Glass Units

The modern world is unthinkable without advanced technologies, eco-friendly products and reduction of CO₂ emissions. Glass is an integral material of new technologies, which is constantly improving and changing to create us comfort, safety and heat in buildings. Glass is a 100 % environmentally friendly and easily recyclable material because it is made from natural raw materials. Heat saving by using insulated glass unit windows with heat control coatings has improved significantly over the past 30 years, thus reducing the use of fossil fuels and, at the same time, CO₂ emissions. The table below presents a comparison of how the types of glass and their quantity in the insulated glass unit affect the heat savings:

Ug – is the heat transfer factor indicating the level of heat loss of the glass or insulated glass unit. Expressed in (W/m²K). The lower the value of Ug, the more effective the glass or insulated glass unit is to retain heat.

Heat-saving glass, commonly referred to as “selective” glass, is produced by applying a thin layer of metal oxides and nitrides that reflects the heat on the annealed glass under a vacuum. This layer is very sensitive to mechanical and direct atmospheric effects, so heat-saving glass coating is always placed inside the insulated glass unit. This coating is hard to notice and is determined with special coating measuring devices. The gap between the panes of glass inside the insulated glass unit is filled with argon gas. It is odourless, colourless, non-toxic gas, six times denser than air; it improves the thermal insulation properties of the insulated glass units by about 20 %. The optimal heat saving is achieved by using triple-glazing insulated glass units of which two panes of glass have a heat-saving coating. Due to their thermal and sound insulating properties, these insulated glass units are used for the construction of passive houses. This is the best choice to maximise heat savings.

The choice of types of panes of glass in an insulated glass unit is very important, but other materials (separating frame, absorbent, primary and secondary sealing materials, amount of gas to be filled) are also important, all of which directly influences the quality of the insulated glass unit and the Ug value. We use only certified materials and perform constant internal production control, which allows us to ensure excellent product quality and durability.

• The thickness of the glass (usually panes of glass of different thicknesses are used),
• Type of glass (we recommend using an acoustic laminated glass),
• The distance between the panes of glass (width of the insulated glass unit frame),
• Glass configuration should be asymmetrical (panes of glass of different thicknesses).

Fireproof insulated glass units are manufactured with panes of glass that, depending on the class, retain the flame, smoke and other combustion products for a certain period of time and prevent the spread of heat.

Class E fireproof glass. Designed to protect against direct exposure to the fire by retaining flames, smoke and other combustion products for a certain period of time, but this glass does not prevent the spread of heat.

Class EW fireproof glass is made by coating class E panes of glass with a special thermal emissivity reflecting coating or by laminating two panes of glass with a special thermal emissivity absorbing gel and partially limiting the spread of heat.

Class EI fireproof glass is a multi-layered glass, where the gaps between panes of glass are filled with a special heat-absorbing gel. These panes of glass retain flame, smoke, other combustion products and are heat-tight.  The temperature on the glass side opposite the fire must not exceed 140 ° C for a specified period of time. When the heat of the fire reaches a certain degree and the tempered glass breaks, the fireproof gel between the panes of glass begins to work by absorbing energy, which becomes opaque when exposed to temperature, thus creating a reliable barrier to the spread of the fire.

Structural, shifted insulated glass units are a kind of products that are commonly used for connecting the corners of the building, solutions for transparent roof constructions, in the mounting of frameless facades.

With these insulated glass units, it is possible to obtain a seamless view of the glass facade building, they can help to hide the bearing structures of the building, so buildings with such insulated glass units look seamless.

Currently, several visual solutions for stepped insulated glass units are available: .

• Process the shifted part of the insulated glass unit by removing the coating and using silicone (black tinge silicone is used as a standard and most commonly).
• Paint the shifted part of the insulated glass unit with TEA (True Edge Application); the insulated glass unit processed in this way does not have bright visual effects, which are usually noticeable and unavoidable.

Decorative insulated glass units can be made with patterned, frosted, tinted, painted, mirrored panes of glass and with decorative inserts/divisions.

Patterned glass - the glass, where the relief is formed on it's surface during the manufacturing process by extracting various patterns and colours. In the manufacture of insulated glass units, the uneven side is usually located in the inner part of the insulated glass unit. Patterned glass can be matte, semi-transparent or fully transparent. 

MAT glass (Acid etched) – the glass with an opaque surface, treated with acid or using a matte film.

Tinted (darkened) glass - recommended to use only as a single glass inside the interior or in outdoor gazebos.

Painted glass - produced by heating at high temperatures by injecting paint into the surface of the glass. Enamelled glass are painted in one colour, and the use of silk-screen printing allows the glass to be painted in a selected pattern.

Glass with the mirror surface  – glass that, like a mirror, reflect objects. The mirrored surface is manifested from the side where there is more light.

Decorative divisions. Additional decorative elements of various types, colour scale and dimensions can be installed in insulated glass unit chambers. Their purpose is to visually divide the window into smaller parts without cutting the glass.

Insulated glass units with tempered glass (TVG) – produced using annealed glass. It can be with sharpened, sanded and polished edges, with holes or recesses, as well as have heat control or solar energy control coatings. During the heat treatment process, it is heated to 620-650 °C and according to a special program, is slowly cooled by means of compressed air. The internal stresses that make the tempered glass twice stronger than the annealed glass are formed in the glass. The thermal resistance during operation does not change up to 200 °C. It is NOT A SAFE glass because it breaks down into big glass fragments. It is commonly used in the manufacture of laminated glass.

Insulated glass units with blinds inside - reduce the thermal conductivity in winter, and protect the premises from heat during the summer.

Insulated glass units with self-cleaning glass which is coated with a special coating performing two functions: first, it reacts with ultraviolet (UV) rays in daylight and breaks down organic pollutants; second, the contact angle between the surface coated with the superhydrophobic coating and the water drop is greater than 140°, so the water drop does not keep on the surface and washes away dirt and other filth when sliding over the surface.

The dividing spacer of the insulated glass unit (hereinafter - the frame) is used to separate the sheets of glass, i.e. it forms an appropriate gap between the two panes of glass. The hollow inside of the spacer is filled with absorbent grains. The absorbent removes the remaining moisture between the panes of glass after sealing them.

For many years, the main material for the production of spacers has been aluminium, but with the development of technology and the pursuit of greater energy efficiency, plastic spacers are now the most widely used. The plastic spacer at the edges of the insulated glass unit reduces thermal losses, eliminates the cold bridge, the likelihood of condensation and becoming dewy. We recommend the most advanced types of plastic spacers:

 CHROMATECH Ultra is a modern, hybrid heat-insulating spacer made of robust plastic and a strong stainless-steel structure. The top plastic surface is extremely robust and resistant to frost. Also, it is almost impossible to dismantle it, which ensures stability.

Facts about CHROMATECH Ultra:

 SWISSPACER Ultimate – a fiberglass spacer with protective foil. Official studies carried out by IFT Rosenheim (WA-17/1&WA-08/2) have shown that Swisspacer Ultimate is one of the best solutions on the insulated glass unit spacer market.

Facts about SWISSPACER Ultimate:

• Reliably prevents gas leaking and moisture from entering inside the glass unit. It is as effective as plastic-coated steel or aluminium.
• Due to its robust structure, it is ideal for use in the manufacture of double-glazing insulated glass units.
• Low heat loss: 0.14 W/(m K).