Fereastra - Portal de afaceri - revista de specialitate pentru furnizorii de sisteme si producatorii de tamplarie din PVC, Aluminiu si lemn stratificat cu geam termoizolant. Aici gasiti informatii utile despre: ferestre, usi, pereti cortina, termopane, geam termopan, etc.

Despite its elegant splendour, any building constructed at the beginning of the 20th century inevitably involves the problem of insulation that does not comply with the thermal requirements of today's buildings. These requirements are inseparable from requirements in terms of comfort, energy consumption and maintenance costs. This predicament was encountered by a family in Brussels who, in 2021, acquired an Art Nouveau villa with the intention of renovating it in a manner that would both respect their personal preferences and adhere to contemporary energy regulations and standards. A pivotal element of the renovation and insulation involved the replacement of the original wooden Georgian bar windows with approximately thirty windows with 86 vacuum-insulated glass units from the Belgian glass expert FINEO by AGC.

 

Brussels is renowned for its abundance of Art Nouveau architecture, boasting a thousand or so buildings in this style. The city is home to several UNESCO World Heritage sites, while other private residences are discreetly tucked away from the tourist trail.

In contrast to the opulent and renowned edifices, the renovation initiative in the commune of Uccle, situated to the south of Brussels, employs a limited array of architectural elements from the Art Nouveau style. These include the arched windows, the floral embellishments, and the decorative accents on the openings and facades. The roundness of the 'Bull’s eye' windows and the openwork motifs of the balustrades around the terraces and balconies are more closely related to other stylistic periods. The charming hipped roof is covered with natural slate, a building material often used in the Brussels region due to its proximity to Ardennes slate quarries.

The Art Nouveau heritage villa is notable for its Georgian bar windows, which blend in with the building's discreet sobriety. The ground floor is distinguished by double-sash arched windows, each comprising eight glazing bars, a horizontal transom, and a double arch. These elements infuse the facade with visual dynamism, with the exception of the dressed stonework that defines the corners. This aesthetic is replicated in the sculpted overhangs and frames that adorn the rectangular mullion windows on the first floor. The building's distinctive historic character and unique aesthetic are further accentuated by the presence of original espagnolette locks and handles.

 

 

In addition, given the excellent condition of the wooden frames, the owners were seeking an energy-efficient replacement for the existing single glazing that met the highest insulation standards and values. Due to the narrow width of the frames, traditional double glazing was not a viable option. Consequently, the decision was made to utilise FINEO vacuum insulated glazing, a solution that offered a natural progression in addressing the specific requirements of the project.

'FINEO's innovative structure offers this unprecedented potential. The secret lies in two glass panes separated by a super-thin vacuum of just 0.1mm ', explains Stefan Lips Sales Manager Europe for FINEO by AGC. 'This minimal gap acts as a highly effective thermal insulator, as it almost completely eliminates heat transfer by conduction and convection, in contrast to traditional thicker and heavier double or triple glazing, which uses gases such as argon or krypton in the glazing space’, continues Stefan Lips. This innovation enables FINEO to deliver thermal insulation equivalent to triple glazing, while maintaining unparalleled thinness ranging from 6.7 millimetres to 11.7 millimetres. In the villa in Uccle, the Ug value was reduced from 5.8 to 0.7 W/(m2K).'

 

This innovative glass manufacturing process was even more revolutionary than Art Nouveau, enabling Belgium to make its mark on the architectural landscape. By 1880, Belgium had become the world's leading supplier of glass. In 1902, the Belgian engineer Emile Fourcault developed the first mechanical glass production system. This vertical glass-drawing system gradually replaced the traditional mouth-blowing method, which had been used to make window glass until then. This development firmly established Belgium as a pivotal player in the global glass industry, shaping its future and cementing its lasting legacy.

'With our vacuum insulating glass, which we produce exclusively in Belgium, in Lodelinsart, we have added a new and innovative chapter to the historic heritage of glass in our country', Stefan Lips continues. 'Unlike traditional insulating glass units, the space between the panes is not filled with inert gas, but with a vacuum. Each FINEO pane is custom-made to ensure optimal performance, allowing for the creation of a wide variety of shapes, including the arched and circular designs showcased here for 'Bull’s eye' windows.'

 

 

RenoWindow, which is in charge of the renovation work and one of FINEO’s-approved installers in Belgium, recognised the market opportunities in the renovation sector very early on.

Since its establishment in 2019, the RenoWindow team has built a reputation for excellence in the refurbishment of windows, a significant proportion of which have incorporated FINEO vacuum insulation glass. The Managing Director recognises significant benefits in this approach, particularly in the context of restoring old windows: 'In Uccle, we exclusively worked on existing frames. This approach ensured minimal disruption to the family's daily life and was more cost-effective than replacing heritage windows, which would have necessitated bespoke manufacturing and extensive manual labour. In instances where the wooden frames do not require renovation or repainting, a day's work on site is sufficient.

The first phase of the Uccle project involved the removal of the existing single glazing and its accompanying mullion bars. This was followed by the precise milling of the wooden sash by approximately 2 to 3 millimetres to allow for the straightforward fitting of the slightly thicker FINEO glazing. The final step in the process entailed the reattachment of new sash bars to provide a secure and complete finish.

When renovating windows in listed buildings of cultural and historical importance, FINEO's Heritage range of glazing can be combined with Fourcault glass to create the look of restoration glass. This allows the historic character of the facade to be preserved.

'Facing the strict requirements for protecting historic monuments, FINEO glass can be produced in smaller sizes for insertion into existing glazing bars that require preservation,' states Clément Lemoine, Head of Product Management for FINEO by AGC, emphasising that, 'however, this approach comes with a certain degree of heat loss. Consequently, uniform glazing remains the optimal choice from energy and economic perspectives, as it allows for the integration of new glazing bars.'

  

FINEO vacuum insulating glass units are made entirely from organic materials, making them suitable for recycling at the end of their useful life. This eliminates the need for tedious and costly dismantling, ensuring a straightforward and cost-effective process. 'The lifespan of our FINEO glass is impressive,' says Clément Lemoine. 'According to tests carried out by an independent laboratory, FINEO retains its high energy and sound insulation values for at least 60 years. This exceptional performance is backed by a 20-year product guarantee, providing customers with peace of mind and assurance of quality'.

FINEO by AGC is a company that is synonymous with quality. This is underlined by the fact that it was the first and only manufacturer to obtain CE marking for its vacuum insulation glass in 2024.

The company is thus taking a new step forward by introducing its innovative technology to the market. The recognition of this quality label will help to democratise FINEO vacuum glazing among building contractors, ensuring a high level of quality, reliability and safety for its product range.

 

 

***

AGC Glass Europe produces, processes and markets flat glass for the construction industry (external glazing and interior decoration), the automotive industry (OEM and replacement glass) and other industrial sectors (transport, solar power and high-tech). It is the European branch of AGC, a world leader in flat glass. It has over 100 sites throughout Europe and employs around 13,000 employees.

More information on agc-glass.eu (corporate site), agc-yourglass.com (glass for the construction industry) and agc-automotive.com (for the automotive industry).

FINEO is the new generation of insulating glass. This vacuum glazing, with its unrivalled thinness, provides optimum thermal and acoustic comfort, meeting the expectations of joinery professionals concerned about sustainability and energy efficiency.

Under the aegis of AGC Glass Europe, FINEO is produced in Belgium and benefits from a revolutionary production method compared with glazing for buildings. Its incomparable thinness in no way detracts from its technical prowess, in terms of both thermal and acoustic insulation.

For more information: fineoglass.eu.