GLASS & SEALED UNITS Extra
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Twenty years ago , the IGU sector embraced an enormous change – now it ’ s time to do so again
» EDGETECH MANAGING DIRECTOR Chris Alderson explores the idea that a new wave of investment in innovation may be required to keep up with legislation .
In 2005 , the UK glazing industry was on the brink of major change , driven by the need to dramatically improve the nation ’ s sustainability . The government ’ s introduction of Energy Performance Certificates and the emergence of Window Energy Ratings spurred IGU manufacturers to embrace cutting-edge tech and push the sector forward .
Currently , we don ’ t know exactly what shape the final Future Homes Standard will take . However , as performance requirements become even more stringent , the industry increasingly seems to be moving towards triple glazing as the most viable way of meeting stricter environmental requirements and consumer demand – and I believe this could be the spur for the next wave of large-scale innovation .
At Edgetech , we ’ re seeing many companies who invested in new machinery twenty years ago approach us about doing the same thing again . They ’ ve seen huge benefits from the Super Spacer ® automation equipment they invested in , which has helped them improve quality , thermal efficiency , and given them two decades of reliable performance .
Over twenty years , technology has progressed tremendously . Today ’ s fully automated Super Spacer ® application lines can make products more quickly , efficiently , and to higher standards than ever before . Importantly , this applies to triple-glazed windows as well as double .
Super Spacer ® has stood the test of time . As performance requirements tighten significantly , Super Spacer ® continues to provide the fantastic energy efficiency the market demands .
By using Super Spacer ® technology , high-speed automated application , and triple-glazing , IGU solutions will be prepared for the net-zero age .
However , to be prepared and to remain competitive for the decade ahead , companies must act now . Lead times on next-generation spacer application machines can be as long as 12 months , and more companies are now looking to acquire them .
To stay ahead of the curve , and be ready for the Future Homes Standard , companies should invest in the future today .
www . edgetechig . co . uk
NEW FEATURE IN THE PERFORMANCE CALCULATOR PROVIDES USERS WITH EMBODIED CARBON VALUES OF GLAZING CONFIGURATIONS
» THE CURRENT GUARDIAN GLASS Performance Calculator is an online tool for modeling the thermal and optical properties of glass substrates , coatings and interlayers . The existing tool is part of Glass Analytics , a comprehensive suite of engineering and analytical tools from Guardian Glass that help demonstrate the benefits of high-performance glass in building facades .
The new Performance Calculator feature provides an estimate of the embodied
CO2 equivalent for a wide number of glazing combinations , as it is available for any float glass , coated glass , laminated and coated laminated glass products produced by Guardian Glass in Europe .
Using the Performance Calculator , the user configures a suitable glazing make-up for their project and can view the corresponding performance data . The glazing can be virtually any construction , ranging from monolithic glass to multiple layers of glass , coatings and interlayers .
In addition to the extensive performance properties generated by the Performance Calculator , the new feature provides an estimate of the embodied CO 2 eq . for the configured glazing ( only for the glass components manufactured by Guardian Glass , not for additional components in the build-up such as spacers or frame ).
Multiple glass configurations and options can be compared , allowing the
user to better understand the impact of , for example , additional layers of glass or the incorporation of a high-performance coating or laminated layers ( where the data is available ). The embodied carbon data is the
CO 2 equivalent in kg per square meter of glass ( CO 2 eq .), emitted during the glass production ( Cradle-to-gate *). The calculation is an estimation based on the material ’ s Embodied Carbon Factor ( ECF ) derived from the Regional Environmental Product Declaration ( EPD ), third-party , independently verified document that communicates transparent information about the lifecycle environmental impacts of a product .
Access to Glass Analytics and the embodied carbon calculator feature is via the Resource Hub on the Guardian Glass website www . guardianglass . com / resource-hub
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