Thermal Insulation is the Feature Most in Demand in Residential Glass

Date: 29 February 2016

A survey of the main window installation businesses in Spain indicates that end users most desire features such as control of solar radiation, acoustic insulation, transparency and luminosity. Thermal insulation is the main concern for consumers when choosing glass for their windows.

This is the main conclusion from a survey conducted by Guardian Industries’ Glass Group in Europe, a manufacturer of high-quality residential, commercial and interior application glass products, and one of the leading window installation companies in Spain. According to the survey, thermal insulation is the top purchase criterion for the majority of those surveyed, followed by control of solar radiation.

Some 76% of respondents ranked thermal insulation as the most-desired feature, followed by the control of solar radiation with 25.5%. Acoustic attenuation, transparency and luminosity each earned 15.7% of the vote. Security and the filtering of ultraviolet rays – features that tend to relate more to commercial glass – appear among the criteria least in demand, with percentages of 10% and 6%, respectively.

The popularity of thermal insulation relates to the demand for achieving high levels of energy efficiency. Users are driven by their desire to reduce emissions in buildings and also lower costs. The latest in glass technology, due to the effects of reinforced thermal insulation, offers the perfect combination of low emissivity and solar radiation control and therefore all the benefits associated with thermal insulation, maximum transparency, acoustic attenuation, safety and lastly, the comfort in residential applications.

In reference to that which installers value most in their glass supplier, the study shows that the quality of glass, with 44% of the vote, surpasses any other criteria. Efficient delivery and exceptional after-sales service, meanwhile, were the other most appreciated qualities, drawing 35% positive responses.

“The latest developments in Guardian, represented among others by Guardian Sun®, respond to the demand by consumers for thermal insulation in both winter and summer, and for high levels of energy efficiency in buildings,” says Mikel Sánchez, director of Guardian Sun program. “We invest a lot of effort in R&D to help cladders and architects fulfil the efficiency criteria required by current legislation.”

Guardian conducted this latest survey through the Guardian Sun website (www.guardiansun.es), using a sample of 200 installers.

About Guardian Industries Corp.:

Guardian is a diversified global manufacturing company headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, with leading positions in float glass and fabricated glass products for commercial, residential and transportation applications; automotive trim; and the distribution of building products. Through its research and development centers (Science & Technology Center for glass and Advanced Development Center for automotive), Guardian is at the forefront of innovation. Its automotive trim group, SRG Global, is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of advanced, high value coatings on plastics. Guardian, its subsidiaries and affiliates employ 17,000 people and operate facilities throughout North America, Europe, South America, Africa, the Middle East and Asia. Visit www.guardian.com.