question about obscure glass

Katykat

I've had new double glazed windows and paid extra for self clean glass. Now at least 3 of these units have been installed "inside out" ie, the self cleaning glass is on the INSIDE. The company say theres no problem swopping them around. However I have 2 windows which have obscure glass and these 2 also have the same problem. What I want to know is, should the obscure glass be on the INSIDE or the OUTSIDE of the house? At the moment its on the outside, but I've been told by a relative that it should be on the inside. Any experts out there?

Hornyrhino

Hello

It should be on the inside!!

myrnahaz

If the smooth side of the obscure pane is on the outside (ie the rough surface is in the airspace of the double glazed unit), and you have only two patterned panes in the house, then it won't make much difference if they're both going to be reversed.

But if they've made the units with the rougher side of the obscure pane as an 'outside' surface then that's just mad - you'd be quite within your rights to refuse to accept them.

Rex_Mundi

Katykat wrote:

I've had new double glazed windows and paid extra for self clean glass. Now at least 3 of these units have been installed "inside out" ie, the self cleaning glass is on the INSIDE. The company say theres no problem swopping them around. However I have 2 windows which have obscure glass and these 2 also have the same problem. What I want to know is, should the obscure glass be on the INSIDE or the OUTSIDE of the house? At the moment its on the outside, but I've been told by a relative that it should be on the inside. Any experts out there?

Sorry to say but all the advice posted above is not correct.

It always used to be that the obscure is glazed on the inside. However, since the Part L building regs required that all new windows must include 'K' glass, this has changed. The 'K' glass MUST be glazed on the inside to work. This means if it is an obscure unit with 'K' on the other side, the obscure should be glazed on the outside.

Frankly I'm a bit amazed that the clear self cleaning units were glazed the wrong way around. All unit manufacturers I know put a sticker on the 'K' side to let the fitter/customer know which side goes on the inside. This is crucial, it only works one way around.