What is a Triple Glazing Spacer

Millions of people across the UK currently have double glazing; in the future many of these people will be looking to upgrade to triple glazing. Triple glazing is being seen as the new form of glazing to help in the crackdown on carbon emissions; while doing this it is also helping people cut down on high energy bills that have become a struggle to pay. The reason that triple glazing is able to provide such benefits is down to the way it is constructed.

People who are familiar with double glazing will know that it is constructed of two panes of glass separated by a spacer which creates an air gap. Triple glazing is constructed in similar way; the difference is that there is an extra sheet of glass and two air gaps separated by a spacer. The term “spacer” is used regularly in describing both double and triple glazing; this article will focus on answering “what is a triple glazing spacer?”

Spacer

The spacer in a triple glazed window is essential in delivering the thermal performance that triple glazing is well known for. Without a spacer to separate the glass and seal the gas space, the window will not be able to provide any heat insulation.

When providing an answer to “what is a triple glazing spacer?” It is important to understand the materials used when making the spacer. Metal was originally used as the material for spacers, these are still present in older double glazing units and manufacturers choose metal with the thought that it would provide more durability. There is a big downside with metal spacers and that is that they conduct heat, doing this meant that metal undermined the ability of a triple glazed window to reduce heat flow. Another problem with metal spacers is that often resulted in ice or water forming at the bottom of the window, this was due to the temperature differences between window and surrounding air, any water forming could lead to the window failing, requiring replacement.

Effectiveness

“What is a triple glazing spacer?” when talking about modern day triple glazing units will lead to a different answer.  Manufacturers realised the detrimental effect that metal spacers were having on windows and have now began to produce spacers that reduce heat transfer through the spacer and increase the insulating properties.  Different materials are now used; foam is a popular material thanks to its low conductivity. Another material that has proved a success in spacers is aluminium. Aluminium can provide a highly structural thermal barrier; it is also a good material for combating condensation which can occur on the surface of the glass.

Noise reduction also has a part to play in answering “what is a triple glazing spacer?” As-well as aiding in thermal performance, spacers can be used to provide characteristics that can dampen noise. This can be beneficial for people who reside in busy areas such as close to schools, or in the line of a flight path.