Double Glazing Spacer Bar Sizes: The Complete Guide
When manufacturing double-glazed units, selecting the correct Double Glazing Spacer Bar Sizes is critical. The spacer bar determines the width of the air or gas gap between the glass panes, which directly impacts the thermal insulation and structural integrity of the window. More importantly, it depends on the dimensional requirements of your specific orders.
If you are sourcing materials for your IGU (Insulating Glass Unit) production line, this guide will walk you through the standard sizes and how to choose the right one.
1. Understanding the “A” Measurement (Air Gap)
In the industry, the size of a spacer bar is usually referred to by its “A” measurement (e.g., 6A, 9A, 12A). The “A” stands for the width of the air gap inside the insulating glass unit.
- 6A (6mm): Suitable for smaller windows or specific residential applications.
- 9A (9mm): A very common standard for standard double glazing.
- 12A (12mm): The most popular size globally. It achieves the optimal balance between thermal performance and cost.
- 16A (16mm): Used for high-performance windows that require a thicker air gap for better energy efficiency.
- Larger sizes (e.g., 20A, 24A): Used in specialized architectural projects.
Common Models for Glass Processing Plants: 6A, 9A, 12A, 14A, 16A, 19A, 22A.
For high-end IGU plants producing irregular or shaped glass, special sizes are required. For instance, the 38.5A aluminum spacer bar produced for a leading automotive glass giant (name withheld for confidentiality) was specially customized by Henghui, a Chinese IGU accessories factory. We selected 6-series aluminum (6063-T5) raw materials based on the customer’s drawings and strict application requirements. This product is mainly used for high-speed rail and other critical IGUs, featuring a matte dark grey color and large-radius bending. We completed the entire process, from mold opening to production, within one week to meet the customer’s schedule exactly.
2. Standard Wall Thickness for Bending
The size of the bar isn’t just about the air gap; the wall thickness is equally important, especially when using bending machines.
- For semi-automatic bending machines, standard wall thicknesses of 0.22mm, 0.25mm to 0.30mm are highly cost-effective.
- For fully automatic bending machines, the wall thickness must be 0.33mm or above to prevent cracking during high-speed bending.
- Special sizes require even higher standards. For example, the wall thickness of the 38.5A aluminum bar in our case for a leading automotive glass giant (name withheld) reached 0.7mm, which was a special customization.
Engineering Details:
- Material: 6063-T5 Aluminum (Custom 6-Series)
- Weight: 0.151 kg/m
- Dimensions: 38.5mm (Air Gap), 0.7mm (Wall Thickness)
- Tolerance: ±0.1mm to ±1.2mm based on size
3. Bendable vs. Straight (Non-bendable)
You must also choose the right type based on your corner processing requirements:
- Bendable Spacer Bars: Crucial for achieving seamless continuous corner processing and ensuring a perfect seal.
- Non-bendable (Straight) Bars: Used for standard rectangular windows and connected using corner keys.
4. Customization According to Your Specific Needs
At Henghui, we deeply understand that every IGU factory’s equipment is different. Therefore, we provide customized spacer bar sizes to meet your specific production requirements. Whether you need standard 12mm Aluminum Spacer Bar or customized dimensions, we provide factory-direct solutions with strict quality control.
Conclusion
Choosing the right double glazing spacer bar sizes is the foundation of high-quality window manufacturing. By understanding the air gap measurements and wall thickness requirements, you can optimize your production efficiency and product quality.
Need a reliable supplier for your double glazing production? Contact Henghui today for free samples!
Whether you need to purchase accessories or require free technical guidance, we are here for you. Even if you have never purchased from Henghui before, don’t worry. We do our best to provide free technical support to IGU manufacturers worldwide. Simply send us an email, and we generally reply within 24 hours. This is our guarantee and our responsibility.
Key Takeaways to Remember:
For standard orders, 6A, 9A, 12A, 14A, 16A, and 19A are the most common sizes, while larger sizes like 22A, 24A, and 26A are seeing a growing trend year by year. For special sizes, you may need to contact your supplier for customization. Henghui, as an IGU material manufacturer, can provide all aluminum spacer bar sizes from 4A to 70A.
Finally, remember this golden rule: For large-radius bending, always choose 6-series raw materials. For standard 90-degree bending, 3-series raw materials are generally used. This is determined by the inherent properties of the materials themselves.
