Acoustic glass and acoustic double glazing
Sound-damping laminated glass — as a single pane, in a sealed double glazed unit, or in a triple build — cut to your exact millimetre sizes by a UK supplier. Every decibel figure here is a measured whole-unit rating, never two pane numbers added together.
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- Acoustic PVB the damping interlayer
- Low-E coating on surface 3
- Warm-edge spacer with desiccant
- Edge seal primary and secondary
Our best-measured orderable build — 8.8mm Acoustic / 16 spacer / 6mm IGU, Rw 41 dB
What is acoustic glass?
Acoustic glass is glazing built to reduce airborne sound transmission, using a laminated pane whose interlayer damps vibration. Performance comes from mass, pane asymmetry and that interlayer — not from a wider cavity. Measured whole-unit ratings on this page run from Rw 31 dB to Rw 48 dB; a reduction of about ten decibels is heard as roughly half as loud.
What are you actually trying to block?
Two units with the same Rw can behave completely differently against different noise. Pick the source you live with and the right figure comes with it.
Rw, Rw + C and Rw + Ctr
Higher is better in all three, and all three are laboratory ratings for the glass unit. They differ in which noise spectrum they weight, which is why quoting only Rw against a traffic problem overstates what you will hear.
- Rw
The headline comparison
The weighted sound reduction index — one number for the whole unit, rated to BS EN ISO 717-1. Use it to rank builds when no single noise source dominates.
- Rw + C
Speech and higher frequencies
The pink-noise adaptation. Reach for it when voices, televisions, children or faster rail are the problem — mid and high frequency sources.
- Rw + Ctr
Road traffic and bass
The low-frequency adaptation, and usually the honest number for urban road traffic, slower rail, aircraft and bass-heavy noise. It is always the lowest of the three.
Acoustic double glazing
Two different pane thicknesses detune the unit, and one acoustic laminate does more for sound than making both panes thicker. Every build below is a measured whole-unit result, worst to best by Rw — the same figures the configurator prices from.
- Orderable today from the live catalogue
- Measured reference build — the laminate is not currently stocked
- 4mm / 20 spacer / 4mm IGUOrderableRw 31 dB
- 6mm / 16 spacer / 6mm IGUOrderableRw 31 dB
- 8mm / 16 spacer / 6mm IGUOrderableRw 35 dB
- 6.8mm Acoustic / 16 spacer / 6mm IGUOrderableRw 38 dB
- 10mm / 16 spacer / 6mm IGUOrderableRw 40 dB
- 8.8mm Acoustic / 16 spacer / 6mm IGUOrderableRw 41 dB
- 10.8mm Acoustic / 16 spacer / 6mm IGUReference buildRw 41 dB
- 12.8mm Acoustic / 16 spacer / 6mm IGUReference buildRw 41 dB
- 16.8mm Acoustic / 16 spacer / 16.8mm AcousticReference buildRw 48 dB
The two acoustic laminates you can order today
Laminated safety glass with a sound-damping PVB interlayer. These are pane ratings — a pane rating is not a unit rating, and two of them cannot be added together. Use the measured builds above to choose a complete unit.
6.8 mm Acoustic Laminate
In stock- Rw
- 35 dB
- Rw + C
- 34 dB
- Rw + Ctr
- 32 dB
- Nominal weight
- 17 kg/m²
8.8 mm Acoustic Laminate
In stock- Rw
- 37 dB
- Rw + C
- 36 dB
- Rw + Ctr
- 33 dB
- Nominal weight
- 22 kg/m²
Pane figures follow the publicly accessible Pilkington UK sound-insulation table and match the acoustic metadata on the live component rows. An internal reference set records slightly different values for some thicknesses; where the two disagree the directly verifiable manufacturer publication is the one shown.
Single and triple acoustic glazing
Double glazing is the usual answer for a replacement window, but it is not the only build — and more panes is not automatically quieter.
