Flat glass has many uses
Its versatile properties make glass a true all-rounder.
INSULATING GLASS
Modern insulated glass consists of two or more sheets of float glass that are assembled using spacers and sealant, known as the edge seal. Depending on the type of glazing, the spaces between the glass panes are filled with a noble gas. Noble gas is ideal for thermal insulation because it has an insulating effect many times greater than that of air.
The needs and requirements regarding how much light, solar energy, and thermal radiation should be transmitted are diverse. Standard float glass has the property of transmitting solar energy and thermal radiation within a specific wavelength range. These properties are modified by applying various ultra-thin layers of metal or metal oxides, resulting in products such as thermal insulation or solar control glass.
Thermal insulation glass is a true high-tech product. It consists of several panes arranged one behind the other, with one or more spaces filled with noble gas and metallic coatings between them, depending on the type of glazing. The coating in the thermal insulation glass reflects heat radiation back into the room.
The most important value for thermal insulation glass is the heat transfer coefficient (U-value, W/m²K). The lower this value, the better. Today, a U-value of 1.1 W/m²K is standard for double-pane insulated glass, and 0.7 W/m²K for triple-pane insulated glass.
Saving energy doesn’t just mean “trapping indoor heat”; it also means gaining heat from incoming sunlight. This additional free heating leads to a positive energy balance, especially in winter and during the transitional seasons.
THERMAL INSULATION
SUN PROTECTION
Given the trend in modern architecture toward using large expanses of glass, sun protection plays a major role. To avoid having to hide behind shading devices (roller shutters, awnings) even on the most beautiful summer days, sun-protective glass offers the ideal alternative. It allows light to pass through unimpeded, while the amount of sunlight entering the room is significantly reduced by a special coating.
The total solar energy transmittance (g-value, %) indicates how much of the incident solar energy ultimately enters the interior of the room. For optimal sun protection, this value should be as low as possible.
Since the requirements for light and energy transmittance in modern insulated glazing are very diverse, there is no single all-purpose coating suitable for every application; instead, there is a finely tuned range of glass coatings designed for thermal insulation and solar control.
Our environment is getting louder and louder. This is an unmistakable problem of our hectic times. Especially in large cities, metropolitan areas, or along major thoroughfares, finding peaceful quiet is no longer possible. Mental and physical health issues can often result from unacceptable noise levels in living and working spaces. This problem can be effectively addressed through the use of soundproof insulating glass. Sound-insulating glass acts as a “sound barrier.” Laminated safety glass with a special sound-insulating film or two panes of different thicknesses significantly reduce sound transmission. The various coatings can be combined as needed—resulting in high-performance multifunctional glass.
SOUND INSULATION
LSG
Laminated safety glass consists of two or more glass panes bonded together with highly tear-resistant and ductile PVB interlayers. The construction of the elements and their thickness depend on the safety requirements for the glazing. When struck by an impact object, the glass fractures in a pattern resembling a spiderweb. The glass fragments remain adhered to the interlayer, minimizing the risk of injury and, most importantly, preventing the creation of an opening through which someone could enter.
When we think about “accident risks,” our minds often turn to road traffic, where well over 3,000 people die each year. Yet far more accidents occur in private homes: About 8,000 of them are fatal every year. For example, it can become dangerous when outdated glass panes in doors or windows shatter upon a fall, creating large, sharp shards of glass that pose a high risk of injury. Modern toughened safety glass can provide effective protection here. ESG is a tempered glass that is brought into a state of uniform tension through heating and subsequent rapid cooling. This gives it greater flexural strength, impact resistance, and thermal shock resistance—in other words, it is far more durable than “ordinary glass.” Should it ever break, it shatters into small, blunt-edged glass fragments, thereby minimizing the risk of injury.
TSG
BURGLARY PROTECTION
Another issue is effective protection against break-ins. In this regard, windows fitted with laminated safety glass provide active protection. Even after an attempted break-in, the glass remains in the frame. No entry point is created.
