Imagine an intelligent glass that you could change from an ordinary looking transparent glass to a frosted glass with the flick of a switch. It could be used in windows of office and home replacing curtains, blinds or shades. It is perfect for skylights, sloped glass and window walls. It can be used in any type of window system including insulating, reflective or tinted glass.
Technology used:
It is composed of liquid crystal film(LC).LC film is made up of electrically conducive coatings, polymer matrix and liquid crystals.LC film has electrical wiring connected to a transformer to supply power.LC film is sandwiched between two layers of transparent conductive film and is then laminated between two sheets of glass. In the “on mode “glass is in transparent state as the liquid crystals line up. In the “off mode “glass is in frosted state as the liquid crystals turn to their normal positions.
On Mode Off Mode
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By applying this switchable glass to windows in homes, offices and cars, the scientists estimate that reduced air conditioning needs and could result in an energy savings of up to 30%. The beauty of switchable glass allows you to control what type of lighting you want for your home. This glass consumes low electric of about 5 W/m2 .It is a better replacement of curtains and blinds .It can have many forms like curved, silk-screen printed or sand-blasted .It has an excellent projection screen, a reliable material and ideal for hiding precious items to be revealed only to selective customers . This type of glass can be used in partitions,glass doors etc. By applying a variable voltage to the window we can continuously vary the amount of transmitted light. Scientists at the AIST are currently working on maximizing the durability of the switchable glass, and overcoming the deterioration that arises due to repeated switching. Also, because the magnesium-titanium alloy can be applied to transparent materials besides glass, more applications may yet be discovered.
Do you know the reason behind the characteristic ‘spider web’ cracking pattern when the impact is not enough to completely pierce the glass windows of automobiles. The answer is that safety glasses are used in automobiles.
Types of safety glass: There are two categories of safety glasses.
• Laminated glass
• Tempered glass
Laminated glass: It is made by sandwiching a thin layer of PVB (polyvinyl butyric) between two or more panes of glass. As compared to a monolithic glass panel of identical thickness this structure is superior in terms of risk of injury by shards, impact resistance. Adhesion of PVB to glass provides safety. The plastic film holds the glass in place when the glass breaks reducing the risk of injury from falling glass. It has a great sound proofing effect due to PVB interlayer. It filters the UV rays by 97-98%.
Tempered glass: Tempering includes heating the glass up to very high temperature about 700ºC. It is then quickly cooled. As the temperature increases viscosity decreases. As cooling starts viscosity raises turning glass semi elastic. The result is a tough, durable glass with better resistance to thermal & mechanical shocks.
Uses of Safety Glass: Laminated safety glass is used in cutting boards, thermometers, automobiles, railways, marine vessels, aircrafts, defense, household construction
applications and other industrial applications. Tempered safety glass is used in doors of oven, computer monitors, shelves of refrigerator and LCDs. It can also be used in side lights, shower and tub enclosure, interior partitions, storm doors, patio-door assemblies, escalator and stairway balustrades.It is used as a glazing product in windows and spandrel areas.Special building applications include sloped glazing, racquetball courts, skylights and solar panels.
Do you know roofs and walls of your buildings can generate electricity? Gone are the days when glass was used as a building material that only provided a view and kept the weather. Glass & glazing products are now available as active elements that contribute to a building’s energy & environmental concerns.
Building integrated solar photovoltaic (BIPV) uses a technology called photovoltaic. Photovoltaic (PV) is the process of converting sunlight into energy which is very similar to natural process of photosynthesis. The difference is that PV uses solar control glasses instead of leaves to trap the solar energy in form of photons. Trapped photons lead to excitation of electrons. The excited electrons exit the solar glass panel through connecting wires. Thus electricity is generated.
Advantages of using energy efficient (solar control glass ) are:
1) It helps conserve raw materials such as coal and oil which are used in commercial power plants to generate electricity.
2) It acts as a heat insulator in homes and offices.
3) It protects against harmful UV rays.
4) It looks beautiful and enhances the building’s aesthetics.
5) It even acts as generator, storing energy for future use.
6) It saves costs associated with conventional building materials like granite, marble, concrete etc.
Light transmission in Glass Light Transmission in Solar Control Glass
Thus solar control glass is an innovative and a high –tech product which allows sunlight to pass through a window or facade while radiating & reflecting away a large degree of sun’s heat. The indoor space stays bright and much cooler than if ordinary glass were used. In other words it cools the building without warming the planet. It is widely used as roofing, skylights, rain screens or curtain walls.It provides comfort and aesthetics.
