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Selecting The Right Glass
Glass plays a unique and important role in building design and the environment.
Glass affects design, appearance, thermal performance and occupant comfort.
The selection of the right glass is a crucial component of the design process. Windows are a fundamental and uniquely powerful design element of a home.
More than any other component, windows set the tone of your home by providing views, ventilation, daylight and a sense of spaciousness.
Window Glazing Types
Glazing refers to the layers of glass that are sealed in a frame to make up a window. Traditionally, single glazing, with just one pane of glass in the frame, was used. Today, double glazing, with two layers of glass - or even triple glazing, with three layers - is increasingly popular because it reduces the amount of heat lost through windows and helps increase the energy efficiency of your home.
YouTubeHow double and triple glazing works
A single pane of glass offers very poor insulation, leading to a lot of heat lost through the glass in winter. Double or triple glazing traps air between two (or three) panes of glass, which by comparison to single glazing has twice the heat loss of double glazing.
Heat loss can be further reduced by coating one or more panes with transparent Low Emissivity (Low E) coating, which reflects the heat back into the room.
Thermally efficient window frames also help prevent heat loss and are ideally teamed with double or triple glazing. Other special glass treatments can be used in double or triple glazing for safety, security or fire resistance, or to match your decor.
Acoustic performance
- Add in Laminated glass panel - optional sound stop upgrade
UV Reduction
- Add in Laminated glass panel
Solar heat
- Add a tint
- Use a Low - E
Single glazing
A single pane of glass provides very poor insulation because glass is a good conductor of heat. Much of the heat in your room literally goes out the window.
Double glazing
Install double glazing and you have a layer of air trapped between two panes of glass. Because air is a poor conductor of heat, much less heat is lost through the window. If the inside of one pane has Low E coating, even less heat is lost, because the coating reflects heat back into the room.
Triple glazing
Install triple glazing and you have a layer of air trapped between three panes of glass. Because air is a poor conductor of heat, much less heat is lost through the window. If the inside of one pane has Low E coating, even less heat is lost, because the coating reflects heat back into the room.
Why choose double or triple glazing?
- Reduces condensation foaming on Glass
- Keeps you warm in winter, cool in summer
- Reduces energy bills
- Replaces thermal drapes
- Reduces noise
- Requires minimal maintenance
- Improves security
- Upgrades and adds value to your home
In double glazing, the air between the two panes of glass acts like an insulating ‘blanket’ - storing heat and releasing it slowly
to help you control the temperature of your home. As the name suggests, triple glazing has three panes of glass, adding an
extra insulating layer for additional warmth. It is most often used in colder climates, such as in the South Island. For new builds, double or triple glazing can help you meet the requirements for energy efficiency in line with The New Zealand Building Code requirement for new residential construction.
CHOOSING THE RIGHT DOUBLE OR TRIPLE GLAZING
For most homes in New Zealand, double glazing will be enough to significantly improve comfort and warmth and increase energy efficiency. Triple glazing is likely to be of most benefit to people in the coldest parts of the country or where noise pollution is an issue.
Thermal performance
Thermal performance measures the effectiveness of glazing in reducing heat loss. This measure is called a U value and can
provide a useful guide to the difference double or triple glazing could make in your home.
The higher the U value, the less energy efficient the window is, meaning more heat is lost. The U value of a single-glazed window can be 5 or higher, while a triple-glazed window could have a U
value of less than 1.
This chart compares single glazing with double glazing (with and without a Low E coating) and shows just how effective these
different forms of insulation can be.
Another useful measure of energy efficiency is our WEERS (Window Energy Efficiency Rating System) which rates the actual
energy efficiency of the windows you purchase for your home.
- CDG = Clear Double Glazed
- A LE DG = Argon Filled, Low-E coating, Double Glazed
KEY FACTS
- Single, double or triple glazing refers to the number of panes of glass that are sealed in a frame to make up a window.
- Double or triple glazing has a layer of insulating air, or other gas, between panes that acts in a similar way to a fibreglass batt in a wall. It reduces heat loss from windows and increases comfort and warmth.
- Other benefits of double or triple glazing can include lower energy bills and reduced noise.
- A Low-E glass coating can further boost the benefits of double or triple glazing.
- Thermal performance measures effectiveness of glazing and shows the difference double and triple glazing can make to improving the energy efficiency of your home.
Residential
The ALTI™ Composite system is a combined aluminium & timber window and door system. On the exterior, it utilises the proven performance of aluminium joinery and design, on the interior, it utilised the thermal performance and character appeal of timber.
As a product, wood satisfies the senses – it is soft, possesses a natural appearance, and is warm to touch. ALTI™ draws from the timber characteristics of nature, beauty, craftsmanship, quality, and permanence. It combines this with the practicality and low maintenance benefits of Aluminium.
