The headline of this post was a question that @InternormUK posted on Twitter the other day and it was something that surprised me a bit.
We have only had triple glazing on the UK scene for a few years and that really hasn’t broken into the mainstream yet at all. For many triple glazing has been a product that has been hard to push, both from a pricing point of view and a lack of justification for the consumer to buy it.
The best way to answer the question of if the country is ready for quad glazing is to ask in what scenarios would quad glazing be used. Currently, triple glazing is only being used by the ultra-eco consumer looking to save the very most on energy, or by those living in high noise areas. Currently, all reports suggest that triple glazing is doing a pretty good job in those areas so far. So why the need to go for quadrouple?
In other countries, where the winter climate is far longer and far harsher than ours, say Scandinavia, there is a need for quad glazing to keep the incredibly low temperatures outside. Here however, temperatures do not get to 30 degrees below freezing. Therefore the need for quad glazing due to extreme weather isn’t necessary.
Then there is cost. Consumers are struggling to justify the jump up in price to triple glazing. For many it is in a price bracket simply out of their reach. Quad glazing will be yet another step up from that.
I honestly think that if quad glazing is going to be used, it will be used in very expensive, one-off aluminium architecture and the very grandest of grand design homes. There is absolutely no mass market for quad glazing in the UK right now. There is also very few out there who would be able to manufacture it, other than companies like Internorm of course. If you’re going to sell something, then the infrastructure has to be in place. Currently it is not.
So, in short, no, the UK is not ready for quadrouple glazing.
What a waste of effort. Quad glazing will fail other than for those with more money than sense (and how many of those do we see in these times?) or the ‘I’m more advanced than you’ keeping ahead of the Jones’ types – but even they will be more likely to want to throw their money at something more noticeable like a new car or go faster stripes on their old one. As you say, no need in climate terms here for triple, let alone quadruple glazing. People rarely stretch themselves to pay the price of quality double glazing -opting… Read more »
Triple glazing has been around for decades, not just recently when the saturated PVC market decided it was something new to slide into and grind into worthlessness margins! Quad is a bit OTT for this country’s climate, and wrong for our average window styles, although some would argue that windows will always be a weak point in the envelope, and lowest possible U-values are always important. The problem is, like triple, is how the frames are designed and glazed. When you’ve got such a large exposed area of IGU seal to the rebate, it becomes more and more critical that… Read more »
I’m more concerned that you don’t know how to spell ‘Quadruple’!
Personally it is a waste of time completely, even in Scandinavia. A good triple glazed, alu clad timber unit is more than sufficient in pretty much every scenario. A couple of our suppliers (which are owned by one of the largest window companies in Europe) can offer quad glazing and thus we can, however there is no justification as the triple glazed units are more than up to the job, even on our extremely exposed projects in the Shetlands. We did once have a type of quad glazing unit which had excellent technical performances – as standard Uw= 0.8W/m2K &… Read more »
Ah Ha….looks like an Internorm AT Series door, as Passivhaus consultancy and retailer of energy efficient products i advocate these systems, they are worth while and they are going to become useful in the future! My business only supplies triple glazed windows and doors and we occasionally sell quadruple glazed doors, i think this is being looked at from the wrong angle! What you have to remember is that these systems are deigned for new build energy efficient homes, not existing builds, as architects want to use more and more glass in their buildings u value of windows and doors… Read more »
Have a look at Skaala’s Alfa window. A double double with very good sound insulation.
I will be ordering these for my next project.