Lacquered glass, colored and opaque in appearance, is produced by depositing and then baking a coating of lacquer to one side of the glass. Lacquer is a solution of film-forming materials, natural or synthetic, usually applied as an ornamental or protective coating.
In the case of conductive materials such as metals lacquers are preferably applied by means of electrostatic lacquering. The charging of the powder lacquer particles which is required for electrostatic lacquering can take place by direct contact of the particles with high-voltage electrodes.For the electrostatic lacquering of non-conductive surfaces such as glass a layer of a conductive organic polymer from the class of the polypyrroles, polyanilines or polythiophenes is applied to the surface and this layer is then electro statically lacquered. The electrically conductive polymer dispersions can be used alone or in combination with binders such as polyurethanes, polyvinyl acetate, polyacrylates, unsaturated polyester resins or their mixtures. The binders are preferably used as aqueous dispersion or emulsion or solution. Additives such as salts of long-chain aliphatic or araliphatic sulphonic acids, lower alcohols (methanol, ethanol) can be added to the aqueous dispersions of conductive polymer and optionally binders.
Advantages of using lacquered glass:
• Lacquer applied on one side of glass enhances durability of glass.
• It has resistance to humidity making it ideal for use in high humidity rooms such as, kitchens and bathrooms.
• A better replacement to use of glass paints.
It has wide interior applications including damp and humid rooms (kitchens and bathrooms).It is ideal for use on wardrobe and cupboard doors. It is available in wide ranges of colors.
The Glass has been used for various purposes way back in history, since modern age it has been used widely in Architecture; There are various types of glass that are used for architecture like solar control glass, fire resistance and high performance glass, which are used for different interior glazing applications like glass doors, partitioning, shower screens, balustrades, glass staircases and exterior applications like windows, glass roofing, canopies, conservatories etc.
The Solar control glass would be the major breakthrough of glass industries, it is a glass with a special coating designed to reduce the amount of heat entering a building. It reflects and absorbs heat as well as filtering light for reduced glare. By using a solar control glass one can reduce the need for air-conditioning and blinds. There are many types of solar control glass offering different aesthetic options; tinted, reflective and neutral.
Reducing CO2 emission
Residential and non-residential buildings are the major source of CO2 emission which uses more energy to stay cooler. The usage of Air conditioners has greatly increased in last decade. An average room air conditioner operates at 1000 W, causing around 650 g of CO2 emissions per hour. Various studies shows that solar control glass has the potential to cut between 10 and 90 million tones of CO2 emissions annually. The use of Air conditioner in buildings can be greatly reduced by using solar control glass which reduces the incoming heat and allows the natural light to flow in.
The various steps that can be carried out by government to reduce the emission of CO2
1. Encourage and, where necessary, require the use of solar control glass in national building regulations for new construction.
2. Encourage retrofitting of existing buildings with solar control glass by fiscal or legislative means.
3. Provide economic and fiscal incentives to both users and manufacturers of solar control glass to promote better market uptake of these energy-saving products.
Ensure that all relevant public buildings are fitted with solar control glass.
The various steps that can be followed by masses could be
1. Avoid excess usage of Air conditioning system and use the best alternative – Solar control glass in your home
2. Solar control glass can be used in various areas of house where interiors needs cool temperature to maintain.
Saint Gobain – Solar Control Glass
Saint Gobain Glass India – SUN BAN products from Saint Gobain Glass India such as SGG Reflectasol, SGG Cool Lite ST, SGG Antelio Plus are best suit for your houses and other buildings. These products comes in various range that you can choose.
The Glass plays a major role in safety and precaution while constructing a building. It not only gives you privacy but also protects valuable life from fire breakage. In case of fire break out the fire protective systems work in order to extinguish the fire but the glass play the important role – it keeps the fire from spreading out.
The ordinary window glass would collapse at 250o F; it cannot withstand the high temperature that too in few minutes of exposure to fire but the fire resistance glass can almost withstand 1600o F for about 60 minutes.
