Products, Glazing Techniques and Maintenance

SECTION 4
Products, Glazing Techniques and Maintenance
4.10 January 2010
Appearance/Visual Quality Specification for
Insulating Glass Units and Maintenance

Contents 3. Definitions
1. Introduction For the purpose of this Data Sheet the following definitions apply:
2. Scope 3.1 Appearance
3. Definitions The overall effect on the observer when looking at objects through
the IGU.
4. Glass types
3.2 Optical quality
5. Optical Quality
The distortion in the appearance of an object when observed
6. Visual Quality
through the glass.
7. Inherent characteristics of IGUs
3.3 Visual quality
8. Appearance
The effect of faults, e.g. spot, linear extended, etc., on the vision
9. Method of assessment through the glass.
10. Acceptance criteria 3.4 Transparent glass
11. References Glass that transmits light and permits clear vision through it.
Annex A / Annex B 3.5 Textured and translucent glass

1. Introduction Glass that transmits light with varying degrees of light scattering so
that vision is not clear, providing some privacy; or glass that had
The appearance/visual quality of an insulating glass unit (IGU) is been sand blasted or acid etched, or laminated glass with a white
dependent on the following: interlayer making the glass translucent.
• Optical quality of the component glass panes, i.e. distortion 3.6 Insulating glass unit (IGU)
inherent with the production of the glass pane;
An assembly consisting of at least two panes of glass, separated by
• Visual quality of the component glass panes, i.e. one or more spacers, hermetically sealed along the periphery,
number/size/type of defects; Inherent characteristics of an IGU, mechanically stable and durable.
i.e. behaviour of a hermetically sealed body;
3.7 Condensation
• Processing, handling, and glazing techniques.
The presence of moisture and/or other liquid on a glass surface
2. Scope either inside or outside the IGU.
This Data Sheet details all appropriate optical and quality factors of 3.8 Interstitial condensation
the glasses used to manufacture the IGU, that influence the
appearance of an installed IGU. Condensation that occurs within the hermetically sealed cavity of
the IGU.
It should be borne in mind that the major criterion is the view
through the IGU from the inside of a building.This is covered in 3.9 Peripheral condensation
detail within this Data Sheet. Condensation that occurs on the inside, i.e. room surface, of the
However, it is appreciated that the appearance from the outside of IGU around the edge of the unit adjacent to the frame.
the building, i.e. in reflection, can also be important in certain 3.10 External condensation
applications and some non-specific comments are made on
this subject. Condensation that occurs on the external, i.e. outside surface, of
the IGU

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Products, Glazing Techniques and Maintenance Appearance/Visual Quality Specification for Insulating Glass Units and Maintenance

4. Glass types 5. Optical Quality

4.1 General 5.1 General
The IGU manufacturer uses glass panes within the IGU that comply The optical quality of a glass component is the result of the
with other standards as to their optical and visual quality. In general following:
the IGU manufacturer cannot alter these quality characteristics.
• the method of manufacture of the glass component;
During the IGU manufacturing process, and in subsequent handling,
together with
there is a risk that further visual faults, e.g. scratches, scuffs, could be
added to those already present in the components. • the effect of any subsequent processing.
The standards relating to the appropriate glass products will detail 5.2 Basic and special basic glasses
their optical and visual quality appertaining to the individual pane.
The optical quality of transparent glass is entirely dependent on the
4.2 Basic and special basic glasses manufacturing method.
These are annealed glasses that comply with one of the Generally glass made by the float process has less distortion and
following standards: manufacturing faults than drawn sheet glass. Depending on the
specific product, e.g. drawn sheet glass, there may be a number of
BS EN 572 - Parts 2 to 6 or Part 8 classes for optical quality.
BS EN 1748 - 1 - 1
Polished wired glass can be visually as good as float glass, but the
BS EN 1748 - 2 - 1 presence of the wire mesh may affect the optical appearance and it
BS EN 14178 - 1 has its own section within the standards.

