Why do window buyers and architects love TOP N+ glass?

Double-glazed windows are one of the main components of wooden windows, because the additional capabilities and versatility of your window depend on it. First of all, the quality of the glass is of great importance. When manufacturing wooden windows, we give preference exclusively to expensive materials and components, therefore we cooperate with companies such as Guardian and Euroglass, which have been directly supplying high-quality glass products to our production for many years.

Guardian Industries is a global leader in the glass industry, being the largest manufacturer of solar control and energy-saving glass. All Guardian products undergo strict quality control, and thanks to the unique Silacoat treatment, glass is protected from scratches and any other environmental influences. One of the most popular types of Guardian products is architectural glass, which we use in facade glazing. Thanks to the special coating, it has high reflective characteristics. Particularly popular are SunGuard glasses, which combine high sun protection and energy-saving characteristics, and are also the embodiment of functionality and aesthetics.

Euroglass is the largest European glass company, which is equipped with high-tech equipment that allows the creation of unique premium products: building and structural double-glazed windows, double-glazed windows of complex geometric shapes, float glass (tinted, curved, tempered, low-emissivity), glass of various colors and thicknesses, triplex glass and much more. Glass from Euroglass has a high degree of noise insulation and sun protection, and can also be bulletproof and explosion-resistant, meeting the highest safety requirements.

Additional functions and properties of glass

The choice of the type of glass for a window structure should be approached depending on the individual characteristics of the room, climatic conditions and many other factors. Your window will be able to perform absolutely any function (sun protection, energy saving, sound insulation, etc.), or combine several useful properties at once, ensuring maximum comfort in the room.

Benefits of TOP N+ for architects

With the advent of i-glass, it became possible to build skyscrapers not only beautiful, but also warm, reducing heating bills. But for such buildings, in addition to heat conservation, other properties that the improved TOP N+ glass has are also important:

1. High light transmittance.

• Natural light in a room contributes to people’s well-being and mood;
• About 50% of the heat enters the room with natural light;
• A lack of natural light leads to increased costs for artificial lighting, which means increased energy bills;
• Artificial lighting negatively affects vision.

Photo: a person feels comfortable in a bright roomTOP N+ can be produced on the basis of Crystalvision glass - coated glass with high light transmittance of 91%. In this version with TOP N+ glass, the rooms are always bright and comfortable, which means you will have to use artificial lighting less often. This is especially true for large non-residential real estate objects - office and shopping centers.

2. Neutrality of color without shades . Classic I-glass, produced on the basis of standard float, has greenish or bluish tints, depending on the manufacturer. TOP N+, produced on the basis of coated Crystalvision glass with 100% color rendition, has the most neutral shade.

Photo: glass without tints makes objects airy and light. Coated glass makes buildings more transparent, airy, blurring the boundaries between the external and internal environments. The architectural appearance of objects becomes more elegant and noble.

Photo: glass with 100% color rendering conveys natural colors. Glass makes it possible to fully enjoy the picture outside the window without discomfort to the eyes. All these advantages allow architects to seamlessly use TOP N+ in the design of modern buildings.

Energy saving

Optimal level of energy saving

Single-chamber double-glazed window with low-emissivity Top N+® glass and argon filling. Distance bar - Profilglass.

Formula: 6 - 14 Ar - 4 Top N+

Increased energy savings

Double-chamber double-glazed window with multifunctional glass, energy-saving Top N+® coating, filled with inert gas.

Formula: 4 - 14 Ar - 4 - 14 Ar - 4 Top N+

Maximum energy saving level

Guardian glass with low-emissivity Top N+® coating on the inside and outside of the glass unit.

Formula: 4 Top N+ - 14 - 4 - 14 - 4 Top N+

Increase in the cost of window construction: from 2% to 4%

Disadvantages of TOP N+

The disadvantages of TOP N+ glass are common to classic I-glass.

1. Light transmittance is 9% lower (based on standard float glass) than regular float glass, but this is not noticeable to the human eye.
2. Less effective than multifunctional glass .
3. More expensive than ordinary glass by 200 rubles per 1 sq. m. on a regular basis and 300 rubles on a coated basis, but cheaper than multifunctional glass.
4. Has a tint if produced using regular float glass.

