in focus secondary glazing
Secondary glazing
Secondary glazing is second best to double glazing,
but it’s cheaper and it can provide good results.
Words Michael Green
Windows are wonderful for transmitting
natural light. The only trouble is they’re also
great at transmitting heat. In a typical insulated
home, windows allow more heat gain and loss
than any other part of the building fabric.
No matter what climate you live in, double
glazing can vastly improve the insulation
performance of your house. There are a few
ways to get double glazing into an existing
dwelling: you can remove and replace the
whole window frame; replace just the glazing
unit; or install some form of secondary glazing
– either a dual window system (an extra glass
window on the inside or outside) or “add-on”
double glazing (an extra pane within the
existing window frame on the inside).
Unfortunately, all these measures can tear
a hole in your hip pocket in the short term
(though you’ll save on active heating and
cooling costs over the long term).
In this article, Sanctuary takes a closer look
at the cheaper end of the scale: dual glazing and
“add-on” double-glazing units.
Double glazing was featured in Sanctuary 10.
You can read the article online at
www.sanctuarymagazine.org.au
But before you open your cheque book at
all, it’s smart to close some other holes around
the home. Maurice Beinat, from household
efficiency specialist ecoMaster – which
produces ecoGlaze “add-on” double glazing –
says windows are normally the third priority.
“Every home is different, but usually the first
port of call is draught proofing. The second one
is sufficient ceiling insulation that’s properly
installed,” he says. “Then the third stage is a
76 SANCTUARY
toss up between secondary glazing, window
coverings and window shading.”
External shading is crucial to prevent
radiant heat transfer through any glass that
gets direct sun in summer. Internal window
coverings such as heavy drapes and pelmets
will help cut down the warmth conducted
through the glass. But Beinat says many
householders aren’t keen on curtains at
all – let alone heavy ones. “If you don’t want
window coverings, secondary glazing is a good
alternative,” he says.
So what should you look for?
Gary Smith, from the Australian Window
Association, says secondary glazing performs
two functions – thermal and acoustic
insulation.
Some products, known as dual window
systems, consist of a whole new window –
with glass and frame – attached to either the
inside or outside of the existing window frame.
They’re available from many companies – see
the AWA website for a list of members in your
state.
“You get some benefit thermally but
they’re usually installed for acoustic reasons,”
Smith says.
For soundproofing, the air space between
the two windows should be at least 100mm;
however, for the best insulation results, the gap
between the panes should be much smaller.
“In an insulated glass unit you need dry,
still air or an inert gas,” Smith says. “The
problem with having a big space is that the air
moves around inside and it reduces the thermal
performance.”
He says the thermal insulation value
provided by double glazing increases with
gaps of 6mm to about 16mm, and then begins
to decline. “When you get up to spaces like
80mm and 100mm, the performance drops off
quickly.”
By way of warning, Smith says would-
be buyers shouldn’t accept claims about a
product’s performance without independent
testing under the Window Energy Rating
Scheme (WERS). “If you can’t compare it,
you’ve got to be careful,” he says.
The other type of secondary glazing system
on the market more readily achieves narrower
gaps, by using magnets to attach an “add-on”
acrylic panel to the existing frame. These
systems include Magnetite, MagicSeal and
ecoGlaze (by ecoMaster).
Adrian Lafleur, from Magnetite, says
high quality seals and materials make all the
difference. “You have to make sure you get an
air-tight seal. As for the frame, PVC or timber
will insulate much better than aluminium,” he
says.
Products are available that will suit most
kinds of windows, and still allow them to be
openable. Maurice Beinat says acrylic panes
work well in retrofitted systems because
they’re light, easy to handle and safer than
glass.
Cleaning, too, is no trouble. “The best way
to clean acrylic is with an antistatic solution
or a mild detergent and a microfibre cloth,” he
says. “Never use ammonia based cleaners like
Windex, because they will make the acrylic go
cloudy.”
Acrylic scratches more readily than glass,
so beware of combining low windows with
pawing pets and toddlers. Mild scratches can
be polished out, or the panels easily replaced.
Would-be buyers shouldn’t
accept claims about a
product’s performance
without independent testing
under the Window Energy
Rating Scheme (WERS).
Although secondary glazing systems are
much cheaper than replacing the windows
altogether, they’re not cheap. Covering your
whole home could cost upwards of $10,000,
depending on the product you choose.
Clear Comfort is a low cost solution. It’s
a kind of plastic wrap stuck onto the frame
and shrunk to fit (see case study on the right).
For just a few hundred dollars and a little DIY
labour, you can double all your windows – but it
won’t last as long as the sturdier systems on the
market.
Another alternative is to replace just the
glazing unit, but this requires a certain level of
know-how, and it’s still not cheap. You can get
started with www.diydoubleglaze.com.au.
RESOURCES
www.awa.org.au
www.wers.net
www.ecoglaze.com.au
www.magicseal.com
www.magnetite.com.au
www.clearcomfort.com.au
CASE STUDY
Two years ago, Adam Tiller applied
Clear Comfort to the southern
and western windows of his 1928
Federation bungalow, and he’s hooked
on the benefits.
“I think it should be compulsory
in every house,” he says. “It eliminates
the cold draught you feel coming off the
bottom of big windows, even when you
have heavy drapes.”
The transparent membrane looks
“like glad wrap” in the roll, but once
installed, it’s hard to see at all. He had
no trouble fitting it to both casement
and double-hung sash windows, with
the help of his partner.
COST COMPARISONS
A typical window is around two
square metres.
Clear Comfort: $198 for a 10 metre
by 1.6 metre roll (about $12 per square
metre), together with tape
and instructions.
ecoGlaze: $300 to $350 per square
metre, but more if the windows are
oversized, oddly shaped or require
scaffolding.
Magnetite: $380 to $420 per square
metre.
in focus secondary glazing
window films
Window films are another option if
you’re retrofitting. They are applied
to the surface of the window: they’re
not a secondary glazing product, so
they won’t provide any convective or
conductive insulative benefits, but
they do reduce heat gain. Films range
from almost transparent to dark grey
and cost between $60 and $100 per
square metre, installed. They also come
with low-e coatings. See the Window
Film Association of Australia and New
Zealand for more information:
www.wfaanz.org.au
D
“Add-on” double glazing,
where an acrylic pane is
attached by magnets inside
an existing window frame.
Photo courtesy MagicSeal
SANCTUARY 77