Three things Melbourne is known for is its vibrant culture, great coffee and weather that can’t make up its mind. One minute it’s sunny, the next it’s windy, wet or just bone-chilling cold. And oddly enough, many Melbourne homes feel colder inside than out, especially in winter. That makes keeping your home warm, dry and
Adelaide winters may be relatively mild compared to other parts of the world but for many homeowners, the colder months still come with a familiar, yet frustrating problem—moisture build-up and condensation on windows. If you’ve noticed your windows fogging up in the mornings, or worse, dripping with water, you’re not alone.
Retrofitting your windows is one of the smartest ways to improve your home’s comfort, without undergoing the cost or disruption of full window replacement. In Australia, where cold winters and hot, dry summers are part of life, energy efficiency and noise reduction are increasingly important to homeowners.
Investing in double glazing is a smart decision for homeowners looking to reduce noise, improve thermal comfort and energy efficiency. However, there are various types of double-glazed windows in the market and choosing the right product requires careful consideration.
Before making a purchase, it’s important to gather the right information to ask the right questions to ensure you’re getting a high-quality, long-lasting solution that meets your needs. We’ll cover the key questions to ask when buying double glazing, helping you make an informed choice.
Feb 20, 2025 Written by Magnetite Australia
Double-glazed windows have become a key element in modern homes, offering noise reduction, energy efficiency and improved all year-round comfort. However, one question many homeowners ask before investing in double glazing is: How long do double-glazed windows last?
The lifespan of double-glazed windows can vary depending on factors such as materials, installation quality, climate and maintenance. We break down how long double-glazing lasts, the signs of wear and tear and how you can extend the life of your windows for the best long-term value.
Jan 20, 2025 Written by Magnetite Australia
When it comes to managing the thermal performance of your home, particularly in a city like Adelaide with its hot summers and chilly winters, choosing the right materials is important. One such material making waves for its exceptional thermal benefits is optical grade acrylic. But what exactly is it, and how does it work to combat both heat and cold?
Nov 19, 2024 Written by Magnetite Australia
As summer approaches in the southern hemisphere, now’s the time to prep your home to handle the heat. Managing indoor temperatures can make a big difference in comfort, especially if your home has western-facing windows that attract the hot afternoon sun. To help keep your space cooler and more energy-efficient, there are a few smart strategies.
Here’s how to get your home summer-ready and stay comfortable all season long.
Nov 04, 2024 Written by Magnetite Australia
In growing cities like Melbourne and Sydney, construction noise pollution has become a familiar part of daily life. As urban areas expand and more homes and infrastructure are developed, the constant hum of drills, cranes and heavy machinery can lead to “construction fatigue.” Whether it’s a new apartment complex being built next door or major roadworks in your suburb, construction noise can significantly affect your quality of life, productivity, and overall well-being.
Oct 14, 2024 Written by Magnetite Australia
Living in the one of the ‘most liveable cities’ in the world has got many advantages. However, a vibrant place like Melbourne comes with its challenges too, and noise complaints are among the most common. From the honking of cars on Lygon Street to the noise of construction equipment in Docklands, unwanted sound is an increasing concern for residents and visitors. But what exactly is noise pollution, and how can we address it in urban city living?
Oct 04, 2024 Written by Magnetite Australia
As concerns over climate change continue to grow, homeowners are looking for ways to make their homes more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly. One of commonly overlooked building elements that can lead to major improvements is window glazing. An appropriate window glazing can significantly reduce heat loss, improve insulation and contribute to a more comfortable, sustainable home.
When evaluating your options to improve the thermal performance of your windows, the following double glazing key performance criteria should be considered:
| Glazing Type | Cooling Stars | Heating Stars | Cool% | Heat% | Uw | SHGC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single glazed 3mm clear glass* |  |
  |
7.4 | 0.77 | ||
| Single glazed 3mm clear glass & 4.5mm Magnetite |
 |
|
35% | 59% | 2.9 | 0.67 |
| Glazing Type | Cooling Stars | Heating Stars | Cool% | Heat% | Uw | SHGC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single glazed 3mm clear glass* | |
|
20% | 28% | 5.5 | 0.69 |
| Single glazed 3mm clear glass & 4.5mm Magnetite |
|
|
37% | 61% | 2.6 | 0.66 |
| Single glazed 3mm clear glass with Solartite** and 4.5mm Magnetite |
|
|
76% | 45% | 1.8 | 0.20 |
*WERS standard typical industry window
**Solartite is a range of high performance window film. The window tested above has Solartite’s low-e film.
Winter - the ideal situation is to let in as much of the sun's heat and then trap it inside to maintain a comfortable environment in your home or office. This will also significantly reduce heating costs and saves you money. The ideal window for winter will have a high SHGC to let the sun's heat in and a low U-Value to prevent the heat from escaping. Clear windows without shading films are better suited for winter climates.
