Double glazing glass walls are also known as
insulated glazing. This is a process that is done using double, or triple, the
window panes and in the separation between the sheeting air, and another gas
fills the space. Having these multiple layers of the building product separated
with air will reduce the heat transfer like insulation does. This allows the
architect to include the beauty and visibility of this product but maintain the
insulating factors to reduce energy cost.
These translucent panels are mainly used on the exterior of
the building and not used for the construction of items such as
interior folding glass walls |
All of these IGU units are made with a material thickness
that ranges from 3mm to 10mm. In special applications the thickness of the
material can be increased. The 3mm to 10 mm thickness is the average that is
used.
The IGU units can be constructed using laminated glass
panels or the tempered panels as part of their construction. Most of the items
are constructed with all of the panes being used being the same uniform
thickness. There are special applications that will have the different panels
be different thicknesses.
When concerned with the acoustic attenuation the architect
will have the pieces designed with differing thicknesses on the separate
pieces. Security reasons also sometimes cause the design crew to want the
pieces to be established out of sheeting that is of varying thicknesses.
The sheets of material are separated from each other by
something known as a spacer. These spacers were at one time always constructed
out of metal. Manufacturers thought that the metal spacers provided more
stability in the finished product. The problem with using metal spacers on
these is that metal conducts heat and therefore it undermined the reduction in
heat flow.
These metal spacers also resulted in condensation problems
and with the formation of ice at the bottom of the unit once it was sealed. The
ice formed at the bottom because of the sharp temperature difference that was
created between the air surrounding the window and the window itself. To
correct this problem the manufacturers started to make the spacers from
structural foam.
Generally the spacers are either filled or they contain
desiccant to remove moisture that becomes trapped in the space between the
sheets that create the window. When the moisture is removed it lowers the dew point
of the gas that is filling the space and results in the prevention of
condensation when the temperature on the outside of the surface drops.
These items are typically used because they provide extra
visibility, and they offer extra lighting, and they also offer great insulating
values for the room. They are also placed into rooms and buildings where the
dampening of the outside noises is desired. So many medical facilities use these
so their rooms can be quieter.