Noise insulation

Optimal sound insulation

This is achieved due to the presence of spacers of different diameters in the glass unit.

Formula: 6 - 14 - 4 Top N+ - 12 - 4

High noise insulation

Triplex laminated glass from Euroglass provides first-class sound insulation and guarantees a high degree of strength.

Formula: 8 Top N+ - 14 - 4 - 12 - 4 Top N+

Maximum noise reduction level

Use of glass made using Stratophone® technology, Stopray Neo® magnetron coating.

Formula: 8 - 16 Ar - 4 - 14 - 6

Increase in the cost of window construction: from 6% to 45%

Safety

Optimal level of security

Using laminated triplex glass.

Formula: 8 – 12 Ar – 4 – 12 Ar – 4

Increased security

Thanks to Stratobel® technology, a combination of multiple layers of glass and composite film, an enhanced level of security is provided.

Formula: 8 Tr – 16 Ar – 4 – 12 Ar – 6

Maximum level of security

Thanks to the use of two glasses made using Stratophone® technology (a combination of several layers of glass), safety class B2 is ensured.

Formula: 8 Tr – 12 Ar – 8 Tr – 12 Ar – 6

Increase in the cost of window construction: from 10% to 60%

Sun protection

Optimal sun protection

Single-chamber double-glazed window with special multifunctional glass, energy-saving coating and Stopray Neo® coating.

Formula: 6 Stopray Neo - 14 Ar - 4

Increased sun protection

Double-glazed window with special SunGuard glass.

Formula: 8 - 14 Ar - 4 - 14 Ar - 4 Top N+

Maximum level of sun protection

SunGuard glass with a special Stopray Neo® coating, thanks to which the window delays solar radiation and prevents overheating of the room, while transmitting visible light. The window also has high thermal insulation properties.

Formula: 4 Stopray Neo - 14 Ar - 4 - 14 Ar - 4

Increase in the cost of window construction: from 2% to 35%

Double-glazed windows

Double-glazed windows are currently the most common method of installing window glass in a PVC profile frame. It is a hermetically sealed connection of two or three glasses into a single structure. Using hollow aluminum frames glued with butyl hot melt adhesive and filled with a desiccant, a fixed distance between the panes is ensured. The structure is filled with dried air or inert gas and is completely sealed.

The common belief that there is a vacuum inside a double-glazed window is a misconception. When trying to vacuum such a package, the plane-parallel glass would inevitably be deformed into the glass unit under the influence of atmospheric pressure - and the tightness of the structure would inevitably be broken.

Two glasses, sealed around the perimeter, form a chamber. Depending on the number of chambers, double-glazed windows are divided into single-chamber (2 glasses) and double-chamber (3 glasses). The additional chamber increases the heat and sound insulation qualities of the double-glazed window, but at the same time it has a large mass and puts a greater load on the hinges and fittings. When choosing fittings for your windows, keep in mind that the heavier the double-glazed window, the higher the requirements for the quality of fittings.

A single-chamber double-glazed window has the formula 4-16-4 (two glasses 4 mm thick and a spacer of 16 mm between them, respectively, the total thickness of the double-glazed window is 24 mm). This double-glazed window has a reduced heat transfer resistance coefficient of 0.32 m2°C/W, and reduces the external noise level by approximately 34 dB. Water vapor can concentrate on the surface of a double-glazed window even at an outside temperature of -8°C. According to SNiP II-3-79* “Building Heat Engineering”, such a double-glazed window can be used in administrative buildings or can be installed in those windows that open onto already glazed balconies and loggias.

A double-chamber double-glazed window can have a symmetrical or asymmetrical formula - i.e. The distance between the glass of different chambers may vary, and glass of different thicknesses can be used. has a reduced heat transfer resistance coefficient of 0.47 m2°C/W. and reduces the external noise level by approximately 37 dB. In this case (provided that the indoor air humidity is normal - up to 50%), condensation can form only at an outside temperature of 25 degrees Celsius. For better sound insulation, glass of various thicknesses can be used as part of a double-glazed window. So, replacing 4 mm outer glass with 6 mm glass will reduce noise by another 2-4 dB.

The thermal insulation qualities of windows can be significantly improved by using one of the glasses in the package as energy-saving.

Energy-saving glass (i-glass) TopN.

