A plastic window in a house must fulfill a number of practical functions. But since a potential buyer is offered a wide variety of different branded double-glazed windows, it is immediately difficult to figure out which one will ideally perform its functions in each specific case.
Such a double-glazed window will have two chambers and three glasses, respectively. Two air chambers are formed between the glasses. Due to the presence of two chambers at once, and not one, the heat-insulating and noise-insulating properties are significantly improved. Such windows are used not only in the housing stock, but also in industrial and commercial premises, which means that their characteristics allow their use in demanding premises.
Important!
The triple glass construction is one of the most advanced on the market today. In those regions where winter temperatures drop to minus forty, as well as in large cities with high noise levels, such structures are simply irreplaceable.
What is triple glazing
Triple glazing design is a set of three sheets of glass, connected in series along the perimeter. Between the glasses are two air chambers filled with specially treated air or inert gas. Such a device gives an insulating glass unit excellent insulating characteristics, which are ideal in terms of a combination of functionality and cost.
Glazing of buildings with triple-glazed windows is recommended for regions with a difficult, cold or changeable climate, since they are considered the best structures for maintaining the desired microclimate in buildings. Quite often, owners of buildings in noisy areas of large cities also resort to triple glazing - the protection against unwanted sounds in triple glazing is very high.
The main customers of efficient warm windows are the owners of private houses and city apartments, but more and more often they also equip industrial and commercial buildings in large cities.
The nuances of the seal
The black seal is made of rubber based on synthetic rubber (EPDM). Additionally, such rubber is tinted with black soot. The exception is the REHAU seal, which is molded from PVC (plasticized).
Plasticized PVC serves as the basis for the gray seal. welded to the profile, making the production process cheaper. Cons: poorly tolerates frost and dubs. At the same time, it can be very difficult to replace it in the future.
The white gasket is made of the latest generation of thermoplastic elastomer. But guessing with its quality can be difficult, since it depends on a specific manufacturer and can vary greatly.
Silicone seals are currently not used in production, as they are very expensive and short-lived. Therefore, the most rational solution would be to opt for black EPDM. It is the most traditional material that has stood the test of time for a long time.
Strengths of triple glazing
- High thermal insulation characteristics - three layers of glass and a double layer between them turn the glass unit into an excellent barrier to cold air from the street. If the chambers between the glass sheets are filled with an inert gas or a mixture of gases, then the insulating characteristics are further increased, since these chemicals conduct heat worse than ordinary air.The gas layer and the presence of absorbent material along the edge of the structure prevent the glass from fogging and freezing even in severe frost.
- Excellent sound insulation is provided with the same design features that allow you to keep warm well. This property is very important for premises in industrial areas of the city or in places of public recreation and festivities, where the noise level often exceeds the safe 65 dB.
- Increased strength and reliability - three layers of impact-resistant glass make the windows resistant to mechanical stress and improve their anti-burglary properties. It is not so easy for intruders to enter an apartment with triple-glazed windows.
- Economy and ability to save comfortable indoor climate. On one or two glass sheets, as a rule, a special metal oxide sputtering is applied, which reflects long infrared rays. The thermal conductivity of the windows decreases even more and the heat loss coefficient decreases to 0.5 units. Windows with triple-glazed windows with spraying perfectly retain heat in winter and protect from heat in summer, allowing you to save on heating and air conditioning.
Additional camera: pros and cons
In the middle zone of the Russian Federation, such double-glazed windows are not particularly in demand, they are rarely used, their serial production is not established. There is practically no information on the test results of such double-glazed windows with specific numbers, but some of their characteristics are undeniable.
When comparing the heat transfer resistance of insulating glass units with a different number of chambers, the figures show that each additional chamber increases this coefficient by about one and a half times.
That is, a three-chamber double-glazed window is definitely warmer, for it this coefficient is at least 0.65 square meters * ⁰С / W, and with an increase in the thickness of the glass, the width of the chambers, the installation of energy-saving glasses filled with inert gas, it can approach unity (0.96).
It should be borne in mind that it is more rational to increase the heat-saving characteristics of a double-glazed unit by installing low-emission glasses and filling, and not by increasing the number of chambers when using conventional air-filled glasses.
The sound-absorbing characteristics of double-glazed windows are also directly proportional to the number of chambers. But, according to the reviews of a few users of windows with three-chamber double-glazed windows, they better detain high-frequency noises, but they still let the train noise through.
Three-chamber double-glazed windows transmit light much worse, therefore they are good for the Arctic, where the climate is harsh, and the level of natural light is still low, so the discomfort associated with the low light transmission capacity of such windows is almost imperceptible.
