Glazed glass windows are the most widely-used type of glazing used in modern windows, having been around for centuries and remaining a popular option today.
Clear float glass is available in thicknesses ranging from 2mm to 4mm. Before the invention of float glass, windows were often constructed using thick flat drawn or polished plate glass.
Energy Efficiency
Glazed glass windows are an excellent option for homeowners looking to save energy and reduce their bills. They provide a significant boost to the efficiency of your HVAC system by slowing thermal transfer, improving air infiltration and decreasing condensation.
In most climates, double glazed windows are the best choice for improving the energy efficiency of your home. Not only do they reduce heat loss during winter and coolness in summer, but they also allow your HVAC system to work less hard at maintaining an accurate temperature inside your house.
Glass in a glazed window is designed to reflect sunlight and bring natural light into your home. Tinted or clear coatings on the inner surface prevent heat transfer from outside, cutting down on energy usage while keeping your house warmer in winter and cooler in summer.
This coating also helps prevent condensation from forming, which can lead to damp and mould in your home’s interior. Not only is this unsightly – it may cause health issues like respiratory issues and allergies as well.
Optimizing window design and glazing specification can reduce energy consumption in skin-load and internal-load buildings by 10% to 50% below accepted practice in most climates. When combined with proper building orientation, these improvements in window specification can lead to substantial savings on lighting and heating expenses.
Multiple glazed units (with spacers and frames containing low-conductance gases like argon) as well as insulated double glazed windows offer enhanced insulation, making them more energy efficient than single glazed windows. Insulated double glazed windows are especially beneficial for residents living in noisy areas or near train stations and airports.
Another advantage of double glazed windows is that they reduce noise pollution from outside, especially while you sleep. Sounds such as cars driving past or dogs barking may disturb your sleep if your home only has single paned windows.
Insulated double glazed windows may seem expensive, but they’re well worth the investment. Not only are these tougher to break in to and more secure than regular windows, but you can rest assured knowing your family and home are both safer with them in place.
Safety
Glazed glass windows offer several safety benefits, which help minimize the risk of injury or property damage due to falling shards of broken glass. Double glazing creates an airtight seal between two panes of glass and can improve energy efficiency as well.
Double glazed glass not only improves safety, but it also adds to the visual appeal of a building. Its innovative design offers better insulation and sound control as well as increased visibility.
Safety glazing, also known as tempered or toughened glass, is the most popular type of safety glazing. This heat-strengthened material can withstand impact and break into small pieces that do not cause injury when they fall on people. Furthermore, it has more deflection and wind resistance than other types of glazing materials.
Laminated safety glazing is another great choice for commercial buildings, featuring two layers of glass that are held together by a thin layer of plastic material.
When two sheets of glass are pressed and bonded together, the plastic material helps prevent shattering into tiny shards. This type of glass is commonly used in car windshields but also available for home use in areas that need hurricane proof or storm windows.
Stairways are another area where safety glazing is necessary. When a stairway meets certain criteria, such as being higher than 36 inches above a walking surface, it must be safety glazed – regardless of whether they consist of one or more steps.
Furthermore, a stairway must be separated from any door jamb by an additional 24-inch arc. Exceptions are permitted but must be approved by the governing building department.
Specifiers must also take into account the advantages of forced-entry resistance, which is designed to delay or deter access until first responders arrive. While this feature can be beneficial in certain places such as schools, it may not be enough for others.
When selecting safety glazing products, consulting with a licensed glass contractor is recommended. They can perform an easy-to-use nondestructive test to confirm if the glass meets local codes and provide other benefits like thermal protection or acoustic enhancement.
Durability
Glazed glass windows are an essential element of a building and have the potential to significantly improve energy efficiency. A well-crafted window can reduce heating costs and greenhouse gas emissions while increasing your home’s comfort level.
When selecting a window frame material, wood, vinyl or aluminum should be considered. Each material has distinct energy properties and should be chosen carefully for its insulating capabilities. A quality insulating window frame material will keep air between its members airtight and prevent cold air from escaping through openings in the frames. Furthermore, this prevents moisture from penetrating into the windows from outside which could lead to condensation and mold growth.
Generally, the thermal performance of a window is determined by its ability to conduct heat (U value) and transmit solar heat. There are various methods available for improving insulation within windows, such as applying low-e coatings on glass and frames.
In addition, some types of glazed glass have been treated to reduce the transmission of long wavelength infrared energy from the sun. These are known as ‘low-e’ coated or tinted glasses and can be a great way to reduce energy bills while still having a comfortable indoor environment.
Laminated glazing is a type of double-paned glass that features an interlayer, secured permanently between two sheets of standard glass. This interlayer prevents the glass from shattering into large sharp shards, thus reducing the risk of injuries.
Laminated glazing is also much more resistant to UV radiation than standard glass, meaning it won’t yellow over time. Unfortunately, unlike solid glass, laminated glazing doesn’t provide the same level of view or permit you to open your window for ventilation.
Laminated glass is designed with a thick plastic layer between each pane of glass to protect it against long shards of breakage, rain damage, sun damage, heat shocks, cold snaps and snowfall.
Constructing a building with high energy-efficient glazing can be expensive, however the most affordable way to achieve the best performance is usually using double-paned glass with either Low-E coating or supertoned glass with increased colouration that transmits visible light while filtering out solar near-infrared radiation.
Aesthetics
Glass windows offer many visual benefits to your home. Not only do they let in plenty of natural light, giving it a modern aesthetic, but they also offer stunning views of the outdoors.
They also reduce noise escaping your home from outside, which is especially essential if you plan on entertaining guests or live in an area with noisy neighbors.
A properly specified glazed glass window can improve your indoor comfort and energy efficiency, cutting down on electric bills and heating expenses. Its U-value and shading coefficients help control conductive and convective heat transfer while tinted or reflective inter-layers add visual interest to the design of your window.
Laminated glass is a popular option due to its superior durability and breakage resistance. This type of product consists of two or more sheets of glass fused together with a PVB interlayer for extra strength.
Laminated glass comes in a range of tints and patterns, enabling you to customize it for your home’s needs.
Laminated glass has a curved nature which makes it ideal for large windows and skylights, providing architectural detail not visible with other glazing types. Furthermore, its reduced optical distortion or “roller waves” that may occur when using tempered or heat-strengthened glass reduces unwanted interference with vision.
Another advantage of this type of glass is that it comes in multiple colours and shades, allowing you to match it to the rest of your building’s facade or interior color scheme. This can create a striking aesthetic statement whether you prefer classic Hamptons-style or contemporary modern design for your space.
Decorative window bars are another great way to add some flair and personality to your windows. They can either be mounted inside of a pane of glass or installed between two panes of glass, making them an affordable and practical choice for homeowners who want to spruce up their homes without breaking the bank.
These glass blocks come in an assortment of shapes and colors, or they can be opened up to fit into archways or caps with decorative details. Furthermore, these glass blocks have various surface treatments such as etched, wavy, and intricately patterned designs.