- Single
Acoustic laminated glass on its own
One laminated pane, appropriate for internal screens, partitions and secondary applications. The interlayer damps vibration and the pane also behaves as laminated safety glass. A whole window is a different measurement from a pane.
- Triple
Acoustic triple glazing
Triple glazing can be engineered for very high sound insulation — but three ordinary equal panes are not. Our measured 4mm / 8 spacer / 4mm / 8 spacer / 4mm TGU triple returns Rw 31 dB, against Rw 41 dB for the best double above it. Compare the tested make-up, never the pane count.
Every measured combination we hold
The complete dataset behind every figure on this page, read from the same acoustic-rating table the configurator and the pricing engine use. These are laboratory results for exact glazing make-ups — reference test combinations, not a promise that every listed thickness is stocked online.
| Glazing make-up | Rw dB | Rw + C dB | Rw + Ctr dB |
|---|---|---|---|
| Double — acoustic laminated, orderable today | |||
| 6.8mm Acoustic / 16 spacer / 6mm IGU | 38 | 36 | 33 |
| 8.8mm Acoustic / 16 spacer / 6mm IGU | 41 | 38 | 34 |
| Double — standard float, shown for comparison | |||
| 4mm / 20 spacer / 4mm IGU | 31 | 30 | 25 |
| 6mm / 16 spacer / 6mm IGU | 31 | 30 | 27 |
| 8mm / 16 spacer / 6mm IGU | 35 | 33 | 29 |
| 10mm / 16 spacer / 6mm IGU | 40 | 38 | 35 |
| Double — acoustic laminated, measured reference, not stocked | |||
| 10.8mm Acoustic / 16 spacer / 6mm IGU | 41 | 39 | 35 |
| 12.8mm Acoustic / 16 spacer / 6mm IGU | 41 | 40 | 36 |
| 16.8mm Acoustic / 16 spacer / 16.8mm Acoustic | 48 | 46 | 42 |
| Triple — measured reference | |||
| 4mm / 8 spacer / 4mm / 8 spacer / 4mm TGU | 31 | 30 | 27 |
| 4mm / 10 spacer / 4mm / 10 spacer / 4mm TGU | 32 | 31 | 26 |
What the laboratory number does not include
Every figure on this page is a rating for the glass, measured in a laboratory. The window you install is a complete construction, and BS EN 12758 says so explicitly.
Glass data is not whole-window data
The installed result can differ from the glass rating because sound also travels through:
- the frame material, design and how well it is sealed
- the glazing and mounting method, and the unit’s dimensions
- trickle vents and any other deliberate opening
- flanking paths — walls, reveals, floors and the ceiling void
An acoustic pane on its own does not demonstrate Approved Document E compliance. A project-specific compliance or planning target needs evidence for the complete construction, normally from an acoustic consultant. We publish glass data; we do not certify buildings.
Check the frame before you order
Acoustic laminate is thicker and heavier than the float glass it replaces — 8.8 mm Acoustic Laminate is 22 kg/m². Confirm rebate depth, hardware and the maximum glass weight your frames and hinges are rated for.
Two levers that do not work
A wider cavity is not a sound lever. Changing between the common insulating-glass cavity sizes makes no meaningful acoustic difference. Much larger airspaces — 60mm and above, as in secondary glazing — are a different acoustic system, not a bigger sealed unit.
Nor is the gas fill. Air, argon and krypton do not create a meaningful acoustic difference for normal unit selection. Argon is specified here for its thermal benefit, not its acoustic one.
Acoustic glazing, answered straight
What is acoustic glass?
Acoustic glass is glazing designed to reduce airborne sound transmission. Specialist acoustic laminated glass bonds glass sheets with a sound-damping interlayer, and it can be used alone or as one pane within a double or triple glazed unit.
What does Rw mean on acoustic glass?
Rw is the weighted sound reduction index in decibels. It is a useful headline laboratory rating, but it should not be the only number used when the noise source is known because C and Ctr adaptation terms show how the glazing behaves against different sound spectra.
