Ultra-thin vacuum glass with the highest insulation value for home sustainability

Bouwwereld | February 10, 2023 and Architectuur.nl | February 10, 2023

BENGproducts delivers with BENGglas an ultra-thin vacuum glass with an extremely low U-value of only 0.4 W/m².K, which is very suitable for sustainable renovation of existing homes. The family business from Goirle claims to offer the best (flat) glass insulation value in the world. The thinnest glass variant is only 6.3 mm and the 'thickest' 8.3 mm, allowing the glazing to be easily applied in existing frames. This saves property owners and contractors time and money.

It was a tight squeeze at the BENGglas stand at the Bouwbeurs. From architects, governments, and other clients to glaziers, contractors, and frame manufacturers, everyone wanted to catch a glimpse of this top-notch product in the field of insulating glass. The USPs speak for themselves: 30% lighter than triple glass, 0.7 decimal point higher insulation value than HR++, only 20 kilograms per m², and five times stronger than other vacuum insulation glass, so it can even be used as safety glazing. Due to the thin edge seals, the daylight entry is greater than with other types of glazing.

Growing Interest

Creutzberg observes the interest from property owners and prescribing parties, such as architects, in BENG glass growing explosively, but at the same time, he still detects some cold feet among the processors. “Many myths appear on the Internet about vacuum glass as if it contains chromium 6 and that panels would quickly start to leak. All nonsense. The lifespan of our product is tested at 25 years, during which we guarantee that the glass panels are absolutely leak-free due to, among other things, the polished edge finish.”

Vacuum glass is relatively expensive to purchase compared to other insulating glazing, but it is very favorable in the Total Cost of Ownership. “A U-value of 0.4 compared to 1.1 for HR++ glass; that makes a significant difference in the BENG calculation. That creates room to apply, for example, a heat pump with a lower capacity. Additionally, you don't have to replace the frame and glazing, which also saves significantly on costs. And a technician does not need to use heavy equipment when installing the lightweight vacuum glass, which also saves money. In short, don't just look at the purchase price, but consider the entire cost picture,” says Creutzberg.