In order to give our windows high thermal insulation qualities, we use high-quality thermal insulating low-emission glass Planibel Top N in double-glazed windows. This material consists of polished Planibel glass and a special Top N coating containing silver ions, applied on one side by vacuum spraying and capable of “reflect” thermal energy back into the room.

As a result, when adding energy-saving glass, a double-glazed window is obtained with a heat transfer resistance of about 0.68 m2°C/W (with one energy-saving glass, which is 44% warmer than a conventional double-glazed window) or 0.8 m2°C/W (with two energy-saving glasses, which is 70% warmer than a conventional double-glazed window).

In rooms with high humidity, a double-glazed window with low-emissivity glass will begin to fog up from the inside of the room at a much lower outside temperature than the same double-glazed window made of ordinary glass.

In terms of noise insulation, a double-glazed window with i-glass does not differ from a conventional single-chamber double-glazed window. A double-chamber double-glazed window reduces the level of external noise by 38-40 dB.

Multifunctional glass Guardian Climaguard Solar.

ClimaGuard Solar is a neutral-colored glass with a low-e coating that allows you to achieve exceptionally high thermal insulation and energy savings at any time of the year .

The use of ClimaGuard Solar glass in winter allows you to achieve significant savings on heating, and in summer it reduces the penetration of solar energy into the room by almost 2 times (compared to a conventional double-glazed window). A coating of five layers of silver and other metals applied to the surface of the glass creates the effect of a transparent filter that transmits visible light, but significantly reduces the penetration of solar heat into the house in summer and heat loss in winter.

Sun protection in summer: СimaGuard® Solar selectively transmits or reflects electromagnetic waves of different lengths that make up solar radiation: most of the infrared radiation that would heat the room is reflected, while light passes through such glass in almost the same way as through ordinary glass . Thus, about 58% of thermal energy does not get inside thanks to ClimaGuard Solar glass, which allows significant savings on air conditioning costs.

In cold weather, glass helps keep the room warm. The silver coating on ClimaGuard" Solar glass reflects long-wave thermal radiation, for example from heating devices, into the room, preventing it from escaping outside.

NON-STANDARD TYPES OF GLASS UNITS

Some architectural solutions may require choosing a double-glazed window taking into account its aesthetic qualities. Decorative layouts (shpros) can be inserted inside the package. For the same purpose, special decorative strips can be glued to the outside of the glass unit. The color and shape of such planks can be selected in accordance with design requirements.

In addition, we produce translucent structures of any shape - round, arched, triangular and broken. Also, if necessary, it is possible to cover glass with decorative and strengthening films in a wide range of colors.

Some important tips for choosing double-glazed windows

• It is not recommended to use double-glazed windows with a distance between the glass panes of more than 20mm - this is wasted money. A further increase in this distance only reduces the thermal insulation of the double-glazed window, while at the same time increasing the cost.
• In windows facing the street, it is undesirable to install double-glazed windows with a heat transfer resistance coefficient R of less than 0.45 m2°C/W. This requirement is met by double-chamber double-glazed windows with a thickness of 32 mm with ordinary glass or single-chamber double-glazed windows with a thickness of 24 mm and one energy-saving glass such as TopN or ClimaGuard Solar.
• If you have non-standard sizes of double-glazed windows, please take into account that the maximum dimensions of the double-glazed window in width and height should not exceed 3.2 × 3.0 m. For example, with large sizes of double-glazed windows and a narrow distance between the glasses, their deformation may occur, i.e. e. When the temperature decreases and the volume of air inside the glass unit decreases, the glass will connect with each other. The consequences of glass deformation are its destruction and depressurization of the glass unit. Likewise, small-sized double-glazed windows can collapse in winter, when, with a decrease in the volume of air inside the chamber, the glass is not able to bend along the short side. Considering all these possible troubles, it is better to entrust the dimensions to professionals who can calculate wind loads and take into account changes in ambient temperature and pressure.
• When choosing a double-glazed window with colored glass, know that colored glass is installed only on the outside of the double-glazed window and must be strengthened. Colored glass is installed outside so that in summer it is cooled by outside air. If the glass is installed inside a room where there is no natural air movement, then in the summer it will heat up and increase the air temperature inside. When glass heats up, the likelihood of its destruction increases due to thermal expansion and temperature changes. To cool the glass and air, you will have to increase the power of the air conditioner.
• Double-glazed windows can be installed at an outside temperature of at least minus 15°C. The indoor air temperature in the premises during the winter construction period should not be lower than +5°C.

