AGG - 2006 - May/June

Volume 20 • Issue 3 • May / June 2006

AIA Exhibitor Preview

An advance look at what the industry will display in Los Angeles

Three from PPG
PPG Industries will be exhibiting three new products. The first, extra-heavy Starphire glass, is designed to offer architects the world’s clearest commercial glass in 15 and 19 mm thicknesses.

Unlike traditional clear glass, which may demonstrate a light green cast, the clarity of Starphire glass actually intensifies as it gets thicker. The company’s Solarban 70XL glass is designed to offer a strong combination of solar control and visible light transmittance in a clear glass aesthetic. The new Vistacool collection consists of subtly reflective, color-enriched glasses that deliver the interior brightness of high visible light transmittance without the mirror-like glare of traditional reflective glasses.

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New Curtainwall
EFCO Corp.’s new curtainwall system 5500 is designed to answer the most demanding performance specifications while also meeting the need for an economical product to be used in low- to mid-rise building projects. The E-Strut thermal isolator used in this system is designed to provide outstanding thermal properties and a total composite shape for enhanced structural performance. The system has dual finish capability and there is no pressure plate and cover to assemble when using it.

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New Coating Configuration
AFG Glass is now offering its Comfort Ti-AC 40 on a variety of its Solarshield tinted substrates.

By glazing the solar-control low-E coating on the second surface of a commercial insulating glass unit rather than the third surface, the glass manufacturer is able to put the coating closer to the sun, resulting in enhanced solar protection and improved year-round energy efficiency for commercial buildings.

To meet a spectrum of aesthetic and design needs, Comfort Ti-AC 40 is available on AFG’s Solarshield green, dark green, bronze and gray substrates.

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Window Addition
Wausau Window and Wall Systems has added the new 3250iV and 4250iV fixed and project-in, Insulbar thermal barrier, aluminum windows in 3- or 4.5-inch frame depths to its Visuline Series. The windows’ aluminum frames may be painted or anodized in two different finishes to match both exterior and interior color schemes. Engineered with a structurally-glazed sash and a single handle, multi-point lock, the AAMA AW-90 rated casement windows meet or exceed the industry’s most stringent testing for air infiltration, water and condensation resistance, structural integrity and thermal performance, according to the manufacturer. The product has a 10-year limited warranty. Wausau’s 3250iV and 4250iV windows also have earned a Level 40 for forced entry protection and successfully passed New York City’s window guard test.

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Anti-Reflective Glass
Pilkington OptiView anti-reflective glass is designed to minimize glass reflections by reducing visible light reflectance to less than 2 percent, while blocking more than 99 percent of UV transmittance. Using the glass manufacturer’s pyrolytic process for application, OptiView is available in a range of sizes. It is a laminated product that provides acoustic control and safety and security features. The manufacturer recommends it as a practical choice for retail storefronts, showrooms, and other applications where an anti-reflective product had not previously been an option.

Also on display will be the new 20-minute Pilkington Pyrodur 20-104, which has been tested and listed for fire protection by Underwriters Laboratories (UL). It is available in a thickness of 7 mm and can be cut and stocked by local glazing contractors for immediate delivery.

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Linetec Finishes
Linetec will be introducing a copper anodize finish that is designed to maintain its desired color over time and under harsh environmental conditions.

The technology has been tested to meet all AAMA 611 Class 1 specifications requiring five year weathering tests, and samples in the field have endured over eight years of exposure to south Florida’s harsh climate with no significant change to color or gloss.

The company will also be promoting its Spattercoat custom finishes, shown, a multi-colored process that mimics marble, stone, brick and other textures. The custom process utilizes Kynar 500/Hylar 5000 polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) resin-based paints.

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Super Spacer
Edgetech I.G. Inc. will be promoting the environmental and healthy-building benefits of high-performance commercial glazing featuring Super Spacer no-metal structural foam spacer.

Super Spacer Premium Plus and Premium spacers for captured glazing are designed to provide superior warm-edge thermal performance while offering condensation resistance that helps protect against mold formation. It also provides for a warm inboard panel surface temperature for improved energy efficiency.

The structural foam spacer improves insulating glass acoustical performance. Super Spacer TriSeal for captured and structural glazing is a silicone foam warm edge spacer system specifically engineered for the commercial glazing market. Its triple-seal design incorporates an inner acrylic adhesive seal for immediate unit handling; captive hot-applied butyl primary seal for enhanced gas retention and low moisture vapor transmission; there is also an outer structural seal.

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Custom Engineering
Major Industries manufactures a line of custom-engineered skylights and translucent curtainwall using glass, acrylic, polycarbonate twinwall or energy-efficient insulating translucent glazing panels. Standard and custom skylights can provide beautiful natural light that increases energy efficiency at an affordable cost. The company’s Web site explains what can be achieved with custom-designed daylighting.

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SentryGlas Interlayer
DuPont SentryGlas interlayers are expanding the use of laminated glass into a variety of architectural settings, including minimally-supported glass facades, skylights and canopies, balustrades, and floors; qualities of the product include strength, clarity, and edge performance, according to the supplier.

