Online glass U-value, SHGC & shading coefficient calculator: V2.1.0

Related services Glass optical & thermal properties

We’ve just upgraded our online glass U-value, SHGC & shading coefficient calculator to V2.1.0, with the feature of argon gas concentration specification added.

It is now possible to vary the argon gas concentration to study its impact on glass U-value. The default argon concentration is 95%. Please click the screenshot below to access this online calculator and also read this article on the relationship between gas fill and double glazing unit (DGU) thermal performance.

What is the difference between solar energy transmittance and SHGC?

Related services Glass optical & thermal properties

As shown above, solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) consists of two components:

  • Primary solar heat gain: the solar heat directly transmitted through a glass in its original solar radiation form.
  • Secondary solar heat gain: the solar heat absorbed by a glass and further transferred to the indoor space as heat and via all 3 heat transfer modes (conduction, connection and radiation)

The primary solar heat gain component is just the solar energy transmittance of the glass.

The secondary solar heat gain component is calculated as the solar energy absorptance of the glass multiplied by its inward flowing fraction. The solar heat absorbed by the glass causes a temperature increase of the glass. The absorbed solar heat flows to either the indoor side or the outdoor side. The fraction flowing to the indoor side is the inward flowing fraction.

For example, for a glass with 30% solar energy transmittance, 20% solar energy absorptance and 0.25 inward flowing fraction:

  • Its primary solar heat gain is 30%: 30% of the overall solar energy is directly transmitted to the indoor space
  • Its secondary solar heat gain is 20% × 0.25 = 5%: 20% of the overall solar energy is absorbed by the glass and 0.25 fraction of it is transmitted to the indoor space;
  • Its SHGC is therefore 30% + 5% = 35% or 0.35.

In summary:

SHGC = primary solar heat gain + secondary solar heat gain

Primary solar heat gain = Solar energy transmittance
Secondary solar heat gain = solar energy absorptance × inward flow fraction

Solar energy transmittance and SHGC are different. Solar energy transmittance is the primary solar heat gain component of SHGC only. The SHGC of a glass is always greater than its solar energy transmittance.

Online glass U-value, SHGC & shading coefficient calculator: V2.0.0

Related services Glass optical & thermal properties

We are pleased to introduce our upgraded online glass U-value, SHGC & shading coefficient calculator. The current version is V2.0.0. Click the screenshot below to access this online calculator.

Online glass U-value, SHGC & shading coefficient calculator

Refer to this early post for the features of the V1.1.0 version.

New features added in V2.0.0

  • SHGC and shading coeffcient calculations
    • Note: limited to single glazing systems; this is due to the restriction of the mathematical model in ISO 9050/EN 410
  • More compact user interface
  • Tooltips on glass configuration schematics

Feedback and comments

We will improve this calculator regularly. If you have feebback and comments, please let us know.