The Role of Insulated Glass During Heavy Rainfall
During heavy rainfall, insulated glass can provide multiple protective functions through its unique structure, effectively enhancing the safety and comfort of buildings. The following are the specific functions and principles:
1. Waterproofing and Leak Prevention
Sealing Advantages:
Insulated glass uses a double-seal process (typically butyl rubber + silicone sealant), ensuring a tight seal along the edges. This effectively blocks rainwater penetration, preventing water leakage inside window frames, wall dampness, or indoor water accumulation caused by heavy rain.
(Ordinary single-pane glass, if installed improperly, is prone to water infiltration through gaps due to wind and rain pressure.)
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2. High wind pressure resistance
Resistance to strong wind impacts:
Heavy rain is often accompanied by strong winds. The double-layer or multi-layer structure of insulated glass (especially tempered insulated glass) has significantly higher bending strength and wind pressure resistance than single-layer glass.
Data comparison: 5mm single-layer glass has a wind pressure resistance of approximately 1.5 kPa, while 5+12A+5mm insulated glass can reach over 3.0 kPa, making it suitable for regions prone to typhoons.
Safety: Even if the outer layer of glass breaks, the inner layer of glass can temporarily maintain structural integrity, reducing the risk of flying debris.
3. Sound insulation and noise reduction
Reduce heavy rain noise:
The air layer (or argon-filled layer) in double-glazed glass effectively blocks high-frequency noise such as heavy rain hitting the glass and howling winds, achieving noise reduction of up to 30-40 decibels.
Comparison: Single-pane glass provides approximately 25 decibels of sound insulation, while 6+12A+6mm double-pane glass can achieve over 35 decibels, significantly enhancing indoor quietness.
4. Prevent condensation and maintain clear visibility
Prevent fogging of glass:
During heavy rain, the outdoor temperature drops sharply. If there is a large temperature difference between indoors and outdoors, condensation is likely to form on the inside of ordinary glass, affecting visibility. The thermal insulation layer of double-glazed glass can reduce the temperature difference between indoors and outdoors, lower the probability of condensation, and ensure the transparency of windows.
5. Comprehensive protection in conjunction with window systems
Coordination with drainage design:
High-quality insulated glass is usually used in conjunction with thermal break aluminum window frames. The window frame is designed with drainage channels so that even if a small amount of rainwater seeps into the sealant gaps, it can be drained through the drainage system, preventing water accumulation and corrosion of the frame.
Precautions
Seal aging issues:
Long-term exposure to sunlight or humid environments may cause the sealant to age. Regular inspections are required (recommended every 5-8 years) to prevent water ingress into the air layer and failure.
Risk of glass spontaneous breakage:
Tempered insulated glass has an extremely low spontaneous breakage rate (approximately 0.3%). During heavy rain, sudden temperature changes may increase the risk. It is recommended to choose laminated insulated glass with an explosion-proof film.
The core value of insulated glass in heavy rain lies in its “sealing and water resistance, wind resistance and safety, and sound insulation and comfort.” It is particularly suitable for buildings in coastal areas with high rainfall, frequent typhoons, or high noise reduction requirements. However, it should be noted that its performance depends on high-quality materials, proper installation, and regular maintenance.