What is a good U value of glass?

The U-Factor measures how well the window in- sulates. While the U-Factor can take any value, in general for windows it ranges from 0.20 to 1.20. The lower the U-Factor, the better the window insulates.

Is .30 a good U-factor for windows?

For most energy-efficient windows, the U-factor for the entire window assembly is higher than the U-factor at the center of the glass. The best, high-performance, double-pane windows may have a U-factor of 0.30 or lower, indicating that they are very energy-efficient.

Is .29 a good U-factor for windows?

In a cold climate a good U-factor for a window is between 0.17 and 0.39. (That's between R-6 and R-2.5). Lower is better with U-factor--the opposite of R-value, when higher is better.

What is the best U-value for double glazing?

Modern double glazed units use Low Emissivity Glass (Low-E) and argon or krypton gas in the cavity and the best double glazed windows can achieve a U-value in the region of 1.2 W/(m²K).

What is a typical U-value?

Typical values

Solid brick wall: 2 W/(m²K) Cavity wall with no insulation: 1.5 W/(m²K). Insulated wall: 0.18 W/(m²K). Single glazing: 4.8 to 5.8 W/(m²K).

U-Value and Glass Performance

Is 1.2 A good U-value for windows?

', according to Part L1A of current Building Regulations a domestic window installation should achieve a U-value no higher than 1.4 W/m²K*. Typical u values for windows that are double glazed record a U-value of between 1.2 W/m²K and 3.7 W/m²K, while triple glazed windows are usually rated below 1 W/m²K.

What is a good U factor?

While the U-Factor can take any value, in general for windows it ranges from 0.20 to 1.20. The lower the U-Factor, the better the window insulates. The SHGC measures how much of the sun's heat comes through the window. It can range in value from 0 to 1.

Is 28mm double glazing good?

The industry mostly agrees that 14mm to 16mm is perfectly adequate for the majority of circumstances. The 28mm double glazed window is currently marketed as the best option around.

Is 6mm glass better than 4mm?

6mm float glass

Both 4.4 & 6.4mm safety laminate are considerably better for security and safety with the price point being very similar as well. In time gone by it was an upgrade from 4mm in terms of security and noise reduction.

Is 1.6 U-value good?

Low U-Values indicate that a window will perform well in maintaining the indoor temperature of a customer's home. Recently building regulations have changed, meaning that new windows must have a u-Value below 1.6 W/m2k.

How do I lower my U-factor?

Lower U-factor windows hold heat inside the home (during the cold months). The more heat your home holds, the less energy your furnace or other heater uses to keep the interior warm and comfortable. Save you money.

What is a low U-value?

U-values can tell you how well an insulated glass unit (IGU) will hold in heated or cooled air. The lower the number, the better the insulating performance. U-values generally range from 0.1 (very little heat loss) to 1.0 (high heat loss).

What is the U-factor of Pella windows?

A rating based on how much heat is allowed to transfer through the product. The NFRC website states U-factor ratings for fenestration products generally fall between 0.15 and 1.20.

Is Low-E glass worth?

Absolutely! Low-e glass options are definitely worth the investment. For just a few more dollars than standard glass, you get the energy savings and protection from low-e glass. And that little extra cost can pay for itself with the money you'll save on utility bills!

What is the U-value of Low-E glass?

This type of glass is called low-emissivity, or low-e, glass. A double-pane window with a low-e coating has a U-value of about 0.36, which translates to 35 percent less heat gain or loss than conventional double-pane windows.

Which windows have the best U-value?

Put simply, double- and triple-glazing have become the standard of energy-efficient windows. Moreover, the Efficient Windows Collaborative says glazing makes for better insulation performance: double-pane windows can have U-values of 0.3 or even lower, while some triple-pane windows can be as low as 0.15.

What is the best thickness for double glazing?

double glazing grew from an overall thickness of 20mm to 24mm and finally settled on 28mm even though thermally, with either air or argon cavities, 24mm is the optimum size.

Are new double glazed windows more efficient?

The larger gap between the panes of glass on modern double glazing also makes it more effective at keeping out unwanted noise. So, if you find road traffic, loud neighbours or other sources of noise prevent you from winding down when at home, consider upgrading any old windows.

How can you tell if double glazing is good quality?

The longer the guarantee, the more confidence the manufacturer has in their product. Look for at least 10 years. The guarantee should also cover discoloration of the UPVC as well as defective products. If you are asked to make a deposit on order, then you should only do so if an “insurance backed warranty” is on offer.

What is the best thickness for window glass?

The vast majority of residential windows use Single Strength glass which is 3/32” thick. For larger windows, Double Strength, or 1/8” thick glass may be required. For extremely large residential window it may be necessary to use 5/32” or 3/16” thick glass to assure adequate wind-load resistance.

How can you reduce the U-value of glass?

Improving the U-value of windows

Radiated heat transfer can be reduced by using glass with a low-emissivity or low-E coating. Heat loss by conduction and convection can be reduced by replacing the air in the unit cavity with a gas with lower thermal conductivity (generally argon).

Is a lower U-factor better?

Efficient Window Properties

This rate of non-solar heat loss or gain through a whole window assembly is measured in Btu/hr-ft2-°F. The lower the U-factor, the greater a window's resistance to heat flow and the better its insulating value.

What is the U-value of a single glazed window?

The single-glazed window achieves a U-value of 4.8, but it is interesting to note that significant improvements can be made by benign measures such as closing internal shutters, which brings the U-value down to 3.0. Adding secondary glazing can bring it down to 2.9, depending on its design and quality.

Is triple glazing worth it UK?

Triple glazing can help reduce condensation on your windows. Triple glazing offers a significant reduction in noise pollution – so it is ideal for those living in noisy areas. Double glazing can create cold patches in the house, due to the higher u value of windows compared to walls and doors.