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Your Guide to Glass in Windows and Doors

BetaView offers a comprehensive range of energy efficient windows and glass products from Viridian in order to provide you with an optimum aluminium window and door solution. In this introductory guide, you’ll learn about how selecting the right glass for your home impacts:

• Overall energy efficiency
• Heat gain in winter and heat reduction in summer
• Lighting levels

You may be surprised to learn about the vast range of glazing options available and the benefits associated with each type.

Glass is an important consideration that can affect:

• Design and aesthetic appearance
• Solar and thermal performance
• Environmental impact
• Acoustic performance
• Safety, comfort and security

Glass can be one of the most complex components of any project. Apart from providing natural light and fresh air it also offers connectivity with exterior views. This page is intended to give you a brief overview of what to consider. We will advise you on the best options in detail at the appropriate time.

Windows and Glazing have a major effect on the energy efficiency and comfort of homes, accounting for:

8%
of the external building fabric

-60%
of heat loss during winter

91%+
of heat gain during summer

Most people normally look for:

1. Natural daylight for a brighter home
2. A comfortable and energy efficient lifestyle
3. Bigger glass openings to ‘bring the outside in’

Understanding Solar Heat Gain and SHGC

Direct and indirect solar radiation causes heat gain through windows regardless of outside temperature. Solar Heat Gain Co-efficient (SHGC) is a measure of how much passing solar radiation can be controlled. In cooler climates, heat gain can be an efficient way to heat the interior. Homes in warmer clients need to deflect this heat to keep the home at a comfortable temperature. Understandably, selecting the right window and glass combination plays a big part in the efficiency of your home.

• Practical SHGC range is ~ 0.2 to 0.8
• The lower the rating, the greater solar control
• Range is +/- 0.05

Understanding thermal conductivity and U-value

Thermal conductivity is the flow of heat through the window. The level of insulation provided by windows and doors (including glass) is measured using U-value. Generally, the better a window or door performs in terms of insulation, the greater comfort you will enjoy in your home, no matter the climate.

• Practical Uw Range is ~ 8.0 to 1.0
• Lower the figure the better insulation

For more information visit the AWA WERS website

Requirements & Standards

As standards continue to become more stringent in both residential and commercial applications, in some cases legal obligations must be adhered to.

BetaView takes pride in staying current with both minimum requirements and best practice advice published by the Australian Window Association, Standards Australia and other professional organisations.

Available Glass Options

Starting at 4mm thickness (min.) our main glazing options include:

• Float
• Laminate
• Toughened
• Clear/Tinted/colour
• Obscured,
• Double-glazed

We are also privileged to be able to offer a range of specialist glazing options from the Viridian range. This includes glass that assists in the solar and thermal control of a building, attenuation of sound transmission and improvement of clarity.

Choosing an Energy Efficient Glass

Combining high performance and enhanced comfort at great value, ComfortPlus™ is available in 4 colours to suit your application; Grey, Green, Neutral and Clear.

• Australasia’s leading low-e performance laminate
• ComfortPlus™ is designed for single glazing to economically manage winter cold and summer heat with good transparency, low reflection and is a Grade A safety glass.
• Summer: Solar control component reduces sun’s heating, glare and UV fading of interior furnishings.
• Winter: Durable low-e coating provides thermal insulation & reduces heat loss by 30% compared to ordinary glass.

Choosing a Noise Reducing Glass

Preventing unwanted noise is often a desirable attribute of new windows. Choosing the correct glass in the application is an important factor. ComfortHush™ from Viridian is a 6.5mm acoustic laminated glass designed to reduce sound transmission and incorporates a Low E (Low Emissivity) coating to provide improved energy efficiency performance.

There are 2 main ways that ComfortHush™ combined with BetaView windows and doors supports a reduction in sound:

1. Reduced vibrations
2. Reduced air leakage

Well Sealed and Professionally Installed Windows

Please note, that if you are seeking window replacement, specifically to reduce sound this should be mentioned during your initial conversations with BetaView. Certain window designs simply do not perform well, even with noise-reducing glass. There are 2 ComfortHush™ options available;

• A unique 3-layer laminate construction, specifically designed to reduce sound transmission, it decreases noise by up to 34%† compared to ordinary 3mm glass.
• Durable Low E coating to help keep a home cooler in summer and warmer in winter.
• Can help achieve 6-star energy ratings for new homes requires by builders and developers
• Grade A Safety glass that also enhances security in a home
• Reduce fading of interior furnishings & finishes by eliminating more than 99% of Ultra Violet (UV) light.