Types of Glass used in Building Construction

You might have seen that big commercial buildings extensively use glass materials. Glass materials in buildings give aesthetics, increases privacy and helps in maintaining temperature of the building. Various glasses have different advantages and disadvantages. Some of the properties used while selecting glass are durability, strength, light transmission qualities and thermal insulation.

We will give you a brief overview of the various types of glasses used in the building with their particular use so that you make a good decision while choosing glasses for your residential or commercial building.

Tempered Glass

Tempered glass is four to five times stronger than standard glass owing to its unique thermal treatment process. It gives additional safety. Tempered glass is frequently utilized in construction because of its strength and safety. In case of accidental impact or breakage, the likelihood of injury is reduced. The tempered glass is actually resistant to breakage and therefore considered safe. The tempered glass, therefore, finds it scope in large windows and skylight. Also, tempered glass is excessively like both in offices and homes because of energy efficiency and noise reduction.

Float Glass

The type of glass that is most widely and frequently utilized in contemporary construction is float glass. We see most of the houses in Nepal have used the float glass. The manufacturing occurs by laying the molten glass on the bed of molten metal, thereby making the surface flat and consistent. Comparing to tempered glass, float glass is light weight and thin too. It is an ideal glass for mirrors, doors and small windows. Because of its manufacturing process, it gives good insulation and better visibility than any other glasses. So, clients always prefer float glass for new and economical construction. Float glass is popular because of its durability and ease of construction.

Insulated Glass

Insulated Glasses are popular option for construction projects where energy efficiency is given the most preference. Insulated glass consists of two glass panels with sealed space in between them. Gases like argon and krypton gas is filled in between the panels so that the heated transfer between the glasses is reduced. Also because of the space filled by gas, the insulated glass will protect from the outside noise reduction, thereby making this a popular choice for construction in big cities where noise reduction also becomes a prime requirement.

Tinted glass

Tinted glass is manufactured by adding metallic salts and dyes. It is done so because tinted glasses are the glasses which function by blocking excessive light from entering. Sometimes, a thin coating of suitable paint or film is done in order to block more light. The light is blocked mainly for two reason. One reason is purely aesthetics whereas another reason is to create dark environment inside for various domestic and industrial tasks. The UV protection is seen to increases, privacy is properly maintained and heat loss is also taken care of. It also contributes positive to energy efficiency in hot climate because it can maintain cooler temperature inside the building or room it is kept in.

Laminated Glass

Laminated Glass, as its name suggests is made by fusing together two or more layers of glass by suitable plastic or resin. Because of many layers, it gives more strength and more safety. It is primarily used in windows and skylights. This glass can also block Ultraviolet rays with high precision and noise is reduced very efficiently. It breaks very seldom and is very resistant to breakage in falls, contrary to single layered glasses. Laminated glass is very often chosen for commercial and residential construction because of all this.

Patterned Glass

While picking the right kind of Glass for a development project, designed Glass is simple and practical. Frosted or textured glass that has been patterned for aesthetic purposes is known as "patterned glass." It comes in a variety of sizes and shapes, allowing for endless design options. Because it allows light to pass through while obscuring visibility, Patterned Glass is particularly useful in areas where privacy is a concern. It's also a great way to personalize a space and give it a unique look. Patterned Glass can be a striking addition to any construction project with the right design.

Reflective Glass

Glasses with reflective coating on their surface have various uses. Coatings like metal oxide are often used in some kinds of architectural reflective glasses for increasing energy efficiency. The reflective glass blocks the sun’s rays and allows natural light inside the building. This property of reflective glass makes it suitable for interiors in order to cut off energy needs by reflecting the UV and direct sun light. It also provides thermal insulation. People can feel its insulation even during cold months though it blocks sun’s direct light inside. It is often used to make facades because it gives glowing property.

Conclusion

In conclusion, glass is the essential construction material in an era when design and aesthetics have started to be considered as a great art. While using the glass materials, consideration should be made for specific uses before selecting glass material. Otherwise, the environment inside building will be horribly affected, energy utilization will increase and the life of the building would decrease.