FENSA-registered glazing experts. Made-to-measure sealed units, shipped UK-wide, backed by a 10-year warranty.
Acoustic double glazing — the entry-point acoustic spec, 38 dB Rw for most domestic noise problems
Standard 4-16-4 double glazing achieves around 30 dB Rw. Asymmetric acoustic double glazing achieves 36-42 dB Rw — typically a perceived halving of loudness for the same window size and the same retrofit. For most domestic noise problems (suburban through-traffic, occasional sirens, school-run noise, dawn refuse collection) acoustic DG is the right answer — significantly cheaper than triple, no frame replacement required, and the cavity stays at standard window thicknesses (24-28mm overall). Pane Relief manufactures acoustic DG to BS EN 12758 with lab-measured Rw certificates on request. Asymmetric pane thicknesses, acoustic-PVB laminated builds, and acoustic-plus-low-E combinations are all configurable.
Quieter bedroom, quieter living room
Replace existing double glazing in the same opening — no frame change, same overall unit thickness (24/28mm), drop-in fit. Free UK mainland delivery, 10-year edge-seal warranty, helpline 08:00-18:00 Mon-Fri to talk through your specific noise source before you order.
Configure acoustic DGPlanning condition or BS 8233 target
Residential proposals near A-roads or rail typically need Rw 35+ dB glazing under planning conditions. Acoustic DG hits that comfortably. Net 30 trade accounts, scheduled site delivery, lab-measured Rw + C + Ctr values on every spec sheet, BS EN 12758 DoP on request.
Trade pricing & specifier docsPick your acoustic DG build
Asymmetric pane thicknesses and acoustic-PVB interlayers do the heavy lifting. Pick the closest spec.
6-16-4 asymmetric DG
Rw ~36 dB. Cheapest acoustic upgrade. Mismatched pane resonances. Standard suburban traffic.
6.4-16-4 acoustic-PVB DG
Rw ~38 dB. Asymmetric + acoustic-PVB lam on outer pane. Most-specified domestic acoustic DG.
6.8-20-4 acoustic DG
Rw ~40 dB. Thicker acoustic-PVB, wider acoustic-optimised cavity. A-road frontage.
10.8-20-4 acoustic DG
Rw ~42 dB. Heavy asymmetric outer. Rail-line, motorway-frontage, ground-floor flat over A-road.
Acoustic + low-E combo
Rw ~38 dB + U-value 1.3 W/m²K. The "quiet and warm" spec — hits Approved Document E + L in one unit.
Custom spec
Bring a planning condition, BS 8233 target, or noise survey — we'll quote a build that hits the number.
Why DG (not triple) for most domestic noise
Acoustic DG is the right answer 70-80% of the time. Triple is overkill for typical residential traffic noise — and adds weight, cost, and frame depth.
The 38-42 dB sweet spot
For traffic noise (the 500 Hz - 2 kHz band where speech and tyre noise live), acoustic-PVB laminated DG delivers 60-90% of the perceived improvement of an equivalent acoustic triple unit at around 50% of the cost. The remaining 10-40% improvement only matters for low-frequency-dominant noise sources (large trucks, jet aircraft, train rumble) — that's when you step up to triple.
Use acoustic DG for: suburban traffic, urban through-roads, school-run noise, late-night street noise, occasional sirens, dawn refuse collection, garden plant equipment.
Drop-in compatibility
Acoustic DG units are manufactured at standard window unit thicknesses — 24mm (4-16-4 baseline) or 28mm (6.4-16-4 acoustic upgrade) — so they retrofit into the existing rebate of any UPVC, timber, or aluminium frame without frame replacement, beading change, or fitter specialism. That's the structural advantage over triple, which typically needs a 36-44mm rebate and a frame swap.
Acoustic double glazing — common questions answered
Q: I have standard 4-16-4 double glazing. How much improvement will acoustic DG give me?