Note:Typically annealed soda-lime silicate glass, i.e. BS EN 572 is Cast glass, patterned glass and wired patterned glass are all
used. Specialist glasses are normally used for specific purposes, e.g. textured glasses with varying degrees of light scattering disruption.
fire resistant glazing. These products do not have a specific optical quality.
5.3 Toughened or strengthened glasses
4.3 Toughened, toughened and heat soaked, or
strengthened glasses Thermal toughening and heat strengthening processes may
adversely affect the optical quality of the float or drawn sheet glass
These are annealed glasses that have been thermally or chemically
that is processed.The heating and cooling of the glass during the
treated to modify their strength and breakage characteristics.
process can result in bow, overall and/or local, and/or roller wave
They will comply with one of the following standards:
distortion2 that will reduce the optical quality from that of the
BS EN 1863 - 1 unprocessed glass.
BS EN 12150 - 1 Note:Any lack of flatness with thermally treated glasses can produce problems with
reflected images. See Annex A for an example.
BS EN 12337 - 1
BS EN 13024 - 1 Chemical strengthening is less likely to affect the optical quality of
the unprocessed glass.
BS EN 14179 - 1
5.3.1 Specific effects of thermal treatment process
BS EN 14321 - 1
The process may give rise to a degree of haze, i.e. a cloudy look to
4.4 Laminated glasses the surface, especially at oblique angles of incidence.
These are annealed, toughened or heat strengthened glasses, in any The process may, under some viewing conditions, result in an effect
combination, that have been combined with an interlayer(s) to that is known as anisotropy (iridescence). This is the result of stress
produce a product with modified characteristics. patterns in the cross section of the glass becoming visible.These
These modifications will affect one or more of the following: areas of stress produce a bi-refringent effect in the glass, which is
• post-breakage behaviour visible in polarised light. When viewed in polarised light these areas
show up as coloured zones, sometimes referred to as ‘leopard
• spectrophotometric characteristics spots’.The bi-refrigent effect is more noticeable at glancing angles.
• acoustic characteristics This is not considered as a fault in the glass and is a naturally
occurring phenomenon.
• resistance to penetration
5.4 Laminated glasses
They will comply with the following standards:
The optical quality of laminated glass is dependent on the following:
BS EN ISO 12543 - Parts 1 - 6, and BS EN 14449
• type and number of glass panes
4.5 Coated glasses
• type, thickness and number of interlayer(s)
A glass substrate of any of the above, that either incorporates a
coating within the glass surface or has had a coating applied to the • presence or not of plastics glazing sheet materials
surface.The coatings are designed to modify the • laminating process, e.g. folio, cast in place, etc.
spectrophotometric characteristics of the glass.They will comply
Generally folio lamination processes, i.e. ones using an interlayer
with the following standard:
such as pvb, eva, pvc, have only minor influences on the optical
BS EN 1096 - Parts 1 - 3 quality of the final product. The degree of influence will increase
Products, Glazing Techniques and Maintenance Appearance/Visual Quality Specification for Insulating Glass Units and Maintenance

