In the UK, double glazing has been the standard for window installation since it was introduced in the s. Triple glazed windows only have a small percentage of the window market in the UK and do not have the same uptake that is seen in Europe and Scandinavia.
If you want to learn more, please visit our website Northglass.
So, why hasn’t triple glazing had the same uptake, so far? We look at the advantages and disadvantages of triple glazing to see if they are the right option for you and if you might be missing out.
Advantages of triple glazing
Triple glazing has three panes instead of two for double glazing. The big difference between double and triple glazing is that the triple glazed unit has two air gaps, not just one, to reduce thermal transmission. Twice the air gaps of double glazed units and twice the buffer against cold air.
Superior thermal performance
The primary selling point of triple glazing is the superior energy efficiency. Standard double glazing windows have a WER rating of A, with A+ being the best rating on offer. Triple glazed windows achieve A++ rating for their efficiency.
The difference in U-values that measure heat transmittance represents how much more efficient having an extra pane of glass can be. Triple glazing is 23% more efficient with a Uw rating of 1.0 compared to 1.3 for the best double glazing. Upgrading from old double glazing to triple glazing can expect 58% more energy efficiency.
Building regulations currently require replacement windows to have a minimum U-value of 1.4 W/m2K. In the push to make housing more energy efficient to meet climate change targets, the U-value could be reduced again in the future.
Keeps heat in
In Scandinavia and parts of Europe, triple glazing has a market share of 60%. For cold weather climates and north facing windows, triple glazing is recommended to keep the cold air out and retain the warmth in a room.
Keeps heat out
Insulating air gaps between panes of glass not only keep cold air out, they can also help to keep rooms cooler in warm climates.
The G-value measures how much solar gain is transferred through a window. A higher number means that more solar gain can pass through and a lower number means that less solar radiation can pass and the room stays cooler.
Additional panes of glass in triple glazing reduce solar gain which means that less radiation from the sun is transferred into a room and can help to keep a room cooler.
Reduced condensation
Condensation forms on window panes when excess moisture in the air collides with cold surfaces. Windows are prone to condensation when it’s colder outside than inside.
Excessive condensation should not be ignored as it can result in harmful mould that is significantly bad for health.
To get rid of condensation, ventilation is needed. However, double glazing reduces thermal transmittance, so that the inner pane of glass is not as cold as the outside and moisture doesn’t form. Triple glazing can reduce the cold on the inner pane of glass even more with its super thermal efficiency, resulting in less condensation on the inside of windows.
Additional security
Because triple glazing has three panes of glass, it is more difficult to break through a window fully. This makes it more secure against intruders.
For the best protection, fusing a PVB layer into a pane of glass creates a laminated layer and this has the benefit of holding the glass together if it breaks. This is useful for glass in rooflights or for glass in doors and secluded windows that need extra protection.
Everest triple glazing has a toughened inner pane of glass with the option for a laminated glass pane in our triple glazed units.
Could increase property value
The focus on energy efficiency for housing in the UK means that there’s an emphasis on houses that have a high EPC rating.
All buildings in the UK are rated between G (lowest) and A (highest) as a measure of how energy efficient they are. An EPC certificate is required when renting or selling a property.
There is a proposal to introduce legislation that all rental properties be increased from E-rated to C-rated from .
This emphasis on the higher EPC rating means that houses that are A, B or C rated will become more desirable for sale and potentially have more value.
Disadvantages of triple glazing
We look at the common misconceptions about triple glazing that have been perceived as 'disadvantages'.
The difference between U-values clearly demonstrates that triple glazing is a superior product in comparison to single and double glazed windows, especially for energy efficiency, and there are no real disadvantages.
In Northern European countries, triple glazing is the standard. At Everest, we want to drive change in the UK market to introduce more triple glazing and to offer homeowners the best possible products to insulate their homes.
Currently, most UK window companies have an older frame specification and cannot offer a triple glazing product comparable to the European market. We anticipate this to change in the next few years.
Because of this lack of investment, there has been negative debate about how effective triple glazing is for the UK market. Below we respond to these misconceptions about the ‘disadvantages’ of triple glazing.
Can we benefit in the UK?
Due to the considerably colder weather, in Scandinavian countries, triple glazing is the standard install. In the UK we have been replacing single glazed windows with double glazing since the s.
Want more information on triple glazed glass? Feel free to contact us.
It has been said that the efficiency of double glazing is effective enough against the climate in the UK - in comparison to the cold of Scandinavia.
However, triple glazing is superior for energy efficiency.
Standard double glazed windows have a WER rating of A, with A+ being the best rating on offer. Everest triple glazed windows achieve A+ rating for their efficiency.
