GANAPerspectives

Glass Credit
GANA Offers Multiple Presentations for Architects
by Brian Pitman


The Glass Association of North America (GANA) has long offered information and technical resources to the architectural community in a variety of ways with Glass Informational Bulletins (GIB), several manuals and web tools being the most commonly utilized by architects around the world. In recent years, though, the association began developing presentations on many glass-focused topics with the goal of offering these presentations for learning unit credit from the American Institute of Architects (AIA). GANA achieved this goal with the release of its first AIA-accredited presentation in 2005. In the five years since, however, the number of presentations has grown with even more submitted for approval from AIA.

The Presentations
The first presentation from GANA, Glass in Today’s Architecture, was developed by members of the GANA Flat Glass Manufacturing Division. This presentation is a study of the manufacturing process for float glass, various types and applications for the product, along with a list of benefits for architectural use. Over the period of an hour, the presentation educates the architect about the flat glass manufacturing, glass substrates (types) and common sizes available, the primary glass fabrication processes (such as tempering, laminating, etc.), glass performance terminology, the many applications and uses of architectural flat glass, benefits of use and an outline of the many industry resources available to the architect. In the five years since the release of this presentation, it has been presented by a GANA member to architectural firms more than 350 times. Furthermore, a condensed article version of this presentation is available on the GANA website as a free download for AIA credit.

"Other presentations on decorative glazing, tempered glass, insulating glass technologies and more are in the latter stages of development from the association."

The GANA Flat Glass Manufacturing Division next developed and released a presentation titled Coated Glass. This presentation is a study of the manufacturing process for coatings on glass, the performance values and a case study on cost savings. It educates the architect on why glass is coated in the first place, glass surface terminology, coatings for optical and solar performance; helps the architect understand solar and thermal performance and common terminology, the cost savings achieved using coated glass, surface modifying coatings and the different coating processes; and reviews other uses of coated glass. This presentation was released in 2008 and offers one AIA learning unit.

GANA’s Fire-Rated Glazing Council released its first AIA-accredited presentation, Fire-Rated Glazing Today, in 2009. This one-hour presentation is a study of the manufacturing process for fire-rated glazing. It offers the architect an overview of fire-rated glazing products and technologies, fire protection requirements, common terminology used, the primary product types, key considerations for specifying a product and future developments in the industry. This presentation offers one AIA learning unit.

The final current presentation is from the GANA Laminating Division and is titled Laminated Glass 101. This presentation is a study of the manufacturing process for laminated glass. It offers the architect answers as to what laminated glass is and how it is made. It also discusses in detail the features of laminated glass. The presentation also offers one AIA learning unit and is the newest approved GANA presentation.

In addition to these four presentations, GANA is awaiting approval from AIA on a new presentation focused on protective glazing technologies. Furthermore, other presentations on decorative glazing, tempered glass, insulating glass technologies and more are in the latter stages of development from the association.

Each of these presentations is available to architectural firms at no charge. If you are interested in having a glass industry expert visit your firm to give one of these presentations, visit our website at www.glasswebsite.com/AIA to fill out a short form and we will contact you to schedule the session. Furthermore, GANA members are encouraged to contact GANA to learn how to become an approved facilitator of these presentations.

Brian Pitman is GANA’s director of marketing and communications. Mr. Pitman’s opinions are solely his own and not necessarily those of this magazine.

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