Double-glazed windows have a wealth of benefits. They are more energy efficient, so they reduce your heating costs and help to keep your home warmer. Double-glazing is also efficient at keeping unwanted noise from entering the home. Compared to single-paned windows, double glazing can reduce unwanted noise by as much as 50%. But how does double glazing work to reduce sound pollution?
How Sound Travels
To understand how double glazing works to reduce noise pollution, it’s important to first understand how sound travels. Sound is transmitted through waves, tiny vibrations which travel through the material between the source of the sound to our eardrums.
In order for sound to travel it needs material to pass through and the denser the material, the slower the sound travels. Thicker, denser materials will slow the sound waves down and reduce the volume.
How double glazing reduces volume
As discussed, sound travels more slowly through denser materials. Glass will, therefore, automatically reduce some of the volume of outside noise. Double glazing is composed of two panes of glass separated by a cavity, either filled with air or another gas such as Argon. The addition of a second pane of glass makes the window more effective at reducing the noise.
However, two panes of glass of the same thickness will reduce sounds of the same frequency. Some windows are specially designed with variable thickness in order to reduce different frequencies of sound. This makes them more effective at reducing unwanted outdoor noise.
Triple glazing
For additional protection against noise pollution, you might want to consider triple glazing. Adding a third pane of glass to the unit creates even more solid material for the sound to travel through, further reducing the volume. Triple glazing can also be created with variable thickness panes to create an even greater barrier against a broader range of frequencies.
At Progress Windows, we provide quality double and triple glazing in a range of styles and designs. If you are interested in finding out more about using double or triple glazing to reduce sound in your home, fill out a contact form and one of our advisers will be in touch.