If the price of two-chamber and single-chamber double-glazed windows does not differ too strikingly, then three-chamber ones are significantly more expensive (in comparison with two-chamber ones - about 50%). This is due not so much to the increased consumption of materials, but to the complication of technology, the use of exclusive equipment, small-scale production - a piece goods are always more expensive.
Such a double-glazed window requires a reinforced profile, the most durable fittings, transportation costs increase, glazing technology becomes more complicated, and the requirements for the qualifications of installers increase.
Three-chamber double-glazed windows are preferable for fixed glazing, the load on the opening sash and fittings is too high.
We have to use frequent window sashes to increase the rigidity of the structure, and this is a decrease in the light opening of the window, which passes through 4 glasses and so little light. In a word, the choice of a three-chamber glass unit will lead to significant hassle and costs.
Disadvantages of three-glass designs
Unfortunately, there are some restrictions on the use of triple glazed windows in residential and commercial buildings.
- Large weight of structures does not always allow them to be installed in old buildings or in temporary buildings with insufficient wall strength. Three layers of thick glass and powerful frame profiles are a serious load even for sturdy concrete walls.
- Triple glazing, as a rule, separated by frames into segments of a small area. In this way, manufacturers achieve high structural strength and increase its reliability. Sometimes this separation reduces the aesthetics of the product and makes it unsuitable for the implementation of the ideas of designers. For ordinary apartments, this feature does not play a critical role, but glazing work on large areas can significantly complicate.
Warm plastic windows for the loggia
For best performance, the insulating glass unit must have a decent frame. Frames and sashes are made of strong and rigid VEKA profile (See: VEKA advantages: strength) with steel reinforcement - they will retain their shape even with strong temperature fluctuations, and will last much longer than windows made of thinner "thin-walled" profiles.
How to choose the type of glass unit
The characteristics of double and triple glazing are quite different, therefore, before choosing one or another type, you need to take into account a number of important factors:
- Requirements for the design.
- Conditions in which the windows will be used.
- Dimensions, quality, thickness and other parameters of glasses and frame profiles.
It is recommended to install windows with triple glazing if:
- Need good insulation... They are suitable for buildings in northern settlements, in regions with variable and unpredictable weather.
- High sound insulation required... For buildings in which living quarters, childcare facilities, hospitals or educational centers are located, it is worth choosing windows with triple glass.
- The premises are on the ground floor or their windows are located opposite busy highways, streets with heavy traffic, noisy courtyards.
- Glazing of the apartments on the upper floors modern high-rise buildings - strong and cold winds at high altitudes require additional thermal insulation.
Double-glazed windows are slightly inferior to triple-glazed analogs in insulating properties, however, they adequately cope with the tasks in the following cases:
- Glazing of buildings in cities and towns with a warm and moderately cold climate.
- Glazed loggias, winter gardens, greenhouses, trade pavilions, entrances.
- Glazing of old buildingsthe walls of which cannot withstand the mass of triple glass units.
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Elimination of condensation
When installing PVC windows, many are faced with the problem of condensation on double-glazed windows. To avoid such a situation, you should consider the following factors:
- A fence for a balcony or loggia must be properly insulated with the arrangement of membrane waterproofing.
- You need to choose frames with double insulation, double-glazed windows should be two-chamber.
- It is recommended to equip special ventilation holes on the frames.
- Hoods should be installed on the balcony space. For more information on how to get rid of condensation on windows, see this video:
Differences in thickness
The thickness of glass in double-glazed windows can be from 4 to 8 mm, depending on whether you install a standard glass unit or order an individual glass unit. Most often, the entire structure is 32 mm wide when it comes to a two-chamber structure. The standard width of a single-chamber window is 18-24 mm.
Thickness may vary by manufacturer.Inexpensive windows usually have a glass thickness of about 3 mm, as this makes their price more affordable. Better manufacturers produce glass with a thickness of 4 mm. Professional expensive windows have a glass thickness of 6-8 mm.
At the same distance from glass to glass, the glass unit that is filled with inert gas will be warmer. Gas not only retains heat better, but also protects the windows from fogging up if the temperature in the room and outside differs sharply.
Have you decided to change the windows? Read our article "How to choose the right plastic window and profile?" Especially for our readers, we have made a rating of manufacturers of plastic profiles, which you will find in the article "All brands of plastic windows - choose your taste!"
You can read how to choose a seal for plastic windows here: https://oknanagoda.com/okna/plastik/furnitura/uplotnitel-dlya-plastikovogo-o.html
