Technical Information / Quality Assurance

Before you choose your windows, make sure they can weather the elements. Super Spacer^® provides the industry’s best thermal performance, durability, condensation resistance, argon gas retention and structural strength.

Super Spacer Performance At-A-Glance

Super Spacer^® Thermal Performance

According to third-party simulation testing, Edgetech’s Super Spacer true dual seal system has the industry’s lowest thermal conductivity (ability of a material to transmit heat flow). The higher the number, the greater the heat flow. This means that heat stays indoors in the winter and outdoors in the summer as Super Spacer blocks the path for heat movement.

Comparison for Dual-Seal IG (Insulating Glass) Spacer Systems

Simulations performed by Enermodal Engineering Ltd. Using Window 5.2 and Therm 5.2 as per NFRC 100, and NFRC 500.Outside temperature 0° F, inside temperature 70° F. Low-e glass Cardinal Low-e² 272. Air spaces .500” wide, 90% argon fill. IGU’s 24” x 48”. Keff is based on total spacer height shown using 1/2” spacer width.. ©2008 Edgetech IG Inc.

Super Spacer’s all foam, NO-Metal construction make it less conductive than spacers containing metal. The result is a warmer edge of glass temperature that translates to a more comfortable inside temperature.

Super Spacer - The World's Best Warm Edge
Comparison of glass surface temperature on the room side with different spacer bars

Information: A.H. Elmahdy - NRC/IRC.  The research was carried out with Thomas Frank of the Swiss Federal Institute for Materials Testing and Research (EMPA).

Super Spacer’s Durability

Only the strong survive the industry’s toughest durability test – the P-1 Chamber.  With the P-1 Chamber, Insulating glass units are tested and evaluated under extreme temperatures, humidity and ultraviolet light exposure. Test specimens are fully and continuously exposed to conditions of 140°F, 95% relative humidity and 100% ultraviolet light. One week of testing is considered by industry experts to be equivalent to approximately one year in the field.

Standard Super Spacer backed with hot-melt butyl passes at least 60 weeks in the P-1 chamber, all the way up to Premium Plus, which has surpassed 125 weeks of testing.
 

Super Spacer’s P-1 Test Results Compared to Other Spacer Systems
 

Super Spacer Helps Prevent Condensation and Mold
 

Condensation is the formation of moisture on an insulating glass unit surface when the surface temperature is lower than the localized air dew point. Condensation occurs first around the window’s edge where the glass insulates least effectively and where surface temperatures are the coldest. If a standard “cold edge” spacer is used and outside temperatures fall to 0°F/-17.78°C, condensation will form on the glass edge even in homes with as little as 15% relative humidity.

Condensation can breed bacteria, mold and viruses, which may lead to allergies and respiratory infections. A healthy house actually has an "Optimum Zone" of relative humidity that minimizes the growth of these pathogens. Super Spacer helps prevent condensation on window surfaces at these higher humidity levels, thereby helping to create a healthier environment.

 Super Spacer - The Best Choice for Health and Comfort

Decreases in bar width indicate decrease in effect.

Super Spacer’s Argon Gas Retention

Argon gas filling is an effective way to ensure a window system achieves optimal thermal efficiencies. Argon is a colorless, odorless, non-flammable, non-reactive, inert gas that reduces heat transfer through the insulating glass unit versus air.  It is the most popular type of insulating gas used in this application, although krypton can also be used.

At manufacture, argon is injected between the two glass lites in an insulating glass unit. Whether argon gas will do its job throughout the life of the window system depends on the strength of the edge seal and the ability to keep the gas inside of the IG unit. Super Spacer resists argon gas escape, providing the industry’s most consistent seal and the best gas retention rates of greater than 99 percent.

*Simulates 5 years weather exposure. All units dual pane with hard-coat Low-E Glass.

Super Spacer^® TriSeal™ warm edge spacer system has the strength needed to support large commercial IG – even silicone structural glazed (SSG) curtainwall – in some of the most challenging climates. The strength, performance and durability of these systems have been proven in the field for many years. Independent testing of structurally glazed insulating glass using TriSeal has withstood structural pressures of 155 psf, equivalant to a 246 mile per hour wind load.

For more detail, download our third-party Structural Test Report.

Acoustical Testing

The closed-cell polymer foam in Super Spacer transmits very little sound compared to conventional aluminum spacers or less-metal warm edge spacers – up to two decibels less. We recommend using Super Spacer wherever noise from airplanes, trains or automobiles may be a problem for building occupants.

Worldwide Standards

North America - ASTM E2188, E2189, E2190
North America NFRC label for ENERGY STAR® performance
European EN 1279
French Standard CSTB for CEKAL
ASTM E330 120* psf positive, 155* psf negative
Canadian CGSB 12.8 minimum 90% initial Argon fill (when required)
Industry type P-1 testing

*no failure; maximum limitations of testing equipment