Navigating the Risks of Glass in Buildings

Posted on July 5, 2025July 11, 2025 by admin

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Navigating the Risks of Glass in Buildings

Navigating the Risks of Glass in Buildings: A Guide to Safety

Discussion of how glass can be used in buildings to enhance safety, such as through the use of tempered or laminated glass.

Usage of glass, both interior and exterior, has grown over the past century due to its practicality and functionality. Most has attributed it to its strength, versatility, and visual aesthetics. Achieving such positive attributes does have its trade off too. One of the main safety concerns surrounding glass is the risk of breakage. Modern glass is designed to be strong and resistant to breakage, but it is still possible for it to break due to impact or other external factors.

However over the years, several measures had taken place to reduce such risks. Let us look at some of the different methods that have been adopted and applied to glass to enhanced its strength and safety usage across all its platform.

Laminated Glass

Laminated Safety Glass is formed by two or more pieces of glass bonded together by a tough, durable interlayer under heat and pressure. When broken by impact, the glass will adhere to the interlayer and stay in the frame hence minimizing the risk of injury from sharp edges and strongly resisting penetration by the impacting objects or person. As such, it is classified as a safety glass.

Specialised interlayers available are Polyvinyl Butyral (PVB), Ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) or SentryGlas® (SG). The standard range of PVB colours in the Vanceva colour system allows the creation of more than 1,000 different tints from a palette of 9 basic colours and 2 translucent white interlayers befitting to your design requirements.

Tempered Glass

Tempered Glass employs the use of a thermal process to enhance the basic strength of annealed glass via a tempering furnace. Annealed glass is heated close to its softening point; it is then rapidly quenched by directing jets of cold air onto its surface. The surfaces are placed in compression during the quenching process, resulting in balanced induced stresses giving it added mechanical, thermal and impact resistance properties.

The tempering process does not alter visible light and solar radiant heat properties of the glass. Coated glass, such as low emissivity glass providing solar control with high visible light transmission can be tempered too. Spontaneous breakages due to nickel sulphide formation can also be reduced via additional heat-soaking as featured in SSG DuraGlas-Q.

SSG Protection Series

Glass can also pose a safety risk in certain situations, such as during earthquakes or high winds. In these cases, it is important to use special types of glass that are designed to withstand such conditions.

Check out our Protection Series for more glazing solutions for protection from Natural Disasters

Overall, glass is a safe material when used properly. By taking appropriate measures to reduce the risk of breakage and injury, and by using special types of glass in certain situations, it is possible to use glass safely in buildings.

We hope you have found this information helpful. If you have any questions about the various glazing solutions available, please do not hesitate to reach out to us.

Glass and Energy Efficiency: A Match Made in Heaven

Posted on July 5, 2025July 5, 2025 by admin

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Glass and Energy Efficiency: A Match Made in Heaven

Glass and energy efficiency: Discussion of how glass can help buildings reduce energy consumption, such as through the use of Low-E coatings or insulating glass units.

Glass is a popular material in construction because it allows natural light to enter a building, which can reduce the need for artificial lighting and save energy costs. However, it is important to consider the energy efficiency aspects of using glass in buildings.

Transparent structures

One way to improve the energy efficiency of glass is by using low-emissivity coatings. These coatings reduce the amount of heat that is transmitted through the glass, which can help to keep a building cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. This can reduce the need for heating and cooling, which can save energy costs.

Insulated Glass Unit (Double Glazing Unit/ Triple Glazing Unit)

Another way to improve the energy efficiency of glass is by using double-paned windows. These windows have two layers of glass separated by a layer of air or gas. The air or gas acts as insulation, helping to keep a building warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

Eco-shading Solution

Regulating light, buffering against heat & sound, saving maintenance cost all in a single fitting, VariShade is the solution for that. Maintenance hassle is reduced as materials used for the blinds are hard-wearing and the enclosure of the blinds eliminates the need for cleaning. Additionally, it provides heat insulation due to it being an insulated glass unit.

OKALUX | Daylight-Optimising/ Light Redirecting

OKALUX, newly distributed by SSG, optimises daylight usages by evenly dispersing daylight, while blocking out unwanted heat and glare. It is ideal for both vertical and horizontal glazing, which provides ample flexibility for users to maximise its benefits.

Highly customisable to different requirements of solar control, light diffusion, acoustic control and aesthetics, it works by enclosing a variety of different material and systems with an insulated glazing unit.

In addition to these measures, it is also important to consider the orientation of windows and the use of shading devices. Properly orienting windows and using shading devices can help to reduce the amount of heat that is transmitted through the glass and improve a building’s overall energy efficiency.

We hope you found this information helpful. If you have any questions about glass and energy efficiency, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

The Benefits of Using Glass to Bring Natural Light into Your Building

Posted on July 5, 2025July 5, 2025 by admin

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The Benefits of Using Glass to Bring Natural Light into Your Building

Glass and natural light: Discussion of how glass can be used to bring natural light into buildings, and the benefits of doing so.

Glass is a popular material in construction because it allows natural light to enter a building, which can create a brighter, more welcoming space. Here are just a few of the benefits of using glass to bring natural light into a building:

Energy Savings

Natural light can reduce the need for artificial lighting, which can save energy costs.

Improved mood

Natural light has been shown to improve mood and productivity. It can create a more pleasant environment for building occupants.

Enhanced Aesthetics

Natural light can add visual interest to a building and highlight its features. It can also provide stunning views of the surrounding environment.

Greater Flexibility

Glass can be used in a variety of applications, including windows, doors, walls, and partitions, to allow natural light to enter a building. It can also be shaped, tinted, and frosted to meet the specific needs of a building.

The Next Wave of Glass in Architecture: Exciting Developments to Watch

Posted on July 4, 2025July 5, 2025 by admin

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The Next Wave of Glass in Architecture: Exciting Developments to Watch

The Future of glass in Architecture: A look at emerging technologies or trends that could shape the use of glass in buildings in the future.

Glass has been a popular material in construction for centuries, and it is constantly evolving. Here are just a few of the ways that glass is expected to shape the future of architecture:

Smart Glass

Smart glass, also known as switchable glass, is glass that can be electronically controlled to change from transparent to opaque. This technology is expected to become more widespread in the future, allowing for the control of light and privacy in buildings.

Transparent structures

Glass is expected to continue to be used in the creation of transparent structures, such as bridges and balconies, that provide stunning views and a sense of openness.

Energy-efficient glass

The development of new coatings and technologies is expected to improve the energy efficiency of glass, making it an even more sustainable choice for buildings.

Customized Glass

Advances in glass production are expected to allow for the creation of customized glass for specific applications. This could include glass with special properties, such as self-cleaning or anti-fogging, or glass that is specifically tailored to a particular building’s needs.