Pier Review
IGMA Members Revise Guidelines 
in Huntington Beach
by Megan Headley

It wasn’t all work and no play when members of the Insulating Glass Manufacturers Alliance (IGMA) met for their summer meeting June 10-13 at the Hyatt Regency in Huntington Beach, Calif., but the beach resort within eyesight of the famous pier did set the scene for getting down to business. Between discussing the possibility of new guidelines on capillary tubes and testing devices for insulating glass (IG) units, and revising drafted guidelines on visual quality and thermal stress, IGMA members were geared to take action during their summer meeting. 

Discussion Reopens on Closing Capillary Tubes
The event opened with a meeting of the glazing guidelines working group. The group continued a discussion from its February meeting on closing capillary tubes in the field (See April 2007 USGlass, page 68). The working group had been asked to create a standardized method for guidance on closing capillary tubes for the benefit of those end-users who prefer to close the tubes for various reasons. 

Bill Lingnell of Lingnell Consulting Services, IGMA technical consultant, had been able to test capillary tubes donated by manufacturers since the group’s last meeting. 

Lingnell reported that he has used wire cutters and crimpers to close the hard stainless and soft stainless tubes, and has also tried putting a dollop of silicone on the end of the tubes, a method that seemed to work well. So far, Lingnell reported, results have been erratic, but using silicone after bending or crimping the tube seems to ensure that the tubes are closed. 

“More than likely you’re going to have to have that dollop [of silicone],” Lingnell said. 

One concern is that an unaccounted-for variable—the skill of the tradesman closing the tube—may create vaster differences in closed tubes than the variety of tested methods. 

Lingnell said that he still has other methodologies to review, but is closer to reaching a conclusion. 

Working group members also discussed the possibility of creating a document on the overall use of capillary tubes. At present, manufacturers have different suggestions for how to use capillary tubes, but there is no industry consensus on the topic. A motion to approach the Glass Association of North America about the joint development of guidelines for the use of capillary tubes, including information about how best to close them, met unanimous approval. 

Gas Permeability Group Moves to Phase Two
After the gas permeability working group reviewed a near-final draft of the executive summary of phase one of its evaluation of the permeability of sheet materials report, discussion moved onto the draft request for proposal (RFP) for phase two of the project. Phase two will evaluate the gas permeability of edge seal assemblies and the RFP will be sent to several labs for bids to do testing.

The objective of the project is to develop a test cell configuration to determine the argon gas permeability of a section of an IG unit edge. The test cell will take into account the geometry and interactions of the components that make up the sealant/spacer system. It is intended ultimately to provide a tool to better estimate the argon loss rate from an actual production IG unit.

One member of the audience questioned the benefit of measuring the permeability of a section of the edge of the IG unit alone rather than the finished system. “We know what the gas loss is of a finished unit, to a certain extent,” explained group chair Bruce Virnelson of PRC DeSoto.

According to Virnelson, data already exists on the permeability of finished units, and, since there is a great deal of variability in that data, testing edge sections may provide some answers about why the variability exists. 

Following some final changes, the group aims to send out the request to laboratories to bid before the next meeting. 

Working Group Reviews Thermal Stress Guidelines 
The thermal stress working group reviewed its IGMA Guidelines for Thermal Stress Considerations. The group’s goal is to create a guideline, checklists and do’s and don’ts to provide people unfamiliar with these issues some general knowledge on annealed glass. The document will look at conditions that can cause thermal stress. Among the factors noted in the draft is the impact of the frame, such as how darker colors can absorb more heat, how the frame can keep the edge of glass somewhat cooler than the center material, as well as the impact of grilles and muntin bars. Also noted were problem-causing exterior building conditions, such as shadows cast on glass by overhangs, projections, landscaping and adjacent buildings. One commenter noted that exterior sunscreens are making a comeback. Another added that some companies have developed a clear, polycarbonate outdoor shutter for coastal areas that forms a seal between the shutter and the glass that leads to thermal stress issues.

Adding those considerations, the group added a statement to the document noting that heat-strengthened or tempered glass “will eliminate or substantially reduce instances of thermal stress.” Lingnell is updating the document in preparation for the next meeting.

Visual Quality Guideline Goes Back to Task Group
The visual quality working group ultimately decided to return its visual quality guidelines back to the task group for revision. The main point of discussion was concern that a single set of visual quality guidelines would not address the unique differences of large commercial IG units versus residential IG units.

Lingnell commented that when making IG, the manufacturers don’t know where the glass is going, and therefore the visual quality shouldn’t differ depending on the project. But according to Rick Wright of Oldcastle, one can’t be expected to use the same criteria and catch the same blemishes on a giant commercial IG unit as one does with the smaller units more likely to be found in residential buildings. 

Wright also was concerned that the IGMA document only addresses the inspection for point blemishes since, he said, the inspection process for linear blemishes is different. ASTM C1036 uses two inspection rules and, according to Wright, the IGMA document only follows ASTM halfway. 

Wright also noted that the sizes IGMA provides for point blemishes are different from the sizes listed by ASTM. A motion to create two separate documents—residential and commercial—was found non-persuasive, so the discussion turned to the possibility of breaking one document into residential and commercial components in the areas where differences exist. 

A motion to do just that was approved unanimously.

Another point of discussion for the document was the handling and definition of optical interferences that do not constitute visual obstructions. For Brewster’s Fringes, Newton’s Rings and quench marks, the document simply stated that these issues were not addressed by the guidelines. 

The group agreed that these issues were not addressed because these phenomena are considered inherent to the glass under certain conditions and therefore are not considered to be visual obstructions. To clarify this for the document’s readers, the group agreed to move the definitions for Brewster’s Fringes, Newton’s Rings and quench marks beneath a general definition for Optical Effects. 

Fogging, which is considered a visual obstruction, also was discussed. There was concern that a brief statement that fogging is not allowed could allow the document’s end-users to insist on the replacement of fogged units even after the manufacturer’s warranty has expired. 

Tracy Rogers of Edgetech said that the document is intended to be a guideline only and shouldn’t be construed as instructions for how to deal with obstructions. “This is meant to be that third party that states this is a visual obstruction or it’s not—and that’s all,” he said. The group approved altering the statement to read, “Fogging: not allowed. Consult with manufacturer.” The group aims to have a ballot on the revised document prepared prior to the January meeting.

IGMA’s next meeting will be held January 28-February 1, 2008, at the Sundial Beach Resort in Sanibel Island, Fla. 

the author: Megan Headley is an assistant editor for USGlass magazine. 

USG
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