glazed window? , without changing the window completely? It is technically possible to perform such a procedure. It completely depends on the width and functionality of the profile; some allow you to place thicker double-glazed windows in them. If you are lucky, and the profile is just like that, then you just need to pull out the single-chamber structure and insert a two-chamber structure instead. In order to determine whether this can be done, the following must be considered:

• profile thickness. The greater the installation depth, the more likely it is that a two-chamber design is also suitable for such a profile. You can find out the exact numbers from the technical characteristics of the profile, in extreme cases, you can pull out the double-glazed window and measure the width.
• You will also need to take into account the strength of the profile: a thicker double-glazed window weighs more, so it will put an increased load on the sash. It can skew if the profile is not reinforced enough.
• It may be necessary to replace the fittings with a more durable and high-quality one.

Another important difference between single-chamber double-glazed windows and double-glazed windows is the thickness of the air chambers themselves. If it is small, then the buffer between the street and the room will not give a good result. Two thick chambers retain heat well, especially if they are not just sealed, but filled with argon. If the double-glazed window is depressurized, it will be no more useful than ordinary cold glazing.

You can replace a single-chamber double-glazed window with a double-chamber element , if you use a design with sufficiently thin glasses, however, as practice shows, such a replacement will be little noticeable, if only it becomes morally more pleasant for you. The heat will increase a little, so if the thickness of a single-chamber double-glazed window was 24 mm, and a two-chamber one becomes 27, you will only waste your time and money. The resistance coefficient will change from 0.32 to 0.42, which in practice will hardly add a few garus to the heat in the room.

There is another solution to the problem - the use of energy-saving double-glazed windows. To do this, you need to compare which is better - a double-glazed window or a single-chamber energy-saving one. Energy-saving windows are covered with the thinnest metal film. It significantly improves the physical properties of the double-glazed window, as the membrane repels warm air, forcing it to stay in the room, and does not let cold air in from the outside.

If we compare a thin double-glazed window with a standard thickness of a single product, but using this technology, the difference will be noticeable in favor of the second one, since the room will be several degrees warmer. Therefore, in many cases it is more profitable to use energy-saving double-glazed windows than to try to install thicker ones. Their advantage is that you can put a double-glazed window of the same width as it was and you won’t have to change the whole window, but the desired effect will be achieved.

Double glazing

What is the optimal number of cameras?

When deciding which double-glazed window to choose, you must first of all pay attention to the climate zone you live in. If your winter is warm and humid, and the thermometer rarely drops below -10, then there is no point in overpaying for a thick double-glazed window. A two-chamber product will completely cope with its tasks: it will not freeze, fog, reliably isolate heat and will not allow it to leave the room. Choosing , which double-glazed window is warmer, attention should be paid not only to its thickness, but also to the technology by which it is made. For example, if argon-filled energy-saving double-glazed windows are used, their resistance coefficient will be much higher than that of a simple double-glazed window filled with compressed air.

For reliable sound insulation, glass must be of different widths.

Depending on how many chambers are in a double-glazed window, heat is better retained. Therefore, if your building is located in the middle lane or in the northern regions, the choice should be made in favor of structures that have more than three cameras. Please note that the thickness of the glasses and chambers, even in one double-glazed window, may differ. This is done specifically in order to create the greatest resistance and effect of a thermos. In winter, this design does not freeze, and in the summer it keeps the room cool.

Much depends on the size of the double-glazed window. The larger the area of ​​the glass, the greater the heat loss will be, since the cooling of the room is mainly due to the cooling of the glass. Therefore, products with heating can also be used: they will not only serve as an additional source of heat, but will also reduce heat loss to a minimum.

Conclusion: when deciding which double-glazed windows are best to install, carefully study their technical characteristics. Often, a six-chamber double-glazed window differs little from a four-chamber one, but it costs much more, so it makes no sense to overpay.

From the article you will learn:

As you know, the size of the light-transmitting part of the window to the total area of ​​the entire window opening has a ratio of approximately 9 to 10. In other words, the glazing area accounts for approximately 90 percent of the window.

Here, the concept of "window glazing" can include the presence in the installed structure of both one and several layers of light-transmitting material. Glass is one of the components of a double-glazed window, which, in turn, is included in the design of either a plastic or a modern wooden window.

Therefore, it is so important to navigate in order to know how to choose it correctly in the future.

