Also known as Double Glazing, are thermal insulating glass units that consist of glass sheets (Double or Triple), separated by desiccant-filled aluminum spacer and sealed with special sealants, which serve the purpose of keeping buildings’ interior cool in the summer, and warm in the winter by reducing heat gain or loss, depending on the region’s climate and chosen IGU configuration (see below).
Mansour Glass aims to spread awareness on the cost-benefit analysis of IG units and their suitability in an energy-expensive country like Jordan. the benefits of IGUs include:
- Reduce heat loss/ gain.
- Reduce energy bills.
- Reduce solar glare
- Provide safety and security
- Reduces noise
- Provides a comfortable interior atmosphere
- Reduce condensation.
- Block harmful UV radiation.
Mansour provides high performance insulating products with the best optical qualities combined with aesthetic enhancements that ultimately delivers exceptional comfort, lowered energy bills, and dazzling designs.
IG units can be fabricated in combination with other products such as laminated glass, bent tempered glass, custom fabricated glass, to provide a wide array of configurations to serve the performance and design required by architects and designers.
Components
1. Monolithic Glass ( See Monolithic Glass section, See Low-E coatings section on improving IG performance)
2. Primary Seal: polyisobutylene (PIB), is an adhesive sealant applied to the side of the spacer against the glass sheet, which acts as a barrier to prevent moisture from entering into the space inside the unit.
3. Secondary Seal: Strong Adhesives which holds the IGU together and restricts the spreading of moisture into the unit and gas (Argon, if used instead of air or vacuum) permeation out of the unit.
- Exposed Edges: Silicone Sealant Silicone seal provides a strong and durable seal that protects the unit against long term exposure to UV, temperature extremes and harsh atmospheric conditions, a requirement for structural glass wall applications.
- Hidden Edges: Polysulphide Sealant is used for interior IGUs, it is more suitable for especially when argon gas is used as it has lower gas permeability than Silicone, but unsuitable in exterior application due to its vulnerability to UV light.
4. Spacer: A malleable, hollow aluminum spacer placed within the unit to separate the two (or more) Glass sheets apart, leaving an air/ vacuum space between them, and filled with a desiccant.
Minimum spacer width, or thickness, is 6mm and goes up until 20mm. The bigger the spacer width, the bigger the gap between the glass sheets, and hence the greater thermal insulation.
5. Desiccants: Absorbs and removes humidity from the airspace to prevent condensation inside the inner sides of the glass sheets.
6. Internal gap: the medium that plays the biggest part in thermal insulation, which may be either of the following options, listed in ascending order of thermal insulation and price:
- Air
- Inert gas, most commonly Argon
- Vacuum
Configurations:
1. Basic
a configuration consisting of 2 single panes of glass with a spacer and a hermetically sealed air space. This provides twice the thermal insulation, regardless whether the single glass units are coated or not.
2. Bent Double
Architects and designers find incorporating bent tempered glass into insulated units a great option that provides flexibility and creativity in designs while providing high performing insulation properties. The fabrication of bent glass and bent IG units present significant challenges, but Mansour has the expertise to consult on the available options and engineering capabilities that would fit the needs of your project.
3. Laminated IG Units
These glass units provide considerable combined features of safety, security, thermal insulation, solar insulation, accoustic insulation, UV protection and aesthetic enhancements.
Highly recommended for skylights and overhead glazing. These units have the following sub-configurations.
A. External Laminated IGU
an IGU with a laminated external unit. This configuration is most suitable in applications where the exterior is exposed to dangerous human presence when broken, such as in overhead glazing, or in hurricane prone cities where the chances of flying debris is possible.
B. Interior Laminated IGU
an IGU with a laminated internal unit.
C. Double Laminated IGU
an IGU with both a laminated internal and external unit.. This configuration is often selected when improved Outdoor-Indoor Transmission Class ( a standard of sound transmission) acoustic performance is desired such as in schools, universities, governmental buildings and more.This configuration provides all the benefits of laminated and IG units with full safety standards on both sides of the unit.
D. Triple Insulating IGU
Most commonly made using 3 sheets of single glass separated by hermetically sealed spaces. This configuration provides more than triple thermal insulation strength in comparison to single glass. It is used when a significantly low U-value performance is required.
Customizations
Point-support system Architects and designers are increasingly conscious in using traditional-framed IGUs, as they need to compromise on the desired design and performance of the facade.
Frameless point supported glass facades use support systems such as spider fittings, glass fins, or cable trusses, to allow the following benefits:
– Greater transparency, allowing more natural light in.
– More contemporary exterior and interior look.
– Higher performance and aesthetics by using Low-E glass and silk-screen printing patterns with a continuous design.
This customization is most suitable in building applications such as offices, museums, airports and showrooms
Georgian Bars For Applications such as windows and door panels, georgian bars with a variety of sizes, colors and styles may be inserted within the IG unit cavity (minimum 12mm) in order to add style and elegance that blends in perfectly with the frame in which the IGU unit is installed.
Silk-Screen printing (See Silk screen printing)
Stained Glass (See Stained glass)