As well an understanding of the processes required for the manufacture of double glazing, students will need to have a thorough education in its benefits if they are to engage in and benefit fully from manufacturing courses. So not only will they learn specifics about manufacture, such as the way sizing and surfaces are calculated and named – surface 1 (outward-facing pane), surface 2 (inside of outside pane), surface 3 (outside of inside pane) and surface 4 (inside surface of inside pane) – they will also have an understanding about the insulating gas between panes and the advantages of any solar gain for a property.
There have been many recent improvements to double glazed units, such as the use of non-metal materials for the spacers between panes to minimize heat loss, airflow and condensation – but one of the main changes has been in the public awareness of the benefits of efficient windows. These days glass doesn’t just let in light; it is likely to comprise the most efficient vertical area on the face of any property. Manufacturing courses in double glazing should certainly emphasize these aspects in order to disseminate information more broadly across the population. The double-glazing manufacturer has a significant message to promote and one that’s welcomed by the consumer.
During manufacture, glass panes are washed to be optically clear, and this is another important point to be stressed in any manufacturing course: this clarity is essential for efficiency – even though property owners may not be so exacting when their windows are in place! The manufacturing course should give the student a real interest in double glazing as a beneficial product for tackling climate change by cutting the requirements for energy use within a property. The student should be encouraged to take an interest in thermal performance – for example, most sealed units achieve maximum insulating values using a gas space of 16–19mm, and not many people know that!