Below we will consider the main selection criteria; what you need to pay attention to before ordering, both the whole product and its individual components - in general, everything you need to know before choosing a double-glazed window.

Why is a modern PVC window “warmer” than a wooden one?

Today, most of those who start repairs in an apartment are replacing old wooden windows from the times of the USSR with new plastic ones, or.

This fact takes place not only due to the fact that such windows have an incomparably large attractive view. The main reason for replacing old windows with new ones is that after installing them in an apartment, the parameters for thermal conductivity and sound insulation are significantly improved. In rooms with double-glazed windows installed in them, it does not matter if they are plastic or wooden, it will be much quieter and warmer.

Of course, in addition to double-glazed windows, the quality of the seals, as well as the correct installation of the structure, made in accordance with GOST, also play in ensuring the above parameters.

How many chambers should a double-glazed window have?

European heat standards provide for the presence of only one, maximum two chambers in a double-glazed plastic window.

To get rid of the noise constantly coming from the street, it is necessary to install either a product equipped with two cameras or a special noise-insulating double-glazed window. Before choosing a plastic double-glazed window in an apartment, it must be borne in mind that it must be provided in its rooms, unlike, say, the kitchen. This fact is due to the fact that most of the time in the apartment a person spends in the rooms. Therefore, it is so important to maintain peace and quiet in them. Based on this, it follows that if you want to save a little on buying a plastic window, this should be done only on a product located in the kitchen.

Filling the double-glazed windows with gas.

The standard variant of double-glazed windows contains air in its design between the panes. However, today we are ready to offer the end buyer products, in the chambers of which gas is pumped instead of air.

The inert substance used can be of two types:

• argon;
• krypton.

The essence of this innovation is the improvement of the thermal insulation properties of a double-glazed window. Although the figure of 5% may not seem so significant, it is better than nothing. In addition to this, products, in, have improved sound insulation.

What kind of glass is used in double-glazed windows?

It all depends on the type and purpose of this light-transmitting solution, for example, double-glazed windows can be:

The purpose of such an energy-saving system is to retain the maximum amount of heat in the room by installing one glass with a special coating in the double-glazed window. Glass, depending on the coating used, can be either soft (I-glass) or hard (K-glass). Their difference lies both in the available characteristics and in the method of obtaining glasses.

Soft glass is obtained by applying a film to ordinary glass, thereby achieving increased thermal insulation properties in the final combined product. K-glass is obtained through the use of a special coating.

Of these two types of glass in an energy-saving double-glazed window, it is better to opt for I-glass, since it is this glass that has the maximum thermal insulation properties.

The peculiarity of this choice is that when installed in a window opening, an energy-saving double-glazed window in the winter season will warm the room, preventing air from escaping, and in the summer, on the contrary, it will block the flow of warm air from the street.

This option, as its name implies, is designed to protect the room from excess ultraviolet rays entering it. It can use two types of glass - reflex and. The second type is the most preferred, as it has good wear resistance and excellent strength.

Tinted glass.

It serves to hide the room from the prying eyes of strangers. The essence of tinting is applying a special tint film to the glass, which, by the way, can be of several types:

• Protective (shockproof);
• Sun protection;
• reflective;
• Combined anti-vandal film.

The purpose of double-glazed windows is not only to provide an optimal microclimate in the room, but also to hide everything that happens inside it.

There is a special type of double-glazed window that is responsible for countering intruders' attempts to penetrate through a window opening. This technological solution is especially appropriate for installation in offices, private houses, cottages, dachas, as well as in apartments located on the first floors of the building.

Impact-resistant double-glazed windows can be made using one of two protection technologies:

• with the application of armored film (used mainly to protect the windows of offices, banks and other commercial institutions).
• using - the most popular and effective solution to ensure the protection of apartments and country houses.

4M1 - glass 4 mm quality category M1
K4 - energy-saving 4 mm K-glass
I4 - energy-saving 4 mm I-glass
16 - air chamber of a double-glazed window
Ar16 - chamber filled with argon

Having considered the types of double-glazed windows and comparing the characteristics, we obtain the “warmest” two-chamber double-glazed window of the following combination 4M1-Ar16-4M1-Ar16-I4 (two glasses of 4 mm each, one I-glass of 4 mm, air chambers filled with argon of 16 mm). This means that it will be warm in winter and cool in summer, as it retains solar energy, but the weight of the window increases and light transmission decreases. Also, based on the table "comparison of double-glazed windows", we will consider the "coldest" single-chamber double-glazed window of the following combination 4M1-8-4M1 (two glasses of 4 mm each and one air chamber), which has the highest light transmission and the smallest weight.

