The use of insulated glass as the preferred choice for doors and windows is no coincidence, but rather because it perfectly addresses the core pain points of traditional single-pane glass in terms of sound insulation, thermal insulation, and anti-condensation.
In simple terms, insulated glass is an upgraded product developed to pursue higher levels of comfort, energy efficiency, and environmental friendliness.
Below, I will explain in detail why insulated glass is the preferred choice over other ordinary glass from several key aspects.
I. Core Principle: Structure Determines Performance
Insulated glass (Insulated Glass Unit, IGU) is not a single thick piece of glass but consists of two or three glass panels bonded together using high-strength, high-airtightness composite adhesives and aluminum alloy spacers. A cavity is left between the glass panels, filled with dry air or inert gases (such as argon), and a desiccant is added before the unit is sealed.
This unique “sandwich” structure is the foundation of all its superior performance characteristics.
2. Comparison of Advantages Between Insulated Glass and Other Glass Types
1. Exceptional Thermal Insulation Performance (Key to Energy Efficiency)
This is the core advantage of insulated glass.
Traditional single-pane glass: Glass is an excellent conductor of heat. In winter, indoor heat easily conducts through the glass to the outdoors; in summer, outdoor heat similarly conducts indoors, resulting in extremely high energy consumption for air conditioning and heating.
Insulated glass: The dry air or inert gas in the middle is a poor conductor of heat, effectively blocking heat transfer through conduction and convection. This is like putting a “down jacket” on the window, significantly reducing heat exchange between indoors and outdoors.
Result: Keeps warm in winter and insulates in summer, significantly reducing air conditioning and heating costs, with energy savings of up to 30%-50%. This is also the primary reason why national building energy efficiency standards mandate the use of insulated glass.
2. Excellent sound insulation and noise reduction performance (a guarantee of tranquility)
Traditional single-pane glass: For noise, especially low-frequency noise (such as traffic noise), sound insulation is limited. Sound is a form of vibration, and single-pane glass is prone to resonance and sound transmission.
Insulated glass: Its sound insulation principle primarily utilizes:
Different glass thicknesses: Typically, two glass panes of different thicknesses (e.g., 5mm + 6mm) are used to offset resonance frequencies, effectively reducing mid-to-low-frequency noise.
Air layer: As sound passes through the air layer, its energy is significantly attenuated. The thicker the air layer, the better the sound insulation effect (common thicknesses include 9A, 12A, 15A, etc.).
Injection of inert gases: Gases like argon have a higher density than air, which can further improve sound insulation performance by approximately 10%.
Results: Effectively reduces external noise (such as from roads, squares, or neighbors) by approximately 20-40 decibels, creating a quieter and more comfortable indoor environment.
3. Strong anti-condensation functionality (maintains dryness and clear visibility)
Traditional single-pane glass: In winter or environments with large temperature differences, since the inner surface temperature of the glass is significantly lower than the indoor dew point temperature, indoor water vapor condenses into water droplets (condensation) on the glass surface. These droplets can drip down, wetting the windowsill and walls, and may even cause mold growth.
Insulated glass: Due to its excellent thermal insulation properties, the temperature of the indoor side of the glass is significantly higher than the outdoor temperature, closer to room temperature. As a result, water vapor is less likely to condense on the inner surface of the glass.
Result: Keeps windows dry, maintains clear visibility, prevents mold growth, and protects indoor decor and home health.
4. Enhanced safety
Although insulated glass does not fall under the category of safety glass, its double-layer structure makes it more impact-resistant than single-pane glass of the same thickness. Even if one layer of glass breaks, the fragments are unlikely to fall and injure people, thereby enhancing safety to a certain extent. For higher safety requirements, tempered glass can be used in combination with insulated glass.
Insulated glass achieves a perfect balance in the three areas that most affect the living experience: thermal insulation, sound insulation, and anti-condensation. It is technologically mature and cost-effective, greatly improving building energy efficiency and living comfort, making it the undisputed mainstream choice for modern door and window glass.