Victoria Brocklesby, co-founder and COO of Origin, delves into the key question of whether triple glazing is needed throughout a property in order to meet the Future Homes Standard

As the UK continues to prioritise the ‘green building revolution’ and energy efficient homes, the Future Homes Standard deadline is rapidly approaching to raise the bar for new properties and home improvements. The new specifications, due to come into force in 2025, are designed to reduce the carbon emissions from homes by 75 to 80% compared to the old regulations. For self-builders and renovators, one crucial aspect to consider is the choice of glazing.

DO I NEED TRIPLE GLAZING?

The standard does not explicitly require triple-glazing throughout a property. Rather, the focus is on the entire building envelope.

On paper though, triple-glazing has a clear advantage over traditional double-glazing, especially when it comes to insulation. The use of three layers of glass is better at preventing heat from transferring into the outside environment as well as stopping cold air from entering a property. This means it helps keep homes feeling warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer, aiding in reducing energy bills which is a particular concern for many at the moment. 

Although triple glazing can achieve lower U-values, it is possible to achieve excellent thermal efficiency standards with double glazing. Ultimately, there are other important considerations to weigh up before deciding between double or triple glazing.

SIGHTLINES 

Double-glazed fenestration excels in offering slimmer sightlines, with the main benefit of being able to make the most of the surrounding views and allow lots of natural light to flow in.

However, the additional weight incurred by triple-glazing can impact the maximum panel size possible depending on the system, and this is relevant, particularly for products like bi-folding and sliding doors. This means that instead of a few, wide panels, doors may have to be specified with a higher number of glazed panels to avoid them being too heavy to operate individually. With more panels, comes more frames, meaning that uninterrupted view and flow of natural light will be affected.

COST

When considering whether to opt for triple glazing, self-builders and home renovators need to balance the enhanced energy efficiency benefits with the associated costs. The price of triple vs double glazing is likely to be the biggest deciding factor between the two options. A triple-glazed unit can cost up to twice as much as a double-glazed alternative. So, the value added to the property through energy savings should be considered before committing to double or triple glazing.

IN CONCLUSION

While triple glazing wins for the long-term benefits of reducing energy bills and noise pollution, those who are looking to make a statement with large panes of glass or hope for a significant return on the investment in the short-term, may not reap the benefits.

The FHS does emphasise the importance of energy efficient glazing, but triple-glazing is not explicitly required; instead the standard focuses on achieving a certain overall level of energy efficiency for the entire building envelope, taking into account factors beyond just glazing. This means it is possible to meet the standards with a combination of high-quality double-glazing and other energy saving measures.

Victoria Brocklesby is co-founder and COO at Origin