Where can I hire/borrow a low-E coating detector?

Idomeneus

Does anyone know where I can hire/borrow a low emissivity coating detector (or low-E coating detector, or Pilkington K-glass detector), which is used to check that a double glazing window unit has been manufactured and installed correctly?

I know that I can buy one for about £40 - £60. And I suspect that the like of surveyors and double glazing installers will have them, but their call out charges will probably be just about as much.

I need one only for a few minutes to check some double glazing units in our house.

BoxerfanUK

My local council building control department lent me one a few years ago and I was glad they did as the conservatory I had fitted was supposed to have low E glass and the detector told me it wasn't.


I don't know whether the installer made a mistake or did it on purpose thinking I wouldn't notice... I did, so they had to rip them all out and make new ones to the correct spec.... idiots.

docmatt

You can do the lighter test but I've forgotten how to do it. You light the lighter or match against the window and you'll get 4 reflections. If you have LowE one of the reflections is a different colour. I'm sure that's how it works. I'm off out now no time to google but do a search on lighter/match reflection low e glass and see what you come up with.

leveller2911

docmatt wrote: »

You can do the lighter test but I've forgotten how to do it. You light the lighter or match against the window and you'll get 4 reflections. If you have LowE one of the reflections is a different colour. I'm sure that's how it works. I'm off out now no time to google but do a search on lighter/match reflection low e glass and see what you come up with.

Thats interesting Docmatt, not heard that one before. I had a glass delivery guy tell me you can use a battery tester or a bulb tester as the Low E coating contains metal it conducts electricity. It won't tell the op which face of the glass the Low E coating is on though.

I have a tester but no idea where the OP is located.

EDIT: Just done the lighter test and one of the reflections is green.........Spot on Docmatt.. Wasted £40-00 on a tester..........Bugg*r:rotfl:

greenface

docmatt wrote: »

You can do the lighter test but I've forgotten how to do it. You light the lighter or match against the window and you'll get 4 reflections. If you have LowE one of the reflections is a different colour. I'm sure that's how it works. I'm off out now no time to google but do a search on lighter/match reflection low e glass and see what you come up with.

Brilliant never tried this but will do tomorrow . do you know if its K glass or argon /k glass etc . every day is a school day

Idomeneus

docmatt wrote: »

You can do the lighter test but I've forgotten how to do it. ...

I hadn't heard of this test either. Thank you.

I think that I have got the test to work with a small torch. If I hold the torch horizontally, facing the double glazed window unit and perpendicular to it, I see four reflections of the bulb filament, all of which are yellow. However, if I then begin to tilt the torch upwards, still facing the window unit, the second reflection (away from me) turns a light green while the remaining three reflections remain yellow. This is particularly noticeable when the torch is at about 30 degrees to the horizontal and then again at about 60 degrees to the horizontal.

Does this appear to be a valid application of the "lighter" test?

If it is a valid application, I guess the fact that the second reflection turns light green indicates that the low-e coating is on the second glass surface away from me. So, if I am inside the house, this would be the outer surface of the inner pane of glass (or the surface of the inner pane that faces the cavity). And I believe this is the surface that should have the low-e coating.

I have just applied the test while standing outside the house. This time, it is the third reflection (away from me) that turns a light green. All the evidence appears consistent.

leveller2911

Idomeneus wrote: »

I hadn't heard of this test either. Thank you.


Does this appear to be a valid application of the "lighter" test?

I would say yes........

If it is a valid application, I guess the fact that the second reflection turns light green indicates that the low-e coating is on the second glass surface away from me. So, if I am inside the house, this would be the outer surface of the inner pane of glass (or the surface of the inner pane that faces the cavity). And I believe this is the surface that should have the low-e coating.

I have just applied the test while standing outside the house. This time, it is the third reflection (away from me) that turns a light green. All the evidence appears consistent.

As you say it shows a difference on the outside face of the inside pane of glass.

I had an issue not so long ago with the coating on the cavity side of the outside pane of glass and rang my supplier who said that as long as the Low E coating is in the cavity it will work ok , which it seems to be doing but I can't help but feel they should all be the same.

Incidentally a few years ago I had a unit where the Low E coating was on the inside of the room and it poured with condensation, never seen so much water on one window when every other window in the room was clear.

Idomeneus

leveller2911 wrote: »

I had an issue not so long ago with the coating on the cavity side of the outside pane of glass and rang my supplier who said that as long as the Low E coating is in the cavity it will work ok , which it seems to be doing but I can't help but feel they should all be the same.

Unless I am missing something, that might be easy to fix. If the window unit is rectangular, just remove the beading, turn the window unit round, so that what was the outer pane is now the inner pane, and put the beading back.

Actually, I do recall reading somewhere that, as long as the low-e coating is on a surface next to the cavity, it doesn't matter which pane it is on. But I couldn't find the reference again with a quick Google. Certainly, most references suggest that the low-e coating should be on the cavity surface of the inner pane.

leveller2911

Idomeneus wrote: »

leveller2911 wrote: »

Unless I am missing something, that might be easy to fix. If the window unit is rectangular, just remove the beading, turn the window unit round, so that what was the outer pane is now the inner pane, and put the beading back.

You can't do that because for one thing the coating can be wiped off so you can't have it on the outside face of a unit (inside or outside of the window).

Actually, I do recall reading somewhere that, as long as the low-e coating is on a surface next to the cavity, it doesn't matter which pane it is on. But I couldn't find the reference again with a quick Google. Certainly, most references suggest that the low-e coating should be on the cavity surface of the inner pane.

My thinking is the same but having it on the cavity side of the outside pane didn't cause any problems but I personally think there should be consistancy and thats why I bought a tester and check every unit I fit and if I get one that is different I reject it.

Idomeneus

leveller2911 wrote: »

You can't do that because for one thing the coating can be wiped off so you can't have it on the outside face of a unit (inside or outside of the window).

Perhaps I tried to be a little too brief in my explanation. Sorry!

If the low-e coating is on the surface facing the cavity of the outer pane of glass, if you turn the window unit around, the low-e coating will then be on the surface facing the cavity of the inner pane of glass. The low-e coating will not be exposed because it is in the cavity.

Or have I totally misunderstood?

leveller2911

Idomeneus wrote: »

Perhaps I tried to be a little too brief in my explanation. Sorry!

If the low-e coating is on the surface facing the cavity of the outer pane of glass, if you turn the window unit around, the low-e coating will then be on the surface facing the cavity of the inner pane of glass. The low-e coating will not be exposed because it is in the cavity.

Or have I totally misunderstood?

Think we are confusing each other here:D.

Had a unit where the Low E coating was on the inside of the room, big no no and can't be turned round . The coating also rubs off so you can't have it on any face that can be touched..

Had another unit where the Low E coating was on the cavity side of the outside pane. It could have been taken out and put in the other way but we bed them on security glazing tape and once they are bedded ,sealed round the perimeter with silicone and then timber beaded (also with security glazing tape) they don't come out in one piece.

I should have mentioned that on my previous post..