ISO 19916-1:2018

Overview

ISO 19916-1:2018 - "Glass in building - Vacuum insulating glass - Part 1" defines the basic product specifications and evaluation methods for vacuum insulating glass (VIG). The standard covers product components, optical and thermal properties, dimensional requirements, durability testing and laboratory methods for measuring thermal transmittance (U-value) and sound insulation. It is the foundational reference for specifying, testing and verifying the thermal and acoustic performance of VIG assemblies.

Key technical topics and requirements

• Scope and definition
  • Defines a vacuum insulating glass assembly as at least two glass panes separated by an array of pillars, hermetically sealed at the periphery with the gap held at about 1 Pa or lower.
• Components described
  • Glass types (float, tempered, laminated, coated, etc.), pillars, edge seals, evacuation ports and getters - materials may include glass, metals, ceramics, solder glass or polymers.
• Optical properties
  • Evaluation per ISO 9050 (spectral transmittance/reflectance, light and solar transmittance, UV factors). Note: pillar area ratio <1% is considered negligible for rounded optical values.
• Thermal performance (U-value)
  • Determination procedure and reporting requirements are specified; measurements follow Annex A using heat flow meter and guarded hot plate methods (referenced ISO 8301 / ISO 8302).
  • Test specimen handling: store specimens at room temperature ≥24 h prior to measurement.
  • Repeatability requirement: two measurements on the same specimen must agree within 3.0% (formula provided).
  • Informative annexes provide calculation methods and edge/pillar contributions to U-value.
• Sound insulation
  • Measurement methods reference ISO 10140-2 and rating per ISO 717-1.
• Durability
  • Requirements and test methods for thermal insulation durability are included (normative Annex B) and link to edge-seal durability standards.

Practical applications and users

ISO 19916-1:2018 is intended for:

• Manufacturers of vacuum insulating glass for product specification, quality control and R&D.
• Test laboratories performing U-value and acoustic measurements and durability tests.
• Architects, façade engineers and specifiers selecting high-performance glazing for energy-efficient buildings and noise control.
• Certification bodies and compliance authorities assessing product claims, durability and conformity with building regulations.
• Building owners/operators seeking verified thermal and acoustic performance data for retrofit or new construction.

Practical uses include product development, performance verification, façade selection for low U-values and acoustic comfort, and creating specification documents for procurement and compliance.

Related standards (normative references)

• ISO 9050 (optical/solar properties)
• ISO 8301 / ISO 8302 (heat flow meter / guarded hot plate)
• ISO 10140-2, ISO 717-1 (acoustics)
• ISO 10292 (calculation of U-values)
• ISO 20492-1 and ISO 12543 series (edge seals, laminated glass durability)

Keywords: ISO 19916-1:2018, vacuum insulating glass, VIG, U-value, thermal transmittance, sound insulation, edge seal, pillars, getter, evacuation port, glass in building, durability testing.