BS EN 1096 (Parts 1–4)BS EN 410 (Luminous and Solar Characteristics)Approved Document LReviewed Technical Specification
Solar-Control & Selective Low-E Glazing
Magnetron-sputtered microscopic metallic nanocoatings reflecting infrared solar energy while preserving high visual transparency.
Engineering Definition: Float glass coated with off-line magnetron sputtering vapor deposition (MSVD) featuring multiple sub-nanometre silver layers that selectively reflect near-infrared and far-infrared solar radiation while transmitting visible light (BS EN 1096).
Material Construction Matrix
28mm High-Performance Insulating Glass Unit (IGU)
Thermal Transmittance:1.1 W/m²K
Acoustic Reduction:Rw 32 dB
Explode Layers
1
Outer Pane (Surface #1 & #2)(6mm Low-Iron Toughened)
6.0mm
2
Warm-Edge Spacer & Hermetic Seal(Composite Polymer & Butyl)
16.0mm
3
Argon Gas Cavity 90%(Noble Gas Fill)
16.0mm
4
Inner Pane (Surface #3 & #4)(6mm Toughened Low-E Soft Coat)
6.0mm
Physical & Mechanical Performance Characteristics
Safety Class:Supplied annealed or thermally toughened to suit structural wind and thermal stress
Bending Strength:Determined by base glass substrate
Thermal Shock Resistance:High solar absorption requires thermal toughening to eliminate thermal stress fractures
Fracture Behaviour:Determined by base glass substrate (toughened or laminated)
Typical U-Value (Ug):1.0 W/m²K to 1.1 W/m²K (standard argon double glazed unit)
Acoustic Reduction (Rw):Rw 31 dB to Rw 42 dB dependent on configuration
Max Sheet Dimension:Up to 3210mm × 6000mm (jumbo architectural sheets)
Density & Mass:2.50 kg/m² per mm glass thickness
Key Architectural Advantages
- •Drastically reduces commercial solar heat gain (g-value down to 0.28), preventing summer office overheating without dark tinted glass
- •High selectivity: admits pleasant natural daylight (LT 60–70%) while blocking over 70% of infrared solar heat
- •Dual performance: combines solar control with low-emissivity winter heat retention (Ug 1.0 W/m²K)
Critical Engineering Constraints
- •Soft-coat magnetron coatings are delicate and oxidize if exposed to atmosphere; MUST be edge-deleted and sealed inside an IGU cavity
- •Coating orientation is critical: reversing the unit during glazing places coating on incorrect surface, compromising thermal and visual performance
- •High thermal stress differential between shadowed edge and sunlit center demands mandatory thermal stress calculations
Fabrication & Edge Processing Tolerances
Cut After Toughening:PROHIBITED (Catastrophic Fracture)
Heat Soak Testing (HST):Recommended to BS EN 14179
Must be heat treated (temperable coating) in convection furnaces with specialised optical pyrometers.
Architectural Specifier Checklist
Verify these technical criteria prior to contract documentation:
1Specify target Selectivity (Light Transmittance LT % divided by Solar Factor g %).
2Ensure specification mandates edge-deletion (removal of 10–12mm coating border) prior to secondary unit edge sealing.
3Specify base substrate: low-iron (extra clear) float substrate avoids green tint when combined with neutral high-performance coatings.
Frequent Commercial Applications
Network Procurement Routing
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Advanced architectural glazing destination specialising in next-generation high-performance coatings, BIPV (building integrated photovoltaics), and dynamic electrochromic glass.
Recommended Action: Conduct thermal model comparison and consult specialist facade glass fabricators.
Proceed to NEXTGEN.GLASSReviewed by: Senior Facade Physics Engineer, BuyGlass Editorial Panel
Last Standard Verification: 2026-10-30