with more panes of glass and more/thicker interlayers as a result of Generally the visual quality is higher for a transparent glass than for
possible multiple panes of glass each having the potential for an a textured or translucent glass. With textured glasses the light
isolated fault. scattering reduces the visible impact of the faults.Therefore the
greater the degree of light scattering the less likely is it that any
2
Details on allowable bow and how it is measured are given in the
specific fault is visually disturbing.
product standards. Specific details relating to roller wave, including
method of measurement, is given in GGF Data Sheet 4.4. 6.3 Toughened or strengthened glasses
Cast in place laminating is more likely to result in a product that As these products are manufactured from final cut sizes then the
does not have parallel faces, and hence distortions may occur. processing should not alter the basic visual quality of the glass.
Problems may occur with slight discrepancies in uniformity of curing However, the cutting, edge working and toughening/strengthening
of the interlayer that may produce refractive index discrepancies. could impart additional scratches/scuffs onto the glass surface.
These processing faults will affect the visual quality.
5.5 Coated glasses
The thermal treatment process may result in small imprints in the
The optical quality of coated glass is dependent on the following:
surface (‘roller pick-up’).This only applies to horizontally processed
• type of glass substrate glass thicker than 8mm.
• type, thickness and make-up of coating, e.g. single or multilayer, 6.4 Laminated glasses
• coating process, e.g. on-line, off-line, etc The visual quality of laminated glass depends on the following:
Generally the addition of a coating to a glass substrate does not • component glass panes
significantly alter the optical quality.Therefore the optical quality of a
• interlayer type, thickness
coated glass is that of the substrate. Coatings are added to
influence thermal efficiency, solar control, reflective properties, or • laminating process
cleaning attributes, and may change the light transmittance or
• cutting/sawing to final cut size
reflectance of the product.
The manufacture of stock size laminated glass is influenced by the
However, as the majority of coatings work due to thin film
visual quality of the initial stock size glass panes used.These panes
interference effects there can be a perceived change if there is a
will have a visual quality in accordance with the product standards
lack of uniformity in the coating. Similarly these thin coatings can
(see 4.2). The visual quality of the laminated glass may be worse
offer variations in colour that can appear as a lack of uniformity.
than that of any component pane.Therefore the greater number of
Modern low-e coatings on glass may produce a haze, i.e. a cloudy
glass panes within a laminated glass the greater the likely number of
look to the surface, when viewed in oblique lighting (see 8.3).
defects (see BS EN ISO 12543 Part 6).
6.Visual Quality
With selective cutting of finished sizes from stock plate of laminate
6.1 General glass some defects can be avoided in the final product.
The visual quality of a glass component is the result of the Further faults can be introduced during the laminating process due
following: to faults in the interlayer, and entrapment of any contamination
between the layers. Defects can appear as bubbles, opaque spots,
• method of manufacture of the glass component; together with
foreign bodies, and creases in the interlayer.
• effect of any subsequent processing and handling.
Cutting, sawing and edge working can impart scratches etc.
6.2 Basic and special basic glasses The thicker/heavier the laminated glass then the higher is the
probability of increasing the visual defects during these processes.
The visual quality of basic glass products can be found for stock This applies to all glass types.
sizes in the product standards (see 4.2).
6.5 Coated glasses
The visual quality for final cut sizes is given in the product standards
for special basic glasses.The visual quality of basic soda lime silicate The visual quality of coated glass depends on the following:
glass products is given in BS EN 572 Part 8.
• component glass panes
Cutting down of stock plates into final cut sizes, i.e. panes for
• coating type, colour, spectrophotometric properties
further processing, is an opportunity to reduce the number and
size of inherent spot and/or linear extended faults. However, care • coating process
should be taken to ensure that the cutting process does not
• cutting to final cut size
introduce other defects, i.e. scratches.
The presence of a coating on a glass substrate may increase the
The visual quality of textured glasses also depends on the following:
visibility of a spot fault, linear extended fault within the substrate.
• pattern type/depth Similarly faults within and/or on the coating, e.g. pinholes, scratches,
scuffs, non-uniformities, etc., may decrease the visual quality.These
• directionality of the pattern
effects are more pronounced with coatings that are highly coloured
• wire mesh uniformity, squareness, alignment etc. and/or highly reflective.
Quantification of these parameters can be found in the appropriate The likelihood of the visual quality being decreased is dependent
product standards. on the type of coating process and the number of steps involved
within the coating process.
Products, Glazing Techniques and Maintenance Appearance/Visual Quality Specification for Insulating Glass Units and Maintenance

