TRIPLE GLAZING TECHNOLOGY
Regency Glass is proud to sponsor the Triple Glazing Technology feature
A NEO CHAPTER FOR LOW-EMISSIVITY GLASS
MIKE BUTTERICK, MARKETING DIRECTOR, SAINT-GOBAIN GLASS
For the UK window and door industry, innovation rarely stands still. Performance targets change, regulations tighten, and customer expectations continue to rise. Our aim is to deliver better thermal performance, good light transmission and clean aesthetics, while keeping products commercially viable.
PLANITHERM ® NEO is the first major low-E product developed since Saint-Gobain Glass invested in new UK manufacturing capabilities, including a furnace in 2021 and a post-consumer cullet processing facility at Eggborough in 2023. These investments have enabled the development of coatings that respond to UK building practices, regulatory pressures and customer preferences. PLANITHERM ® NEO is one outcome of this approach, designed to support both double and triple glazing applications.
A clear direction of travel for the sector is lower U-values. Building Regulations, the Future Homes Standards and other schemes are all pushing windows and doors towards improved thermal performance. For many years, triple glazing has been seen as the main route to very low U-values, but advances in coating technology mean that double-glazed units can also deliver meaningful improvements. PLANITHERM ® NEO is intended to work across both formats. In a typical double-glazed * configuration, it can achieve a centre pane U-value of around 1.0 W / m ² K, while triple-glazed units ** can reach around 0.5 W / m ² K, depending on construction and gas fill.
Thermal performance is only part of the picture. The industry increasingly talks about“ whole window” energy performance rather than U-values alone. Solar gain, light transmission and frame design all play a role in Window Energy Ratings and occupant comfort. Compared with earlier generations of low-E coatings, PLANITHERM ® NEO has been developed to maintain relatively high g-values alongside improved insulation. This balance supports passive solar gain without excessive heat loss, helping fabricators to specify glazing that performs well in our changing climate
Aesthetics are another area where expectations have evolved. Larger glazed areas, slim profiles and contemporary architecture have made glass more visible than ever. Coating colour, reflection and neutrality are no longer minor considerations; they influence how windows and façades are perceived. PLANITHERM ® NEO uses an advanced surface coating designed to deliver a neutral appearance with lower external reflection and high light transmission. In practice, this means the glass is less likely to appear tinted or mirror-like, which can be important in both heritage and modern settings. This can reduce the risk of customer dissatisfaction caused by unexpected colour or reflectivity differences between panes.
From a processing perspective, simplicity matters. Stock management, lead times and consistency of supply are ongoing challenges. PLANITHERM ® NEO has been developed as a single stock product suitable for use in double- and triple-glazed units, in annealed or toughened form. After toughening in accordance with BS EN 12150, the coating maintains its technical and aesthetic characteristics. This can help reduce the number of SKUs required, streamline production planning and support more flexible manufacturing.
PLANITHERM ® NEO incorporates a significant proportion of recycled glass, enabled by our Glass Forever circular economy programme. This programme collects and processes pre- and post-consumer glass, turning old glazing into new float glass without compromising quality or performance. Life Cycle Assessment data and Environmental Product Declarations are published to support transparent
decision-making. As embodied carbon and circularity become more prominent in specifications, particularly in particularly in social housing and commercial projects, access to verified data will be as important as thermal performance figures.
Too often, glazing is treated as a commodity component, despite its influence on comfort, energy use and aesthetics. Educating customers about the role of low-E coatings, solar gain and light transmission can help shift conversations away from price alone. For fabricators and installers, this can support differentiation in a competitive market, particularly as regulatory compliance becomes a baseline rather than a selling point.
As standards continue to rise, glass will remain a key lever for improving window and door performance. Understanding how coatings influence thermal, optical and environmental outcomes will help fabricators and installers make informed choices and communicate value to customers. Innovations such as PLANITHERM ® NEO are part of this broader evolution, demonstrating how advances in coating technology can support the industry’ s technical, commercial and environmental goals.
www. saint-gobain-glass. co. uk / product / planitherm-neo /
* DGU configuration 4mm-16mm-4mm with 90 % argon gas ** TGU configuration 4mm-16mm-4mm-16mm-4mm with argon gas
42 MARCH 2026 CLEARVIEW-UK. COM