The interlayer was specified in the upper tier railings of the new San Diego Padres’ baseball stadium. Also on display will be SentryGlas Expressions, a decorative interlayer which is designed for creative expressions in glass. Lancel’s signature store in Paris utilizes SentryGlas Expressions in an intricate, mosaic design that recalls the beautifully-crafted, antique ironwork railings characteristic of its Place de l’Opéra setting.

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Texture Glass and Mirror
Textures acid-etched glass and mirror products from Walker Glass are designed to create a translucent satin appearance that obscures the view while maintaining a high level of light transmittance. The acid-etched mirror features a metallic finish. The products are designed to have a high level of durability and high resistance to markings from fingerprints and other contaminants.

The surface is not susceptible to discoloration and cannot delaminate or be scraped off, assuring a consistent appearance over time. The products can be used in such applications as interior partitions, sealed units and spandrel.

The acid-etched line is available in clear and ultra-clear glass made with Starphire by PPG in thicknesses between 3 and 19 mm. Mainly offered in 6 mm, the different tints are available in bronze, grey, green, blue and black; other thicknesses are available.

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Switchable Privacy Glass
Polyvision is a laminated safety glass panel with a liquid crystal interlayer that can change from translucent to transparent with the touch of an electrical switch. Glass changes from/to translucent and to/from transparent in 100 milliseconds. The product’s transformer is recognized by UL. Polyvision panels from Polytronix Inc. can be butt-joined and used in many diverse areas such as the bathrooms, conference rooms and hospitals.

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Clear Film Protection
Madico Inc. will be showing its new suite of high definition solar control films. The Advanced Ceramics visually acute product line is designed to reduce ultraviolet rays and solar heat gain while preserving the clearest glass imaginable. Suggested for both residential and commercial use, the company’s goal in developing the product was a film that does not alter the appearance of the original glass. The company produces its Advanced Ceramics products using a two-step process. A U.S.-based partner sputters the raw material, which Madico then laminates in its Massachusetts manufacturing center.

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Performance Testing
Architectural Testing Inc., which does performance testing and mockups, has a mock-up wall that is 120 feet wide and 60 feet high. The firm has 200,000 square feet of testing facilities with 10 indoor test chambers 32 feet high. It has seven regional locations. Its testing measures the performance of curtainwalls, mockups, facades and glazing systems. The findings are used to validate the design, workmanship and material selection for certification or approvals of architects, consultants or building owners. Tests are performed according to a variety of standards and specifications.

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Corrosion-free Fastener
Edge-Clamped-Glass (ECG), a corrosion-free glass fastening mechanism, has been developed by Novum Structures, formerly MERO Structures. It is engineered to provide a clean, transparent way to fasten glazing directly to the supporting structure without the use of a standard aluminum mullion support system. By eliminating the aluminum mullion, the glazing “floats” on top of the structure.

This “floating” glazing and mullion-less joinery—sealed around the glass panel’s perimeter by a wet silicone and silicone-gasket technology—creates a transparent glass envelope. The ECG system can be used to support monolithic, laminated and insulated glazing. It can support glazing panels that range from 3/8 to 1-3/4 inch thick. The structural glass lay up is determined by Novum using finite element analysis to maximize safety. The system’s standard finish is silver metallic powder coated aluminum.

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Stairtreads to the Stars
Nathan Allan Glass Studios Inc will be featuring its cast glass Stairtreads that can be used with many unique textures and colors. Shown on a serpentine stainless steel structure are 80 treads and 20 landings made of two layers of 5/8-inch thick tempered glass with cast glass diamondplate texture and Glass Sandpaper safety surface for a non-skid surface. According to the supplier, Glass Sandpaper is highly-rated both wet and dry under ASTM D-2047 testing conditions. The glass has a non-porous surface for easy maintenance. Each project will be specifically engineered.

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A Sampling
Doralco will be displaying a small cladded door sample and samples of its new door rail. The exhibitor will also show an array of products from its Intertec sunshades and grillework division, such as these shown. The company will have a 24-inch airfoil, a grille and multiple varieties of sunshade designs in its booth.

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The Big 100
To celebrate its 100th anniversary, Kawneer will have a new exhibit featuring a dedicated learning center and four major products groupings: green design, protective glazing, pre-assembly/pre-glazing and developed products including two new thermal products and Paneline EL security entrance. The green design product focus area covers a range of products from skylights to sunshades. The protective glazing area features the company’s HPS sliding door and 2000T Terrace products designed for the condominium market in coastal areas that require the performance to resist hurricanes and windborne debris.

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Double Hinge
DORMA Glas had added a double-action fully adjustable hinge with the curved architectural element inspired from the award-winning ARCOS line of hardware for tempered glass doors.

The metal products in the line have an arc-like curvature that is designed to blend seamlessly the hardware into the glass. The double-action hinge can be used for 3/8 and 1/2 inch thick glass.

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