Generally on-line coating is inherently more resistant to scratching, 7.3.1 Brewster’s fringes
etc. than are off-line coatings. Certain ‘soft’ off-line coatings need
The appearance of the optical phenomena known as Brewster’s
special processing, i.e. edge stripping, prior to incorporation into an Fringes is not a defect of the insulating glass unit and can occur
IGU.This abrasion process can also result in decreased visual quality. with any glass of high optical and surface quality, i.e. float glass.This
7. Inherent characteristics of IGUs phenomenon is a result of the high quality now being achieved by
glass manufacturers.
7.1 General
Brewster’s Fringes occur if wavelengths of light meet up with each
An insulating glass unit as defined is a glass product that contains other when they are exactly 180º out of phase.This is an example
hermetically sealed air space(s).The air space(s) are filled with of the phenomena known to physicist as the interference of light.
dehydrated air or other gas, e.g. argon, etc.The IGU is intended to The effect is similar to, although usually much smaller than, the
reduce the rate of heat loss and therefore influence the formation interference fringes that can sometimes be seen on toughened
of condensation (see 7.2). glass windscreens.
7.1.1 Characteristics of the hermetically sealed cavity Brewster’s Fringes occur when the surfaces of the glass are optically
flat and the two panes are parallel to each other, i.e. when the light
The properties of a hermetically sealed cavity are that they will transmission properties of the installation are of a very high order.
change dependent on the following: This phenomenon is not a defect of the product and is solely
• temperature and barometric pressure when the cavity was sealed dependent on the laws of physics.
7.3.2 Newton’s rings
• actual air temperature and barometric pressure
This optical effect only occurs in faulty/defective insulating glass
• temperature of the air or gas within the cavity as a result of units when the two panes of glass are touching or nearly touching
radiation etc. in the centre.The optical effect is a series of concentric coloured
• thickness of the glass rings with the centre being at the point of contact/near contact of
the two panes.The rings are roughly circular or elliptical.
These changes will result in a volume change in the cavity.
This will result in the unit taking up either a concave or convex 7.4 Multiple images
shape.This shape will cause a number of phenomena to become As a result of the number of reflective surfaces (four in an IGU
apparent (see 7.3, 7.4, 7.5). with two glass panes manufactured from monolithic glass) there
exists the likelihood of multiple images being formed. Whist this is
7.2 Condensation
only of minor significance when the observer is looking directly
An IGU is designed to reduce the heat loss through the glazing. through the IGU, i.e. at normal incidence, this will increase
This means that, compared to single glazing, the incidence of considerably as the angle of incidence.
moisture condensing on the room side glass surface is reduced. The presence of other reflective surfaces, e.g. laminated glass,
However, condensation can still occur as follows: coatings, may enhance the phenomena. Also any deflection effect
within the unit may have an influence.
a. Internal condensation can still occur if the glass surface is the
coldest surface in a room and the relative humidity is extremely Annex B will give a diagrammatic representation of the phenomena
high, i.e. in a kitchen, bathroom, etc. with large amounts of resulting from the inherent properties of an insulating glass unit.
steam/moisture present. 7.5 Reflected image
b. Interstitial condensation occurs either when the unit seal has As a result of the hermetically sealed cavity of an IGU the glass will
failed and the cavity is saturated with moisture or when an internal deflect with changes of temperature and pressure.The result of this
component, e.g. Georgian bars, etc., has deteriorated and given off is that in reflection the reflected images can appear separated.
organic solvents. Under both of these conditions the appearance of This will be further exacerbated by the presence of multiple images
that are being displaced different amounts.
condensation on one or both cavity surfaces can occur subject to
the glass surface temperature. The likelihood of this occurrence is dependent on the extent of
the deflection in the IGU as a result of the difference in
c. Peripheral internal condensation occurs with units having low atmospheric temperature and pressure between the manufacturing
U-values and is the result of localised heat flow through the spacer conditions and the service conditions.
of the unit. Using more insulating framing, and/or so-called ‘warm The effect may be more noticeable when reflective coatings are
edge technology’ can help reduce this. incorporated within the IGU.

