Different types of glass for doors and windows exist, but not all types can be used everywhere and anywhere in your building. In fact, some types of glass for buildings are there to help you meet specific safety requirements or ensure that you abide by the rules and regulations. There are several important factors to consider when specifying glass for an external façade or internal application in a commercial building. Read on to find out more:
1. Acoustic Soundproofing
‘Acoustic glass’ is a highly effective solution for minimising noise, maintaining a quiet environment for your colleagues and customers in urban and busy traffic areas. This type of glass is constructed with a PVB (polyvinyl butyral) interlayer that dampens sound waves, minimising noise transmissions into and out of your building. Most acoustic glazing can be customised to maintain the privacy and comfort of the room while abiding by Document E of the Building Regulations.
2. Fire Safety Rating
The fire rating of your glass façade contributes directly to the overall fire safety and risk management of your building, providing vital protection against the spread of flames, heat, and smoke. However, it isn’t enough to simply specify fire-rated glass; for maximum protection, this should be installed as part of an approved glazing system that includes compatible fire-resistant frames, seals, and other supporting components.
A fire-rated external glazing system in a commercial office building, for instance, might include steel frames and specialist glass capable of withstanding extreme temperatures for a specific duration (such as 60 minutes or 120 minutes). The assembly will be ‘fire tested’ as a unit to verify its ability to perform as required during an emergency. Whether applied to a lobby, stairwell or fire door, the use of the correct fire-rated glazing is essential for maximising safety for your occupants without compromising the appearance of your building.
3. Privacy
External façade cladding systems play an important role in maintaining privacy for building occupants, especially in built-up areas. However, different spaces within a building often require varying levels of visual and acoustic privacy. Meeting rooms, for example, might require frosted patterned glass to maintain customer confidentiality, while decorative glass might be chosen in the front-of-house area to strike a stylish balance between privacy and contemporary elegance. Some glazing areas may require both acoustic soundproofing and privacy features.
How do you achieve privacy without sacrificing light? For this, various options are available, such as partially frosted or tinted glass. These allow the maximum amount of light into the building while still maintaining privacy.
4. Energy Efficiency Rating
Energy efficiency is a crucial investment consideration in many commercial buildings, especially when extensive glass façades are used. Glass with a low emissivity (low-E) coating will reflect heat back into your internal rooms, helping maintain indoor temperatures during colder months and cutting back on your heating expenses, while also reducing the amount of heat that escapes through your windows. When paired with insulated or double-glazed window units, low-E glass reduces energy loss and increases sustainability.
Another factor to consider when evaluating energy performance is the U-value of your glass panels. This indicates the insulation value of the glass pane, with a lower U-value providing better insulation. If your building has extensive glazing in a south-facing location, you should also consider reflective glass with a lower G value to avoid internal areas getting too hot in the summer. The reflective coating reduces solar gain, keeping your building comfortable and reducing your reliance on air conditioning in hot weather.
5. Health And Safety
Safety is an essential consideration in external glass façades, especially in areas deemed as ‘critical locations’ in the Approved Document K of the Building Regulations. These include low-level windows, full-height glazing around stairwells, and glass doors. For compliance and safety reasons, laminated or toughened safety glass needs to be used in these areas to reduce the risk of injury if the glass breaks. ‘Safety glass’ is designed to shatter into small blunt pieces upon breaking (similar to a car windscreen), while laminated glass features a strong interlayer that helps hold broken shards in place, both reducing the risk of people getting cut during an emergency. Window graphics, etched decals, partial frosting, or clear signage should be added to any floor-to-ceiling glass internal windows and all glass entrance ways to avoid accidents and improve visibility.
6. Security
Glass can play a crucial part in the security of your building. The glass needs to be laminated and should have a minimum thickness of 6.8mm in order to be used and comply with the PAS24 requirements. Confirm this with your manufacturer before using it. In some cases, laminated glass might not be enough and more robust security measures might be required. In places like airports, police stations, banks, jewellery stores, etc... multiple layers of glass will be required in order to ensure security measures are strong enough to comply with the rules and regulations.
Next Steps
For more information about external façade and glazing systems or to ensure you are making the right choice between the different types of glass for doors and windows on your project, please contact the team at Advanced Glass today by clicking here.
