Choosing plastic windows: glass unit design

When choosing plastic windows, it is important to understand the basic principles of the window structure, its main characteristics. This also applies to double-glazed windows, as one of the most important components of the window..

A double-glazed unit is a construction of 2-3 glasses with one or more air gaps. Clearance is limited by a spacer filled with a molecular sieve (a product that absorbs moisture and keeps the air dry). The heat and sound insulation properties of the glass unit can be increased by filling the space between the glasses with an inert gas and ensuring the tightness of the glass joint.

Usually, single-chamber and two-chamber (occasionally three-chamber) double-glazed windows are produced.

A single-chamber glass unit (basic), as a rule, has a thickness of 24 mm (4 mm for the first glass, 16 mm for the chamber with an air gap and 4 mm for the second glass). The thermal insulation properties of such a glass unit are small and water vapor can concentrate on the glass already at a temperature of about 8 ° C. Reduction of the level of external noise is approximately 34 dB. Such indicators allow the use of single-chamber double-glazed windows only for administrative buildings, as well as for windows overlooking an already glazed loggia or balcony.

A two-chamber double-glazed window is most popular with consumers, because the design of three glasses and two air chambers provides high-quality protection against adverse natural factors – cold and noise will not get into the apartment (condensation can appear at an outside air temperature of about 30 ° C, and the noise is reduced by about 40 Db).

In the manufacture of insulating glass units, the principle of double sealing is used. At the same time, with the help of butyl sealant (first layer), the glasses adhere tightly to the frame, and the second layer (using a two-component polysulfide or one-component rubber sealant) is used to fill the connecting edge.

With the help of a spacer frame (usually aluminum is used for its manufacture, less often galvanized steel or plastic), an air chamber of a certain thickness is created. The frame cavity is filled with desiccant

The presence of a desiccant (“molecular sieve”, silica gel or their mixture) allows you to dehydrate the air in the chambers of the glass unit and prevent condensation.

The use of various types of glass allows the manufacture of double-glazed windows with various purposes. They may be:

• soundproof (due to the use of laminated glass and filling the chambers with heavy gas);
• tinted (absorbing the sun’s rays);
• energy-saving (two types of low-emission glasses are used – with a soft and a hard coating);
• semi-mirrored (with reflective glasses that reflect solar radiation);
• shockproof (with laminated glass).

The best option for a double-glazed window can be selected for any situation. Most often, the usual two-chamber design of a glass unit is in demand. The use of low-emission (heat-saving) glass in a single-chamber double-glazed window allows you to retain heat better than a double-chamber double-glazed window with conventional glass can provide. The heat-shielding properties can be increased by filling the chambers with an inert gas (usually krypton or argon). In this case, a single-chamber double-glazed unit can be competitive in the market of window structures, and now there are more than enough offers..

Make the right choice and your home will be filled with warmth and good mood.