Double Glazing – A Brief Historical Background

Although there are many different accounts regarding the origination of double-glazed glass, most agree on the fact that it originated in Scotland, during Victorian times. In extreme winters where almost every family only had the possible means to rely on a small kitchen fire to keep themselves warm, the need for protection was becoming more and more intense. Somewhere around this point in time, the Scottish started adding a second sheet of glass to windows and double glazing was therefore invented as a means of protection from rough weather conditions.

Years later in the 1930s, the need for insulation arose in the U.S. as well and double glazing had to be introduced. Double glazing still wasn’t a commodity made available to the general public – instead, it was associated with extravagance and only available to the wealthier families who could afford its high price. In order to improve performance, a vacuum was used between the two panes of glass in the windows which only created a further increase in its price.

It wasn’t until the mid-1970s when double glazing finally made its way to Britain at a time of need. Since fuel costs increased due to the ongoing oil crisis worldwide, energy prices peaked and forced consumers to develop new ways of energy efficiency. Double glazing was therefore introduced as an affordable and suitable means of keeping homes warm. The costs of double glazing began to fall because of an increased use of cheaper raw materials to develop the window frames.

By the 1980s, these aluminum windows were beginning to be replaced by uPVC which was imported from Germany. Since it was easier to preserve and relatively more affordable, uPVC made double glazing far more accessible for an ordinary family.

Since then, both the double-glazing industry and the companies have continued to expand. The rising demands for these products meant that more and more companies were required to cater to the long list of consumers. Apart from the traditional aluminum framed windows, a new variety of frames such as wood are also beginning to make a widespread appearance in the market.

To maintain the smooth running of this now essential industry, multiple regulatory bodies were set up to closely monitor and effectively address any harmful sales tactics used by business owners. Moreover, many government-based organizations offer membership to double-glazing contractors who are able to provide homeowners with a certificate of guarantee of at least 5-10 years on their qualified work. These rules and regulations gave consumers more confidence in the window industry and increased the widespread use of double-glazed windows in homes, business buildings and other recreational locations.

Since its time of invention, the technology behind double glazing has been significantly altered to maintain efficiency, but the general principle of double-glazed windows remains constant. Double glazing is generally expected to rise in popularity, with even more efficient methods of energy preservation soon to be available in the market. It is likely to remain an integral part of people's lives as they are able to find permanent solutions to their insulation, sound and heat proofing problems and also reduce their carbon footprint at the same time. Check out Complete Glazing Birmingham the recommended double glazing installers Birmingham.