This fire resistance glass can be use in various parts of the building such as glass window, Glass partitions, Doors, etc. Initially wired glass has been used for the purpose this purpose but now the fire rated glass is being manufactured by all the major glass manufactures. Few of the manufacturers produce a new variety of fire resistance glass that isn’t glass at all, ceramic which has a property to withstand high temperature is being used to manufacture material that look like a ordinary window glass. This type of glass can also withstand fire for about 3 hours.
The other type of fire resistance glass that could be found in the market is tempered glass. These types of glass provide a limited fire protection only, since it cannot withstand thermal shock. The test is done by pouring water immediately after the glass is being heated in furnace.
The Glass walling in a building would stop transfer of heat and smoke during the fire breakage. The properly fitted glass walling can prevent the fire and smoke from spreading across the rooms or from one to other area of the building. These glasses are installed in frames which was resorted by the designer in recent days. The designers are now seeking alternatives to traditional wrap-around framing. Similarly they want to substitute sprinklers and ordinary window glass with the fire resistance glass, since the glass may shatter due to the thermal shock during fire when the water is sprayed on to it. The fire resistance glass is manufactured in order to with stand the thermal shock at great level. The fire control system can be enhanced by using fire resistance glass along with sprinklers system to provide a safety environment.
Glass technology has evolved from simply melting a mixture of sand and sodium carbonate, followed by casting, molding or blowing the molten mass, to requiring state-of-the-art technologies to ensure faster and cheaper production. Nowadays varieties of glass are available in market. Intelligent glass, safety glass, thermal insulation glass, fire resistant glass, textured glass ,lacquered glass are recent innovations.
The self-cleaning ability of natural surfaces like leaves has inspired scientists to mimic this property with artificial materials. Mimicking such self-cleaning property in man-made materials can offer exciting possibilities in day-to-day life. Cleaning glass has always been an issue. Self -cleaning glass is glass which has an extremely smooth and clean surface and doesn’t require regular cleaning. It is manufactured by depositing a transparent layer of photo catalytic and hydrophilic mineral material onto clear glass. The coating, which is integrated into the glass itself, ensures a high level of durability. The mechanical, thermal and acoustic properties are identical to normal glass. To activate the coating, the glass must be exposed to natural light. When the particles interact with ultraviolet rays in sunlight, it starts loosing dirt and water. Ultraviolet rays distribute dirt evenly across the surface. As a result most dirt gets washed off easily without streaking whenever it rains.
Special self-cleaning technology has electrified the trend of point-fixed glass facade with self-cleaning coatings. Self-cleaning glass efficiently combats dirt and grime that accumulates on the outside of the window (dried water marks, organic atmospheric pollutants, dust, sea spray and insect residue).Frequency of cleaning a glass is reduced. The glass gives a clear vision through the facade even when it is raining. Less frequent use of detergents in glass helps protect the environment. Facade stays cleaner for longer as less dirt and grime adheres to the glass.
It has been designed for external use, either in the home or commercial buildings. It can be used as facade glazing, exterior shop-fronts, overhead and atria glazing, balconies, conservatories roofs, windows, french doors and other hard to reach areas.
Glass has been manufactured by various methods, but float glass production process is being used widely by many manufacturers nowadays. In this process the molten glass is poured onto the molten tin. The molten glass is spread onto the surface of the metal and produces a high quality glass sheet, which is later heat polished.
Production Process Science behind the process:
Oil spread out in a bath of water spreads onto surface of water, similarly when molten glass is poured onto the bath of clean molten tin it spreads across the surface, and rest is taken care by the gravity, surface tension which makes the glass approximately flat and parallel.
The molten glass does not spread out indefinitely over the surface of the molten tin. Despite the influence of gravity, it is restrained by surface tension effects between the glass and the tin. The resulting equilibrium between the gravity and the surface tensions defines the equilibrium thickness of the molten glass.
Today, people all over the world are conscious of leading lifestyles that encourage and support eco-friendliness and energy efficiency, be it with regard to architecture, automobiles, or even home appliances. Incorporation of green features in the construction of emerging buildings is now a hygiene factor in the field of architecture. But interestingly, even standing buildings have begun to retrofit themselves with the intention of doing their bit for the environment.
Building 401 at Merritt 7 complex on Main Avenue, Norwalk, Connecticut, USA, which was constructed in 1987, is an outstanding example of a building revamped to be eco-friendly. This very revamping earned it the LEED silver certification from the USGBC. The structure has made use of pre-fabricated panels and insulated glass for its interiors and exteriors. Moreover, 401 Merritt 7 is the first existing building in the state of Connecticut to earn the LEED certification under the USGBC’s existing building rating system.
