AGRR - Winter 2005

CONTENTS

Volume 19, Issue 2 Winter 2005

proDucts

GLASS
Guardian to Launch UV Protecting Glass Product
Guardian Industries of Auburn Hills, Mich., is gearing up for the launch of a brand new product. Designed to provide not only comfort and energy savings, but fade protection from ultraviolet (UV) rays as well, ClimaGuard SPF™ will be officially unveiled at the Builders Show in January.

According to Tim Singel, Guardian’s director of residential glass products, homeowners consistently must deal with the problem of household damage caused by the fading energy of the sun—UV-A rays.

“Fading is the result of a combination of UV radiation, as well as fluctuations in temperature and humidity,” said Singel. Low-E glass, he explained, is already used in the majority of residential windows in the country, but does not address UV-A rays, which are primarily responsible for damage (i.e., fading).

Recognizing the need to offer a product that addresses this area, Guardian began developing its ClimaGuard SPF glass. The company looked at a variety of products, including standard clear glass, spectrally-selective low-E, laminated glass and after-market films, in search of a solution for fade management.

“None of the scenarios were commensurate with performance and cost,” said Singel, “so we had to find another solution.” That’s when they chose to visit the textile industry. Singel explained that the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists offers a reference standard that can determine the relative color fastness of fabrics—ISO 105-B01 Textiles-Tests for Color Fastness. The test involves a wool cloth, colored with blue dyes that have varying degrees of colorfastness. Light is filtered through a variety of window configurations onto the cloth in order to compare the UV blocking ability of the different products. A control sample—black paper over the glass—was also tested.

According to test results, the blue wool sample protected by ClimaGuard SPF resulted in an imperceptible change in color after 40 days in accelerated testing when compared to the control sample.

“ClimaGuard SPF delivered nearly the same results as the control sample,” said Singel.
Test results show that ClimaGuard SPF offers 99.9 percent UV-blocking protection compared to low-E’s 76 percent and 43 percent with clear glass. It also offers a daylight transmittance of 69 percent (low-E, 71 percent) and 11 percent reflected glare (low-E, 10 percent). Other results showed a U-factor of 0.24 (argon) and solar heat gain transmittance of 0.38.

ClimaGuard SPF is designed primarily for the residential window market, but Singel said it does have an appeal as an architect-specified product as well.

www.glassguides.com/infocenter

One-Stop Shopping
The PPG Building Renewal Program is one of the latest innovations from PPG Industries.

Through the program, PPG is serving as a single-source supplier of coatings, glass and paint products.

Included in the program’s offerings, are solutions for architectural glazing renovations. Products available include Solarban® 60, an energy-saving, low-E glass. According to PPG, Solarban 60 transmits 70 percent of the sun’s visible light, while transmitting only 38 percent solar heat and maintaining the traditional appearance of clear glass.

www.glassguides.com/infocenter

impact-resistant glazing
U.S. Aluminum’s Patent Storm Front
United States Aluminum Corp., the Waxahachie, Texas-based subsidiary of International Aluminum, has been granted a patent on the design of its Storm Front™ entrance door. The patent relates generally to the glazing methods and apparatus, and particularly to the installation of glazing panes in doorframes, said John Frey, chief design engineer for International Aluminum.

United States Aluminum has also introduced a thermal entrance door that utilizes the polyimide nylon thermal break and has mechanically fastened corners. It is available in narrow and medium stiles. The Series 250-T and 400-T thermal entrance doors are designed for 1-inch insulating glass, and a 10-inch bottom rail is available for ADA requirements.

www.glassguides.com/infocenter

frameless glazing
W&W Planar(s) Ahead
W&W Glass from Nanuet, N.Y., now offers the Planar™ SentryGlas Plus System, as part of Pilkington’s line of Planar Systems. The system, which is made with DuPont™ SentryGlas® Plus structural interlayers, is a collaborative effort among Pilkington and DuPont Packaging and Industrial Polymers.

www.glassguides.com/infocenter

decorative glazing
Make a Statement
Oldcastle Glass® has introduced a new line of decorative glass products called Montage™ Visual Effects Glass that allows architects and designers to combine different decorative glazing designs and technologies. The line includes textured patterned glass, custom colored coatings, silk-screened patterns and rice paper designs. While each effect can be used on its own, multiple processes can be combined to create a completely unique, custom look.
Oldcastle Glass’ Louisville, Ky., facility is dedicated to Montage production.

www.glassguides.com/infocenter

glass flooring
Walking on Sunshine
GlassWalk™ from IBP of Fort Worth, Texas, is a structural glass flooring system that utilizes laminated glass lites from the 12 by 12 inches and individual pieces up to 40 by 45 inches. The concept comes from the company’s 6-inch glass paver floor system, which IBP says is a pre-engineered system that increases the visual appeal of the floor and light transmission, while reducing lead times for product fabrication in both residential and commercial applications.

www.glassguides.com/infocenter