Architecture Blog

The windows in a home are very important. They provide a way to see outside, allow sunlight in and give the home a “lived-in” look. A house without windows would look – well, unnatural. Windows do, however, allow cold air in and heat to escape. One way to know if you may have a problem with your windows is when moisture forms on the inside.

Many years ago, windows were nothing more than holes in the wall. Down the road they were covered with animal hide to protect from the elements. Then came shutters which could be opened or closed. Finally came glass pieced together to allow light in. The Romans were the first to use glass.

Modern windows are known as double glazing or double paned and are made up of two pieces of glass. The glass is slightly separated and the gap is filled with air or gas for insulation. The spacer that separates the two pieces of glass is made of aluminum and foam, sealing the gas in. Over time the double pane window can become compromised allowing cold air and moisture to form on the inside of the window. This could result in a higher gas bill as cold draft will come into the house and heat will be able to absorb outward through the window. The only way to fix this problem once it occurs is to replace the windows.

Glass can now be made with lower-emissivity or low-e qualities through manufacturing which reduce the absorption of heat through the glass. This keeps the heat in a home or building making it more efficient. Low emissivity is actually low thermal emissivity and represents the quality of a surface that emits low levels of thermal energy.

So if you have windows with moisture on the inside, it might be time to replace those and look into the low-e glass that will not only keep the heat in, but will also save you money.

We use glass for a lot of things. It’s in our homes, our cars and in buildings. If you stop and think about it, we probably would not be able to live without glass. It lets light in, but keeps the cold out. It protects us from wind, and still allows us to see the world around us. Glass is everywhere in our world.

Glass is everywhere in our house. Many of the cups we drink from are made of glass. We have decorations in our house made from glass and light bulbs that are glass. Some houses even use glass for table tops or shelving. The windows in our house are glass. They keep us away from the cold and the heat. We also have glass in our shower doors. Some shower door glass is simple and thin, and some is fancy and thick. Sometimes the entire shower is made from glass, and sometimes just the door. The glass in showers is laminated so when it breaks the glass does not come apart. There is a thin layer of plastic that runs between two pieces of thin glass to make the finished glass piece. This prevents injury if the glass were to break.

Automobiles also have glass. They have windows and windshields made from glass. the glass in a car keep us safe from rain and debris. It also keeps us dry and away from the elements. Car windshields are also laminated and tempered. Tempered means that the glass has been strengthened through a heating process. When a windshield is hit with flying debris, it will not shatter. The glass will actually spiderweb and remain in tact.

Buildings also have glass. Architectural glass is specially tempered for strength and the glass is also designed to keep heat from passing though it. This allows a glass building to keep the heat of the sun out in the winter and keep the heat in during the winter. The way the glass is manufactured can really make an impact on the efficiency of the building.

The U.S. Department of Energy states that energy-efficient windows can lower heating or cooling costs by 20 to 30%! The best way to lower heat loss through windows in to install energy efficient windows, or low-E windows. These windows  have been manufactured to prevent heat loss. Architectural glass in large buildings and glass windows in homes both pose a concern for heat loss and higher energy costs. These windows are usually more expensive than the traditional window. If that is not an option, there are other ways to winterize your windows to reduce the loss of heat during the winter months.

First, make sure and check window frames for air leaks. If you have to, light a candle and hold it in front of the window. Watch the flame for wavering or flickering. If the flame does, you have located an air leak. Secure loose frames to the building and recheck for air leaks. Next, check  the window for any loose panes. Use window caulking to seal any loose panes. Check storm windows to make sure they are  secure. Clean the window tracks to ensure they are snug. Caulk anywhere around the frame to prevent air from entering. Make sure you close the storm window completely.

If you have ever been to Chicago you know how amazing the skyline is. Chicago has more tall buildings than one can imagine. If you have been downtown, you have probably seen the Willis Tower, formerly named the Sears Tower. It used to be the tallest building in the world until the Burj was constructed in Dubai. The Willis Tower now has a four foot glass balcony that jets out from the 103rd floor skydeck. WHAT?!!! That’s right, you heard me. It’s called “The Ledge”, and even some Chicago residents say they would never go up there.

Picture from www.geekologie.com

“The Ledge” is 1,353 feet above ground and can hold an estimated five tons! Some have said it’s like walking on ice, others have raved about the view. One thing in for sure, the first step is the hardest.