Explanation of symbols in the table

• The thickness of a double-glazed window is the thickness of all glasses and air chambers between them. The glasses themselves can have a thickness of 4 to 7 mm (4 mm glass is indicated in the table), and the thickness of the air chambers can vary from 6 to 16 mm. When choosing the thickness of a single-chamber or double-glazed window, it is necessary to take into account the thickness of the PVC profile in which it will be installed.
• The weight of a double-glazed window is the net weight of the 1st sq. meters of double-glazed windows assembled. It should be borne in mind that the greater the thickness of the double-glazed window, the heavier it is. When choosing a plastic window, you need to understand that by ordering a thick and large double-glazed window, there is a possibility of sagging of the sash, as well as rapid wear of the fittings. It is better to use a single-chamber energy-saving double-glazed window for large sashes, which is 1.5 times lighter than a two-chamber one with similar characteristics.
• Noise insulation of a window is a parameter of a PVC window that determines the reduction of extraneous noise coming from the street, from city traffic or vice versa. The soundproofing of a window depends on the thickness and number of air chambers, as well as the thickness and quantity of the panes themselves. But with their increase, the weight of the double-glazed window increases. You can cope with this ailment by installing glasses of different thicknesses and nullifying the resonant wave, thereby extinguishing extraneous noise. Of course, the price of a PVC window increases when replacing standard 4 mm glass. In order not to significantly increase it, you can attribute your choice to different sizes of air chambers, which also contributes to sound insulation, albeit to a slightly lesser extent, but it allows you to save your family budget.
• Heat transfer resistance coefficient - determines the temperature difference between the outer and inner surfaces of a plastic window to the heat flux density through it. A high coefficient shows the smallest heat loss, respectively, the room is warmer. By increasing the thickness of glass and air chambers, filling them with argon and installing energy-saving glass, we thereby increase the heat transfer resistance coefficient.
• Light transmission coefficient - determines the proportion of light penetrating through the double-glazed window. This indicator decreases if the thickness of the double-glazed window is increased.
• Transmittance of the total solar energy - determines the proportion of infrared radiation from the sun penetrating through the double-glazed window. This indicator decreases if you increase the thickness of the double-glazed window or use an energy-saving double-glazed window.

1. When choosing the appropriate option, remember about the PVC window profile in which the double-glazed window will be installed. If the characteristics of the profile allow you to install a double-glazed window with a thickness of up to 34 mm, then you can safely discard the option of installing the warmest double-glazed window with dimensions of 44 mm (more suitable for the northern part of Russia).
2. A well-heated room does not need to install a warm double-glazed window, as this can only aggravate the situation. In such premises, it is more rational to install a double-glazed window of the smallest thickness, for example, an energy-saving single-chamber.
3. If the constant noise coming from the street or a busy highway haunts you, do not get hung up on the thickness. You should pay attention to sound insulation and install soundproof double-glazed windows, which will create coziness and comfort in the house.

Every year more and more win the sympathy of people. This is due to several factors: PVC windows have an excellent design, they are harmless, quickly installed, and affordable for ordinary people. All components of the plastic window perform separate functions. For example, a frame is made from a profile, fittings allow you to create micro-ventilation, close and open sashes, and double-glazed windows protect against weather aggression and burglary.

double glazing an important component of a metal-plastic window, and in this article we will talk about which double-glazed windows you can choose.

A double-glazed window is a structure consisting of glass cut to a certain size and a frame. Distance frames separate the glass from each other, inside they have a hydroscopic layer that absorbs moisture, the glass is glued to them. The ends of the double-glazed window are hermetically sealed and sealed with a sealant. Thus, air chambers are created in the double-glazed window. Today double-glazed windows can consist of several chambers: 1st, 2nd or 3rd. The heat-saving and noise-insulating characteristics of PVC windows directly depend on the number of air chambers, their distance, and the thickness of the glass used in the double-glazed window. In our climate, double-glazed windows are mainly used.

For plastic windows, several types of glass are used: reinforced, tempered, triplex, sun-protection.

Today there are several types of double-glazed windows:

- Energy-saving or double-glazed windows with climate control. The air chambers of such double-glazed windows are filled with gas (argon), the inner side of one of the glasses is coated with silver and other metals. This technology allows for a long time to control the transmission of sunlight into the apartment in the summer, and in winter, on the contrary, reflect the heat coming from the room, preventing it from escaping into the street.