Stock 4-16-4 sits at around Rw 30 dB. A 6.4-16-4 acoustic-PVB upgrade lands at around Rw 38 dB. That 8 dB step is approximately a perceived halving of loudness. In practical terms: stops you noticing the late-night through-traffic, lets you sleep through the dawn freight, holds a phone call beside the window during the school run. Going further to Rw 42 dB is another perceived halving for low-frequency-dominant noise but adds weight and cost; we'd ask about your specific noise source before recommending the step up.
Q: Will it fit my existing window frames?
Almost certainly yes. Acoustic DG units are made to standard UK overall thicknesses — 24mm, 26mm, or 28mm — matching the rebate depth of every common UPVC, aluminium, and timber casement, sash, and tilt-and-turn frame manufactured in the last 25 years. The fitter pops out the old unit, drops the new acoustic unit straight in, re-beads. No frame replacement. Measure the rebate (not the visible glass) and add 6mm — that's your unit size. See the door-glass collection for the full 5-step measuring guide.
Q: What if my noise problem is at night and the windows are closed anyway?
That's exactly the right time for acoustic DG. Closed-window noise transmission through glazing is the largest single noise path in most domestic settings — and you can't fix it by closing the windows harder. Acoustic DG addresses the closed-window night-time scenario directly. The complication is trickle vents (small ventilation slots in the window or frame) — if your build has them, they short-circuit the acoustic performance. Spec acoustic trickle vents (10-15 dB Dn,e,w rated) at the same time, or remove them if you have MVHR mechanical ventilation.
Q: Will acoustic DG also help with thermal performance?
Yes — and the combo build is the most popular acoustic spec we ship. A 6.4mm acoustic-PVB outer + 16mm argon cavity + 4mm low-E inner delivers Rw ~38 dB and U-value 1.3 W/m²K simultaneously, hitting both Approved Document E noise and Approved Document L energy requirements in a single retrofit unit. Slightly more expensive than acoustic-only, but the energy bill saving typically pays the upgrade back inside 4-5 years on a south or west-facing window.
Q: What's the weight implication for my hinges and sash mechanism?
Standard 4-16-4 DG weighs around 20 kg/m². A 6.4-16-4 acoustic-PVB DG weighs around 26 kg/m². A 10.8-20-4 heavy acoustic DG weighs around 36 kg/m². For most casement and tilt-and-turn windows that's well within hinge spec; for sash windows, the heavier builds require a re-balance of the counterweights (a sash glazier will sort it in 30 minutes). We flag pane weight on every product page and the configurator output — quote that to your fitter at order time.
Q: Is acoustic DG also safety glass?
Acoustic-PVB laminated DG (the 6.4mm, 6.8mm, 10.8mm builds) is automatically BS EN 14449 safety-rated on the laminated face — the PVB interlayer holds shards in place exactly the same way as a standard safety laminate. For critical-location applications (door panels, sidelights, low windows) we typically pair the acoustic-laminated inner with a toughened outer to give the full belt-and-braces safety + acoustic combo. Specify "acoustic + safety" in the configurator and we ship the right build.
Q: How much more expensive than standard DG?
Roughly: +25% for asymmetric 6-16-4 (cheapest entry), +40% for acoustic-PVB 6.4-16-4 (the popular spec), +70% for heavy 10.8-20-4, +50% for acoustic + low-E combo. The configurator quotes live — you can see the price step before committing. For a typical 1.2m² bedroom window the upgrade from stock DG to acoustic DG is around £80-140 net.
Q: What's the lead time and warranty?
Acoustic DG (asymmetric and acoustic-PVB): 10-14 working days. Bespoke shaped or oversized acoustic: 14-18 working days. Every unit ships with a 10-year edge-seal warranty, a 5-year PVB lamination warranty, and an optional BS EN ISO 10140 lab-measured Rw certificate (specify at order). UKCA-marked, BS EN 12758 Declaration of Performance on request.
Related guides and specifications
The entry-point acoustic spec — 38 dB Rw, drop-in fit
Call 0117 330 3057 (08:00-18:00 Mon-Fri) with your noise source for a spec recommendation, or send sizes for a quote.