All products are tested to comply with New Zealand Standard NZS4211.
Selected for most family homes, performs well up to a very high wind zone, it boasts modern aesthetics and practical functionality.
The Pacific Residential Suite is ideal for most homes. It provides windows and doors fit for application, presenting quality solutions and cost efficient ways to achieve increased indoor/outdoor flow.
The window unit sizes for the Pacific Residential Suite can be up to 2.4m high and have robust sliding panels weighing up to 150kg. It accommodates up to 25mm double glazed unit capacity and has a sleek flush profile.
The Pacific Thermal System can add up to 50%* more thermal efficiency to what double glazing alone can provide. This is achieved through a thermally broken frame, unlike standard aluminium joinery which is highly conductive the frame has a nylon thermal barrier which prevents heat transfer and considerably reduces the chance of condensation, thus keeping the inside of your home warmer, drier and more comfortable.
Smartfit™ is a ready-to-fit cassette window system. The windows and doors arrive with built-in head flashings, jamb flashings, cavity closers, end dams, sill support bars and clever water management features.
You no longer need to worry about internal tapes, PEF rods or expanding foams. So there’s less onsite materials, waste and handling, saving you time and money.
All you need to do is place the window in the hole and screw into position through an outer fixing fin.
At the end of the day, you can close in a house much faster, and get onto other jobs sooner.
(*available from specific branches – contact us for details)
The AllSeasons™ system is a residential aluminium joinery range that has a thermal break built into the design. In essence the thermal break reduces the thermal transference of cold or heat through the frame. This in turn reduces the energy required to heat or cool a home.
Specified for grand homes, edgy architecture, extreme locations, super weights, and is ideal for integration into commercial applications.
This product system is capable of reaching up to 3.2m in height, or higher depending on unit type and application. The suite well exceeds the extreme wind zone requirement.
The system integrates seamlessly with our other product suites, including the Flush Glaze and Shop Front ranges, to ensure a flawless architectural result.
Preferred for larger family homes, exhibiting high quality, architecturally designed and difficult locations. It complements well chosen materials, fixtures and fittings and can easily handle big units with vast glazing expanses.
The unit heights here can be up to 2.8m, or higher depending on unit type and application, and the minimum wind zone rating for any product is extreme.
The Pacific Architectural Suite is also ideal for low level commercial application such as schools or medium density housing projects from terraced houses to apartments.
Curtain Wall Systems can be used where the design of a building requires the glazing span two or more floors of a façade to create the impression of a continuous wall of glass. This can be done both vertically and horizontally on the outside of the structure thereby maximizing the internal floor area.
Today’s buildings are designed with consideration for environmental, functional and occupational features. The resulting designs often have requirements for partial or full screening of building facades.
The WeatherTight™ system has been designed to provide an affordable solution for residential joinery and addresses many of the inherent design flaws associated with older joinery that contributed to leaking buildings.
The 41Architectural™ system is a residential and Architectural aluminium joinery range that is based on the AllSeasons™ system profile. It offers the same square face design, structural strength and the Altus proprietary connection systems, but without the thermal break.
The SovereignSeries™ Architectural system has been designed to provide residential and commercial solutions for homes, baches, apartments and commercial buildings. SovereignSeries™ is a high performance residential system which exceeds the performance levels of standard residential product through clever design including more substantial frame, sash and mullion profiles.
New Zealand homeowners seeking high quality uPVC window and door solutions.
Altus Window Systems seek to deliver the best solution for your home.
uPVC is a specialist product system available nationwide through specific fabricators. For more information, please contact your local fabricator from the list below;
- Fisher Windows Marlbrough
- Rylock Nelson
- Nulook Canterbury
- Rylock Canterbury
- Vistalite Canterbury
- Vistalite Ashburton (Murray Smith Aluminium)
- Rylock Otago
- Vistalite Invercargill (Lewis Windows)
Commercial
The Pacific Thermal System can add up to 50%* more thermal efficiency to what double glazing alone can provide. This is achieved through a thermally broken frame, unlike standard aluminium joinery which is highly conductive the frame has a nylon thermal barrier which prevents heat transfer and considerably reduces the chance of condensation, thus keeping the inside of your home warmer, drier and more comfortable.
Specified for grand homes, edgy architecture, extreme locations, super weights, and is ideal for integration into commercial applications.
This product system is capable of reaching up to 3.2m in height, or higher depending on unit type and application. The suite well exceeds the extreme wind zone requirement.
The system integrates seamlessly with our other product suites, including the Flush Glaze and Shop Front ranges, to ensure a flawless architectural result.
Curtain Wall Systems can be used where the design of a building requires the glazing span two or more floors of a façade to create the impression of a continuous wall of glass. This can be done both vertically and horizontally on the outside of the structure thereby maximizing the internal floor area.