Thus, in the summer the apartment will be cooler, and warmer in the cold. thereby reducing the cost of heating and air conditioning. It is worth noting that single-chamber double-glazed windows with climate control are warmer than ordinary double-glazed windows. And this means that energy-saving double-glazed windows are lighter and therefore the fittings on such windows will last longer. One of their main disadvantages is the volatility of the gas. Without which windows become ordinary. In 10-15 years, energy-saving double-glazed windows will have to be replaced.

More recently, Clima Guard Solar has introduced a super new double-glazed window for PVC windows. Thanks to the new technology of spraying silver and metal on the inner surface of the glass, even without filling the air chambers with gas, such double-glazed windows showed excellent climate control characteristics.

Noise isolation. As we have already said, the thickness of the glasses affect the conductivity of the noise. So glass in double glazing must be of different thicknesses. Otherwise, the sound, colliding with one glass, passes to another, and if it is of the same thickness, then resonance occurs. If the glasses are of different thicknesses, for example, a single-chamber double-glazed window of 4-6 mm., then when the noise passes to the second glass, 3-4 dB will be extinguished, which is 30% compared to identical glasses. In any case, the sound insulation of plastic windows is much higher than that of ordinary wooden ones.

Armored. Such windows allow you to protect the room and its residents from various mechanical influences and attacks. For example, from small arms, explosives, blast and fragments from grenades, strikes from metal objects, etc. Armored windows are divided according to protection class A-1, A-2, A-3. In addition, glasses can be made with Smart Glass technology. This is a "smart glass" technology, it allows glasses to change transparency, thereby avoiding observation. The infrared barrier blocks the operation of night vision devices, and the electromagnetic one from sources of electromagnetic radiation.

Let's summarize. If you want to create a favorable climate in your apartment, then buy energy-saving windows with micro-ventilation. If you live in a noisy area, then noise-absorbing double-glazed windows save you from noise. Armored glass will help protect valuables and life.

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A double-glazed window is a sealed connection of two or more sheets of glass (5) into a single structure (see diagram). A fixed distance between the glasses (distance) is provided using hollow aluminum spacers (2), which are “attached” to the glass with the help of butyl (1), thus creating an additional sealing layer. A desiccant (3) is poured inside the distance frame, removing residual moisture from the inside of the double-glazed window, and the entire structure is carefully sealed around the perimeter (4).

Let's make a reservation right away and at the same time dispel a common misconception - most double-glazed windows are filled with air or an inert gas from the inside, there is no vacuum there! When you try to evacuate a double-glazed window (in other words, pump air out of it), plane-parallel glasses will inevitably deform (bent inward) under the action of atmospheric pressure, and the tightness of the connection between the glass and the spacer will be broken. Although, to be absolutely precise, it should be noted that vacuum double-glazed windows still exist. Glass balls distributed over the entire area of ​​the double-glazed window protect them from deformation of the glasses. But in our country such double-glazed windows are not produced.

Between two panes sealed around the perimeter, an insulated chamber is formed, filled with dry air or an inert gas with low thermal conductivity (most often argon). Depending on the number of chambers, double-glazed windows can be divided into single-chamber (consisting of two glasses) or two-chamber (three glasses). An additional chamber increases the heat and noise insulation of a double-glazed window, but, on the other hand, increases the weight of the sash and the load on the hinges, which, when using good fittings, does not affect the life of the window in any way.

Only a hermetic connection makes it possible to implement the basic principle of thermal insulation - to constantly keep dry air or other gas (eg argon) inside the double-glazed window, which are the best thermal insulation materials!

If a double-glazed window is not hermetic, then moisture permanently present in the air gets into it, and the heat transfer resistance of such a non-hermetic double-glazed window will not differ from ordinary glass. In this case, the production of a double-glazed window loses its meaning, because the installation of two glasses in a "simple" wooden frame is much cheaper.

What are double-glazed windows

A double-glazed window is the largest part of a window in terms of area. The nomenclature of different types of double-glazed windows currently reaches several hundred items. Double-glazed windows can be double or single-chamber, made of domestic or imported glass, with and without inert gas, while the glasses can be tinted, solar-reflecting or energy-saving, the distance between the glasses can be the same or different (from 6 to 36 mm).

