When it comes to building insulation, your property’s windows play a hugely important role. Better windows mean less air leaks through the glass, so your HVAC systems work less to maintain comfortable indoor temperatures.
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One cost-effective way to keep your business cool in the summer and warm in the winter is by installing insulated glass units (IGUs). The energy savings provided by doing this can save you from wasting thousands of dollars a year on unnecessarily high utility bills.
What Is an Insulated Glass Unit?
Insulated glass units generally consist of two or more panes of glass (or another type of glazing) with a pocket of air between them. While often referred to as insulated glass, we prefer to call them IGUs because the insulation performance relies on all the different components of the sealed unit working together — not just on the glass.
Insulated glass units are also commonly referred to as double-pane glass windows or double glazing. If there are three panes of glass in a unit, it is known as a triple-pane window or triple glazing. The more panes of glass there are in an IGU, the more insulation performance it provides.
Components of Insulated Glass Units
Every IGU consists of many different components that work together to provide optimal window sealing and insulation. These are:
- Glazing
- Spacer
- Air, argon, or krypton infill
- Window frame
- Inner seal and outer seal
Glazing
IGU glazing is made from standard annealed window glass or another type of glazing, such as laminated security glass, polycarbonate, or another glass-like material.
The glazing is what provides you with all the regular benefits of a window, including letting natural light in and allowing views of the outdoors.
Of course, if you want other benefits, you can choose different types of glazing accordingly.
For example, if you want to add privacy, you might go with darkly tinted glazing. You could also opt for colored or reflective glazing for privacy and/or to change a commercial building’s outward appearance and give its facade a modern facelift.
Or, if you want added security, you may choose something like polycarbonate security glazing for an IGU’s glazing. Polycarbonate provides optimal impact resistance to protect against forced entry, storm damage, and other security threats.
Spacer
Insulated glass wouldn’t be insulated without a spacer bar, which is what keeps the panes of glass separated and maintains an empty space between them for the insulating infill.
The width of the spacer can vary, but usually the wider it is, the more insulated the windows are. The spacers in IGUs are often made of aluminum, although they can also be made from steel, stainless steel, thermoplastics, and other various plastic composites.
Air, argon, or krypton infill
The most common way to insulate double-pane windows is to leave air in the space between the panes of glass. However, some manufacturers also offer argon, krypton, or other gas infills that can improve the performance of your insulated windows even more.
But, why do gas infills perform better than air infills? Well, gasses like argon and krypton are denser than air, making it harder for thermal energy to pass through them and resulting in better overall insulation.
Insulated glass infill performance at a glance:
- Air (least insulating infill, but still much more efficient than single-pane windows)
- Argon (approximately 1.38 times denser than air)
- Krypton (approximately 3 times denser than air)
Window frame
Of course, no window would be complete without a frame to hold it in place. For insulated glass units, the window frame is what keeps all the components together, allowing them to perform in tandem to improve energy efficiency.
Double-glazed windows can use many different types of window frames, depending on the architectural/design style you want and any other performance functions you wish to achieve.
For instance, if you install double-pane security glass windows, they would come in impact-resistant and tamper-proof aluminum security framing to achieve maximum performance.
Insulated windows can come in any type of frame you need for different styles of commercial and residential windows, such as:
- Double-hung windows
- Picture windows
- Casement windows
- Skylights
Inner seal and outer seal
The inner seal of an IGU, also known as the primary seal, attaches the glass panes to the spacer bar. The outer seal, or secondary seal, seals the outer edges of the entire insulated glass unit.
Both of these seals serve to keep the insulated unit’s infill from escaping and prevent moisture and humidity from getting between the panes of glass. The seals also help prevent thermal conductivity between the panes of glass, contributing to the overall thermal performance of the windows.
Benefits of Insulated Window Units
The primary benefit of insulated glass is that it drastically improves a building’s energy efficiency.
By adding another pane of glass to all your windows, you can reduce energy usage by somewhere between approximately 20 and 30 percent.
The amount of energy you save varies from month to month, depending on the weather and climate where you are located, but total annual savings can be in the thousands of dollars, especially for large luxury homes and commercial facilities.
In warm weather, insulated window units reduce solar heat gain, or the amount of heat from the sun coming through your windows, so you can cut back on running your property’s AC. This also eliminates the need to close drapes and blinds in an effort to maintain comfortable indoor temperatures, so you can continue enjoying your natural light and outdoor views.
Other benefits of double-pane and triple-pane windows:
- Help with noise reduction
- Can add security (if security glazing is chosen for the panes of glass)
- Can get you government tax rebates for energy efficiency improvements
- Help keep building tenancy rates high for commercial buildings
- Often pay for themselves in energy savings within the first 1-3 years after installation
So, are you convinced of the benefits of insulated windows yet? Contact us today to get your property’s energy efficiency improvements underway.
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If you’re shopping for a window or a glass door, you may have heard the term, Insulated Glass Unit, or IGU.
What you may not have heard is that the IGU is the most important part of a window or glass door. In fact, the right IGU can be the difference between a window that lasts 50 years and a window that lasts 10.
In this article, we’ll talk about what the IGU is, how it’s made, what makes it so important, and what you need to know to evaluate the IGU of any window or door.
Table of Contents
What Is An Insulated Glass Unit (IGU)?
Components of an IGU
Why are IGUs Important?
How To Evaluate Different IGUs
What is an Insulated Glass Unit (IGU)?
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An Insulated Glass Unit (IGU) is an assembly composed of two or three panes that are separated by a spacer and sealed around the edges to create a hermetically sealed air or gas-filled space between the panes.
