Dear Christina,

, Letters

Dear Christina,
I must support architect Anthony Collins comments about the unacceptable lifespan of sealed double-glazed units. All have had to be replaced once on my own roof extension built in 1990 and some are now in need of replacement for the second time. Single glazing as we know has effectively an indefinite lifespan and glass is a high energy-input product. The requirement for frequent replacement must largely negate the energy saving benefits of sealed double-glazing units. There was a Pilkington system called ‘Glas-to-glas’ available in the sixities where a single sheet of glass was bent double and then ‘welded’ around the edges, and the whole of  Erno Goldfinger’s 31-storey tower block Trellick Tower (built 1968-72) was glazed with this product, and as far as I know there have been no significant failures. Of course the units had a cavity of perhaps only 6-8mm, and I remember being told the system was only viable with large numbers of units the same size, but maybe it is an example of a double glazing system with a lifespan rivalling that of single glazing and not reliant on short-life and vulnerable sealants. Secondary glazing has been standard in large parts of northern and eatern Europe for generations.

James Dunnett

James Dunnett Architects
142 Barnsbury Road London N1 0ER
tel 020 7833 3451

 

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