Water & Electricity Conservation
401 Merritt 7 has incorporated several energy-efficient and sustainable features to upgrade its eco-friendly factor. By embracing a computerized HVAC system, along with water and lighting conservation initiatives, the building’s LEED certification is well-deserved. By working in collaboration with the Connecticut Light & Amp Power Co, a 42 percent reduction in the total electricity consumption has been achieved. The building was honored with 97 percentile in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star Ratings.
Low-flow toilets and waterless urinals were installed at 401 to minimize water consumption. As a result of these techniques, 477,000 gallons of water were saved within a three-month test period and it is expected that 2 million gallons of water will be saved per year.
Fortunately, the $3 million spend on upgrades was offset by a $1.5 million rebate from the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund.
Fire, Safety& Utilities
TV cameras, motion detectors, intercom systems and card key access at the building and parking entrance have been provided for security purposes. An ample, well-illuminated, 95 percent covered parking facility is available. Dual-fiber optic loops have been used in communication cables. A 24/7 computerized fire safety system is affixed to ensure security. 5 high-speed Otis elevators are installed. 401 Merritt 7 is expected to go a long way in being an inspiration for other old buildings to go green too.
Fire resistant glass products are not alien to world class glass manufacturers Saint-Gobain GlassIndia. And recently, they have reinstated their presence in this market by introducing the SGG Firesafe 120 system in India, in collaboration with Soundarya Decorators Pvt Ltd.
SGG Firesafe 120 system is a non-load bearing, fully glazed fire rated partition system, which consists of SGG Contraflam Lite and a sleek ingenious GI profile – Pyrowize ST 110. It not only prevents fire from reaching the other side but also cuts out hot gases, smoke and even thermal radiation. Along with these the system also offers unhindered clear vision having a Light transmission of 87% and an excellent sound reduction of 37 db thereby making your space look bigger and quieter.
Incredible as it sounds, this fire safety system can resist fire for over 2 hours. This system has been tested at IFTS laboratory - a leading fire testing laboratory in Bern, Switzerland.
At IFTS, SGG Firesafe 120 was tested as per the strict EN 1364-1:1999 standard for criteria E (integrity) and W (radiation control or partial insulation) for 120 minutes. The test was successful and the system fulfilled both the E and W criteria for more than 130 minutes. This tested system has an indigenous design with features like side and top panels in order to simulate an actual scenario as closely as possible. This rather elegant system can be built against a brick wall or a gypsum partition with a maximum size of 1400 x 2800 mm* or 4 sq mt (approx) for a single pane of glass.
This fire safety system can be used as partitions of data server room, fire exit corridors, lift lobby partition, as also in establishments that require high security - such as bank locker rooms.
* For bigger sizes please contact the company at + 91 44 2716 2832-39.
A new glass material engineered by Dr. Paul Edmiston at the College of Wooster has the ability to clean polluted water by absorbing contaminants like a sponge. “Swelling Glass” – glass that swells up like a sponge – could be the key to cleaning up contaminated groundwater. Dubbed “Obsorb”, the material absorbs volatile molecules in water like fuel oil and solvents without sucking up the water itself.
Apart from having unusually useful properties, Obsorb is cheap to implement. It's a reactive glass, allowing it to bind with gasoline and other pollutants containing volatile organic compounds, but it's also hydrophobic, so it doesn't bind with water. So it acts like a “smart” sponge, capable of picking and choosing from contaminated groundwater. Put together like a nano-matrix, the new glass can unfold to hold up to eight times its weight. Once the Obsorb material is full, it floats to the surface and pollutants can be skimmed off. Afterwards, it can be dropped back into the water and reused hundreds of times.
The substance could revolutionize groundwater pollution clean-up because it's relatively low cost and has the ability to rid a site of VOCs that other conventional cleaning methods can't.
Absorbent Materials is well on its way to make Obsorb commercially available. The glass material is currently being tested in pilots across the US, and venture development group Jumpstart LLC recently invested $250,000 in the product. With 4,000 priority contamination sites in the US alone, Obsorb stands to make a big impact on the quality of our water. Obsorb’s unique properties make it ideal for low tech, low-budget cleanups in developing areas as well.