Already New Zealand’s leading solution for glass curtain walls, the highly versatile Flushglaze range is now available in greater depths (106mm, 136mm, 159mm), giving superior strength and meaning increased spans can be accommodated before a larger base size is required.
Today’s buildings are designed with consideration for environmental, functional and occupational features. The resulting designs often have requirements for partial or full screening of building facades.
Ideally suited to ground floor applications, our Shopfront system is now available at a new depth of 106mm, meaning increased spans can be accommodated before a larger base size is required.
Roof Glaze Systems are specifically designed for overhead applications such as canopies, verandahs, atriums, barrel vaults, and domes. Suitable for all commercial buildings including hotels, hospitals, schools, and shopping centres, glazing bars can be used to provide natural light within a building, create an aesthetic feature, or provide protection from the elements in the form of a canopy outside the building. We have a range of systems designed for specific uses.
Architectural
The ALTI™ Composite system is a combined aluminium & timber window and door system. On the exterior, it utilises the proven performance of aluminium joinery and design, on the interior, it utilised the thermal performance and character appeal of timber.
As a product, wood satisfies the senses – it is soft, possesses a natural appearance, and is warm to touch. ALTI™ draws from the timber characteristics of nature, beauty, craftsmanship, quality, and permanence. It combines this with the practicality and low maintenance benefits of Aluminium.
All products are tested to comply with New Zealand Standard NZS4211.
Selected for most family homes, performs well up to a very high wind zone, it boasts modern aesthetics and practical functionality.
The Pacific Residential Suite is ideal for most homes. It provides windows and doors fit for application, presenting quality solutions and cost efficient ways to achieve increased indoor/outdoor flow.
The window unit sizes for the Pacific Residential Suite can be up to 2.4m high and have robust sliding panels weighing up to 150kg. It accommodates up to 25mm double glazed unit capacity and has a sleek flush profile.
The Pacific Thermal System can add up to 50%* more thermal efficiency to what double glazing alone can provide. This is achieved through a thermally broken frame, unlike standard aluminium joinery which is highly conductive the frame has a nylon thermal barrier which prevents heat transfer and considerably reduces the chance of condensation, thus keeping the inside of your home warmer, drier and more comfortable.
Smartfit™ is a ready-to-fit cassette window system. The windows and doors arrive with built-in head flashings, jamb flashings, cavity closers, end dams, sill support bars and clever water management features.
You no longer need to worry about internal tapes, PEF rods or expanding foams. So there’s less onsite materials, waste and handling, saving you time and money.
All you need to do is place the window in the hole and screw into position through an outer fixing fin.
At the end of the day, you can close in a house much faster, and get onto other jobs sooner.
(*available from specific branches – contact us for details)
The AllSeasons™ system is a residential aluminium joinery range that has a thermal break built into the design. In essence the thermal break reduces the thermal transference of cold or heat through the frame. This in turn reduces the energy required to heat or cool a home.
Specified for grand homes, edgy architecture, extreme locations, super weights, and is ideal for integration into commercial applications.
This product system is capable of reaching up to 3.2m in height, or higher depending on unit type and application. The suite well exceeds the extreme wind zone requirement.
The system integrates seamlessly with our other product suites, including the Flush Glaze and Shop Front ranges, to ensure a flawless architectural result.
Preferred for larger family homes, exhibiting high quality, architecturally designed and difficult locations. It complements well chosen materials, fixtures and fittings and can easily handle big units with vast glazing expanses.
The unit heights here can be up to 2.8m, or higher depending on unit type and application, and the minimum wind zone rating for any product is extreme.
The Pacific Architectural Suite is also ideal for low level commercial application such as schools or medium density housing projects from terraced houses to apartments.
Curtain Wall Systems can be used where the design of a building requires the glazing span two or more floors of a façade to create the impression of a continuous wall of glass. This can be done both vertically and horizontally on the outside of the structure thereby maximizing the internal floor area.
Today’s buildings are designed with consideration for environmental, functional and occupational features. The resulting designs often have requirements for partial or full screening of building facades.
The 41Architectural™ system is a residential and Architectural aluminium joinery range that is based on the AllSeasons™ system profile. It offers the same square face design, structural strength and the Altus proprietary connection systems, but without the thermal break.
New Zealand homeowners seeking high quality uPVC window and door solutions.
Altus Window Systems seek to deliver the best solution for your home.
uPVC is a specialist product system available nationwide through specific fabricators. For more information, please contact your local fabricator from the list below;
- Fisher Windows Marlbrough
- Rylock Nelson
- Nulook Canterbury
- Rylock Canterbury
- Vistalite Canterbury
- Vistalite Ashburton (Murray Smith Aluminium)
- Rylock Otago
- Vistalite Invercargill (Lewis Windows)
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