Currently, thanks to technological progress, manufacturers of plastic windows are ready to provide the end buyer with a large number of a wide variety of models, differing both in design and characteristics.
When choosing a high-quality plastic window, special attention should be paid to the double-glazed window, or more precisely to the number of glasses included in its composition: there are either two or three. Which double glazing should you choose – double or triple? This is one of the main questions, the answer to which the buyer needs to decide before visiting a company selling plastic windows.
In this article we will look at what triple glazing is and its design features. We will also compare its characteristics with a similar product, but containing two glasses - with double glazing.
Design specifics of triple glazed windows
Expert commentary
Vladislav Dobronravov
Leading technical specialist at Okna-Media company
Plastic windows with triple glazing are the best choice when planning glazing for housing located in regions of the country with harsh climatic conditions.
At its core, a triple-glazed window is a light-transmitting block with three glasses installed in a kind of window frame - in a metal-plastic profile. Three glasses of this product form two chambers. Each chamber is responsible for the noise and heat insulation properties of the window as a whole.
Accordingly, the greater the number of chambers in a double-glazed window, the better the window copes with retaining heat in a glazed room. Also, the degree of sound insulation - the level of suppression of noise penetrating into the home from the street - depends on the intimacy of the double-glazed window.
Earlier in the article “Design of a double-glazed window,” we already considered that, in addition to glass, this product includes: frames separating the chambers, as well as a dehumidifier, the task of which is to absorb excess moisture appearing in the chambers. Also, some people pump gas[/anchor] into expensive double-glazed models to provide better heat and sound insulation between the glasses.
Specifications
Apart from the obvious, it will be quite difficult to highlight certain technical characteristics. Design:
- Includes 4 glasses. They can be standard products, coated to reduce transparency, as well as triplexes if high strength is required;
- Forms 3 chambers from 4 glasses. Special small frames are installed between them, which not only hermetically close the chambers, but also hold them in a given shape;
- The dimensions of the profile itself are forced to increase, as well as its thickness, reinforcement and other parameters. This is due to the fact that now they need to hold 4 glasses, and not 2 or 3. And it will not be possible to make this possible without increasing the area;
- The design is temporarily not put into mass production, given its high cost and decreased popularity among customers. Only a few individual enterprises, located, for example, in Siberia, can afford to launch a conveyor. In all other cases, production is based on individual orders, which further increases the price.
Triple glazing thickness
Many people incorrectly calculate the thickness of a double-glazed window if it has three chambers. They carry out the following calculations with standard dimensions:
- 4 glasses, each of which is 4 mm (this is 1.6 cm);
- 3 cameras, each 6 mm (that’s 1.8 cm);
- Total quantity – 3.2 cm.
But such calculations are fundamentally incorrect. The fact is that to achieve results with increased thermal protection and noise insulation, simply making an additional chamber will not work. Inexperienced users are put off by the dimensions and dimensions that are used in the manufacture of 1 and 2 chamber structures. However, this option is a radically new design, so old standards cannot be applied to it.
To really achieve the effect of increased sound and heat insulation, you need to use asymmetrical chambers. Each of them should be of different dimensions. But a distance of 6 mm is the minimum. Therefore, the thickness of the entire structure as a whole will definitely be greater than 3.2 cm, the minimum is 3.5-4 cm. Typically, manufacturers produce products with a thickness of 4-6 cm.
Disadvantages of triple glazing
An example of a triple-glazed window
With all the advantages, these designs have some disadvantages. The main one is the impressive mass of the glass unit. Compared to a single-chamber solution, the two-chamber version weighs 1/3 more (since instead of two glasses, three are used).
This feature must be taken into account, first of all, when planning glazing:
- balcony;
- window openings of a wooden house.
It is no secret that for any structure, be it a loggia or a balcony, there are certain standards regarding the permissible weight load on their base. The loggia, due to its design features, can easily withstand glazing with plastic windows with triple glazing, however, more stringent requirements are imposed on the balcony in this regard.
It is known for certain that the weight load on the base of the Khrushchev balcony should not exceed 400 kg. Therefore, glazing of an external structure with triple-glazed windows in houses of a similar series must be carried out taking into account the future load of the internal space.
Blitz survey: Is it necessary to switch plastic windows to summer/winter mode? From the article you can learn more about the winter and summer modes of plastic windows.
Advantages and disadvantages
Unfortunately, the positive aspects of using a three-chamber double-glazed window are much less than the negative ones. But in some cases, these advantages outweigh all the disadvantages.
Pros and cons of three-chamber double-glazed windows
Increased thermal insulation. In vulnerable areas, it increases by 44% compared to its counterparts, which are equipped with only 2 cameras. Accordingly, for some regions this option is the only possible one, while others are not even considered.