d. External condensation occurs with units having low U-values. Annex B will give a diagrammatic representation of the phenomena
With the amount of heat being lost through the unit being resulting from the inherent properties of an insulating glass unit.
significantly reduced the outer glass pane can be colder than for 8. Appearance
less well insulated units.
8.1 General
Therefore under localised climatic conditions this can lead to Appearance relates to the limitations that are placed upon the
moisture condensing out of the atmosphere onto the outside insulating glass unit manufacturer.These limitations are as a result of
surface of the unit.This is not a fault, and can be seen as the the following:
product being effective in keeping heat in.
• Incoming glass components,
7.3 Interference phenomena • Specification of the unit,
These are visual phenomena, similar to oil on water, and are the • Inherent properties of the unit, and last but not least,
result of light interference patterns due to the IGU glass panes
deflecting in relation to each other. • Framing and glazing systems.
Products, Glazing Techniques and Maintenance Appearance/Visual Quality Specification for Insulating Glass Units and Maintenance

The perceived appearance of an installed IGU can be adversely 9.2 Inspection

affected by distortions induced by the framing system and the
installation. The IGUs shall be viewed at near normal incidence, i.e. at right
angles, to the glass surface from the room side, standing at a
8.2 Normal incidence distance of not less than 2 metres away from the inner glass
surface for annealed float glass and 3 metres away for all other
The IGU should be viewed at normal incidence, i.e. at 90º to the
glass types e.g laminated or toughened glass.
glass surface.
For IGUs containing transparent glass components the appearance The assessment of visual quality of the panes of glass should be
relates to the vision through. carried out in natural daylight but not in direct sunlight and with no
visible moisture on the surface of the inner or outer glass panes.
For IGUs containing textured or translucent glass components the The use of strong lamps and/or magnifying devices is not allowed.
appearance relates to the visual quality of the textured or
translucent glass component. It is not permissible to find defects at close range and then mark
them so as to be visible from the given viewing distance.
8.3 Oblique incidence Obtrusiveness of faults shall be judged by looking through the glass,
The effects such as multiple images, haze, etc. are inherent not at it.
characteristics of an IGU when viewed at angles of incidence less
10 Acceptance criteria
than 60º to the surface.
10.1
8.4 Reflection
Acceptance criteria relate strictly to the inherent characteristics of
Not generally considered. See Annexes A and B for further an IGU or of the glasses used to make up an IGU, such as:- totally
information. enclosed seeds, bubbles or blisters; hairlines or blobs; and minute
9. Method of assessment embedded particles; and inherent faults and fine scratches on
coated glasses.
9.1 General
IGUs with optical defects such as smears, finger prints or other dirt
The standards for the component glass panes detail the method of on the cavity faces of the glass' or extraneous material inside the
observation and the distance and criteria for acceptance. However, IGU cavity are unacceptable, and this applies also to any such
in an IGU no such recommendations are given in the applicable defects within the 50mm edge zone.
European standard, i.e. BS EN 1279-1.
Insulating glass units shall not be deemed unacceptable for any
As there is no standardised method of assessment this Data Sheet phenomena relating to the inherent characteristics of an IGU with
lays down an appropriate methodology. the exception of ‘Newton’s Rings’ (see 7.3.2.)
Damage caused by following trades after glazing will not be considered 10.2
as a fault of the installer. For example damage can be caused by
impact, scratching, deposit of plaster, cement, etc, and weld spatter and When viewed in accordance with Section 9.2 above the IGU will
spatter from cutting tools. For this reason, viewing IGUs for scratches be deemed acceptable as long as, where appropriate, none of the
or other damage on the outer faces of the panes must be carried out following apply:
before any following trades works adjacent to the glazing, and as early
• there are no defects noticed that are visually disturbing
as reasonably practicable following installation of the IGUs.
• any defects that are noted comply with the visual quality,
9.1.1 Area of IGU to be examined
(see 6), for the glass component
The glass area to be viewed is the entire vision area with the
exception of a 50mm wide band around the whole perimeter of • any visual disturbance, e.g. from roller wave, bow, etc., is within
each of the glass panes. the tolerances given in the appropriate product standard

