Low-Emissivity Glass: Which Surface Has The Coating?

MATERIALS
PERFORMANCE
LOW-EMISSIVITY GLASS
This new series of articles will look at aspects of the thermal performance of
residential window systems including a variety of glass and glazing types, framing
and the effect of climate. First up is low-emissivity glass.
By John Burgess, BRANZ Senior Sustainability Scientist
L
ow-emissivity (low-E) glass is a type Table 1 shows the typical thermal performance
of glass that has a specialised coating for these window systems in an aluminium
that is able to affect the transfer of heat frame, as extracted from NZS 4218:2009 Thermal
through a glazing system. insulation – Housing and small buildings. typical
location of
Heat is transferred through glazing by: low-emittance
❚❚ conduction Which surface has the coating? coating
❚❚ convection The low-E surface can technically be on any

❚❚ radiation. of the two surfaces of single glazing or on any inside
Standard clear double glazing reduces heat of the four glass surfaces of double glazing.
travelling by conduction and convection – the The location of the coating does not affect outside
majority of heat flow. However, it does little to the R-value, but it does affect the durability of
reduce the small percentage of heat that is the coating and the solar heat gain coefficient
transferred by radiation. This is where a low-E (SHGC).
surface assists. In New Zealand, the low-E coating is usually
placed on the outside facing surface of the
Comparing R-values inner pane in double glazing. This protects Figure 1: Double glazing unit (cutaway).
A low-E surface can improve the window R-value the surface and maximises the passive solar
to about: gains in winter but slightly reduces the ability to coating to the glass while it is in a semi-molten
❚❚ 0.31 m²K/W from 0.26 m²K/W for standard control summer heat gain (see Figure 1). state. The metallic coating becomes part of the
double glazing in an aluminium frame glass surface, rather than being an additional
❚❚ 0.20 m²K/W from 0.15 m²K/W for single Different types of coatings layer, making the coating more durable.
glazing. There are two common types of low-E glass Along with use in double glazing, in specific
coatings – soft coat (sputter-coated) and hard conditions, pyrolitic low-E glass can be used
Table 1: Typical thermal performance coat (pyrolytic). as single glazing with the low-E coating on
of a whole window with the SPUTTER-COATING the inside of the building. This will provide a
selected glazing system (from NZS Sputter-coating is applied after glass has been window R-value of around 0.2 m²K/W, part way
4218:2009). manufactured by depositing a thin metallic between the R-value of a window with normal
Window system Window coating onto the glass surface in a vacuum single clear glass (0.15 m²K/W) and double
R-value chamber. As the coating is not fused into the glazing (0.26 m²K/W) in a typical aluminium
(m²K/W) glass surface, it is susceptible to damage by frame.
Aluminium framed, clear 0.15 oxidation or by scratching. Normal cleaning will not damage or scratch
single glazing Sputter-coated glass is not recommended the pyrolytic coating, but use of abrasive
Aluminium framed, low-E 0.20 for single glazing. It should only be used in cleaners or rough handling may cause damage.
single glazing insulated glass units with the coating facing The hard low-E coating is rougher than uncoated
Aluminium framed, clear 0.26 towards the inside of the units. glass, which can cause objects dragged along
double glazing PYROLYTIC COATING its surface to leave a visible deposit that looks
Aluminium framed, low-E 0.31 Pyrolytic coating is applied during the like a scratch. The mark is usually only a deposit
double glazing manufacture of glass by bonding a metallic from the object and can normally be removed
58 BUILD 123 April/May 2011

with an appropriate solvent or cleaning solution (refer to the manufacturer
for the appropriate product).
Condensation reduces effectiveness

In a cold climate or where there is high indoor humidity, condensation
occurs more readily on the cooler coated surface of single low-E glass than
on the uncoated surface of single glazing. Condensation reduces the effect
of the low-emissivity surface – a pane totally covered with condensation
will be ineffective and have the R-value of normal glass.
Where condensation is likely to occur on the inside of glazing, always
use insulated glass units rather than single-glazed low-E panes.
Place for single-glazed hard-coat low-E

Although double glazing provides better thermal performance than
single-glazed hard-coat low-E panes, there are occasions where double
glazing is not practicable.
In timber doors, for example, single-glazed low-E panes might be the
only option to improve thermal performance, or they may be the only
option when renovating older aluminium windows that do not have enough
sash width to fit double glazing. In this case, designers should work closely
with professional glass companies when deciding between single-glazed
hard-coat low-E glass and insulated glass units.
Soft-coat low-E products should never be used in single glazing.
The next article will look at some other glass performance issues and
explain the solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC).
BUILD 123 April/May 2011 59

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MATERIALS

❚❚ convection The low-E surface can technically be on any

58 BUILD 123 April/May 2011

Condensation reduces effectiveness

Place for single-glazed hard-coat low-E

BUILD 123 April/May 2011 59

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