As is known, 20-35% of the world's energy consumption occurs in buildings. Approximately 30% of heat loss in buildings is caused by windows. For this reason, it is of great importance that the glazing is insulated. Selecting the right components that make up the insulating glass system to reduce heat loss in the curtain wall system (and consequently reduce heating and cooling costs) is crucial for ensuring energy efficiency.

What Is the Situation in Insulated Glass Curtain Wall Systems?

In the design of buildings to be clad with insulated glass curtain wall systems, the level of attention required increases as the building scale expands. This is because maintenance, repair, and operational costs increase in proportion to the scale of the building. Therefore, to reduce potential maintenance, repair, and operating costs of a building, maintain indoor comfort conditions throughout the building's lifecycle, and achieve the intended external appearance, it is necessary to select curtain wall glass systems suitable for the building's intended use and the local climate.

Failing to use the right components under the right production conditions creates several issues. These include an increased thermal transmittance coefficient, condensation of water vapor in the cavity, contamination, evaporation of organic volatile compounds from the paint on the spacer bar, additional pressure on insulating materials damaging insulation properties and thus increasing moisture penetration in the insulating glass, distorted reflections in the glass, and ultimately, the risk of delivering a poor-quality and short-lived product.

The quality of the components forming the insulating glass units in curtain walls (insulating glass unit, laminated glass, fully and semi-tempered glass, solar and thermal control coated glass, aluminum spacer, internal and external sealing materials, etc.) and the correct project-specific combination of these components are essential. To ensure product quality, components must have passed internationally recognized tests. These tests required for material control are carried out as factory production controls and initial type testing.

Our Testing, Audit, and Inspection Services for Curtain Wall Systems

1. Insulating Glass Product Manufacturing

A. Initial Type Testing of Products:

In accordance with the 305/2011/EU CONSTRUCTION PRODUCTS REGULATION, glass and facade system manufacturers must have initial type testing performed by an EU Notified Body for each product type they produce (unique component combination and manufacturing technique) and submit the test reports to the construction company. If these tests have not been conducted, you can obtain testing services from SBG. The required tests are as follows:

• Long-Term Moisture Penetration Test for Insulating Glass (EN 1279-2): This test is performed to check whether moisture penetrates into the cavity through the sealed edges of the insulating glass. Moisture entering the cavity causes the unit to lose its insulating properties and leads to visual deterioration. Specimen specifications: 15 insulating glass specimens measuring 350x500 mm.
• Argon Gas-Filled Glass Test (EN 1279-3): This test verifies the concentration of the noble gas (argon) within the glass unit. The purpose of the gas is to enhance the acoustic and thermal insulation performance of the insulating glass. Specimen specifications: 15 argon gas-filled insulating glass specimens measuring 350×500 mm.
• Fully and Semi-Tempered Glass Initial Type Testing (EN 12150-1 or other relevant standards): The purpose of this test is to confirm the conformity of the glass with relevant standards regarding human health and safety through fragmentation and mechanical strength tests. Specimen specifications: 10 tempered glass specimens measuring 360×1100 mm for each thickness.
• Initial Type Testing for Laminated Glass (EN 12543-4): Moisture Penetration, High Temperature, and Radiation Tests are conducted to determine whether delamination occurs in the PVB interlayer of laminated glass. Specimen specifications: 15 laminated glass specimens measuring 100x300 mm.

B. Examination of Product Reports and Product Identity Assessment:

It must be verified whether the glass manufacturer has conducted fitness-for-purpose tests for all glass components and combinations to be used in the project.

This service involves examining the test reports provided by the glass manufacturer, assessing the conformity of the product's technical specifications with the relevant standards, and verifying whether the ordered product matches the tested sample components and/or whether substitute components are compliant.

C. Factory Production Control:

Factory production control verifies whether the product is manufactured using the correct components and the correct process parameters. It is recommended to be carried out at least once (1) a week for each product combination. Each inspection consists of two stages in total: an on-site Factory Production Process Control audit and in-office reporting activities. The tests required to be performed on samples taken during factory production control are listed below. Some tests and inspections must be performed by an independent, accredited laboratory, while others are carried out during the factory production control itself.