What is Rw + C?
Rw + C is the Rw rating adjusted with the C spectrum term. It is commonly useful when speech, television, children, faster rail and other medium-to-higher-frequency noise is important.
What is Rw + Ctr and why does it matter for road noise?
Rw + Ctr applies the Ctr spectrum adaptation term and is usually the more useful comparison for urban road traffic, slower rail, bass-heavy sound and other low-to-medium-frequency noise. For a house beside a busy road, compare Rw + Ctr rather than choosing on Rw alone.
How many decibels should acoustic glazing reduce?
There is no single correct dB target for every home. The correct glazing depends on the external noise spectrum, the desired internal noise level, room use, window area, frame, ventilation and surrounding construction. Use measured make-up data for comparison and obtain acoustic design advice where a target is contractual or the site is highly exposed.
Is acoustic double glazing better than normal double glazing?
It can be substantially better when it uses a purpose-designed make-up such as different pane thicknesses and an acoustic laminated pane. Simply replacing two ordinary equal panes with another symmetric arrangement does not create the same effect.
Is triple glazing always better for noise?
No. Triple glazing is not automatically quieter. Ordinary symmetric triple glazing can have only modest sound reduction, while a well-designed acoustic double unit may perform much better. An engineered acoustic triple unit can also perform extremely well. Compare the exact tested construction.
Does a wider double-glazing cavity reduce more noise?
Not necessarily within normal sealed-unit cavity sizes. Manufacturer guidance indicates that ordinary cavity-width changes are not the main acoustic lever. Pane thickness, asymmetry and acoustic lamination usually matter more. Very large gaps in secondary-glazing systems behave differently.
Does argon improve acoustic performance?
Argon is primarily used to improve thermal performance. Pilkington's acoustic guidance states that air, argon and krypton do not make a meaningful difference to sound insulation in normal insulating-glass cavities, so gas choice should not be used as the main acoustic selling point.
Can acoustic glass also be Low-E or solar-control glass?
Yes, suitable systems can combine acoustic lamination with other functions. Pilkington, Saint-Gobain and AGC all publish solutions that combine acoustic performance with thermal and/or solar-control functions. The exact coating position and make-up still need to be compatible with the sealed unit being ordered.
Is acoustic laminated glass safety glass?
Acoustic laminated products retain glass fragments on the interlayer when broken and can satisfy relevant impact-safety classifications depending on their exact construction. Always select the required safety specification for the location rather than assuming every acoustic thickness has the same classification.
Will acoustic glass stop all traffic or aircraft noise?
No glazing can make a normal room completely silent. Acoustic glazing reduces transmitted sound, but frames, seals, vents, walls, roofs and flanking paths still matter. Aircraft and other complex noise can require a site-specific acoustic assessment because the frequency spectrum changes by location and aircraft type.
Why can the installed window perform worse than the glass datasheet?
Laboratory glass ratings isolate the tested specimen. In a real window, frame design, seals, mounting, vents, dimensions, air leakage and the surrounding façade can all transmit sound. BS EN 12758 expressly warns that incorporating glass into a window can change acoustic performance.
Can I use acoustic glass as single glazing?
Yes. Acoustic laminated glass can be used as single glazing where the application and safety design permit it, including some internal screens and partitions. For external windows, thermal and overall façade requirements often make an insulating glass unit more appropriate.
How do I choose acoustic glass for a busy road?
Start with Rw + Ctr, then compare complete tested make-ups. Prefer a purpose-designed asymmetric or acoustic laminated construction, confirm the frame can carry the thickness and weight, and make sure seals and ventilation do not undermine the result.
How do I order acoustic double glazing from GLAZIE?
Open the glass configurator, enter the exact width and height, choose the available acoustic pane and complete the sealed-unit specification. Where your exact physical make-up matches a recorded supplier rating, the system uses that measured whole-unit result. If your project needs a combination not currently stocked online, send the specification for availability review.
