TBWE3^TM warm edge insulating glass is the first insulating glass fabricated in the United States using ComfortSeal^TM third generation warm edge spacer manufactured by TruSeal Technologies. ComfortSeal spacer was developed, and has been used in insulating glass units produced in Canada for over two years.

Typical insulating glass units are assembled using two pieces of glass and a hollow aluminum spacer around the edge of the piece of insulating glass. The hollow spacer has silica poured into it to act as a moisture removing agent from the spacer between the pieces of glass. The problem with aluminum spacers is that aluminum is an excellent thermal transfer agent, meaning that it permits the outside cold temperatures to reach the inside of the insulating glass unit.

To enhance the thermal performance of insulating glass, a number of different systems have been used to replace the conventional spacer. there have been thermally broken spacers, open topped aluminum spacers, stainless steel spacers, and silicone foam spacers. The ComfortSeal^TM spacer achieves its performance by eliminating any metal from the spacer while using a plasticizied core for rigidity.

Although defying conventional wisdom, repeated testing has shown that the coolest part of any window is near the edge of the glass. With aluminum spacers the center of the glass is between 15 and 20 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than the edge of the glass depending on the type of glass and type of unit. With ComfortSeal^TM spacer this temperature differential is reduced to between 6 and 12 degrees Fahrenheit.

On clear insulating glass this raises the temperature at the edge of the glass approximately 10 degrees bringing the calculated temperature above freezing. This does two things: 1) it increases the relative humidity that the window can withstand before condensation forms; 2) it reduces the likelihood that any condensation that does form will freeze.

TBWE3^TM  warm edge insulating glass is available exclusively in Thomas-Bilt^® Wood Windows and ThomasClad^® aluminum cladded Wood Windows as well as Prescott^® and PrescottClad^TM Entrance Systems.

Many window manufacturers use warm edge spacers only in their low-E insulating glass. However, with TBWE3^TM warm edge insulating glass, the warm edge technology is available on all insulating glass lites - clear or high performance low-E.

The primary benefit of warm edge technology is that condensation around the edge of the insulating glass occurs at higher relative humidity levels. It also reduces the incidence of frosting due to the fact the edge of the glass is substantially above the freezing point of water.

TBWE3^TM warm edge insulating glass is available in any size or thickness that is compatible with Thomas-Bilt^® Wood Windows, ThomasClad^® aluminum cladded Wood Windows and Prescott or Prescottcladd^TM Entrance Systems. TBWE3^TM Warm Edge insulating glass carries a twenty year (ten year for units with bars between glass) written limited warranty against seal failure.