The aesthetic qualities of the window, in accordance with the requirements of the architect, can be taken into account by installing decorative layouts (bars) inside the double-glazed window, usually white or golden. Bars come in different widths, but usually 8, 18 or 25mm. In addition, decorative strips can be glued on the outside.

How to choose glass for insulating glass

Glass, like any building material, has certain mechanical properties, but the main thing that distinguishes it is transparency. To do this, the glass manufacturer provides the buyer with the light and thermal characteristics of the glass.

For example, transparent glass provides a high degree of transmission of sunlight and heat - 89% and 86%, respectively. This means that in a room where transparent glass is inserted into the window, it will be light and very hot in summer.

Safety glass is glass that does not cause harm to a person at the moment of destruction. There are several types of safety glasses. It is possible to secure glass by the fact that it will be hardened and, when broken, forms small pieces that do not have sharp edges. For the production of such glass, thermal hardening is used: it is heated in a furnace to a temperature of over 600 ° C, and then quickly cooled. This glass is called tempered glass, which is five times stronger than ordinary glass. In addition, laminated (laminated) glass or triplex are considered safe. Two or more sheets of glass are glued together with a colorless film of polymeric organic resin. The result is an extremely strong glass that does not shatter when broken (of course, if someone manages to break it!).

Colored glass allows you to keep the transparency of the window and reduce the flow of solar heat into the room. On the other hand, such glass absorbs heat more strongly than transparent glass, and therefore can be destroyed by thermal overloads. For example, green glass reduces sunlight by up to 66% while absorbing heat by 37%. Bronze glass reduces light transmission by up to 60% and heat by up to 68%, but due to the increase in heat absorption by up to 36%, the likelihood of its destruction in the hot season increases. The destruction of colored glass can be facilitated by microcracks that remain on the edge of the glass after cutting. Therefore, the use of colored glass in a hot climate (for example, in the Crimea) requires their obligatory hardening or edge processing, which increase the mechanical and thermal resistance of the glass.

The advantages of transparent and colored glass are combined in glass with a mirror coating on its surface, the so-called reflective glass. This glass limits the solar heat to the room to 67%, but does not heat up, because. its heat absorption is low, about 10%, the same as that of transparent glass. Glass acquires such properties after applying a thin layer of metal oxide to its surface. Glass with a mirror coating applied to clear glass can be used successfully in hot climates or in windows on the south side of the house.

Sun protection films are very popular, which are glued to the surface of the glass and, unlike colored glass, add strength to the glass unit as a whole.

To the question of energy-saving glasses

Recently, energy-saving glasses have become widespread, which are also called low-emission or selective because of the ability to delay a certain frequency of electromagnetic radiation. After applying a thin, almost imperceptible coating (most often a layer of silver) to one of the sides of the glass, its reflectivity increases towards a higher temperature. At the same time, in the visible part of the spectrum, such glass will remain transparent, almost indistinguishable from ordinary glass. And in the infrared region, the coating acts as a mirror that reflects heat.

Low-e coatings are divided into hard and soft (other terms can be found: k-coating and i-coating, on-line and off-line coatings). A hard (k-coating) in the form of a layer of metal oxide with a thickness of 0.4-0.6 μm is applied by means of a chemical reaction at high temperature (pyrolysis method) in the glass manufacturing process, and a soft (i-coating) with a thickness of 0.08-0. 12 microns with the main layer of silver - in a vacuum on the finished glass.

K-glass is very popular today in Europe due to its neutral color, exceptional thermal insulation and ease of processing. Since the low-e coating is facing the space between the panes, the inner surface of the glass is heated. And this, in turn, reduces condensation and draft caused by temperature differences.

K-glasses have a number of advantages: they improve thermal insulation and, accordingly, heating costs, optimize the flow of solar heat into the room, reduce condensation, and also transmit light well. Outwardly, k-glass looks like ordinary transparent glass. The effect of the low-e coating on light transmission and reflection is barely noticeable.

The hard coating is resistant to mechanical stress and can be used even with single glazing. Soft - it is easily deformed, therefore, the side of the glass on which such a coating is applied must necessarily be turned inside the double-glazed window. However, let's consider each of the emission coatings separately in order to be able to compare them as objectively as possible.