Are GLAZIE acoustic dB figures measured or estimated?
Exact combinations stored in the acoustic-rating database are shown as measured supplier data. For other qualified make-ups, the configurator may show a conservative modelled estimate and labels it as estimated. An estimated result is not presented as a laboratory certificate.
Does acoustic glass alone prove compliance with Approved Document E?
No. Approved Document E concerns sound resistance in building constructions and the installed result depends on more than the glass pane. Where compliance or a contractual acoustic target must be demonstrated, use the appropriate whole construction evidence, testing or acoustic design advice.
Price your acoustic glazing
Type your sizes, pick the build, and see the price update as you type. No survey, no call-back, no waiting on a quote.
Whole-unit ratings from the GLAZIE measured dataset (BS EN ISO 140-3, rated BS EN ISO 717-1). Pane ratings and the cavity and gas rules from Pilkington UK published product data. Product-description and extension rules per BS EN 12758:2019+A1:2023. Availability reflects the live component catalogue at page render.
Why acoustic glass works
Good acoustic glazing is engineered around the sound problem rather than simply adding more panes. Three principles matter most:
- Mass: a heavier pane generally resists airborne sound better than a lighter pane, but thickness alone is not the whole answer.
- Asymmetry: using panes of different thicknesses helps prevent both panes responding strongly at the same frequencies. This is why a purpose-designed asymmetric double glazed unit can outperform an ordinary symmetric unit.
- Acoustic lamination: specialist laminated glass uses a sound-damping PVB interlayer between two sheets of glass. Pilkington Optiphon, Saint-Gobain STADIP SILENCE and AGC Stratophone all use this principle.
Acoustic laminated glass can also provide laminated safety behaviour and can be combined with other glazing functions such as Low-E thermal insulation or solar control where the exact product system allows it.
Verified UK manufacturer reference data
The tables below are manufacturer/reference configurations, not a promise that every thickness is stocked by every GLAZIE seller. Current online acoustic panes and GLAZIE's exact whole-unit rating table are kept separate so reference evidence cannot silently become an availability claim.
Pilkington Optiphon — published UK acoustic values
Pilkington describes Optiphon as acoustic laminated glass using a specialist PVB interlayer. It can be used as single glazing or incorporated into insulating glass units and can be combined with other compatible functions such as thermal insulation, solar control or self-cleaning. Pilkington's UK sound-insulation table publishes the following monolithic values:
| Optiphon | Rw | Rw + C | Rw + Ctr |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6.8 mm | 35 dB | 34 dB | 32 dB |
| 8.8 mm | 37 dB | 36 dB | 33 dB |
| 10.8 mm | 38 dB | 37 dB | 36 dB |
| 12.8 mm | 39 dB | 39 dB | 37 dB |
| 16.8 mm | 40 dB | 40 dB | 38 dB |
The GLAZIE Master Catalogue also contains an older controlled Pilkington reference set sourced from Pilkington ref. 8222 (recorded as 2020). Some values in that historical reference differ slightly from the currently published UK table, so this page gives precedence to the current manufacturer publication and does not present the older values as current product declarations.
Pilkington Optiphon — measured IGU reference builds held by GLAZIE
These exact-build rows are held in the controlled Master Catalogue as measured acoustic IGU references. They are reference-only and not proof of current stock. Performance belongs to the recorded construction; do not transfer a result to a different pane order, thickness or cavity.
| Measured build | Rw | Rw + C | Rw + Ctr |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 / 16 argon / Optiphon 6.8 | 40 dB | 38 dB | 34 dB |
| 6 / 16 argon / Optiphon 8.8 | 41 dB | 39 dB | 35 dB |
| 8 / 16 argon / Optiphon 8.8 | 42 dB | 39 dB | 34 dB |
| 10 / 16 argon / Optiphon 8.8 | 44 dB | 42 dB | 38 dB |
Pilkington Optiphon product information · Pilkington UK sound-insulation table.