Groundwater Pollution
However, swelling glass is also hydrophobic, meaning that it does not bond with water. At a recent pilot demonstration in Ohio, Obsorb was used in the form of a white powder to suck up a plume of TCE (a volatile organic compound). TCE is particularly difficult and expensive to clean up using conventional means, which is the reason why some contaminated sites are simply shut down, allowing the vapors to dissipate naturally. The process takes decades, so Obsorb is a reactive glass. Unlike conventional glass, it can bond with the chemicals it encounters. However, it is also hydrophobic, meaning that it does not bond with water. Obsorb could provide a low-cost means of recovering sites more quickly.
Low Cost Clean-up
Once full, Obsorb floats to the surface, where it can be skimmed off with something as simple as a coffee filter. After that the pollutants can be retrieved and the glass can be reused hundreds of time. Nano-particles of iron can also be added to convert TCE or PCE (another volatile organic compound) into harmless substances. As a low cost form of cleanup, swelling glass could provide site remediators with yet another in the growing list of non-conventional cleanup tools along with lactate, vitamin B-12, and even cattails.
January 29th, 3 pm: TM Gopikrishnan & Subhrangsu Ghosh, Marketing and Technical Managers at Saint-Gobain Glass India hosted an Expert Chat Session, the first of its kind on Glazette.
The participation strength was fair, with 15 users online at any point in time between 3 and 5 pm on that Friday, shooting away their questions about Fire Safety Glass, its uses, applications, advantages, and so on. The managers found it rather hard to keep up; but did a good job nevertheless, encouraged by the volume and quality of questions!
The most active participants were architects, and it was heartening to see that fire safety, an aspect of building architecture that was not given due importance in the past, is now considered a hygiene factor during construction. This was evident by the kind of questions asked. The depth of knowledge about fire safety glass as well as other fire-resistant construction material was appreciable.
Questions included those about the duration of fire resistance offered by fire rated glass, the use of rubber and vinyl coverings for fire escape handrails, comparison between metal and glass fire doors, and so on. Vishwas, an architect with Neeraj Manchanda Architects in Delhi, was an enthusiastic and informed participant, from whom several questions came. Also part of the session was D Krishna Kumar, an engineer with CPWD.
Certain questions which were not relevant to the subject were also asked, those on LEED being among them. Though the fire glass experts were able to answer LEED-related questions to a certain extent, further questions were redirected to glazette.com.
New participants kept entering the chat room, and roughly 25 of them were part of the Expert Chat between 3 and 5 pm. The questions kept pouring in non-stop, and it was only at 4.30 pm that the experts got a breather when the speed and volume of questions started declining! The experts were patient and approachable, and had unquestionable and profound knowledge on the subject.
All in all, the Expert Chat Session was well-received by all parties involved. Glazette thanks Saint-Gobain Glass India, Mr. TM Gopikrishnan and Subhrangsu Ghosh, the portal members, visitors and the back office team for the success of the session.
Glazette will shortly be collecting feedback from the participants on various aspects of the session. From the opinions collected, Glazette shall strive to improve, innovate and use similar platforms for dissemination and exchange of knowledge and expertise on glass.
Chat Transcript: Highlights
Date and Time: 29th, Friday January 2010 02:40:00 PM
Chat Description :
January 29, 2010, 3 PM T M Gopikrishnan, Head - Fire Safety, and Subhrangsu Ghosh, Technical Manager - Fire Safety Glass Solutions from Saint-Gobain Glass India come together to provide answers to your queries on using Fire Glass Systems and Fire Safety solutions for buildings. This session is sure to bring you valuable insights that you can take back to your drawing table, and make your building designs more safe and efficient. This Chat Session is scheduled for one hour on the 29th January 2010, and starts at 3 PM. You are free to join the Chat Session. Chat Session will begin as soon as the Experts logs in.
Chat Transcript :
Q: Debashish Das
I am an architect from Calcutta. Being a small practice i need to oversee nearly all aspects - from design to specs to overseeing execution quality ... not to mention making sure that the specs and the workmanship meet best practices.
A: TM Gopikrishnan
India is seeing a revival in construction, and the need for better aesthetics and safety. With this in mind, Saint-Gobain has launched a range of Fire Resistant Glass
Q: Chaitrali Bhide
Can a fire rated glass door swing in both directions?
A: TM Gopikrishnan
Yes, definitely. It can open from both directions.