Picture from www.geekologie.com

The glass balcony was completed in 2009 and was designed by Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, the same architecture firm that designed the building. The balcony is made of 1.5 inch thick crystal clear, laminated glass panels. The entire box balcony hangs from a steel truss that rides on rails and can be retracted into the building for cleaning and maintenance. The glass was manufactured by a 120 year old local contractor MTH Industries. Each glass panel weighs 1,500 pounds and is tempered for extra durability.

Clear Glass

Bubble Glass

Tempered Glass

Plexi-Glass

Customized Glass

Article originally posted on www.usgnn.com

Guardian Industries in Auburn Hills, Mich., will expand its Goole, England, float glass plant with the addition of a new coating machine for the manufacture of energy-efficient glass for residential (ClimaGuard) and commercial (SunGuard) applications.

Construction has already begun on the $48 million (£30 million) project that is expected to create 50 new jobs when it is completed in the fourth quarter of 2012.

The coater turns standard glass into high-performance, value-added glass. It allows the plant to produce low-emissivity glass that provides thermal insulation, and solar control glass that prevents buildings from overheating. These high-performance products are able to meet or exceed new energy standards.

“The drive by the U.K. government to save energy has resulted in raising energy efficiency standards for both new and replacement windows for residential and commercial buildings,” says Scott Thomsen, president of the global Guardian Glass group. “Further improvements are already planned through 2020 that will demand even more energy efficient glass.”

The Goole plant services window customers and commercial fabricators throughout the United Kingdom. The coater expansion follows the 2008 addition of a state-of-the-art glass laminating line at the Goole plant, an investment of nearly $10 million (more than £6 million). The company built its Goole float glass plant in 2003. It is one of 28 such plants that Guardian operates around the world.

“This expansion reflects the confidence Guardian has in the plant and our strategy for growth,” says Pablo Isasmendi, plant manager. “With the investment in the new coater, Guardian Goole will be better able to serve its customer base and develop new products specifically for the region quickly and efficiently.”

Glass is actually stronger than concrete. Many people do not realize that. That does not mean that you are are going to see glass columns supporting concrete floor slabs. But the fact is, many more projects these days are starting to utilize glass as a structural piece to create innovative exteriors and interiors as well as exuberant urban settings.

The Museum aan de Stroom in Belgium looks as though the glass is actually holding up the levels of the building. It’s not, but it looks cool. The building was designed by Neutelings Riedijk, a Dutch architecture. The building contains a series of stacked boxes which contain  galleries. The structure features a spiraled-like staircase. The glass that makes up the structure is corrugated which has been manufactured to provide greater diffusion of light.

Picture originally on www.archicentral.com

If straight panels would have been used, the glass would have been way too thick because of the 18 foot free span. Corrugated glass is so much stronger, so it works to take up the wind load for the large span. The corrugated glass is manufactured almost like curved glass, but corrugated glass gets one more step. With this building, the heavy parts of the exterior look like they are suspended above the glass.  The concrete boxes actually jet out from a central core of the building. The boxes are separated from the glass panels by a 2-inch space.

Architectural glass is constantly being used as a way to flare up modern structures. Uses of the glass are pushing the limits of imagination in order to create buildings that look good and impress.

Under current legislation E-levels are constantly being lowered. Building materials must perform at a higher level than ever. Glass is something that has not escaped this reality. Glass covers a large part of a building’s exterior, and more efforts are constantly being made in manufacturing.

Low-emissivity or Low-E glass has a microscopically thin coating that is designed to reduce the heat transfer through windows, resulting in better insulation. Low-E windows can improve energy loss.

Newer technology is delivering glazing with spec results that give manufacturers the ability to keep heat inside buildings in the winter and out in the summer. This goes a long way to reducing energy costs, especially in larger, taller structures. To accomplish this, manufactures add a second hard coating to a double-glazing unit already equipped with a soft coating. So, in other words, the glass is actually insulated just like your house walls are.

Insulating glazings used for glass exteriors, such as the Thermobel VIP (Vacuum Insulation Panel) glazing,  can already achieve a Ug value of 0.15 W/m²K. Thermobel. That sounds complex. What it really means is that the glass is going to save the person who pays the buildings electric bill some more money.