Additional properties of glass also include:

Glass transparency:

Super clear special glass SunGuard Neutral from Guardian is used. Increase in glazing cost: from 3% to 7%

Tinting:

Various colors and degrees of tint. Tinting is created during the manufacturing process - pigment is added to the glass mass. Increase in glazing cost: from 3% to 6%

Scratch resistance:

Diamond Guard glass, thanks to its special coating, is 10 times less susceptible to mechanical damage, and its hardness is close to diamond. Increase in glazing cost: from 10%

Fireproof glass:

From EuroGlass it consists of several sheets of glass with layers of fire-resistant gel. In the event of a fire, the gel changes its physical properties, and the glass becomes a reliable opaque barrier in the path of fire. Increase in glazing cost: from 30%

Self-cleaning glass:

Innovative glass with anti-condensation functions and special LM Dry coating from Guardian. This glass is used for glazing residential buildings, office or public buildings. It is also recommended for glazing of roof windows, winter gardens, skylights, and in places where a triple joint is used. Increase in glazing cost: from 7%

“Warm” windows - unique glass with electric heating

Thanks to a special transparent coating based on oxides of various metals, Thermo Glass can serve as an additional heating system in the house. The surface temperature varies from 5 to 55°C and is set using a thermostat. In addition, this glass is particularly durable.

Application area

When choosing glass and double-glazed windows, it is very important to take into account the characteristics of the room where your window will be located.

“Warm” balcony (indoors)

In this case, profile 90 is used. Multifunctional ClimaGuard® Solar glass is installed outside the structure, which will protect the room from overheating in the summer and retain heat in the winter. At the same time, it has excellent light transmittance. Energy-saving ClimaGuard® N glass with a special low-emission silver-based coating is installed on the inside.

“Warm” balcony (separate)

Profile 78 is installed. The double-glazed window design contains two energy-saving glasses. The inside is filled with argon, which provides additional thermal insulation.

Windows in the apartment

For glazing windows in an apartment, it is best to use profile 78. One of the glasses in the double-glazed window is energy-saving, with a one-sided multi-layer low-emissivity coating.

Windows on the freeway

In case of increased noise level, for example, if the windows face a road with heavy traffic, the double-glazed window design uses 90 profile and special triplex glass (on the outside).

Windows onto a noisy street

For effective sound insulation, a 78 window profile, a double-glazed window with thickened glass and chambers of different widths are used.

Windows in the cottage

The best option for glazing a cottage or country house would be profile 78. For large structures, the window thickness should be increased to 90 mm, as this significantly increases the strength and reliability of the connections, as well as the permissible weight loads. Either SunGuard solar-protective architectural glass or ClimaGuard® Solar multifunctional glass is used, which combines several useful properties at once : Energy saving, UV protection, self-cleaning and impact resistance.

Shop windows

For effective protection against any type of burglary (hammer blows, axes, sledgehammers and similar elements), especially strong impact-resistant glass of protection class B1 or B2 is used. Impact-resistant windows can withstand more than 30-50 blows from an ax or other heavy object.

Advantages of TOP N+ for private consumers

This group of consumers requires the advantages of classic i-glass, implemented in TOP N+:

1. High heat saving.

I-glass effectively reduces heat loss, reflecting heat from heating devices into the room more than 80% more efficiently than usual. Regular float glass protects from bad weather and precipitation, but allows up to 40% of heat to pass through.

Thermal efficiency of windows with different glass in a double-glazed unit*Source: WINDOWS MEDIA*0% – a conditional starting point for comparison

Replacing one ordinary glass in a 2-chamber double-glazed unit with I-glass allows you to improve the heat saving of a window by almost 40%, and of 2 glasses by 60%.

2. Warm glass without “tears”. One of the main problems of modern windows is condensation on the glass indoors in cold weather. The temperature of the glass decreases, and it fogs up, and puddles appear on the windowsill (the windows “cry”).

Photo: condensation on the glass from the room side is one of the main problems of modern windows