| InterGlaze Decorative Glass |
Specification of Creative Glass
Appropriate application
Areas of application: Feature screens, partitions, signs, doors, stair treads, balustrades, work/counter tops, tiles, shower screens, wash basins, garden features, floors and stairs.
Advantages/disadvantages of creative glass.
Advantages:
Interglaze's range of decorative glass is reasonably economical in one off or volume production. The only real cost is the initial cost of the glass and fixings. Once installed the glass requires very little maintenance and has a long life span as it is extremely durable.
Glass is a very practical material to use. It has a semi-organic quality that is very useful in architecture and can be used to create most unusual features.
Even those glasses with an unusual finish do not show dirt and finger marks as they may be treated with Ritec Clearshield product which works on a molecular level and ensures that the glass is easy to clean.
With glass the possibilities are limitless. There is a wide range of colours available: glass comes in 6 body tints (clear, crystal clear, green, blue, grey, bronze). Add to this the range of ColourGlaze colour applications and it is clear that whatever colour, and even finish, you desire can be achieved, be it pearlescent, fluorescent, opaque, transparent or two-tone.
Factors affecting specification
Fixings & Steelwork
Interglaze offers a range of high quality architectural fixings such as fixing pins (19mm, 25mm diameters), cable systems, flat/countersunk designs to suit all glass thicknesses up to 25mm and balustrade fastening arrangements, all of which are extremely design conscious as well as being practical and easy to specify. A custom design service is also available. The standard finish is satin stainless steel.
Getting the most from creative glass; lighting, cleaning and maintenance
Lighting
Good lighting is often the secret of successful creative glass installations.
It is a good idea to request samples and carry out tests before implementing a large scheme. Use point source lighting to bring the surface of formed glass to life (low voltage tunsgsten halogen is best). Do not allow heat build up as this causes thermal stress and as a result the glass may break. It is also important to provide good ventilation - this also extends the life of bulbs.
Do not use cold cathode lighting as it makes the glass look flat and lacklustre.
Cleaning and maintenance
Occasional cleaning with a soft, grit-free cloth and water mixed with mild detergent is recommended. Wash off residue thoroughly with clean water.
Do not use abrasive cleaners/metal scrapers.
Relevant British Standards/building regulation issues.
Intergalze glass is produced to conform to international standards of safety:
- BS6206:81 for human impact safety considerations.
- Australian standard AS2208: safety glazing materials for use in buildings - human impact considerations.
- German standard DIN 52 337: Pendulum Impact Tests.
Toughened glass is 4 to 5 times stronger than annealed glass and considerably more resistant to breakage. We recommend that toughened glass is used wherever potential human impact is a consideration.
Interglaze also provides a full and comprehensive service offering design, specification and installation of fire resistant glazing products, fully tested to BS476 part 22: providing protection up to 2 hours integrity and insulation.
BS 476 Part 20: 1987 Integrity: The ability of a specimen of a separating element to contain a fire to specified criteria of collapse, freedom from holes, cracks and fissures and sustained flaming on the unexposed face.
Budgeting/costs
As mentioned earlier a creative glass installation incurs only a one-off cost as, once installed, the glass requires very little maintenance.
Don't forget that you will also have to budget for the required fixings and installation.
Environmental aspects of Interglaze glass
Glass is an environmentally friendly product for several reasons. Firstly, because the main ingredient in glass is silica sand which is a renewable resource.
In the manufacturing of architectural glass, hazardous chemicals or problem waste in the true sense do not arise. The environmental impacts relate more to water and energy consumption and to noise. Interglaze's glass suppliers take measures to reduce energy and water consumption in the production of the float glass used by the company.
Glass is an inert material so disposing of it does not damage the environment. It is a recyclable product which is often crushed up, resuming its original form as sand, and used with tarmac to surface roads, providing a very strong and durable surface. Due to the fact that it can be crushed it can be safely deposited in landfills.
I would like to specify Interglaze Glass...What's the next step?
We aim to make specifying, ordering and installing creative glass as smooth and easy as possible and to provide you with the specialist knowledge you need. Therefore we work in the following way.
Initial contact is with our technical sales advisors. They will talk you through the range of products and design options available to you. They also help with all aspects of the technical specification as well as providing samples and quotations as necessary.
When the order is placed the Interglaze will coordinate all aspects of your project and keep you informed on its progress.
The next step is that you provide us with your project drawings. We use these to create some technical production drawings. All artwork for logos and text should be provided on CD or by email with all text converted to outlines and any colours specified with a RAL, Pantone or Dulux reference number.
All shaped panels require templates which MUST be correct: All holes and cut outs should be drilled to the correct positions and sizes. Each template should indicate the actual glass size required, as any deductions for the growth experienced in forming the glass will be made by us.
When all the above steps have taken place we initiate manufacture. Depending on the nature of your glass requirements you should receive your glass 4-6 weeks later.
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