LowE Basics

The two types of heat are different by their electromagnetic wavelength signatures. Relevant radiation particles that we receive from Type #1 Heat of the Sun are Visible Light, Ultraviolet Light and Infrared. It is the Infrared particles that contain the heat factor. Visible Light and Ultraviolet Light wavelengths are shorter in frequency compared to Infrared wavelengths; however Infrared wavelengths are still longer than all other Type #2 Heat wavelengths.

This is how a single glazed Grey Tinted glass can block high levels of Visible Light, UV and Infrared Heat, but have little effect on Type #2 Heat, in fact the exact same effect that regular single glazed Clear glass offers.

By using Clear glass in a Double Glazed Units (DGU), you affect the conduction properties of the glass for longer wavelength Type #2 Heat by stopping a lot more of the longer wavelength heat from escaping while still allowing shorter wavelength Light and Infrared heat from the Sun to enter inside. It is the encapsulated air gap that allows such performance against Type #2 Heat and this is why a regular DGU with clear glass has significantly better Insulation properties than any single glazed option, including single glazed Hardcoat LowE coated glass. Adding argon gas in that air gap adds further Insulation properties (lower U-Value) by stopping more longer wave Type #2 Heat from passing through and all AGG Insulglass^® IGU products come with argon gas as standard (may exclude some specialised sizes).

This is also how a LowE coated glass in a DGU offers the best options in multiple performances; either a Clear LowE (eg. Insulglass LowE Plus^®) that allows Light and Infrared Heat from the Sun inside but blocks significant levels of Type #2 Heat from escaping – an ideal solution for colder climates.
Or a Solar Control LowE (eg. Insulglass LowE Max^®) that covers all factors, allowing healthy levels of Light to enter inside but blocks significant levels of infrared Heat from the Sun heat from entering, while also stopping significant levels of Type #2 Heat from escaping – an ideal solution for Commercial buildings or Residential buildings in warm-hot climates.

R-A-T

A helpful acronym here is Reflection, Absorption & Transmittance (R-A-T).

When looking at Type #1 Heat from the Sun, this heat travels in one direction, predominantly from the sun to the inside of our buildings via the glazing (the path of least resistance compared to a brick wall). When 100% of the heat reaches the window, instantly some of that heat is Reflected away, of the remaining energy some gets Absorbed by the glass and framing and the rest Transmits all the way through. R + A + T = 100% of the original heat.

When looking at Type #2 Heat generated inside a building on a cold day or night, this heat travels to the window wanting to escape. This heat will also follow the Reflection, Absorption, and eventual Transmittance pattern.

Different glass and different framing material will have different ratios of Reflection and Absorption of heat, which both affect the end Transmittance value. The same window will also have different performances against Type #1 Heat versus Type #2 Heat. The glass type that offers the best values and best balance of both, is LowE coated glass. The frame material type that offers the best values are; Thermally Broken Aluminium, Timber, uPVC or composites using a combination of materials acting as a thermal break.

Tinted glass (eg. Grey Tint) has a higher Absorption of Type #1 Heat compared to regular float glass but has the exact same effect of Type #2 Heat… which is minimal affect.

Clear LowE coatings (eg. Insulglass LowE Plus^®) have better Reflection and Absorption of type #1 Heat compared to regular float glass but is still allows high levels of Transmitted Type #1 Heat from the Sun inside…. And at the same time, it has excellent Reflection of Type #2 Heat for advanced Insulation… which is the desired set of performance for colder climates.

Solar Control LowE coatings (eg. Insulglass LowE Max^®) have a great balance of both Reflection and Absorption of Type #1 Heat… and also significant Reflection of Type #2 Heat making it an ultimate solution and ideal for Commercial buildings and Residential buildings in warm-hot climates.

Two Types of LowE

Hardcoats (HC) and Softcoats (SC).

Hardcoats are Pyrolytic LowE metallic coatings that have been a traditional LowE in the market place. It is applied ‘on-line’ to float glass during the float glass manufacturing via Chemical Vapour Deposition (CVD) which is sprayed on while the glass is still red hot just before the annealing process, becoming embodied and part of the glass material hence the Hardcoat terminology. A Hardcoats key performing metal is Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) and a key benefit of a Hardcoat LowE is that it can be used single glazed with the coating exposed (generally to the inside of the building, protected from the outside elements).

Softcoats are Sputter Coated LowE metallic coatings and applied to float glass via Physical Vapour Deposition (PVD) which is applied to completed float glass production on a separate sputter coating line. Here atomic particles of metals and metal oxides are deposited on the float glass hence the Softcoat terminology. A Softcoats key performing metal is Silver (Ag) which can offer higher performance than a Hardcoat LowE however the Silver requires protection from the environment and so must allows go in an Insulated Glass Unit (IGU) and have its coating protected inside the air gap. Softcoat LowE cannot be used single glazed or have its coating exposed.

Softcoats can be further identified into 3 main types:

• Single Silver
• Double Silver
• Triple Silver
• (Quad Silvers are also being developed)

These refer to how many layers of Silver are in the make-up of the coating. Think of the total layers of a Single Silver Softcoat LowE coating as a club sandwich – the ham in the middle being the Silver layer which is surrounded and protected by other metal oxide layers (the cheese, lettuce, tomato, and bread). These Single Silvers could be around 8-11 atomic layers in total with just the one in the middle being Silver. For a Double Silver, now add another club sandwich on top and you can have around 16-18 layers in total with 2 of them being Silver. For a Triple Silver, now add another club sandwich on top and you can have around 28 layers in total with 3 of them being silver. Note that being at atomic layers, 28 layers in total are still less than 1/1000^th the thickness of human hair.

While Hardcoats offer the best possible performance for any single glazed options, in an IGU a Softcoat will provide more advanced performance as well as better looks. The way Hardcoats are made influence the straightness of the float glass substrate. Being sprayed on while still red hot causes peaks and troughs in the surface of the glass that can see light distractions by the scattering of light causing a haze appearance. Also, if used single glazed then the coating is exposed on the inside of a building and susceptible to touch, scratches and affects from cleaning products. Awareness and care must be taken into consideration when using Hardcoats in single glazed application. Softcoats however are applied onto already manufactured float glass and do not affect the flat surface and with the requirement of an IGU the coating is always inside the air gap, protected from both the outside elements and touch from the inside of buildings.

Benefits of Softcoat LowE

As Softcoat LowE requires an IGU, if you look first at going from monolithic single glazed (eg. 6mm Clear) to a Double Glazed Unit (DGU) you have two foundational benefits being significantly better Insulation and more advanced Acoustic performance. Then by adding a Softcoat LowE we further benefit from:

1. One-off HVAC system savings for new builds (reducing to a less expensive option due to Energy Efficient glass/glazing reducing Heating and Cooling loads)
2. Ongoing Heating cost savings (from reduced Heating loads)
3. Ongoing Cooling cost savings (from reduced Cooling loads)
4. Ability to increase or maintain large sizes without compromising performance
5. Virtually eliminate Internal Condensation forming on the glass
6. Increased Ultraviolet protection from fading factors
7. Add Resale value to the building / attract higher quality tenants if renting
8. Ultimately creating a Happier, Healthier inside with better Comfort levels

Glass Only Performance Values

AGG’s key range of Softcoat LowE Double Glazing:

For further make up options as well as Total System performance linked to frame types, see our Performance Data section.