Architectural glass and their characteristics
Architectural glass refers to the glass materials used in buildings, which are widely applied to doors, windows, curtain walls, partitions, roofs and other parts. It not only has functions such as lighting, heat insulation and sound insulation, but also can enhance the aesthetics and safety of buildings. The following are several common types of architectural glass and their characteristics:
1. Ordinary Float Glass
● Characteristics: It has high transparency and is low in price, but its strength is relatively low and it is fragile.
● Applications: It is commonly used for ordinary doors and windows, interior partitions, etc.
● Characteristics: After heat treatment, its strength is 3 to 5 times that of ordinary glass. When it breaks, it forms small granular pieces, which is highly safe.
● Applications: It is widely used in places with high safety requirements such as curtain walls, doors and windows, and shower rooms.
● Characteristics: It is composed of two or more layers of glass with a layer of PVB (polyvinyl butyral) film sandwiched in the middle. When it breaks, the fragments will stick to the film to prevent splashing.
● Applications: It is commonly used for skylights, curtain walls, bulletproof glass, etc.
4. Insulating Glass
● Characteristics: It is composed of two or more layers of glass, and the space in the middle is filled with dry air or inert gas. It has good heat insulation and sound insulation performance.
● Applications: It is commonly used for doors, windows and curtain walls in energy-saving buildings.
5. Low-E Glass (Low Emissivity Glass)
● Characteristics: Its surface is coated with a low-emissivity film, which can effectively reflect infrared rays, reduce heat transfer, and has good heat insulation performance.
● Applications: It is commonly used for exterior walls, doors and windows in energy-saving buildings.
6. Coated Glass
● Characteristics: Its surface is coated with a metal or metal oxide film layer, which has functions such as reflecting sunlight, heat insulation and blocking ultraviolet rays.
● Applications: It is commonly used for curtain walls, doors and windows, etc.
7. Fireproof Glass
● Characteristics: It can prevent the spread of flames and smoke for a certain period of time, and is divided into heat-insulating type and non-heat-insulating type.
● Applications: It is commonly used for fireproof partitions, fire doors, etc.
8. Self-cleaning Glass
● Characteristics: Its surface is coated with a special coating, which can decompose organic substances under sunlight and remain clean after being washed by rain.
● Applications: It is commonly used for the exterior walls and curtain walls of high-rise buildings.
9. Glazed Glass
● Characteristics: Its surface is coated with colored glaze, and various patterns are formed after high-temperature sintering, which has a decorative effect.
● Applications: It is commonly used for architectural decoration, curtain walls, etc.
10. Smart Glass (Dimmable Glass)
● Characteristics: Its transparency can be changed through electric control, temperature control or light control, and it has functions such as privacy protection and light adjustment.
● Applications: It is commonly used for office partitions, hotel bathrooms, curtain walls, etc.
11. Vacuum Glass
● Characteristics: There is a vacuum layer between the two layers of glass, with almost no gas heat conduction and convection. It has excellent heat insulation and sound insulation performance, and its thermal insulation effect is better than that of insulating glass. At the same time, it also has high strength and good durability.
● Applications: It is suitable for buildings with extremely high requirements for heat insulation and sound insulation, such as doors, windows and curtain walls of high-end residential buildings, hospitals, schools, scientific research institutions, etc. It can also be used in some special places with strict requirements for environmental noise and temperature control, such as recording studios and laboratories.
In addition to the above common types of architectural glass, there are also some other types of architectural glass:
Heat Bent Glass
● Characteristics: The glass is bent into various arcs and shapes by heating, and can be customized according to design requirements, which can add a unique shape and aesthetic feeling to the building.
● Applications: It is commonly used for curved doors and windows, observation elevator shafts, glass domes and other parts of buildings, bringing smooth and soft curve effects to the building appearance.
Wired Glass
● Characteristics: Metal wires or metal meshes are added during the glass forming process. When the glass breaks, the fragments will not scatter and can maintain a certain integrity. It has certain fireproof and anti-theft functions.
● Applications: It is suitable for parts such as skylights, lighting roofs and balconies of buildings, and can also be used in some industrial buildings and warehouses with certain safety performance requirements.
These different types of architectural glass play their own unique roles in buildings. Designers and property owners can select appropriate architectural glass according to factors such as the functions, environments and aesthetic requirements of buildings to achieve the desired architectural effects.