Q: Ajay Amle
Can we use rubber or vinyl coverings for fire escape staircase handrails? If yes which is the minimum class required to achieve the fire safety norms?
A: TM Gopikrishnan
It is not advisable to place any combustible substances like rubber in fire-risk areas; normally these areas require 2 hours of fire rating
Q: Chaitrali Bhide
what is the maximum fire rating which a glass door can take?
A: TM Gopikrishnan
Two hours if it is a fully glazed fire door
Q: Vishwas
Can you give us a brief preview to your product and how it compares from normal metal fire safety doors from say Shakti or Godrej
A: TM Gopikrishnan
We will send a product brochure to you.. But in brief, we provide the option of using a fully-glazed fire door for upto two hours of resistance from fire as against metal doors with small vision panels - better aesthetics and visual security
Q: Nilesh Wairagade
Hi Mr. Gopi and Mr. Ghosh, can u please throw light about the new range of fire resistant glass u were talking about , earlier...
A: TM Gopikrishnan
We have a range of fully glazed fire rated partitions and door systems which offer integrity and/or insulation (30-120 mins)
Q: D Krishna Kumar
Good afternoon. i am an engineer in CPWD. Does the fire rated door have CBRI certification?
A: TM Gopikrishnan
Our products are certified by international laboratories like Warrington and IFTS
Q: Sachin Mhatre
What role Glass elevation make when it comes to LEED or green building?
A: TM Gopikrishnan
Glass helps in achieving points for LEED NC, CS and MR under energy perf, recycled content, regional materials and daylight and views; upto 14 points can be achieved by using glass efficiently
Q: Chaitrali Bhide
If the door can swing in both directions, it has to be pivoted.
A: TM Gopikrishnan
It will be hinged like a normal door (not a revolving door)
Q: Chaitrali Bhide
How do you tackle the undercuts/ gaps in that case
A: TM Gopikrishnan
We have a standard 7-mm gap from the floor to the shutter which is required to create the draft for fire, this is as per a tested report
Q: Prasanna
I would like to know what are the type of glasses you usually rated for fire safety- earlier some use to mention glasses with wire mesh was also a fire safety glass but a write up in a newspaper clearly indicates it is not.
A: TM Gopikrishnan
Yes, wired glass was an option earlier, but a dangerous option. Today, you have the option of clear, tempered, impact-resistant glass systems
Q: Ajay Amle
What are the fire safety norms and rules for a private company having a manufacturing unit?
A: TM Gopikrishnan
This is a vast subject; I would suggest that you refer to the National Building Code
Q: Prasanna
Can we have fire safety glasses only as transparent or there can be different options of colour coating. if yes then please provide the options of colours.
A: TM Gopikrishnan
Presently we have only clear options, unless you want to use it for exteriors, then we can match the exterior facade
Q: Prasanna
Can the fire safety glasses be tempered or else what are the physical properties of the fire safety glasses.
A: Ghosh Subhrangsu
Yes all fire safety glasses in our range of products are tempered by a special process
Q: Sachin Mhatre
Can you please explain what type of glass we can used in external glazing, Internal glass partition, and Fire door vision panel
A: Ghosh Subhrangsu
The type of glass that has to be used depends purely on the application and the rating required ... primarily it can be of 3 types- tempered, coated and interlayer
Q: Chaitrali Bhide
How do detail the glass wall as a smoke barrier wall.
A: Ghosh Subhrangsu
The purpose for a glass smoke barrier is to content smoke only and no fire as such and it is tested as per a completely different standard which is much less stringent than a fire test
Q: Prasanna
If suppose I am using the fire safe glasses on an external facade of two floors, then please recommend the material for fire/smoke seal (between the floors) that are compatible with your proposed system.
A: Ghosh Subhrangsu
There are fire rated cements, mortars or sealants available with various companies which can be used
A: TM Gopikrishnan
Prasanna: Presently we have only clear options, unless you want to use it for exteriors, then we can match the exterior facade
Q: Manish
Can one way glass is converted as "fire safe" glass?
A: TM Gopikrishnan
One-way glass can be integrated with fire safety glass by double-glazing and testing it as a complete system, we have such tested products
Q: Vishwas posted 03:31
How does your product compare with normal metal fire safety door in terms of cost?
A: TM Gopikrishnan
As a ball-park figure, around three times but it depends on the quantity
Q: Manish
How much is the additional cost required than normal glass?
