Burj Khalifa, renowned as the world’s tallest building, unveiled itself this New Year. At a height of 800 meters or 2,650 feet, this marvel in architecture truly reaches for the stars. The generous use of glass used in its construction gives it a dazzling appearance and several functional advantages. The glass for the Burj has been supplied by Guardian Glass, an architectural glass producer for commercial and residential markets. This is by far the very largest order bagged by Guardian glass plants in Germany and Luxembourg.

Guardian glass offers outstanding energy efficiency and total design flexibility, while meeting both technical building requirements and environmental needs. Burj Khalifa features more than 1.8 million square feet (174,000 square meters) of Guardian SunGuard Solar Silver 20 and Guardian ClimaGuard NLT Low-E.  Altogether these Guardian products offer superior solar and thermal performance.

The high performance glasses used provide an anti-glare shield from the strong desert sun, and a high light reflectance to keep the interiors from overheating. They also withstand extreme desert temperature swings and strong winds.

Guardian SunGuard

Guardian SunGuard Solar Silver 20 which gives a silver appearance is produced by patented silacoat process, offering a combination of practical benefits and enhanced product features including enhanced chemical and mechanical durability and also excellent energy performance and coated glass quality. It also provides uniform reflection and transmission of colours. This glass can be tempered, heat-strengthened and curved. Solar Energy and visible light performance of the SunGuard Solar Silver 20 is as follows:

Solar Energy:

Direct Transmission: 15 %
Direct Reflection: 33 %
Absorption: 52 %

Visible Light:

Transmission: 20 %
Reflection Outside: 35 %
Reflection Inside: 25 %
Colour Rendering Index: 88 %

Guardian ClimaGuard

Guardian ClimaGuard NLT Low-E regulates the interior temperature cool when it is hot outside and vice-versa. ClimaGuard Low-E blocks up to 50% more unwanted solar energy than standard clear glass, and up to 40% more than even dark tinted glass. As a result, air conditioning expenses are lowered while providing a more comfortable living environment. ClimaGuard Low-E also blocks nearly twice as much harmful radiation as clear glass, extending the life of woodwork, carpets and furnishings, while still allowing plenty of natural sunlight to brighten interior spaces.

Guardian is also supplying the glass for the Burj Residence project, six towers that surround the Burj Khalifa. The Burj Residence will use Guardian SunGuard HP Green 63, produced at Guardian’s Rayong, Thailand float glass plant and coated at Guardian’s Bascharage, Luxembourg float glass plant.

SunGuard High performance glass delivers medium to high visible light transmission and moderate reflectivity together with maximum energy savings that meet or exceed energy regulation requirements. SunGuard coating with a green substrate reduce glare and improve visual comfort and also offers energy control option to provide the optimum internal environment.