PPG Industries has produced a new video promoting the energy-saving benefits of INTERCEPT stainless steel spacer systems for windows. The nearly seven-minute presentation, which features the debut of Glenn the Glass Guy, an actor-portrayed PPG expert on the science of glass performance, is divided into four parts – an introduction plus three educational modules – covering performance aspects of the Intercept spacer system and how they compare to those of foam-based spacer systems.

The first educational module, which runs shorter than two minutes, is devoted to strength and aesthetics, highlighting the rigidity of metal spacers compared to foam and their ability to conform to the components inside an insulating glass unit (IGU) to provide superior sight lights.

The second module, which runs for nearly three minutes, focuses on the durability of metal compared to foam. Using a microscope and two foam footballs, the module shows how differences between the two materials can affect the long-term ability to retain energy-saving insulating gases such as argon and krypton inside an IGU.

The final module, also less than two minutes long, incorporates a thermal-imaging camera to compare the thermal performance of an IGU fabricated with the Intercept spacer system to that of one constructed with a foam-based spacer system. The demonstration conducted by Glenn the Glass Guy shows that windows made with foam spacers do not offer better thermal conductivity than those made with stainless steel spacers.

Brad Boone, PPG market segment manager, residential glass, said PPG produced the video to help window-makers better explain to homeowners the advantages of the Intercept spacer system.

“In regard to durability, strength and longevity, the video clearly demonstrates how and why stainless steel is superior to foam, while also providing visual proof that the differences in thermal performance between the two products is practically non-existent,” he explained. “By presenting those differences in a brief, fun and engaging fashion, we are confident this video will enable window-makers and their customers to identify the spacer system that provides the best energy performance and long-term value for their investments.”