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Acoustic glass windows: when do they work best for sustainable timber homes?

Living in a busy area such as a city centre can mean there is a lot of noise to contend with and so acoustic glass windows are the perfect solution. This noise reduction glass creates a healthy sound environment by absorbing sound energy vibration and keeping homes calm and quiet. Here, we take a detailed look at acoustic double glazing and find out when it works best for sustainable timber windows.

What are acoustic glass windows?

Nine Zero acoustic glass windows are made from two or more layers of glass, with a total thickness of 26.8mm, so they appear to be a single pane of glass. The internal layer is bonded, in order to absorb sound vibrations and the number of panes of glass are tailored to suit the amount of noise reduction required. They have low U-values, which can be as low as 0.8 W/m²K, making them extremely energy efficient too.

Do I need acoustic double glazing?

If the sound of the outdoors is creeping into the indoors, consider installing acoustic glass windows. We underestimate what noise pollution can do, but long-term exposure to it can be a serious health risk. Our windows tend to be the weakest point of our homes, and where the most noise can enter, which is why it is so important to choose the right type of glazing.

If your life is currently disturbed by outside noise and you only have single glazing installed, an upgrade to double glazing might be sufficient to drown it out. However, in particularly noisy areas, acoustic glazing might be the best solution to help block out the sound from outside. Older properties such as a Victorian terrace can find that noise levels are reduced dramatically with the help of acoustic glazing, ensuring levels are even lower than the World Health Organisation recommendations of 55 decibels (dB).

Acoustic glazing reduces the amount of noise pollution entering the building, and how much sound it blocks is its acoustic insulation factor: the higher the number, the more decibels that are blocked from coming through the glass. At Nine Zero, standard double-glazed windows have an acoustic insulation factor of 32dB, whilst our acoustic glazing blocks 39dB of sound.

The other benefits of acoustic double glazing

Combating noise is one thing, but acoustic windows are also very good when it comes to safety. As our acoustic windows include toughened glass, they perform well under impact, ensuring no loose pieces can escape when met with a heavy force, and potential burglars are kept outside.

Acoustic glass is also capable of reducing the amount of UV radiation that enters a space by as much as 99%, ideal to include in things like skylights and roof glazing, as well as normal windows and doors.

Vacuum glazing – super slimline noise reduction

Ultra-slim and lightweight, vacuum glazing also offers exceptional thermal and acoustic performance. Featuring a vacuum-filled unit between two glass panes, instead of traditional gas-filled options, vacuum glazing can meet U-values as low as 0.7 W/m²K.

We offer vacuum glazing from FINEO and HaanGlass at thicknesses of 8.3mm or 6.3mm, with no visible evacuation port and slim edge seals, offering the ultimate in unobstructed views. Our vacuum glazing offers great acoustic performance as low as 35dB.

If noise reduction is a key concern for your property or project, talk to us. Our expert team is ready to advise on which combination of glass is suitable for any of our timber windows or doors.