Expert information on Pilkington K Glass.

You may wonder how a microscopic coating on a pane of glass can make such a big difference to its performance. This is how it works;

The glass in your windows absorbs heat then radiates it again on the colder, outside, surface. Pilkington K Glass has what is called a low emissivity coating on the surface that faces into the gap of the double glazing unit.

Low emissivity means the coating is a poor radiator. The heat absorbed by the coated glass is inhibited from radiating across the air gap and then from the outer pane to the cold outside world. Instead the heat is reflected back into the room by the coating, which works in a similar way to a sheet of reflecting foil placed behind a central heating radiator bouncing the heat back into the room.

 

 

In recent years a great deal of importance has been placed on how man is damaging the environment, and in particular the harmful effects of 'greenhouse' gases.

By agreeing to the Kyoto Treaty, the Government has committed to take steps to reduce the amount of these gases the UK produces. One of the measures introduced to meet the targets has been a change to the Building Regulations, setting out strict energy efficiency requirements for buildings. Known as 'Part L' in England and Wales and 'Parts J & A' in Scotland, the new regulations affect the majority of replacement windows and windows in new structures fitted after April 20002.

What makes Pilkington K Glass the ideal solution?

The basic thinking behind the new Building Regulations is that by using less heat to keep your home warm, less energy needs to be used - thus lowering the overall levels of greenhouse gases.

Pilkington K Glass keeps your home warmer by reflecting the heat back into the room, rather than letting it escape. And while that has positive benefits for the environment, it also has great benefits for you too.

• The ideal choice to satisfy the latest Government legislation demanding reduced energy consumption.
• Proven to meet all the latest building regulations.
• Makes double glazing as effective as triple glazing.
• Allows you to stay comfortable at a lower thermostat setting, so you save on your heating bills.
• Reduces unsightly internal condensation.
• Allows you to increase the glazed area of a building without increasing heat loss.

Pilkington K Glass, which usually forms the inner pane of a double glazing unit, allows less heat to escape through your windows than ordinary glass - thanks to a special energy saving coating which lets the sun's rays through, but reflects heat from fires and radiators back into your home. Heat which ordinary double glazing allows to escape, ( see diagram below).

                          

Click here to go back to the

Glazing Index