SPACERS 

The two panes of glass in an insulating unit must be held apart at the appropriate distance by spacers. The optimum distance between the panes for an Argon filled unit is 3/4”.

Because of its excellent structuralproperties, window manufacturers starting using aluminum spacers in the 1960’s and 1970’s and still use them today. Unfortunately, aluminum is an excellent conductor of heat and cold and the aluminum spacer used in most standard edge systems represented a significant thermal “short circuit” at the edge of the insulating glass unit (IGU), which reduces the benefits of improved glazings. In addition to the increased heat loss, the colder edge is more prone to condensation. 

Enviro Sealed technology (Dura-Lite)has become increasingly importantto high performance glazing units. For purposes of determining the overall window U-factor, the edge spacer has an effect that extends beyond the physical size of the spacer to a band about 2 ½” wide. Changing from a standard aluminum edge to a good quality warm edge will reduce the overall window U-factor by approximately .02 BTU/hr-sq ft-degree F.  

Duralite™

3rd generation warm-edge technology using NO METAL

Duralite offers a new level of thermal performance to windows reducing conductivity by up to 45%. This radical improvement in thermal properties is achieved by eliminating metal and replacing over 60% of the spacer profile with air. The patented design featuring a unique composite laminating technology without the use of metal results in superior thermal and durability performance. Test results performed by a third party have proven that Duralite offers the lowest U-value rating and best condensation resistance when compared to other spacers. Duralite is thermally the best energy-efficient insulating glass system available on the market, that's why Eco Windows only have Duralite for the spacer.