A: TM Gopikrishnan
For details on pricing, you can contact our local area office, but typically you can't compare both because normal glass may break within 2 minutes of a fire
Q: Chaitrali Bhide
What is maximum span for a fire rated glass wall for 2 hrs fire rating?
A: Ghosh Subhrangsu
The glass can be as big as 1.4 x 2.8 sq mt for a single pane of glass
Q: Prasanna
This system is readily available in India or need to be imported on order.
A: TM Gopikrishnan
The system is not imported, but the glass is, we will shortly start manufacturing some of these glasses in India
Q: Sachin Mhatre
Is The glass is sound proof?
A: Ghosh Subhrangsu
Depending on the composition mono, dgu and / or inter-layered sound reduction ranges from 37 to 53 db
Q: Prasanna
When you say system - is this integrated with frame work? If so then what is the material of the frame- Aluminium or Steel.
A: TM Gopikrishnan
Yes it is the whole framework and the glass and the fixing, framework is made of GI powder-coated with special tapes and infills.
Q: Vishwas
I am assuming these being glass doors they will be weather proof as well in external application? Rain sun etc?
A: Ghosh Subhrangsu
Some of the systems are meant for exteriors where else some are not. please check with the Saint-Gobain representative for your specific requirement
Q: Vishwas
Can you also explain the construction of door. What is the frame material? is it a double glazed unit? Will the surface on the other side of fire get heated? If yes to what extent, can I touch it? Will it double up as safety door as well or can I break in through it?
A: TM Gopikrishnan
Construction details are proprietary, frame is GI, not necessarily DGU, in some products yes, the other surface gets heated, radiant heat can be as high as 25 KW per sqm, yes you can break through it if required
Q: Prasanna
Do you propose lamination of fire safe glass with a regular single glass???
A: Ghosh Subhrangsu
In general any fire safety glass needs to undergo a fire test . So components cannot be replaced once tested. we do have laminated fire rated glass in our range
Q: Sachin Mhatre
And How we can address the issue of Travelling of Sound thru gaps and joints at top and bottom of Glass partitions in interior works.
A: TM Gopikrishnan
The gaps have to be sealed adequately, however, there is no cost-effective way of doing it at the bottom of the doors
Q: Chaitrali Bhide
How do mark TESTED for fire resistance on the glass?
A: TM Gopikrishnan
All fire rated glasses have a non-removable labelling which specifies the product name
Q: Prasanna
If you consider fire safe laminated glass then what are the ways that the glass can be broken down for exit???
A: Ghosh Subhrangsu
The glass used for doors is not laminated
Q: Vishwas
Does these doors come with panic bar fitted onto them? Or is it optional or needs to be done at consumer end?
A: TM Gopikrishnan
It is optional, but can be done by the door installer or by the client, but this will have to be factored in while designing
Q: Vishwas
A bit more detail about hinges, door closer etc will be helpful in understanding the product
A: TM Gopikrishnan
Typically the tested system will contain the frame, shutter, tower bolt, glass, hinges, door closers and the lock, optional include panic bar, smoke seals
Q: Prasanna
Can we have a list of glass combinations that can be proposed for different functions with their specific fire rating???? If the glass list is provided can we have the confirmation that the all the combination of glasses are tested as per EN-1364-1-1999
A: Ghosh Subhrangsu
Please provide me with your contact details. Our representative will get in touch with you. yes, all our glasses are tested as per EN 1364-1: 1999 or BS 476 : Part 22 or EN 1634-1: 1999
Q: Brijesh Kumar
What component is involved for fire rating to increase? At how much thickness fire rated glass are available.
A: TM Gopikrishnan
These are special glasses that are made with special substrates and intumescent, the thickness starts from 6mm, goes upto 58mm depending on the functionality, fire resistance and rating
Q: P.Jha
Is there any way to treat plain glass post application to make it fire resistant?
A: TM Gopikrishnan
No, there is no way
Q: Sachin Mhatre
To avoid sound travelling from bottom what type of fitting you will propose, even it not cost effective.
A: TM Gopikrishnan
Dorma has got a smoke seal which is largely used for cutting out the smoke, while it will cut off the sound, we frankly have not measured it, we will find out if some option is available and let you know
Q: Brijesh Kumar
Fire rating is manufacturing process or is it done after manufacturing?