Saint-Gobain STADIP SILENCE
Saint-Gobain Glass UK states that STADIP SILENCE acoustic performances are tested and certified in acoustic test reports. Its published product data includes a 10.8A / 24 mm air / 14.8SS acoustic unit at Rw 51 dB, C -1, Ctr -4, while published 8.8SS / 16 / 6 solar-control sealed-unit examples are Rw 42 dB, C -2, Ctr -7. Its acoustic calculator also exposes many single, double and triple test configurations with report references.
Saint-Gobain STADIP SILENCE technical data · Saint-Gobain acoustic calculator.
AGC Stratophone
AGC describes Stratophone as acoustic laminated glass using a special acoustic PVB interlayer. AGC explains performance using Rw, C and Ctr and states that noise-reduction performance is measured by official notified laboratories, with certificates available on request. The range can combine acoustic performance with safety, thermal insulation, solar control, privacy and other functions depending on the exact product variant.
AGC Stratophone product and document library.
Ordering rule: manufacturer reference data helps select a technical direction; GLAZIE seller/component availability determines what can actually be bought online. If a required reference build is not currently selectable, send the exact specification for an availability check.
Air gaps, argon and the triple-glazing myth
Argon is primarily a thermal choice, not an acoustic upgrade. Pilkington's noise-control guidance says air, argon and krypton do not create a meaningful difference in acoustic performance in normal insulating-glass cavities. Likewise, small changes between ordinary IGU cavity widths are not the main route to better sound insulation.
A much larger separation, as used in properly designed secondary glazing, is a different system and can produce a useful acoustic improvement. For conventional sealed units, focus first on pane mass, pane asymmetry, acoustic lamination and the tested whole-unit rating.
Triple glazing is not automatically quieter. Three ordinary similar panes can have a modest acoustic rating, while an engineered acoustic double unit can be much stronger. Conversely, an engineered triple unit using asymmetric heavy and acoustic laminated panes can achieve very high performance. Compare the exact tested construction and the relevant Rw + C or Rw + Ctr figure — not the number of panes.
Technical standards, test methods and what the numbers mean
Current UK standards separate the laboratory measurement from the single-number rating and from glazing product declarations:
- BS EN ISO 10140-2:2021 — laboratory measurement of airborne sound insulation for building elements including glazing, windows and façade elements.
- BS EN ISO 717-1:2020 — converts frequency-dependent airborne sound-insulation results into the single-number ratings used for comparison.
- BS EN 12758:2019+A1:2023 — covers airborne sound-insulation properties and extension rules for glass products used in glazed assemblies.
GLAZIE's current supplier comparison dataset was originally tested under the predecessor BS EN ISO 140-3 method and rated to BS EN ISO 717-1. It remains labelled with that provenance instead of being presented as though it had been retested under a newer standard.
BS EN 12758 also warns that glass performance can change when incorporated into a complete window because of frame design, frame material, mounting, glazing method and airtightness. For a contractual whole-window or façade requirement, use the required system test or an acoustic consultant's specification.
BS EN 12758 current BSI record · BS EN ISO 10140-2 current BSI record · BS EN ISO 717-1 current BSI record
Building Regulations and acoustic glass
Acoustic glass does not, by itself, create a blanket statement of compliance with Approved Document E. Approved Document E deals with resistance to the passage of sound in relevant building situations, while the installed façade or separating construction includes much more than the centre glass pane. Where a project has a planning condition, façade target, school specification, residential conversion requirement or other contractual acoustic criterion, obtain the required design or test evidence for the complete construction.
Ready to build your acoustic glazing?
Enter your sizes, choose the currently available acoustic glass and compare the complete sealed-unit specification before ordering. For a planning, airport, major-road or consultant-led specification, send us the required make-up or acoustic target first.