One decision that you will have to make when you are about to place your order is what glass to use. The type of project will generally dictate what types of glazing will be required although personal preferences such as the level of security, privacy, acoustic and thermal properties should also be considered.
What is a u-value
A U-Value is a calculation of the amount of heat lost through a building material. The value is calculated as heat lost per hour per square metre (W/m2K); a low U-Value therefore indicates a more thermally efficient building material.
Document L (Document J in Scotland) is part of the Government’s Building Regulations. It was revised in April 2002, following the Regulatory Impact Assessment, and controls the acceptable U-Value of your home – in general terms, an average U-Value of 2.0W/m2K is now required.
All new housing and replacement doors and windows must comply with Document L (Document J in Scotland), unless specifically excluded. If you are planning any new building or renovation work, it is always advisable to contact your local planning office for advice on how the building regulations affect you and your project. Although I-D-Systems can offer general help and assistance based on past experience, we are not an authority on the building regulations and are unable to offer professional advice.
For further information click here download PDF file. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has also published an FAQs document that can be found at www.projects.bre.co.uk
I-D-Systems is required to comply with Document L and our standard quotation includes the application of low ‘e’ (emissivity) Pilkington K, which is a hard-coat treatment to the inside of the inner pane that reduces the amount of heat loss through the glass. In addition, an inert argon gas can be added to the cavity between the glass sheets, thereby reducing the U-Value by a further 0.15W/m2K. Should you wish to further reduce heat loss, there are a number of ‘soft-coated’ glass options including Optitherm and I-Plus Laminate that can reduce the centre pane U-Value down to as little as 1.1W/m2K.
Safety glass
The Building Regulations Document N requires that a safety glass complying to BS6206 is used in any full-height moveable glass panel. This is usually toughened or laminated glass.
Toughened glass
As standard, I-D-Systems includes a double-glazed unit comprising of 4mm toughened glass complying with BS6206. The glass has been heat hardened (tempered), increasing its strength over ordinary annealed glass by up five times. There is also an added advantage that, should it break, it would shatter into hundreds of tiny non-sharp fragments. Laminated glass consists of two pieces of glass bonded together with an invisible polyvinyl butyral interlayer membrane forming a sandwich (similar to a car windscreen), making it very strong.
Laminated glass
The benefit of laminated glass is that, if broken, the glass cracks while still remaining attached to the plastic interlayer rather than falling and possibly causing injury; it also provides secure protection from unwanted visitors. In addition, laminated glass reduces bleaching of carpets, curtains and furniture by reducing the amount of ultra-violet rays that penetrate the glass.
Improved visual qualities
Due to the heat-tempering process used, 4mm toughened glass can sometimes suffer a slight visual rippled distortion. Although this is acceptable under British Standards, I-D-Systems recommends using 6mm toughened glass to reduce this distortion or 6.4mm clear laminate to eliminate the distortion altogether.
Custom designs
The choices are endless and only restricted by the limits of your imagination. I-D-Systems can provide all designs, from classic through to contemporary styles. We can also add a touch of elegance to one-off creative designs by incorporating elements such as internal Georgian bars, grid effects, sand-blasted motifs, leaded squares – the list goes on. For further information please visit our glass supplier’s website at www.uniglaze2.co.uk, and look under ‘products’.
Cat flaps
It is possible to have a cat flap fitted into a solid glazed panel by cutting a circular hole into the toughened glass unit or by incorporating a midrail and a solid infill panel below with an integrated cat flap.
Venetian or pleated blinds
Venetian or pleated blinds are available, incorporated inside the sealed double glazed unit. These are very popular, especially on internally opening systems where curtains are not practical.
These integrated blinds can help prevent the build up of excessive heat during the daytime, whilst providing privacy at night. The ingenious magnetic control device which is bonded to the outside of the glass enables the double glazed unit to remain sealed, ensuring a totally dust-free environment and therefore requires no cleaning. The blinds will always look new and be protected from damage, unlike external blind systems. They are available in three colours.