A: TM Gopikrishnan
It is both; the substrate or base glass in some of the products is manufactured differently and then subjected to a specialised processing
Q: Brijesh Kumar
Can fire rated glass be laminated and if yes will be both glasses required fire rated?
A: TM Gopikrishnan
Yes, we have tested laminated products which are used by some of the lift manufacturers as lift doors and car panels
Q: Brijesh Kumar
Glass availability in India? If not what will be lead time and minimum quantity?
A: TM Gopikrishnan
Presently imported, lead time 8-10 weeks by sea, 4-5 weeks by air, will start manufacturing some products in India shortly
Q: Brijesh Kumar
Availability of colour options? Like other shade available in Saint-Gobain i.e. skn
A: TM Gopikrishnan
For exteriors, fire glass can be integrated with SKN, for interiors, it is limited to clear glass
Q: Brijesh Kumar
Warranty/safety certificate of glass for required fire rating period/time?
A: Ghosh Subhrangsu
Yes. we can provide you with a certificate and warranty on the fire rating of the entire system
A: TM Gopikrishnan
Yes with all applications we give a test certificate. If installed as per the test evidence under our supervision we will also provide a installation certificate
Q: nagarashmi
what should be the min. door size used for fire safety near fire escape staircase
A: TM Gopikrishnan
It is 1000mm X 2000 mm
Q: Brijesh Kumar
Can you please explain complete terms and conditions of fire safety warranty? What component involve in it?
A: TM Gopikrishnan
We normally provide a test certificate confirming a successful test on an equivalent prototype, in special cases where the warranty is provided, subject to installation as per tested evidence. Depending on the number of years that the warranty is required for, we charge a nominal fee
Q: Rafique Alam
Can we use a clear fire rated glass as frameless door or partition?
A: TM Gopikrishnan
Yes, we have the option of using frameless partitions using a special butt-joined system. In doors, we don't have any options available in India as of now.
Q: Rafique Alam
What will be the maximum size of panel for frameless partition and also mention the minimum thickness of glass
A: TM Gopikrishnan
Thickness would be 25mm for a one-hour rating and the maximum panel size can be 1800mm X 3500mm
Q: Brijesh Kumar
Can processing of fire glass is done at any processor?
A: TM Gopikrishnan
No, it has to be purchased as an integrated unit from the manufacturer
TM Gopikrishnan
Thank you all. We will take your leave now. Have a nice weekend.
Home is the place where an individual can start his contribution to this environment. The home owners are now becoming more and more aware about the energy conservation. They are now looking for a “Green revolution “in their home. This is well satisfied by the flooring, lighting and paneling product manufacturers who bring out products that are eco-friendly.
Similarly the energy efficient products are available in the market will help one to save money and also energy. The home improvement strategy should also have the florescent bulbs which help to save around 30% a year on the electricity bills also by using light color paints on wall distributes light much effortlessly that makes the room more brighter.
The water conservation in the home can be classified into two, first method is to use products that conserver water such as low flow faucets and dual flush toilets. The next method is spread the awareness of water usage among the family members. The bathroom is the place water is used most around 75%. By using low flow or adjustable showerheads, dual flush toilet one can save water by 58% annually.
The Japanese have come up with a new innovation in toilet/bathroom sink. This new technology reuses the water to flush the toilet from the hand wash sink.
One of the biggest trends in home improvement is to consider installing a new floor covering with cork, bamboo and reclaimed wood flooring. All of them have a strong visual appeal as well as helping the environment and in recent years, these alternative materials for flooring have become popular.
Cork flooring has excellent insulating qualities and can save on energy costs; it also reduces noise and can help keep a home free from allergens. What's more, it is surprisingly tough as well as being water resistant.
One important thing to keep in mind if you are "going green" when remodeling or improving your home. Always dispose of old or unwanted materials safely - many materials can be donated for people to reuse, or otherwise recycled. The next time you are making improvements to your living space be sure to do your bit to protect our precious planet... Go Green!
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401 Merritt 7 has incorporated several energy-efficient and sustainable features to upgrade its eco-friendly factor. By embracing a computerized HVAC system, along with water and lighting conservation initiatives, the building’s LEED certification is well-deserved. By working in collaboration with the Connecticut Light & Amp Power Co, a 42 percent reduction in the total electricity consumption has been achieved. The building was honored with 97 percentile in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s 