And the letter i

I-glass surpasses its counterpart “by the letter k” in terms of technical characteristics. The use of double-glazed windows with i-glass allows not only to significantly increase the comfort in the room, but also to achieve a reduction in energy costs. During the heating season, the heat retained by a medium-sized window with i-glass is equivalent to the effect of burning 120 kg of liquid fuel.

By the way, if a hard coating allows you to save in the room about 70% of the heat flux falling on the window, then soft - all 90% and even more. Due to the higher energy-saving properties of i-glass, it is possible to abandon a double-glazed window, limiting itself to a single-chamber one, which greatly facilitates the design.

It should also be noted that when using energy-saving glass, energy savings in rooms are possible not only due to protection against heat loss, but also by reducing air conditioning losses, which sometimes exceed heating costs by 2-3 times. Perhaps the only drawback of i-glasses is their low abrasive resistance, which causes certain inconveniences during transportation. However, since the coating is always turned inside the double-glazed window, this does not affect the operation.

Low-e glass with a soft coating is on average about 2-2.5 times more expensive than regular glass. But calculations show that due to energy savings, additional investments pay off within 1.5-2 years. It should also be taken into account that along with the direct payback, there are a number of factors that stimulate the demand for low-emissivity glasses. For example, by reducing the weight of an insulating glass unit, it is possible to preserve the geometry of the window and remove the problem of the durability of the fittings in the window frame.

By installing double-glazed windows with energy-saving glass, you will not only create comfortable conditions in the room, but also protect furniture and wallpaper from fading.

Externally, energy-saving glass is practically no different from ordinary transparent glass. But to make sure that the double-glazed window DOES have low-e glass installed, you can use a simple test.

1. Light a match or lighter in front of the double glazing
2. A reflection will appear with several images of flames on the glass. If you look at the reflection of the flame at an angle of 45 °, then the number of reflections will be equal to the number of glass surfaces (in the case of a single-chamber double-glazed window there will be four of them).
3. For an energy-saving double-glazed window, one of these images will differ in color from the others. By the location of the reflection of a different color, you can determine which of the surfaces is coated.
4. A double-glazed window without energy-saving glass will have four identical reflections.

In practice, all companies offer a choice of three or four options for double-glazed windows, not forgetting to mention that they, in principle, can supply everything that is described above.

Let's try to deal with the criteria for a difficult choice of double-glazed windows

A few tips for choosing double-glazed windows

• We do not recommend using double-glazed windows with a distance between glasses of more than 20mm - this is money thrown into the air. Its further increase not only does not increase, but even lowers the thermal insulation of a double-glazed window, while its cost becomes higher.
• In windows facing the street, it is undesirable to install double-glazed windows with a coefficient of resistance to heat transfer R less than 0.45 m2, ° C / W. For reference: this requirement is met by double-glazed windows 32mm with ordinary glass of type 4-8-4-12-4 or single-chamber 24mm double-glazed windows with one energy-saving glass of type 4-16-4i (where 4 is the thickness of the glass, 16 is the thickness of the air gap between the glasses ).
• If you have non-standard sizes of double-glazed windows, please note that the maximum dimensions of a double-glazed window in width and height should not exceed 3.2x3.0 m. when the temperature drops and the volume of air inside the double-glazed window decreases, the glasses will connect to each other. The consequences of glass deformation are its destruction and depressurization of the double-glazed window. Small-sized double-glazed windows can collapse in winter, when, with a decrease in the volume of air inside the chamber, the glass does not have the ability to bend along the short side. Given all these potential annoyances, it is best to leave the dimensional check to professionals who can calculate from mechanical stresses such as wind or changes in ambient temperature and pressure.
• When choosing a double-glazed window with colored glass, be aware that colored glass is installed only outside the double-glazed window and must be reinforced. Colored glass is installed outside, so that in summer it is cooled by outside air. If the glass is installed inside a room where there is no natural air movement, then in summer it will heat up and increase the air temperature inside. When glass is heated, the probability of its destruction increases due to thermal expansion and temperature changes. To cool the glass and air, you will have to increase the power of the air conditioner.
• Double-glazed windows can be installed at an outside air temperature of at least minus 15°C. The indoor air temperature of the premises during the winter period of construction should not be lower than +5°С.

Classification of double-glazed windows

Double-glazed windows are classified according to the number of air chambers into single-chamber (two glasses) and two-chamber (three glasses).

The labeling of double-glazed windows indicates the thickness and type of glass, the width of the distance frame, the number of air gaps, as well as the type of gas used to fill them.