See Figure 1. • coated glass quality, e.g. pinholes, colour variation, etc. comply
with the appropriate product quality

Edge Zone (50mm edge band) • condensation, internal or external, is not related to a seal failure
• distortion as a result of the framing system or the installation.
Main Zone

Figure 1

This edge zone, in terms of size, is similar to that given for the
determination of coated glass in final cut sizes (see BS EN 1096-1).
Products, Glazing Techniques and Maintenance Appearance/Visual Quality Specification for Insulating Glass Units and Maintenance

11 References BS EN ISO 12543-2: Glass in building – Laminated glass and

laminated safety glass - Part 2: Laminated safety glass
11.1 European and/or national standards
BS EN ISO 12543-3: Glass in building – Laminated glass and
BS 952-1: Glass for glazing – Part 1. Classification
laminated safety glass - Part 3: Laminated glass
BS EN 572-1: Glass in building – Basic soda lime silicate glass
BS EN ISO 12543-4: Glass in building – Laminated glass and
products - Part 1: Definition and general physical and mechanical
laminated safety glass - Part 4:Test methods for durability
properties
BS EN ISO 12543-5: Glass in building – Laminated glass and
BS EN 572-2: Glass in building – Basic soda lime silicate glass
laminated safety glass - Part 5: Dimensions and edge finishing
products - Part 2: Float glass
BS EN ISO 12543-6: Glass in building – Laminated glass and
BS EN 572-3: Glass in building – Basic soda lime silicate glass
laminated safety glass – Part 6:Appearance
products - Part 3: Polished wired glass
11.2 Evaluation of conformity/product standards
BS EN 572-4: Glass in building – Basic soda lime silicate glass
products - Part 4: Drawn sheet glass With the publication of the harmonised European standards, hENs,
the glass components will become available as CE marked
BS EN 572-5: Glass in building – Basic soda lime silicate glass
products.The CE marking will be a declaration that the glass
products - Part 5: Patterned glass
product conforms to the appropriate hEN.
BS EN 572-6: Glass in building – Basic soda lime silicate glass The hENs are as follows:
products - Part 6: Patterned wired glass BS EN 572-8: Glass in
BS EN 572-9: Glass in building – Basic soda lime silicate glass
building – Basic soda lime silicate glass products - Part 8: Supplied
products - Part 9: Evaluation of conformity/Product standard
and final cut sizes
BS EN 1096-4: Glass in building – Coated glass products - Part 4:
BS EN 1096-1: Glass in building – Coated glass products -
Evaluation of conformity/Product standard
Part 1: Description and definitions
BS EN 1279-5: Glass in building – Insulating glass units - Part 5:
BS EN 1096-2 Glass in building – Coated glass products -
Evaluation of conformity/Product standard
Part 2:Test method for the durability of class A, B and S coatings
BS EN 1748-1-2: Glass in building – Special basic product –
BS EN 1096-3: Glass in building – Coated glass products -
Borosilicate glasses - Part 1-2: Evaluation of conformity/Product
Part 3:Test method for the durability of class C and D coatings
standard
BS EN 1279-1: Glass in building – Insulating glass units -
BS EN 1748-2-2: Glass in building Special basic product – Glass
Part 1: Generalities, dimensional tolerances and rules for the system
ceramics Part 2-2: - Evaluation of conformity/Product standard
description
BS EN 1863-2: Glass in building – Heat strengthened soda lime
BS EN 1748-1-1: Glass in building – Special basic product –
silicate glass products - Part 2: Evaluation of conformity/Product
Borosilicate glasses - Part 1-1: Definition and general physical and
standard
mechanical properties
BS EN 12150-2: Glass in building – Thermally toughened soda
BS EN 1748-2-1: Glass in building Special basic product –
lime silicate safety glass products - Part 2: Evaluation of
Glass ceramics Part 2-1: - Definition and general physical and
conformity/Product standard
mechanical properties
BS EN 12337-2: Glass in building – Chemically strengthened
BS EN 1863-1: Glass in building – Heat strengthened soda lime
soda lime silicate glass – Part 2: Evaluation of conformity/Product
silicate glass products - Part 1: Description and definitions
standard
BS EN 12150-1: Glass in building – Thermally toughened soda
BS EN 13024-2: Glass in building – Thermally toughened
lime silicate safety glass products - Part 1: Description and
borosilicate safety glass – Part 2: Evaluation of conformity/Product
definitions
standard
BS EN 12337-1: Glass in building – Chemically strengthened
BS EN 14178–2: Glass in building – Alkaline earth silicate glass
soda lime silicate glass – Part 1: Description and definitions
products – Part 2: Evaluation of conformity/Product standard
BS EN 13024-1: Glass in building – Thermally toughened
BS EN 14179-2: Glass in building – Heat soaked thermally
borosilicate safety glass – Part 1: Description and definitions
toughened soda lime silicate safety glass products – Part 2:
BS EN 14178–1: Glass in building – Alkaline earth silicate glass Evaluation of conformity/Product standard
products – Part 1: Float glass
BS EN 14321-2: Glass in building – Thermally toughened alkaline
BS EN 14179-1: Glass in building – Heat soaked thermally earth silicate safety glass products – Part 2: Evaluation of
toughened soda lime silicate safety glass products – Part 1: conformity/Product standard
Description and definitions
BS EN 14449: Glass in building – Laminated glass and laminated
BS EN 14321-1: Glass in building – Thermally toughened safety glass - Evaluation of conformity/Product standard
alkaline earth silicate safety glass products – Part 1: Description
11.3 GGF data sheets
and definitions
Data Sheet 4.4. Heat treated glasses
BS EN ISO 12543-1: Glass in building – Laminated glass and
laminated safety glass - Part 1: Definitions and description of
component parts
Products, Glazing Techniques and Maintenance Appearance/Visual Quality Specification for Insulating Glass Units and Maintenance