A well-made IGU reduces heat transfer and noise penetration, and prevents condensation between the panes.
Components of an IGU
An IGU has five main components: the glass panes, the spacer, the dessicant, the gas fill, and the sealant.
Glass Panes: The number of glass panes in an IGU typically ranges from two to three. These panes are often treated with coatings (like low e coatings or tints) to improve thermal and optical performance.
Spacer: The spacer separates the glass panes and is filled with desiccant to absorb moisture.
Desiccant: Integrated into the spacer, the desiccant absorbs any infiltrating moisture to prevent fogging or condensation.
Gas Fill: The space between the glass panes is often filled with inert (and perfectly safe) gases like argon, krypton, or xenon, which have lower thermal conductivity than air, insulating the window. Filling a window with argon gas (as opposed to air) can improve a window’s U-value (insulation performance) by up to 16%.
Sealant: A sealant is applied around the edges of the assembled panes and spacer. The primary sealant provides the initial adhesion and hermetic seal, while a secondary sealant adds structural support and durability.
Why are IGUs Important?
Windows and glass doors may seem like fairly simple products, and, compared to a SpaceX rocket, that's true. But modern windows are a far cry from the simple single-paned windows of the past. They’re complex works of structural engineering, designed to be highly energy efficient, block specific wavelengths of light, and last for up to 50 years.
This means that quality can vary between different designs and manufacturers.
The glass panes themselves may perform well, but if the sealants fail, or the spacer isn’t energy efficient, then your windows or doors could fail much faster (in just three or four years in some cases), driving up your energy bills and allowing mold-growing condensation to infiltrate between the glass panes.
Energy Efficiency
The primary benefit of IGUs is their ability to improve the energy efficiency of a home. By reducing heat transfer, IGUs help maintain consistent indoor temperatures, potentially saving you thousands of dollars per year in heating and cooling.
Sound Insulation
IGUs can also reduce noise pollution. The combination of multiple layers of glass and the gas-filled space acts as a sound barrier, keeping street noise out.
Condensation
The hermetically sealed environment of an IGU, along with the use of desiccants, minimizes the risk of condensation forming between the panes, which can lead to mold growth and structural damage over time.
Longevity
Once the IGU fails, it’s only a matter of time before you need to replace your window or door, as energy efficiency plummets and mold-causing moisture begins to develop.
Evaluating Different Brands and Products with IGUs
So how do you evaluate IGUs? How do you know which brands will stand the test of time?
There are a few key considerations:
1. Glass Type and Coatings
Low-E Coatings: These coatings are applied to glass surfaces to reduce the amount of ultraviolet and infrared light that can pass through the glass without blocking visible light.
Understanding the type of low e coating in your window is important because different types are suitable for different climates and purposes.
Tinted Glass: Depending on your climate and the direction your windows face, you might consider tinted glass, which reduces glare and solar heat gain.
2. Gas Fill
Types of Gas: While Argon is the most popular option for gas fill because it is both effective and affordable, krypton and xenon can achieve the same level of insulation in a smaller space. For this reason, krypton and xenon more common in triple-paned windows.
While krypton and xenon have slightly better thermal performance, they are also more expensive, and in many cases won’t net you enough energy savings to be worth the additional price.
3. Spacer Material
Thermal Performance: While most people focus on the gas fill or the frame, the spacer material is also an important part of the IGU’s insulation performance. Aluminum is the most commonly-used spacer material, but, while it has excellent structural properties, it’s a very good heat conductor and typically reduces the window’s energy efficiency.
For this reason, “warm-edge” spacers were introduced. Most warm edge spacers are made from a durable plastic composite that performs well both structurally and thermally.
5. Comparing Manufacturers
While there are many different window and door companies, like Pella, Anderson, Anlin, Marvin, and others, most of these companies get their IGUs from just two major glass suppliers, Cardinal Glass and Guardian Glass.
At Southwest Exteriors, we strongly recommend windows and doors that use Cardinal Glass IGUs. Their rate of seal failure is one of the lowest in the industry, at just 0.47% over a window or door lifespan of 50 years. By contrast, the average seal failure rate among all other IGUs is 8% over a 20 year window or door lifespan. And for lower-end IGU manufacturers, the rate of seal failure can go as high as 15% over a 20 year window or door lifespan.
An important note: Some companies that advertise their use of Cardinal Glass may only be using Cardinal's glass panes, not their IGUs. This is an important distinction because seal failure, not glass failure, is the most common cause of IGU problems.
6. Energy Ratings and Certifications
Energy Star Certification
Energy Star is a widely recognized certification for energy efficiency. Products with the Energy Star label meet strict energy performance standards set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
For IGUs, this means they have been evaluated for their ability to retain indoor temperatures, reduce energy consumption, and ultimately lower utility bills.
NFRC Labels
The National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) has a comprehensive rating system that allows you to compare the energy efficiency of different window products. The NFRC label includes several key performance ratings:
U-factor: Measures how well a window can prevent heat from escaping. The lower the U-factor, the better the window insulates.
Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC): Indicates the fraction of solar radiation admitted through the window. A lower SHGC means less solar heat is transmitted, which is particularly beneficial in warmer climates to reduce cooling needs.
Visible Light Transmittance (VLT): Measures how much light passes through a window. Higher values indicate more natural light, which can reduce the need for artificial lighting.
Learn all about window ratings in our article, How To Interpret Window Ratings.
Full Window/Door Replacement or Glass-Only Replacement?
If you're looking to replace your windows? If so, should you replace jus the glass or the entire window? We answer this question in-depth in our article, Full window replacement vs. Glass-only replacement: Which is right for you?
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