Specialty Glazing Vision Control®
Benefits
Control of sound
In today's fast-paced world, pollution is taking over our industrialized, output-oriented society. And pollution doesn't only encompass toxic waste, smoke emissions, smog and the like; it also involves the intangible invader: noise. This is especially evident in schools, libraries, and office buildings, where concentration is crucial, as well as in airports, museums, and auditoriums where peace and quiet are also essential.
With the unique properties of Vision Control®, sound is controlled far more efficiently than with any other insulating glass unit in the market. Why? Because increasing the depth of the airspace in an insulated glass also increases the acoustical performance of the unit. Vision Control®’s 2" and 2.5" airspaces, coupled with 2 glass lites of varying thicknesses, generate sound damping characteristics far superior to any standard dual-pane unit.
Additionally, the use of laminated glass increases the sound attenuation of the glazing panel. The secret is in the PVB (polyvinyl butyral) interlayer sandwiched within the laminated glass. Available in the following thicknesses: 0.015”, 0.030”, 0.060”, 0.090” (0.38mm, 0.76mm, 1.6mm, and 2.3mm), PVB interlayers are often used when acoustical glazing is required, acting as a barrier to sound waves.
Using Vision Control® can help achieve STC requirements that other sealed glass units with separate window treatments cannot meet. STC (Sound Transmission Class) is a number rating of how well a building material attenuates sound. It is commonly used to rate interior windows and wall configurations. As an example, a typical 3 5/8” stud wall partition with 5/8” gypsum board on both sides yields an STC rating of 36.
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Approximate STC ratings achieved with typical wall configurations
| Wall Partition Type | STC |
| Single layer of 5/8" drywall on each side, metal studs, no insulation (typical interior wall) |
36 |
| Layer of 5/8" drywall on each side, metal studs, insulation in wall |
43 |
| Single layer of 5/8" drywall, glued to 6" lightweight concrete block wall |
46 |
Approximate STC ratings* achieved using Vision Control® with various glass configurations**
| Glass Lite X | Airspace | Glass Lite Y | STC (Estimated) |
| 1/4” | 2” | 1/4” | 37 |
| 1/4” | 2.5” | 1/4” | 38 |
| 1/4” | 2” | 1/8” – .060” PVB – 1/8” | 45 |
| 1/4” | 2” | 3/16” – .060” PVB – 3/16” | 46 |
| 1/8” – .060” PVB – 1/8” | 2” | 1/8” – .060” PVB – 1/8” | 46 |
| 1/8” – .060” PVB – 1/8” | 2.5” | 1/8” – .060” PVB – 1/8” | 47 |
| 3/8” | 2” | 1/4” – .030” PVB - 1/4" | 48 |
* Higher values than shown on this chart are available. Contact us for more information.
** These data are for double glazing and do not factor in the presence of the louvers within the airspace cavity. All data should be verified via testing the actual window assemblies to ascertain the effects of window system sound transmission loss.
Approximate STC ratings achieved with typical wall configurations
| Wall Partition Type | STC |
| Single layer of 16mm drywall on each side, metal studs, no insulation (typical interior wall) |
36 |
| Layer of 16mm drywall on each side, metal studs, insulation in wall |
43 |
| Single layer of 16mm drywall, glued to 152mm lightweight concrete block wall | 46 |
Approximate STC ratings* achieved using Vision Control® with various glass configurations**
| Glass Lite X | Airspace | Glass Lite Y | STC (Estimated) |
| 6mm | 50.8mm | 6mm | 37 |
| 6mm | 63.5mm | 6mm | 38 |
| 6mm | 50.8mm | 3mm – 1.6mm PVB – 3mm | 45 |
| 6mm | 50.8mm | 5mm – 1.6mm PVB – 5mm | 46 |
| 3mm – 1.6mm PVB – 3mm | 50.8mm | 3mm – 1.6mm PVB – 3mm | 46 |
| 3mm – 1.6mm PVB – 3mm | 63.5mm | 3mm – 1.6mm PVB – 3mm | 47 |
| 10mm | 50.8mm | 6mm – 0.76mm PVB – 6mm | 48 |
* Higher values than shown on this chart are available. Contact us for more information.
** These data are for double glazing and does not factor in the presence of the louvers within the airspace cavity. All data should be verified via testing the actual window assemblies to ascertain the effects of window system sound transmission loss.
In concrete terms, this means one can easily obtain noise transfer reduction comparable to a concrete wall by simply using laminated glass of 1/8” - .060” PVB – 1/8” (3mm –1.6mm PVB – 3mm) on one side of a Vision Control® glazing panel and 1/4” (6mm) clear tempered glass on the other. Window frames have a large impact on the total window system sound transmission loss, so they must be tested to ascertain the total STC rating generated. Furthermore, caulking is vital in blocking any cracks or openings, as air leakage can drastically reduce the noise reduction capabilities of Vision Control®.
Other ways of obtaining higher sound reduction is to use different glass thicknesses on either side of the unit. As an example, using ¼” (6mm) thick glass on one side and 1/8” (3mm) thick glass on the other will yield equal or higher STC ratings that using ¼” (6mm) thick glass on both sides. This is because of the different frequencies under which the resonances fall for each glass lite. A 1:2 ratio of glass thicknesses is the most efficient in blocking sound transmission.
Nevertheless, the inherent hermetically sealed characteristic of Vision Control® makes it the most sound-absorbing louvered glazing panel in the market today.
NO LOUVERS
As an option, Vision Control® is available without louvers, for windows where clear vision is necessary, but where acoustical glazing is required, such as in recording studios and broadcasting stations.
