Double-skin façade: when it pays off and what it costs
High energy class, A-grade acoustic, premium look. When the 14–18k ₽/m² delta pays back, when it's overspend.
Double-skin = two glazing layers with a ventilated cavity between. Energy class A+ (U = 0.4 W/m²·K), acoustic up to 44 dB. Price — 32 000 ₽/m² vs 18 400 for single. Delta 14k/m². On a 1500 m² office that's 21 million extra. When does it pay off?
01How it works
Outer skin — tempered or laminated. Inner skin — triple-pane IGU with low-E. Between them — 200–800 mm ventilated cavity. Winter: cavity acts as a heated buffer. Summer: cooled air from interior offsets sun-heated outer skin.
02ROI by use case
| Use | Heating payback | Cooling payback |
|---|---|---|
| Class A office (8 h/d) | 6–8 yrs | 10–12 yrs |
| Business centre (12 h/d) | 5–7 yrs | 8–10 yrs |
| IHG/Marriott hotel | 4–6 yrs | 6–8 yrs |
| Residential | 15+ yrs | never |
| Warehouse/industrial | never | never |
Most common conversation: "make it simpler." If budget is tight — pick mullion-transom with triple-pane. You get U=0.8 vs 0.4. Heating bill cut 35–40%. If budget allows, Double Skin pays back over building lifetime.
Beyond energy: 44 dB acoustic (vs 38 single), SageGlass integration only possible in Double Skin, +10 years of outer-skin lifespan protection for the expensive IGU layer.
03This service at REAL GLASS
If you've read this far, the topic is probably relevant to a real project. We make all-glass façades in-house in St. Petersburg, with a measure within 1–3 days, 1-year warranty and a fixed contract price. All numbers in this article come from our actual 2026 quotes.
For a project-specific estimate — see the service page or request a free on-site measure.
