Phase 2 of IGMA gas permeability research project underway

Officials of the Insulating Glass Manufacturers Alliance, with U.S. offices in Chicago, announced the continuation of the “Performance Sustainability of Insulating Glass Units: Development of a Test Protocol for Argon Permeability through Insulating Glass Units.” The multi‐phase project is currently in Phase 2: “The Evaluation of the Gas Permeability of Edge Seal Assemblies," which will result in a new test cell design for the industry.

“IGMA undertook this project, which is of interest to the IG fabricators but also manufacturers of fenestration products for both the residential and commercial markets," said Margaret Webb, executive director, in a release. "With energy codes becoming more and more stringent and the resulting liability exposure from retaining the inert gas in the unit, it is imperative that manufacturers understand the relationship between gas retention and thermal performance and be able to accurately determine which construction will provide the best solution for their customers.”

Both theAmerican Architectural Manufacturers Association, Schaumburg, Ill., and the National Fenestration Rating Council, Greenbelt, Md., have given their support to the project.

“With the overwhelming majority of residential and commercial fenestration products (95 percent and 89 percent, respectively) now featuring insulating glass units, IGU’s have emerged as critical components of window systems," Rich Walker, AAMA president and CEO, said of AAMA’s support. "This IGMA research project will provide valuable technical information about the rate of gas permeability through different sealant membranes as well as the impact of different spacers on gas permeability. The resulting information will improve the selection process for sealants and spacers for use in gas‐filled IG units. Enabling window manufacturers to design gas‐filled products that retain their thermal performance longer is a prime objective in this era of green building and increasingly ambitious energy efficiency goals, both now and by 2030.”NFRC Chairman of the Board Joe Hayden noted, “NFRC is pleased to support IGMA’s gas permeability research project, which will lead to improved methods for predicting the rate of gas loss through the seal of insulating glass units. In turn, this will likely lead to improved gas retention technologies for the sealed insulating glass industry and is therefore consistent with NFRC’s first and foremost mission of serving the best interests of the general public.”

The anticipated completion date for Phase 2--including design, test sample specification and testing of samples--is December 31, 2009.