IGMA Continues Industry Research to Develop a New Standard for the Determination of Gas Permeability with Industry Support
August 3, 2009
The Insulating Glass Manufacturers Alliance (IGMA) has announced
the continuation of the "Performance Sustainability of Insulating
Glass Units: Development of a Test Protocol for Argon Permeability
through Insulating Glass Units." This 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," says Margaret
Webb, IGMA executive director. "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."
IGMA also announced that it has received support and participation
from two major industry organizations, the American Architectural
Manufacturers Association (AAMA) and the National Fenestration Rating
Council (NFRC).
"With the overwhelming majority of residential (95 percent)
and commercial (89 percent) fenestration products now featuring
insulating glass (IG) units, IGUs have emerged as critical components
of window systems," says Rich Walker, AAMA president and chief
executive officer. "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."
Joe Hayden (Pella Corporation), NFRC chairman of the board also
says, "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.
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