Apr 21, 2023 Written by Magnetite Australia
Creating comfortable and energy-efficient living and working spaces requires both thermal insulation and soundproofing. However, using traditional insulation materials like fibreglass and rockwool can have a negative impact on the environment.
Feb 17, 2023 Written by Magnetite Australia
This year marks a very special occasion for Magnetite, as we celebrate our 25th year of providing double-glazing solutions for existing windows and doors in Australian homes and buildings.
It’s hard to believe that 25 years have passed since we first started this journey, but we are proud to say that we have come a long way since then. We have seen many changes in the industry over the years, but one thing that has remained constant is our commitment to providing the best secondary glazing solutions and delivering excellent service to our customers.
While we are celebrating this milestone, we reflect on our history, achievements and our future with anticipation.
So, join us as we pay tribute to a quarter of a century of innovation, quality, and customer satisfaction, and raise a glass to the future of Magnetite.
Feb 02, 2023 Written by Magnetite Australia
Windows are a major source of heat loss in homes and making them more energy efficient can help to save on energy bills while improving the comfort of your home. In Australia, the average household spends approximately $1,500 on energy bills every year, which can be attributed to inefficient windows. There are several ways that can help to make your windows more energy efficient, and ultimately save you money on your energy bills.
Whether you’re building a new home or looking to upgrade your existing windows, this guide will provide you with the information you need to make informed decisions and save money on your energy bills.
Dec 13, 2022 Written by Magnetite Australia
Whether you are at home or in the office, windows protect you from unwanted outdoor elements like noise or extreme temperature. That’s why it is important to choose the best solutions when treating your windows either for noise reduction or thermal insulation.
While you can find endless ideas online on how to manage those noisy neighbours, it can be challenging to find one that is effective and last for the long term. Despite what you find, soundproofing is so much more than throwing a rug on the floor or placing more furniture in the noisier part of your home to absorb sound.
Soundproofing requires a professional’s expertise to achieve optimal noise reduction.
As specialists in acoustic (and thermal) insulation, these are some common myths relating to soundproofing and window glazing that you should be wary about.
Dec 06, 2022 Written by Magnetite Australia
If you read the news, you would have heard this summer is forecasted to be hotter than usual, and the heat will strike early for the northern part of the nation – with some areas could see mercury tipped to reach mid-40 degrees in the next few days.
While we enjoy a warm summer day, certainly nobody enjoys the extreme heatwave. We can escape the heat by staying in – the question is how to stop the heat from following us into our homes.
Read more about: Is your home ready for the hot summer months?
Sep 13, 2022 Written by Magnetite Australia
It’s no secret that the noise surrounding our homes can easily impact the comfort and relaxation that we experience.
When on the hunt for a new home, it is common advice to research the local area including understanding the level of noise it may experience during various times of the day. This will help you to either avoid the area or determine any work required to turn the house into a comfortable home.
But what if you only realise after buying that the noise is worse than you thought, or you have been living in the home and the noise has gradually increased over the years?
While moving out may be a drastic final option, there are many ways you can soundproof your home.
Jul 15, 2022 Written by Magnetite Australia
Have you ever noticed the cold air blowing in through the gaps around your windows? Although checking your windows may not sound like an essential household chore, reducing the cold air coming through your windows is an important step to keep your home warm in winter.
Apr 06, 2022 Written by Magnetite Australia
Just like many of us, Melbournians want to come home and enjoy peace and quiet within the comfort of their own homes after a long day at work. As the population in Melbourne steadily increases, noise problem become unavoidable, particularly in a high-density living area.
May 17, 2022 Written by Magnetite Australia
Is noise keeping you awake at night? Perhaps it is preventing you from enjoying your favourite TV show? This noise issue has become a far more common problem face by Australian homes especially in the major cities like Sydney and Melbourne. While many believe that the best way to deal with the unwanted noise is by soundproofing your windows, the process as well as the cost could be a deal breaker. We all know that windows are often perceived as the greatest source of noise penetration, soundproofing your windows is said to be a reliable way to improve the comfort of your home. But is it truly worth it?
Feb 21, 2022 Written by Magnetite Australia
Mixed-use precincts are on the rise in the city of Canberra – with many residents living in close proximity to commercial and business premises. Couple that with changes in work structures (employees working from home or choosing hybrid work models) which have created a new normal. The quiet neighbourhoods that Canberrans once enjoyed are now on the brink of change, and with that comes the problem of noise.
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.
