In February 2026, industry experts gathered in Shanghai for the “Dual Carbon Curtain Wall, Window and Shading System Technology Exchange Conference – Energy-Saving New Technologies and Materials Sharing Event.”
Hosted with strong participation from East China Architectural Design & Research Institute, ECADI (华东建筑设计研究院有限公司), the event brought together architects, façade engineers, material manufacturers, and system providers to discuss practical pathways toward ultra-low energy and low-carbon buildings.
The program covered a broad range of technical topics, including:
- Ultra-low energy façade case studies
- High-performance glazing solutions
- BIPV applications
- Advanced shading technologies
- Long-life IGU sealing systems
- Polyurethane composite window structures
The discussions reflected a shared understanding: achieving dual carbon objectives requires coordinated innovation across materials, systems, and verification practices.
Among the speakers was Jolene Hu, Chief Representative in China for Sparklike, who contributed to the dialogue from the perspective of façade quality control and performance verification.
A Broader View on IGU Performance
Throughout the event, multiple speakers emphasized the importance of improving thermal performance and durability in curtain wall and window systems. In modern façade design, particularly with increasing window-to-wall ratios, insulating glass units play a central role in achieving energy efficiency targets.
During the panel discussion, a question was raised:
Is there a convenient way to detect the argon content inside insulating glass units?
This question naturally connects to the earlier presentations on high-performance glass, advanced coatings, and long-term sealing technologies. Ensuring that designed performance is maintained in practice requires both material innovation and reliable verification methods.
Jolene Hu’s Contribution: Practical On-Site Measurement
In her response, Jolene Hu introduced the topic of non-destructive inert gas measurement in insulating glass units.
She explained that non-invasive testing solutions are available to measure argon concentration without damaging the glass or dismantling installed façade elements. Such technologies are used as part of quality control processes in projects governed by international IGU performance standards, including European and North American frameworks.
In particular, China national standard GB11944-2025 for IGU adopted non-destructive argon measurement methods tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy (TDLAS), whilst ASTM E2649 standards recognize non-destructive argon measurement methods based on plasma emission spectroscopy (PES) technology.
These measurement tools can be applied:
- During production quality control
- At delivery and project acceptance stages
- On installed curtain wall and window systems
- For inspection, documentation, and traceability purposes
From a project perspective, this supports designers, supervision teams, and contractors in verifying consistency between specified and delivered performance, helping ensure that intended thermal performance is maintained in practice.
Related reading:
Chinese Insulating Glass Standard GB/T 11944: Gas Concentration Measurement
Complementing Innovation with Verification
One of the key themes of the conference was long-term performance, not only initial performance.
Speakers addressed:
- Durability of sealing systems
- Stability of thermal performance
- Lifecycle carbon considerations
- Adaptation to extreme climates
- Integration of renewable technologies
Within this broader technical context, gas measurement represents one practical component of façade quality management. It does not replace material innovation or system design improvements, but rather complements them by offering a way to validate performance in real conditions.
A Collaborative Industry Dialogue
The roundtable discussion demonstrated strong collaboration between architects, material scientists, façade engineers, and manufacturers. The exchange was balanced and solution-oriented, focusing on:
- How to translate advanced materials into buildable systems
- How to reconcile aesthetics with energy performance
- How to ensure durability under varied climate conditions
- How to support dual carbon objectives in measurable ways
Jolene Hu’s contribution fit naturally into this conversation highlighting that as façade technologies evolve, practical tools for inspection and verification also become increasingly relevant.
Moving Toward Measurable Low-Carbon Performance
The Shanghai event reflected the ongoing transition of the façade industry: from parameter comparison toward integrated, lifecycle-based thinking.
Ultra-low energy buildings require:
- Advanced materials
- Thoughtful system design
- Reliable sealing technologies
- Effective shading strategies
- And increasingly, structured quality control practices
Together, these elements support buildings that are not only designed for performance but delivered and maintained accordingly.
