Commercial Glass and Insulation

Comprehensive Overview of Glass Products

This overview highlights a range of advanced glass products designed to meet the needs of architectural, commercial, and residential projects. These solutions combine performance, safety, and durability with flexibility in design and energy efficiency.

Heat-Treated Glass

Heat-treated glass is strengthened through controlled heating and cooling cycles, available in two main types:

1. Heat Strengthened Glass:

   • Strength: Twice as strong as annealed glass.
   • Usage: Ideal for areas requiring thermal stress resistance and increased load capacity.
   • Limitations: Retains similar breakage patterns as annealed glass; not classified as a safety glazing material.
   • Standard: ASTM C 1048 defines surface compression between 3500 to 7500 psi.

2. Fully Tempered Glass:

   • Strength: Four times stronger than annealed glass.
   • Safety: Breaks into small, interlocking fragments and qualifies as a safety glazing material.
   • Applications: Used in high-traffic areas to resist bending forces, with care required to avoid injury from falling fragments.
   • Mitigation: Laminated tempered glass is often used to enhance safety by preventing debris fallout.

Insulating Glass (IG Units)

Insulating glass units (IGUs) offer thermal efficiency and energy savings through advanced Low-E coatings. These units are well-suited for both small-scale buildings and large architectural projects.

1. Low-E Coatings:

   • Purpose: Minimize heat transfer (U-factor) and control solar heat gain (SHGC).
   • Placement: Coatings face the airspace between glass layers to reduce radiant heat transfer.
   • Types of Low-E Coatings:
     • High Solar Gain: Suitable for colder climates.
     • Moderate Solar Gain: Provides balanced performance for temperate zones.
     • Low Solar Gain: Best for hot climates or southern-facing windows.

2. Applications and Benefits:

   • Energy Efficiency: Reduces heating and cooling costs.
   • Comfort: Limits temperature fluctuations and blocks harmful UV rays.
   • Noise Reduction: Custom configurations reduce noise transmission for quieter spaces.

Laminated Glass

Laminated glass consists of two or more glass panes bonded with interlayers such as Polyvinyl Butyral (PVB), Sentry Glass (SGP), or Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA). It offers safety, durability, and sound control across a variety of applications.

1. Safety and Security:

   • Meets safety glazing standards and stays intact upon breakage.
   • Applications:
     • Skylights and overhead glazing: Prevents falling glass.
     • Impact-resistant glazing: Used in hurricane-prone areas.
     • Bomb and blast resistance: Provides security in sensitive environments.
     • Forcible entry resistance: Increases resistance to break-ins.

2. UV and Noise Control:

   • Blocks 99% of UV rays to protect interiors.
   • Reduces sound transmission in high-traffic areas.

3. Heat-Treated Laminated Glass:

   • Combines heat-strengthened or fully tempered glass with laminated technology for maximum strength and performance.

ScarGard® Surface Protected Mirror

ScarGard® is a premium mirror product, offering enhanced durability through a specialized chemical treatment that creates a scratch-resistant surface without affecting the mirror’s clarity or cut quality.

1. Key Features:

   • Scratch Resistance: Chemically treated surface provides enhanced hardness and smoothness.
   • Visual Quality: Maintains exceptional clarity and reflectivity without altering cutting or fabrication processes.

2. Applications:

   • Gyms, dance studios, and retail stores.
   • Bathrooms and public spaces where mirrors are exposed to heavy use.

Conclusion

This range of glass products offers solutions that combine strength, safety, energy efficiency, and aesthetics. Whether the goal is to optimize thermal performance, enhance safety, or create durable reflective surfaces, these advanced glass solutions meet the demands of modern architectural projects.