The brighest spark

Measuring gas fill level without breaking IG units

“It became necessary to destroy the village in order to save it.” This gem of military logic has long been applied to testing gas fill levels in insulating glass windows, as manufacturers simply lacked non-destructive quality control methods for gas filled units.

 Fortunately, that sorry state of affairs changed in the early 2000s with the introduction of a device called GasGlass by Sparklike Ltd. The GasGlass method detects the filling gas concentration from the light emission of an electrical discharge. By pressing the analyzer against an insulating glass window the operator will get an instant result on the gas concentration inside the unit.

Thanks to GasGlass, window manufacturers are now able to test exactly how much Argon there is in an insulating glass unit without destroying the unit. Reliable data can also be collected repeatedly on the same IG units over time.

GasGlass was the first non-invasive testing device to reach the market. While several other technologies were being actively pursued, Sparklike’s GasGlass got there first – and more importantly, this technology obviously has staying power since it is field-proven to work non-destructively.

The newest version, the practical GasGlass Handheld makes using the device independent of time and place. The portable battery-driven analyzer can be used to measure gas fill levels in installed windows on site, not just at the manufacturing facility. Building inspection and renovation needs are thus served with a new level of flexibility and measurement precision.

Some industry experts believe in the product so much that they feel it should be placed on the end of every production line so each unit can be tested. It is too soon to tell if this will become a reality, but one thing is certain. GasGlass will have a profound effect on the window and door industry in the years to come.