Compared with traditional double-glazing, Magnetite’s double-glazing solution can provide better results during winter or for cold climate areas such as Canberra, the Adelaide Hills and Blue Mountains.
Magnetite's clear acrylic window panels allow the direct heat from the sun's rays to enter the building and once inside, Magnetite's superior magnetic seals retain the heat, giving Magnetite an advantage over conventional operating windows.
| Glazing Type | Cooling Stars | Heating Stars | Cool% | Heat% | Uw | SHGC | AI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Double Glazed 3mm clear glass/12mm air gap/3mm clear glass IGU (Insulated Glass Unit)* |
|
|
40% | 55% | 3.0 | 0.61 | 5.0 |
| Single glazed 3mm clear glass & 4.5mm Magnetite |
|
|
37% | 61% | 2.6 | 0.66 | 0.5 |
*WERS standard typical industry window
Summer - the ideal situation is to minimize the heat coming in from outside and prevent the cool air inside from escaping through the window. This will make your home more comfortable and reduce your air-conditioning costs. The ideal window for summer, or for a large west-facing window, will have a low SHGC to limit the heat from the sun's direct rays, as well as, a low U-Value to prevent the heat in the air outside from moving through the window and warming the cool conditioned air inside. It is better to have a shading film on the first (outer) glass pane to limit the heat that enters the double glazed unit.
The combination of Magnetite retrofit double glazing and Solartite outperforms the traditional insulated glass unit for hot climate. Magnetite fit over an existing window with reflective film will give better summer heat control than a double-glazed window with supertoned glass.
The Magnetite system stops the conduction and convection of heat better than glass windows giving superior results for summer conditions. Combined with a film or a shading device, Magnetite is the ideal solution for the hot Australian conditions.
| Glazing Type | Cooling Stars | Heating Stars | Cool% | Heat% | Uw | SHGC | AI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Double Glazed 5mm Supertoned glass/6mm air gap/5mm clear glass IGU (Insulated Glass Unit)* |
|
|
54% | 425% | 3.30 | 0.461 | 5.0 |
| Single glazed 3mm glass Solartite** and 4.5mm Magnetite |
|
|
73% | 38% | 2.4 | 0.19 | 0.5 |
*WERS standard typical industry window
**Solartite is a range of high performance window film. The window tested above has Solartite’s low-e film.
Click here to view pdf version of Magnetite WERS test result.
Noise pollution is one the biggest problems faced in the cities today, particularly in a high-density living. Unwanted noise can be responsible for sleep loss and lack of concentration. This can lead to a deterioration of health through increased stress levels, headaches, high blood pressure and loss of hearing.
Noise penetrates windows through leaky seals or vibrations through the window structure. To reduce noise, a window should minimise air infiltration, hold enough weight to limit vibration and allow a large air cavity. This cavity, or air gap, is the key to secondary glazing.
CSIRO Research by John Davy shown an air cavity can effectively enhance sound insulation performance. The larger the air cavity the more noise the window system can reduce. Results show a wide air gap of 100-125mm will improve sound insulation by an average of 7dB(A) more than windows with a narrow gap of 8-13mm.
| Window or Glass Door Type | Total Glass Thickness (mm) | Air Cavity Thickness (mm) | Sound Insulation (dB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single Glaze 3mm | 3 | 0 | 23 |
| Single Glaze 6mm | 6 | 0 | 27 |
| Double Glaze Narrow Gap | 9-12 | 8-13 | 31 |
| Double Glaze Wide Gap | 9-12 | 100-125 | 38 |
The human ear is less sensitive to low frequency sound. According to a study released by the CSIRO, the human ear needs a change of 3dB to detect a difference in noise levels and the human ear perceives a change of 10dB as a doubling or halving of the noise level.
If you double the thickness of glass in a window the noise level will decrease by 3dB the least amount possible to make a difference. If the glass is laminated there is no perceived difference in noise reduction.
Working with the principles of noise transfer, Magnetite® and Soundtite are designed for high performance, which is achieved by combining air tight seals with the ability to maximize an air cavity and the flexibility to vary glazing thickness to suit. Magnetite® is excellent at reducing general noise such as busy roads, commuter trains and noisy neighbours. Whereas, Soundtite works well to combat low frequencies noise such as garbage truck, freight trains or airplane during take-off and landing.
| Test Code | Material Tested | Rw* | Improvement |
|---|---|---|---|
| ATF 707 (test window) | Aluminium sliding window, 3mm float glass with mohair seals | 23 | N/A |
| ATF 709 | Test window, 100mm air gap and Magnetite System (4.5mm acrylic panel) | 35 | 52% |
| ATF 1507 | Test window, 100mm air gap and Magnetite System (10.0mm acrylic panel) | 39 | 70% |
| ATF 817 | Test window, 100mm air gap and Soundtite (6.38mm laminated glass) | 41 | 78% |
*The Weighted Sound Reduction Index (Rw) is a measure for sound insulation performance of a single building element such as windows. The higher the Rw rating, the better the sound insulation.