Annex A A1.2 Is one tenth of one degree, 0.1º, significant?

Appearance in reflection YES.This amount of flatness change is equivalent to a deflection
of 0.8mm over a one-metre length.
A1 Problem due to lack of flatness
This should be compared with the allowable deflection limits for
A1.1 General description
framing, i.e. L/125 for single glazing, L/175 for double glazing.
A glass, especially a thermally treated one, can rarely be glazed This would mean for an L of 1 metre deflections of either 8mm
perfectly flat.This is a difficulty with the framing system, glazing for single-glazing or 5.7mm for double-glazing.
system, installation and the inherent flatness of the glass.
Deflections of greater magnitude can occur due to wind-loading.
Imagine a rectilinear feature, e.g. a telegraph pole, some 10 For thermally treated glass, i.e. thermally toughened, heat
metres from a glazed panel.The observer is viewing the feature strengthened, etc., the standards allow overall bows of 2mm/m
by reflection from a similar distance. and local bows of 3mm/300mm.
If the plane of the glazing changes by one tenth of one degree, For insulating glass units the deflection due to
0.1º between two points on its surface, then the viewer will see barometric/temperature effects can be significantly greater than
either two images apparently displaced by 70mm or one image 0.8mm/m.
distorted by this amount.
A1.3 Optical explanation
Figure A1 shows the geometry involved.

Image A

Image Separation
7 cms.

Image B

B
at po int A
A Plane of glass
C
1/10º
Plane of glass at point B
10
m.

Distance A - B 3.5cm.
m.

