Life expectancy of Double Glazing
A pane of double (and triple) glazing is referred to as an IGU (Insulating Glass Unit) within the Window & Glass industry.
As with all manufactured products, IGU’s have a foreseeable lifespan. When, under normal use conditions, condensation (fogging) occurs within the space between the panes, the unit is deemed to have reached the end of its useful life. IGU’s typically carry a 10-year warranty and as the purchaser you will expect your glazing to last longer than the warranty period, but you do not, or should not, believe it will last forever, even if well maintained.
With NZ’s diverse climatic conditions, during its life, your IGU is exposed to a range of environmental influences, including temperature and atmospheric pressure fluctuations, wind loads, sunlight / UV light, water, and water vapour and in coastal locations salt laden sea air. In service history both internationally and within in NZ has shown a variety of IGU life expectancies depending not only on these environmental factors, but also on the design of the unit, its installation and how well it is maintained. To ensure the highest probability of a long life for your IGU’s, we recommend you use units supplied by a member of the IGUMA (Insulated Glass Unit Manufacturers Association) and installed in accordance with industry guidelines.