BSI Argon Gas Filling Part 3

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Clayton Glass recently became one of only 18 companies nationally, to hold the BS EN 1279 -3 (long term test method and requirements for gas leakage rate and gas concentration).

Argon filled units have an improvement of 20% in thermal efficiency in clear ‘K’ units.

But what is Argon Gas Fill and why is it so important to achieve new standards?

Argon filling of Insulated Glass Units can improve the thermal efficiency of the unit and thus improve the performance of a whole building, as referred to in the Approved Document L of the Building Regulations. Argon gas is used to reduce heat loss; it increases the ability to insulate. This is because argon gas does not conduct the heat as readily as the air.

Argon gas is a colourless, odourless, non-flammable, non-reactive inert gas. Argon gas fills are used to reduce heat loss in sealed units by slowing down convection inside the air space. Argon gas is extremely cost efficient and works well with low e coated glazing.

Insulation glass without low e coating, is glass that uses air between panes as a primary source of insulation. As air itself is a good insulator, filling the gap between the glass panes with a low conductivity gas such as argon improves window performance by reducing conductive and convective heat transfers. This phenomenon results from the fact that the density of the gas is greater than the density of the air.

The addition of Argon gas into an insulating unit that already contains Pilkington ‘K’ glass will improve the thermal efficiency (reducing the U-Value) by an additional 16% or 20% with a 16 mm or 20 mm spacer bar. Argon is the most commonly used gas fill, due to its excellent thermal performance and cost efficiency in comparison to other gas fills.

Several techniques are used to fill the IG cavity. However, all techniques result in a mixture of gas fill and air. It is generally accepted that the IG unit should achieve an 88% fill gas concentration. In time this concentration will gradually evaporate, at a rate estimated from 0.5 to 1% per year. Recent tests have shown that Clayton Glass units would only lose 9% of its argon within a 25 year period.

A major benefit of filling IGU’s with argon gas is that it is passive; it does not require a switching on process to work; it is a relatively inexpensive option, and it quickly produces heat cost savings that justify its cost.

Over 300 companies in the UK hold BS EN 1297-2 but only 18 companies hold part 3. We are one of them. Even more impressive is that we are only one of very few in the North East who hold this license.