Increased sound insulation properties.
Reducing the likelihood of condensation formation. This has a positive effect on the durability of the entire structure as a whole, since operation in conditions of high humidity is excluded.
Increase in cost. Since it is necessary to use a completely different profile system, which must include non-standard chambers and increased width, much more materials are spent, which also affects the price.
Weight too high. Cannot be installed in old buildings where safety problems may arise.
Exclusively individual production. Considering that such a design is not put on the conveyor, it must be ordered separately, and you must look for a company that will agree to fulfill such a unique order.
Complicated installation. While some consumers will be able to work with 1- and 2-chamber double-glazed windows independently, the installation of a three-chamber structure requires the participation of a specialist.
Load on fittings. This also needs to be taken into account, since the profile itself can retain its original condition, but the fittings will quickly deteriorate during operation.
It should be noted that there is no technical difficulty in manufacturing the corresponding device. Almost every company that produces frames and windows can do the job.
Some fittings that are available as additional equipment cannot always be used with the device, so the functionality cannot be increased.
Glazing types
To choose the right double-glazed window, you first need to decide on the type of glazing. This directly depends on the purpose of the room, its fencing, insulation of the balcony slab, and also what load it can withstand. If the balcony is well equipped and insulated, it is possible to arrange a small winter garden on it. And in case of expanding the square footage of the apartment - a study. Based on this, let’s imagine two types of balcony glazing:
- With a warm type of glazing, two and three-chamber double-glazed windows are used. In order to increase their thermal insulation properties, the space between the chambers is filled with inert gas or rarefied air. The fencing and balcony slabs must be insulated.
- If the balcony is small and its arrangement is of a decorative nature, then a cold type of glazing can be used. In this case, you can use single-chamber double-glazed windows. This is the best option, which provides complete protection from rain, wind and dust. Also, this design is not very heavy and can withstand small balconies, and, most importantly, it has a low cost.
Three-chamber mechanism
This type of double-glazed window is used in northern regions, since at low temperatures it shows the greatest thermal stability. This design consists of 4 glasses and three chambers between them. The thickness of the entire glass unit is 58-60 mm. Triple glass protects against heat loss 50 percent more than double glass. But there is a caveat that at temperatures below 40 degrees this indicator is noticeable, but at warmer temperatures the difference in heat is almost not felt. Three-chamber designs also have disadvantages. With a large glass thickness, the weight increases and the reliability of the fastening decreases. Therefore, it is recommended to divide wide openings into several sections in order to install them as securely as possible. If there is no busy highway or airport outside the window, and the winter temperature is within normal limits, then installing triple-glazed windows will not justify itself.
Nuances of the seal
The black seal is made of rubber, which is based on artificial rubber (EPDM). Additionally, these tires are tinted with black soot. An exception is the REHAU seal, which is cast from PVC (plasticized).
The basis of the gray seal is plasticized PVC, because... welded to the profile, due to which the production process becomes cheaper. Cons: does not tolerate frost well and becomes tanned. However, replacing it in the future can be very difficult.
The white seal consists of the latest generation material – thermoplastic elastomer. But it can be difficult to guess its quality, since it depends on the specific manufacturer and can vary greatly.
Silicone seals are currently not used in production, as they are very expensive and short-lived. Therefore, the most rational solution would be to opt for black EPDM. It is the most traditional material that has long stood the test of time.
Selecting profiles and fittings
It’s better not to select profiles and fittings yourself. These issues must be resolved by specialists who will be involved in manufacturing. First, measurements are taken, then manufacturing is done, and then installation.
But there are some points you can pay attention to:
- If there is a standard profile width (4x4 + 3x6 mm), then all the performance characteristics of a double-glazed window are preserved. The user simply overpays for virtually nothing;
- The asymmetrical arrangement of cameras should be thoughtful and reasoned;
- It is better to use European fittings, preferably German ones, since they are characterized by the highest quality. It is not recommended to buy products with dubious fittings without certificates, since they may not withstand the load, causing the structure to quickly break.
Fittings for structures with three-chamber double-glazed windows
There are no special conditions for the selection of fittings, except that they must be of higher quality to ensure durability. Also, the distance between sections is smaller in order to better distribute the load. Accordingly, if sashes are installed, they will also be narrower than in 1- and 2-chamber structures. If the manufacturer offers three-chamber double-glazed windows with wide sections and sashes, it is better to refuse the purchase.
In some cases, sliding mechanisms are used, which are even better when installing three-chamber double-glazed windows. So, in case of opening, no increase in load is created; it is all distributed along the internal profile. But this option is appropriate if a relatively wide profile is being made, and not a regular window with 2-3 sections.