For glasses, the following main markings are usually used:

• M Ordinary drawn window glass
• F Float glass
• K Glass with a hard low-e coating obtained by On-line technology
• I Off-line soft low-e coating glass
• S Colored glass
• Pl Heat reflective film
• S Colored glass
• S Colored glass

For gases filling the space between panes, the following marking is applied:

• Air Space by default
• Ar Argon

The designs of double-glazed windows have a symbol, for example: 4M1-16-4M1. This means that a single-chamber double-glazed window is made of M1 glass with a thickness of 4mm. Distance between glasses - 16 mm. The gap between the panes is filled with ordinary air.

Questions that arise when buying and installing double-glazed windows

• What can be the distance between the panes in double-glazed windows?
  According to the International Standard GOST 24866-99 "Glued double-glazed windows for construction purposes. Specifications", the width of the spacers or the distance between the glasses in double-glazed windows can be from 8 to 36 mm, and the thickness of the double-glazed window is from 14 to 60 mm.
• What are the maximum and minimum dimensions of double-glazed windows?
  If you follow GOST 24866-99, then the maximum dimensions of a double-glazed window in width and height, as a rule, should not exceed 3.2x3.0m. It is not recommended to manufacture double-glazed windows with dimensions less than 300x300mm, as well as with an aspect ratio of more than 5:1. But these are only recommendations, and the actual allowable sizes of double-glazed windows are determined after calculating the double-glazed window, based on mechanical loads, such as wind or changes in ambient temperature and pressure.
• Is it possible to use decorative frames in double-glazed windows?
  Regulatory documents do not prohibit the use of any decorative frames inside the double-glazed window and recommend maintaining a distance of 3 mm between the decorative frame and glass.
• What are the dimensions of the decorative frames?
  Decorative frames are made in various shapes and geometric sizes. The width of decorative frames is 6mm, 8mm, 18mm, 24mm, 26mm and 45mm. Thickness of decorative frames - 6mm, 8mm and 10mm. Given that the allowable distance between the glass and the decorative frame is 3mm, it is necessary to choose the width of the distance frame based on the thickness of the decorative frame. For example, if the thickness of the decorative frame is 6mm, then the minimum width of the spacer is 12mm.
• Is it true that colored glass in double-glazed windows must be tempered?
  Colored glasses, unlike transparent ones, have a solar energy absorption coefficient of 30 to 72 percent. If you follow the requirements of GOST 24866-99, which indicate that in cases where unstrengthened glass is used in double-glazed windows for external glazing, its light absorption coefficient should be no more than 25%. Glass with a higher light absorption coefficient must be strengthened. It follows from this that all colored glass in double-glazed windows must be hardened. Toughened glass can be called thermally tempered or laminated glass. Glass with a finished edge or chemically tempered glass can also be classified as toughened glass.
• How to choose glass thickness for double glazing?
  The choice of glass thickness for double-glazed windows is best entrusted to a window company specialist. And this specialist, in turn, should be guided by the choice of "Building standards" SN 48 1 -75 "Instructions for the design, installation and operation of double-glazed windows"
• What sealants are used to seal insulating glass units?
  Polyisobutylene sealants (butyls) are used as a sealant of the first sealing layer, which ensures the tightness of the inter-pane space. For the second sealing layer, which gives the glass unit strength properties, polysulfide (thiokol), polyurethane or silicone sealants are used. In an insulating glass unit, the main sealing functions are performed by the first sealing layer based on butyl. The main purpose of the secondary sealant, after sealing, is to reduce mechanical loads on the first sealing layer when the volume of the glass unit changes due to changes in temperature and air pressure. The sealants used must have high adhesion, strength and elasticity, providing the required characteristics of double-glazed windows. Sealants must be approved for use by state sanitary inspection bodies and have hygienic conclusions.
• Can double-sided adhesive tapes be used as the first sealant?
  Adhesive tapes perform the functions of a mechanical connection of glass with a spacer, but do not perform the functions of a sealant of the first sealing layer. The tape does not delay the penetration of moisture into the double-glazed window. Therefore, the use of sticky double-sided tapes is a gross violation of the technology for manufacturing sealed double-glazed windows.

Thermal insulation properties of double-glazed windows

The main characteristics of double-glazed windows (coefficient of absorption and transmission of light, resistance to heat transfer) are determined by the international standard for double-glazed windows DSTU B V.2.7-107-2001 (GOST 24866-99).