It is important to note that many buildings are using more and more architectural glass. The glass provides both beauty and space for the person looking at it. Could you imagine being in a large tall building in the winter without this kind of glass technology? The heat would absorb through the glass and the building would be impossible to keep warm. Low-E glass makes it possible for the people inside to stay warm in the winter, cool in the summer, and the energy cost lower.

“Principles of Glass Selection for Facades:
From Rendering to Reality”

Auburn Hills, Mich. In the proverbial crowded skyline, architects are challenged to create buildings that are both notable and sustainable and meet an even more crowded array of performance conditions.

To help architects efficiently connect the puzzle pieces of design and performance, Guardian Industries announces a new, accredited American Institute of Architects Continuing Education System (AIA/CES) course, “Principles of Glass Selection for Facades: From Rendering to Reality”.

This interactive program discusses the foundations of the glass selection process and explores the aesthetic options available to meet project design and performance requirements. In addition, there is a special focus on understanding the variety of performance coatings and customized glass fabrication options. The primary learning objectives include:

• Understanding the key criteria in selecting glass types and how those
choices can influence the building’s aesthetic condition and what tradeoffs can be considered between performance and design criteria.

• How glass samples should be viewed to gain the most accurate
impression of appearance.

• Examining the variety of glass types and sputter-coated low-E products in the market and how each differ in appearance and performance.

• Exploring a variety of fabrication techniques that provide additional glass customization and code compliance – including lamination, silkscreen, and spandrel applications.

• Reviewing completed projects and recognizing how particular glass types were selected and how they met the designers’ intent.

Guardian brings more than 75 years of glass expertise to this course, having created a vast array of coated glass designed specifically for commercial applications through its SunGuard Advanced Architectural Glass products.

Architects completing this course earn one AIA/CES learning unit, including one hour of health, safety and welfare credit and a one-hour sustainable design credit toward maintaining AIA membership.

A registered AIA/CES program provider, Guardian Industries helps design professionals keep up with the latest innovations in products and technology. Related Guardian AIA/CES programs include:

• LEED and High Performance Glass

• The Evolution of Glass and High-Performance Coatings

• The Use of Laminated Glass in Architectural Design

Register for the free class or learn more by visiting SunGuard AIA/CES Registered Training and Education Programs.

About Guardian Industries Corp.:

Guardian is a diversified global manufacturing company headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, with leading positions in float glass, fabricated glass products, fiberglass insulation and other building materials for commercial, residential and automotive applications. Its automotive trim group, SRG Global Inc., is one of the world’s largest suppliers of advanced, high value coatings on plastics. Through its Science & Technology Center, Guardian is at the forefront of innovation including development of high performance glass coatings and other advanced products. Guardian, its subsidiaries and affiliates employ 18,000 people and operate facilities throughout North America, Europe, South America, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Visit www.guardian.com.

Auburn Hills, Mich. Guardian announces the next generation in glass performance with SunGuard SNR 43, a new glass coating for commercial applications that offers a high light to solar gain ratio and low solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC).

SNR 43 joins Guardian’s other SunGuard advanced architectural glass products that improve energy performance and help projects achieve LEED qualifications. It features a visible light transmission of 43 percent and excellent solar control: Its SHGC is just 0.23 on clear float glass.

“This product adds another great option for architects specifying all types of commercial glass products. The coating lets in plenty of light and the very low SHGC meets the latest energy code standards,” said Chris Dolan, Guardian director of commercial glass marketing.

The Guardian SunGuard brand features the widest selection of industry-leading glass performance products, offering multiple color and appearance options for commercial coatings and a wide variety of application flexibility. SNR 43 is available on five float glass substrates – Clear, UltraWhite low-iron, CrystalGray, Green and TwilightGreen.

Additionally, because SNR 43 is available through the Guardian Select Fabricator network, glazing contractors choosing this product can feel more at-ease with local access and shorter lead times.

About Guardian Industries Corp.:

Guardian is a diversified global manufacturing company headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, with leading positions in float glass, fabricated glass products, fiberglass insulation and other building materials for commercial, residential and automotive applications. Its automotive trim group, SRG Global Inc., is one of the world’s largest suppliers of advanced, high value coatings on plastics. Through its Science & Technology Center, Guardian is at the forefront of innovation including development of high performance glass coatings and other advanced products. Guardian, its subsidiaries and affiliates employ 18,000 people and operate facilities throughout North America, Europe, South America, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Visit www.guardian.com.