A window with insulating glass is commonly known as a double-glazing window or a triple-glazing window depending on how many panes of glass are used in its construction.
Laminated or tempered glass may also be used as part of the construction and set-up of the IG unit. By combining Low-E coatings, tinted glass types, reflective coatings, silk-screened patterns, laminated glass products and more, a wide variety of insulating glass configurations are available for a wide range of requirements.
What is insulating glass used for?
IG units can be fabricated to meet energy and safety codes as well as requirements for sound control and seismic, impact, bullet, hurricane and blast resistance. IG units can be designed to reduce heat loss and solar heat gain entering the building, with a minimal reduction of visible light transmittance. Insulating glass units are used in essentially all applications related to the building envelope, including vertical glazing, sloped glazing, overhead glazing and skylights, and also in both vision and spandrel (nonvision) areas.
Depending on the glass type used, IG units can be designed for: light and solar control, sound control, ultraviolet screening (to reduce fading), hurricane, earthquake and blast resistance, security, bullet resistance, and decorative applications.
Do insulating glass units require special glass?
Laminated glass or tempered glass may also be used as part of the construction (in some EU countries it is compulsory). Insulating glass units are typically manufactured with glass in thicknesses from 3 to 10 mm (1/" to 3/"). Thicker glass is used in special applications.
In general glass units are produced with the same thickness of glass on both or all three panes but special applications such as acoustic attenuation or security may require different thicknesses of glass to be incorporated in a unit.