Triple glazing is 23% more efficient than the best double glazing with a Uw rating of 1.0 compared to 1.3. Upgrading from old double glazing to Everest triple glazing can expect a 58% increase in energy efficiency according to the difference in U-values.
Is the extra cost worth it?
There are articles online that claim triple glazing is not cost effective enough for a mild climate in the UK. That might have been true several years ago when triple glazing was considerbaly more expensive, but Everest triple glazing is only 10%-20% more than double glazing.
Cost aside, there are many advantages of triple glazing and the cost comparison of two products shouldn't be the only factor to make inform a decision.
The additional comfort in a living space that can be achieved by installing triple glazing can increase the quality of life in the home alongside saving money on bills.
Extra weight of triple glazing
Glass is heavy and triple glazing weighs more than double or single glazing. That extra weight means that the frame and installation must fully support the difference.
Triple glazing is heavier due to the extra pane of glass - but a correctly specified window will only be built to a size that can carry the weight. At Everest, we make sure we calculate the right glass sizes and have maximum sizes we can fit to. We also fit heavy duty friction stays to support the extra weight of any opening windows.
Extra thickness of the frame
Alongside the additional weight, the thickness of the window frame has to be considered for replacement windows.
The standard depth of a double glazed unit is 28mm and the standard size of a triple glazed unit is 36mm.
For some companies that extra depth on the triple glazed unit means that triple glazing cannot be fitted into their frame sizes.
Sound reduction is not as good as you would expect
You might think that three layers of glass are better than two for reducing noise, but, surprisingly, noise reducing double glazing is better. Standard triple glazing can experience vibrations on the internal pane to amplify sounds.
If noise pollution is important to you, we recommend our double glazing with noise reducing glass, which has been designed to be more efficient at reducing noise.
Triple-Glazed, High-solar-gain Low-E Glass
This figure illustrates the performance of a window with a very low heat loss rate (low U-factor). In this case, there are three glazing layers and two low-E coatings, ½” argon gas or ¼” krypton gas fill between glazings, and low-conductance edge spacers. The middle glazing layer can be glass or suspended plastic film. Some windows use four glazing layers (two glass layers and two suspended plastic films). This product is suited for buildings located in very cold climates. Both Low-E coatings in this product have high solar heat and visible light transmittance, which is ideal for passive solar design. The use of three layers, however, results in lower solar heat gain relative to double glazing with high-solar-gain Low-E.
High-solar-gain low-E glass is often made with pyrolytic low-E coatings, although sputtered high-solar-gain low-E is also available.
Center of Glass Properties
Note: These values are for the center of glass only. They should only be used to compare the effect of different glazing types, not to compare total window products. Frame choice can drastically affect performance.
Triple-Glazed, Medium-solar-gain Low-E Glass
This figure illustrates the performance of a window with a very low heat loss rate (low U-factor). In this case there are three glazing layers and two low-E coatings, ½” argon gas or ¼” krypton gas fill between glazings, and low-conductance edge spacers. The middle glazing layer can be glass or suspended plastic film. Some windows use four glazing layers (two glass layers and two suspended plastic films). This product is suited for buildings located in very cold climates. Both Low-E coatings in this product have high solar heat and visible light transmittance, which is ideal for passive solar design. The use of three layers, however, results in lower solar heat gain relative to double glazing with high-solar-gain Low-E.
High-solar-gain low-E glass is often made with pyrolytic low-E coatings, although sputtered high-solar-gain low-E is also available.
Center of Glass Properties
Note: These values are for the center of glass only. They should only be used to compare the effect of different glazing types, not to compare total window products. Frame choice can drastically affect performance.
Triple-Glazed, Low-solar-gain Low-E Glass
This figure illustrates the performance of a window with a very low heat loss rate low U-factor). In this case, there are three glazing layers and two low-E coatings, ½” argon gas or ¼” krypton gas fill between glazings, and low-conductance edge spacers. The middle glazing layer can be glass or suspended plastic film. Some windows use four glazing layers (two glass layers and two suspended plastic films). With this window, both low-E coatings are spectrally selective in order to minimize solar heat gain. This window is best suited for climates with both significant heating and cooling loads.
Low-solar-gain low-E glass is typically made with sputtered low-E coatings consisting of either two or three layers of silver (also called double-silver or triple-silver low-E).
Center of Glass Properties
Note: These values are for the center of glass only. They should only be used to compare the effect of different glazing types, not to compare total window products. Frame choice can drastically affect performance.
The company is the world’s best one way mirror supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.
Comments
0