TECHNOLOGY I MATERIALS
The insulation glazing manufacturers must gear their in-house
processes to the heavy glass panes,while transportation becomes more expensive because the maximum loading capacity for trucks is already reached with fewer units and the fittings manufacturers have to deliver extremely durable solutions
comparison: a glass pane measuring one square meter, designed as double insulation glazing with 2 x 4 mm and 16 mm inter-pane gap, weighs 20 kilograms. The same format as triple insulation glazing in the 4/12/4/12/4 format already weighs 30 kilos. The increase in weight by 50 percent has far-reaching consequences.
The insulation glazing manufacturers must gear their in-house processes to the heavy glass panes, while transportation becomes more expensive because the maximum loading capacity for trucks is already reached with fewer units and the fittings manufacturers have to deliver extremely durable solutions. In the window sector this presents a special challenge, because in this area the aim is to develop high-load bearing fittings which can reliably hold the heavy elements in place over decades, whilst at the same time conveying a filigree impression.
Even at this stage, fittings systems are already reaching their limits in this balancing act between the requirements. On top of this the frame profiles for facades and windows also have to be adjusted to take the high weights.
The installation and fitting teams are particularly affected by the increased weight of the construction elements. For them the trend towards triple insulation glazing means a considerably increased burden. “The weight is enormous. Particularly in old buildings when no technical aids can be used, the burden is striking and personnel are clearly called upon much more than before”, reports Martin Gutmann, Master of the Federal Glazers’ Guild, who goes on to say: “If you are unlucky, you also have to do with triple sound-proof or burglary-proof glazing, then the weight of the glass panes is even higher.” The situation is also made more difficult by the increased weight of the thermally optimized frame profiles.
Thin glass as a solution concept In view of this extensive problem area, the glass industry, insulation glazing manufacturers and research institutes are working intensively on solutions. Their aim is to reduce glass pane weight without cutting down on its energetic functionality. The development of light, high-insulation vacuum glass, which has been on-going for years now, has still not really moved forward sufficiently for it to be used in classic window and facade construction. However, use of the very thin glass panes is already practical in flat roof-top windows in standard sizes. A further possible solution is light, transparent synthetic film and
plates, which are aimed at replacing the central pane in insulation glazing. Whether this technology will assert itself on a broad front depends on the practicality and durability of the products as well as on their acceptance by the end- customers.
The application of thin glass appears to be the most potentially successful. As early as 2004, architect Prof. Stefan Behling, who for some years now has been presenting the latest trends and developments from the glass industry in the “glass technology live” special show as part of the leading international glass trade fair glasstec, declared: In the flat-screen sector thin glass is becoming part of a revolution.
At some stage perhaps whole walls, ceilings and floors will be able to change.” In the area of entertainment and communication electronics, his forecast relating to modern smartphones and also products such as Apple‘s iPad, which are almost exclusively operated using thin glass touch-screens, has long since become reality. In addition, the current development tendencies on the insulation glass market confirm that Stefan Behling is right with his expectation for the architecture sector.
Today, windows incorporating triple insulation glazing are already available on the market, and are no longer produced using triple 4 mm, but triple 3 mm-thick heat-treated glass panes. This means a weight reduction of one quarter. And even thinner glass is possible. In the insulation glass sector, industry tests are already underway using hardened glass in the 3/2/3 mm format.
One way to reduce the surface weight of triple insulation glass is to reduce the glass thickness. Graphics: ift Rosenheim
Issue V 2012 I
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