Point C displaced 0.03mm. from

10

plane through A - B., i.e. equivalent to

a curve in the glass 0.8mm. per m. length.
Pole
Viewer

Figure A1 Explanation of lack of flatness

Products, Glazing Techniques and Maintenance Appearance/Visual Quality Specification for Insulating Glass Units and Maintenance

Annex B For each pane of glass there are two reflected images, a primary
and a secondary image.The primary images result from surfaces 1
Diagrammatic explanation:
and 3 and the secondary images from surfaces 2 and 4,
Phenomena exhibited by IGUs as a result of their inherent (see Figure B2).
properties
B1 Multiple images
B1.1 General
A
When light hits a smooth glass surface; some is transmitted
through, some is reflected and some is absorbed.
It is a law of physics that the angle of incidence is equal to the
angle of reflection.Therefore if the incident ray is at normal Figure B3
A1
incidence, i.e. at right angles to the glass surface then it is reflected
directly back, (see Figure (B1A)). If the incident ray falls obliquely
on the surface then the reflected ray bounces back at the same
angle but on the other side of the perpendicular, Figure B2
(see Figure (B1B)).
Figure B3(A)

B1.3 Influencing factors

The following will increase the spacing
Figure B2
between images:
Figure B1(A) • Increasing glass thickness,
• Increasing cavity width, .
• Decreasing the angle of incidence.
The effects of coatings and body tints are dependent upon their
Figure B1(A) spectrophotometric properties, i.e. transmittance, reflectance,
absorbtance, and their position.
. will enhance the primary image and
Generally body tinted glasses
reduce the secondary image produced by the pane. Coatings will
A enhance the image reflected from the coating.
Figure B3
Figure B1(B) B2 Distorted images .
B2.1 General
When light rays strike a curved glass surface, they reflect in
A1 different directions. However, they will still obey the law that the
angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection.Therefore the
Figure B3(B)
image of an object will be distorted.The curvature of the glass
Figure B1(B) .
surface causes it to act as a lens.
B2.2 Concave curvature
B1.2 Refraction This is when the surface is bowed inwards.
Another law of physics is that when a ray enters a medium of A concave curvature will cause the light rays to be projected
differing density it is bent (refracted). inwards towards a central point.This causes the reflected image
to appear short and thin, (see Figure B3 (A)).
When a ray enters the glass from the air the angle of refraction is
less than the angle of incidence.Therefore when reflected from
the second surface it is displaced with respect to the incident ray.
A
When the ray leaves the glass into the air the angle of refraction B
is greater than the angle of incidence. A A
1
Therefore when leaving the first pane of glass the ray is parallel to B
B
the incident ray but displaced. A 2

A similar situation occurs when the ray meets the second pane.
3

Figure B3(A)

Figure B2
 Figure B3(A)

Products, Glazing Techniques and Maintenance Appearance/Visual Quality Specification for Insulating Glass Units and Maintenance

B2
B2.3 Convex curvature The outcome of having different curvatures on the panes will
result in some images being made smaller/thinner and others
This is when the surface is bowed outwards.
being stretched out.
A convex curvature will cause the light rays to be projected
Note: Figure B4 only examines the first reflection of the light ray.
outwards away from a central point.This causes the reflected
image to be stretched out in all directions, (see Figure B3 (B)) B3 Composite factors
The combination of multiple images, B1,and distorted images, B2,
is extremely difficult to describe.

. What is certain is that nothing can be done to stop

these effects occurring.

(B)

Figure B3(B)
.

B2.4 Curvature in IGUs

When an IGU is subjected to barometric and/or temperature
and/or altitude effects the whole unit will change shape.
If the effects on the unit cause it to shrink inwards then this will
result in pane #1 being concave and pane #2 being convex, (see
Figure B4 – Type (A)). Similarly if the effects on the unit cause it
to swell outwards then this will result in pane #1 being convex
and pane #2 being concave, (see Figure B4 – Type (B)).

Figure B4(A)
Surface 1 - Primary image - shrunk
Surface 3 - Primary image - spreadout

Figure B4(B)
Surface 1 - Primary image - spreadout
Surface 3 - Primary image - shrunk