Vacuum glass for listed buildings and historic properties
Making a listed building more sustainable without compromising its character? That calls for a different approach to that used in standard renovation work. Existing window frames, narrow rebates and historic detailing often leave little room for traditional insulating glazing. Vacuum glass offers a particularly interesting solution.
Thanks to its very thin construction, vacuum glass can be fitted into existing wooden or steel window frames in many situations. This preserves the characteristic appearance, whilst significantly improving the insulation performance.
At Martin Glas, we don’t just look at the glass. We consider the whole picture: the existing window frame, the available rebate, the desired insulation value, the appearance and the technical possibilities.
Monument verduurzamen? Glas Erop!
Why use vacuum glass in listed buildings?
When it comes to historic and listed buildings, making them more sustainable is all about striking a balance. Energy consumption and comfort need to be improved, but you want to preserve the building’s characteristic features as much as possible.
That is exactly where vacuum glass comes into its own.
Traditional double or triple glazing is relatively thick. As a result, it does not always fit into existing period window frames. This means the window frame must be modified or replaced, which has implications for both the appearance and the cost.
Vacuum glass is considerably thinner. Depending on the product and design, very slim glass assemblies are possible. This means it can be fitted in many situations without having to completely replace the original window frame.
This offers a number of advantages:
behoud van bestaande houten of stalen kozijnen
behoud van historische detailleringen
sterk verbeterde thermische isolatie
meer comfort nabij ramen
minder warmteverlies
minder ingrijpende aanpassingen aan de gevel
Vacuum glass or Monuglas for a listed building?
As well as vacuum glass, there is another important solution in the field of historic building renovation: Monuglas.
Monuglas has been specially developed for situations where preserving the historic appearance and the detailing of the glasswork is of paramount importance. Whilst vacuum glass excels primarily in its extreme slimness and insulating properties in confined spaces, Monuglas is often chosen when:
het originele glasbeeld zo authentiek mogelijk moet blijven
optische vervorming tot een minimum moet worden beperkt
restauratieve eisen vanuit monumentenzorg leidend zijn
een meer traditionele glasopbouw gewenst is binnen monumentale kaders
In practice, this means:
Vacuümglas: maximale isolatie in minimale ruimte
Monuglas: maximale esthetische en monumentale aansluiting
In many projects, it is not an either/or choice, but a project-specific decision for each façade, window frame or window type.
That is why Martin Glas always assesses both options in conjunction with one another, so as to strike the right balance between energy performance, aesthetics, technical feasibility and the requirements of heritage conservation.
How does vacuum glass work?
Vacuum glass consists of two sheets of glass with an extremely thin space between them that has been evacuated.
In traditional insulating glass, there is a cavity between the panes filled with air or gas. In vacuum glass, this cavity is virtually airless.
This significantly reduces heat transfer, whilst requiring only a small gap between the glass panes. The result is a relatively thin glazing unit with high insulating properties.
Vacuum glass in existing heritage window frames
One of the main advantages of vacuum glass is that existing window frames can often be retained.
In the case of listed buildings, the original wooden or steel window frames often define the appearance of the façade. Replacing them is not always advisable and may, moreover, be complex from a structural or heritage conservation perspective.
The reduced thickness of vacuum glass makes it possible to use highly insulating glass within a much slimmer rebate.
Whether this is possible in a specific window frame depends, amongst other things, on:
de beschikbare sponningdiepte
de staat van het bestaande kozijn
de afmetingen van het glas
de gewenste glasopbouw
the necessary safety
de detaillering van de beglazing
eventuele eisen vanuit monumentenzorg
That is why we assess each situation on a case-by-case basis.
Vacuum glass in wooden window frames
Many historic buildings have wooden window frames that are still in good technical condition.
It would therefore be a shame to replace these window frames simply because of the switch to insulating glass. Moreover, old window frame profiles, glazing bars and detailing can be an important part of the architecture.
Vacuum glass makes it possible to significantly improve the insulation performance of the glazing whilst retaining as much of the existing timberwork as possible.
Vacuum glass in steel window frames
Original steel window frames also regularly pose a challenge when it comes to improving a building’s sustainability.
The frames are often particularly slim. It is precisely this slim appearance that makes them architecturally interesting, but leaves little room for conventional insulating glass.
Due to its thinness, vacuum glass may also offer possibilities in this area.
Is vacuümglas of Monuglas geschikt voor ieder monument?
Not automatically.
Vacuümglas én Monuglas bieden beide sterke oplossingen, maar de juiste keuze hangt af van het gebouw en het kozijn.
Bij een monumentale renovatie kijken we daarom verder dan alleen de isolatiewaarde van het glas. Denk bijvoorbeeld aan:
Bestaande kozijnen — Is het kozijn technisch geschikt om opnieuw te beglazen?
Historische uitstraling — Moet het glasbeeld exact historisch blijven of mag het moderner ogen?
Monumentale eisen — Wat stelt de monumentencommissie als randvoorwaarde?
Technische ruimte — Is er ruimte voor vacuümglas of is een andere opbouw logischer?
Vacuümglas of Monuglas of HR++ glas?
When renovating historic buildings, there are several possible solutions.
HR++ glass is de beste keuze waar voldoende ruimte is en kozijnen aangepast mogen worden.
Vacuum glass is de beste keuze bij beperkte ruimte en maximale isolatie-eis.
Monuglas is de beste keuze bij strikte esthetische en monumentale eisen.
In veel projecten is de optimale oplossing een combinatie van deze drie systemen per situatie.
Greater comfort in historic buildings
The benefits of better-insulating glass are not only reflected in your energy bill.
Old glazing can feel very cold in winter. This causes a draught near the window, making a room feel less comfortable.
With better-insulating glazing, the temperature on the inside of the glass is higher. This improves comfort around the window.
Vacuum glass and Monuglas in refurbishment projects
Both solutions are of interest not only to individual listed properties.
They also play an important role in larger renovation and conversion projects:
monumentale appartementencomplexen
historische scholen
oude fabriekspanden
kerken
kantoren in monumentale gebouwen
beschermd stads- en dorpsgezicht
herbestemming van historische gebouwen
Martin Glas works with you to find the complete glass solution
A monument requires more than just a price per square metre for the glass.
What construction method is technically suitable? What can the existing window frame support? What level of insulation is required? And how can the original appearance of the façade be preserved as much as possible?
In it, vacuum glass and Monuglas are always assessed side by side as serious alternatives.
Advies over vacuümglas of Monuglas voor uw monument?
Werkt u aan de verduurzaming van een monument of historisch pand en wilt u weten welke oplossing het beste past?
Leg de situatie aan ons voor.
Een complexe glasvraag? Daar zetten wij graag onze tanden in. Glas Erop!
Are you working on a listed or historic building? Please send us the details of the window frame, the glass dimensions and the required performance specifications. Our glass specialists will assess which glass solution is most suitable.
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