As a small component in the edge seal of insulating glass, Swisspacer Air can minimise damage that can be caused by overpressure or underpressure in the cavity between the panes - e.g. as a result of height differences during transport or due to climatic loads. The permanent pressure relief ensures that the insulating glass retains its function and quality in the long term. The risk of curved glass panes, glass breakage and premature ageing due to excessive stress on the edge seal is significantly reduced.
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If insulating glass is fitted with Swisspacer Air, it has been considered a regulated construction product in Germany since 2019 due to the abZ. However, CE labelling is practically essential for international sales. This is because manufacturers declare that their product complies with the applicable requirements of the Construction Products Regulation. For glass in the construction industry, this is regulated by the EN 1279 standard, which, however, only covers closed multi-pane insulating glass units.
CE mark through an ETA
Another way is via the "European Technical Assessment", or ETA. This enables manufacturers to obtain a CE mark for their products. The ETA can be applied for construction products that are not or not fully covered by a harmonised standard - as is the case with Swisspacer Air.
The basis for issuing an ETA is a technical specification that contains the relevant assessment procedures, the so-called "European Assessment Document", EAD. Like a harmonised standard, this EAD is considered a harmonised technical specification. For insulating glass units whose cavity is not hermetically sealed, precisely this basis was previously lacking.
The Saint-Gobain Insulating Glass Centre and Swisspacer have jointly developed the substantial EAD for pressure-equalised insulating glass and created an initial ETA on this basis. Both have now been approved by the EU. The complex process was accompanied by the ift Rosenheim, which also carried out the tests on Swisspacer Air as part of the DIBt approval.
New ETA for insulating glass with Swisspacer Air
The ETA, which is now available to Glassolutions, defines, among other things, the performance of Swisspacer Air, namely how quickly pressure equalisation takes place in the space between the panes. The relevant basis is a time constant that varies depending on the insulating glass structure. The EAD creates the basis for all manufacturers of insulating glass to start a process to obtain an ETA - and therefore CE labelling - for their insulating glass products with Swisspacer Air.
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"We want to help our customers in this process in the best possible way and are happy to share our experience," emphasises Sarah Sattler. "Interested parties can contact us directly." Processors can use the email address marketing@swisspacer.com to exchange experiences with Swisspacer.
Practical Caluwin online tool
Insulating glass manufacturers and window manufacturers can already use the Caluwin online tool to check whether the use of Swisspacer Air can achieve the necessary pressure equalisation to prevent damage from climate loads. And they can do this individually for specific insulating glass units and for given boundary conditions such as climate zones and altitude differences during transport.
