For most of us, our windows fall into the category of ‘things we rely on every day that we really don’t want to have to think about’. Alongside fridges, ovens, washing machines and doors, windows are just another thing we’re happy not to think about as long as they’re working properly.
That’s a shame though, because the technology behind our windows has changed dramatically over the last 100 years, moving from the humble sash to UPVC windows with multiple panes, innovative locking methods and even hinges which allow windows to be opened in a variety of ways.
One of the biggest changes, however, has been in the rise of double and triple glazing. Once an expensive rarity, it’s now the accepted standard for modern window design, but how do these types of windows work?
What is Double Glazing and How Does It Work?
Double glazing is a window that consists of two panes of glass which are separated by a layer of trapped argon glass. Double glazing is by far the most common type of window installed today, and can be found in homes of all types.
The argon gas is used because it has 67% of the thermal conductivity of air, which makes it a poor conductor of heat, which keeps warm air trapped within your home and cold air out. It’s for this reason that double glazing has seen a rapid rise in popularity, as the overall effect of having a home fitted with this type of glazing is vastly superior energy efficiency.
A bonus benefit of double glazing techniques is that they also work as a secondary barrier to outside noise, dramatically reducing the interior noise for homes within towns and cities.
What is Triple Glazing and How Does It Work?
Triple glazing is a mode modern and expensive technique for window design, consisting of three panes of glass for superior energy efficiency and noise.
Much like two-paned models, triple glazed windows utilise separate panes of glass with spacers between them. Between these spaces, an inert gas like xenon, krypton or argon is used to help reduce heat transference between the outside world and the inside of the house.
However, because there’s more glass and more spaces for the gas to go, the noise and heat reduction properties are amplified and therefore better able to keep the noise and old outside of your home. These windows are typically used in colder countries, though they’re exceptionally useful all over the world.