AGC Flat Glass Launches Unique Active Coating for New Generation Triple Glazing

Date: 23 October 2008

In response to increasing energy prices and alarming environmental threats, Europe launches Planibel Tri. This unique coating specially designed for triple glazing assembly in residential applications, combines comfort and cost efficiency with an eco-friendly footprint.

Up to 10% energy savings

Heating and air conditioning are responsible for 70% of a building’s energy consumption. Therefore, the construction sector has an important role to play in the energy efficiency process. Building on its expertise in high-performance glass, AGC has developed a coated glass which saves up to 10% of the annual energy consumption in residential applications. A cost-efficient solution that is certainly worth the investment.

Optimal living comfort

Planibel Tri creates an optimal living climate in the home and helps control energy costs. Its specially designed coating minimizes thermal loss with a very efficient U value(1). Most importantly, with its high solar factor(2), Planibel Tri optimizes the free natural solar energy flowing through the glass, resulting in the highest energy savings compared to similar products available. This makes Planibel Tri a highly suitable solution for the residential market. Thanks to its excellent energy results, Planibel Tri opens a new door in the low-energy range: the door to sustainability.

In addition, Planibel Tri enhances comfort by letting more light into the home than normal triple glazing. With very low reflection levels and high light transmission, it maintains a superior level of natural light.

Protecting the environment

AGC Flat Glass Europe recently commissioned a comprehensive study(3) to measure the difference between double glazing and triple glazing units and to assess their energy efficiency level in the residential market. This task was contracted to ift Rosenheim(4), one of Europe’s best acknowledged certification institutes for windows and façades in buildings, based in Germany.

Results were calculated for both new builds and renovations (residential):

For new builds

The study(3) shows that by using triple glazing units with a Tri coating, you can save up to 150 litres per year in the consumption of heating oil in a new construction building (compared to Planibel Low E 1.1). Unexpectedly, possible savings increase even up to 200 litres per year in the same circumstances when compared to supposedly more efficient Low E 1.0 glass types because of a loss in free energy gains (solar factor) generally demonstrated by those types of glasses.

For the very same reasons linked to solar factor, triple glazing assemblies with traditional 1.1 or 1.0 coated glass U values reveal a disappointing small difference in heating oil savings compared to double glazing assemblies with the same coatings.

Renovations

When renovating an existing building, savings with Planibel Tri assemblies can go up to 500 litres of heating oil per year (compared to single uncoated glass which is still to be found in a high percentage of houses).

The Tri coating will be presented for the very first time at Glasstec under the slogan “active coating for passive houses”. The ift study will be presented by Mr Rossa(5) during one of Glass Technology Life’s conferences.

So, when using Planibel Tri, you are helping the planet and saving energy and money at the same time.

Planibel TRI will be available from early 2009.

http://www.yourglass.com

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(1) U value: heat dispersion coefficient (represented by the U value): the quantity of heat transmitted (in Watts) through 1m2 of glass to produce a difference of 1 degree Kelvin between the interior and exterior of the building.

(2) Solar factor: the solar factor is the total percentage of energy, i.e. heat that passes through the glass

(3) The whole study is available on http://www.yourglass.com

(4) Glass for Europe has conducted a similar study with the TNO, confirming the added-value of triple glazing with high solar factor

(5) Dipl.-Phys. Michael Rossa - Calculation of Insulating Glass Units in Residential Buildings (Energetische Betrachtung von Mehrscheiben- Isolierglas im privaten Wohnungsbau) - Friday 24 October - Glasstec - Glass Technology Live - Hall 11 - Düsseldorf, Germany

AGC Flat Glass UK, Andrea Marstom, Tel: +44-1788-53-43-05, andrea.marstom@eu.agc-flatglass.com; Leslie Hancock, Leslie Hancock, Tel: +44(0)7831-662-747, lesley@btz-int.com

Distributed by PR Newswire on behalf of AGC Flat Glass